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Known as the “west’s most western town” the city of Scottsdale is located towards the east of Maricopa County in the state of Arizona. Regarded by the New York Times to be the desert version of Miami’s South Beach, Scottsdale has a thriving nightlife with trendy bars and restaurants.

Over the years it has successfully moulded itself into an upscale retreat for both local and international tourists hosting a vast array of trendy boutique stores and the latest abodes anywhere in the USA.

The city’s relatively small population size ensures that the metropolis is kept exclusive without the hustle and bustle of larger cities such as Los Angeles and New York.

Originally the home of the Pima Indians, the first European settlers to the area came in the 1800s and since then the city has rapidly progressed becoming a model for others like it. Scottsdale has always been a haven for free thinking and creative influence; it was the muse for renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright who built many of the city’s prominent landmarks and buildings. A monument was erected after his passing to commemorate his contributions to Scottsdale.

Of the many distinct attractions that dot the Scottsdale landscape none are more popular than the Phoenix Zoo. Opened in 1962, it is the largest non profit zoo in the United States and has been dedicated to the preservation of wildlife since its inception. The zoo’s groundbreaking project was the preservation of the rare Arabian Oryx and its successful reintroduction into the wild.

Despite initial difficulties in the 60’s the zoo has gone from strength to strength and now boasts over 1300 animals featuring four unique sections ranging from indigenous Arizona to the Tropical flora and fauna.

A popular event the zoo hosts during Christmas holiday season is the zoo lights. All the sections of the zoo are decked out in a colourful array of lights to represent the holiday season. Each of the light shows represents a theme relevant to the particular section of the park it is located in.

From savannah style light shows with subdued shades of orange and yellow to the chillier blue tones for arctic animals the light shows are a dazzling experience for the entire family and a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Do not forget to take in the musical lightshow featuring international music themes that are accompanied by dancing lights alternating according to the beats to give a truly mesmerising show.

Visitors looking for a quiet elegant Scottsdale hotel to reside in need look no further than the sublime Millennium Resort Scottsdale McCormick Ranch. With pristine views over the Camel Back Mountains it is the only lakeside Scottsdale resort in the city. Wake up to a pristine morning overlooking the calm water of the lake and explore old town Scottsdale.

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