Recently got back from five days in Scottsdale - weather was high 80s/low 60s - sunny every day. Stayed at the FireSky Resort and Spa - awesome place, would totally recommend it. It's centrally located in Scottsdale so you can walk to a lot of places, but they do have a free shuttle to Old Scottsdale. The hotel grounds were beautiful, rooms very nice, pools and hot tub were great. They are also pet friendly so seeing some of the "pet guests" staying there made us less lonely for our pets at home!
Old Scottsdale - check out Rusty Spur Saloon and Ra Sushi (especially at happy hour - great prices on sushi!). Spent an afternoon in Cave Creek - cute area, lots of "saloons" and restaurants. Spent Halloween night at Greasewood Flats - (about 20 miles N of Scottsdale) always a neat place to go to - ate their Green Chili burgers and sat on picnic tables by the burning barrels and enjoyed the music outside. Canyon Lake - we packed our cooler with drinks/food and rented a pontoon on Canyon Lake for five hours - this is a Must if you enjoy relaxing on the water and seeing the most fantastic scenery - you wind around through canyon- we saw seven bighorn sheep up on the cliffs. Cheaper if you go M-F. It's about $375 for five hours on weekends, but pontoon holds six people and it will be one of the most memorable things you'll do. Going on further up to Roosevelt Dam is awesome too, just make sure it's still light out and you have time - road is rugged.
Went up to Sedona for the day - went to the Chapel on the Hill and stopped at a few places in search of the elusive "vortex" spots. Didn't find one, but it's always beautiful there no matter what. Great trip!

Sounds like a fun filled trip, thanks for the report.

sounds wonderful. I'm just starting to plan a trip to Scottsdale/Sedona and you've given me some great ideas. Thanks!

Thanks for the report. Always happy to hear about pet-friendly hotels.

Thanks! I'll be visiting my brother in Scottsdale for Christmas. I hope it'll be nice enough to do that pontoon ride you recommended.

We stayed at the Firesky Resort about two weeks later, and I can second hollifitz' positive comments. It's an older property (early 1970s?) that has been updated by the Kimpton hotel group. The decor of the guest rooms is much more urban chic than the exterior of the property would suggest. We were there for a wedding and experienced a wide range of food and service, and everything was good. Because of an issue with my elderly mother-in-law, I can't speak highly enough of the housekeeping staff and front desk attention.

I wish we'd had the free time to enjoy the area as hollifitz' did. Maybe next time...

Glad you liked Greasewood Flats. I think it is still owned by one of my high school classmates.

We are planning to visit family in Scottsdale in May...I only want to stay two days there. Where can we go from there? It is our Anniversary and we would like to enjoy this occassion.