UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
#10. Scottsdale
If you love the great outdoors, you’re going to love Scottsdale – and the city’s average of 299 sunny days per year, combined with its average temperature of 72.5 degrees and low rainfall rate, makes it easy to enjoy the community’s many outdoor amenities no matter the season.
The Scottsdale area is famously home to more than 200 golf courses, and the city lays claim to top hiking spots like the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which has more than 170 miles of trails, and Pinnacle Peak Park. In addition, Scottsdale features destinations like the beautiful Chaparral Park, a family-friendly attraction with a multi-use path, dog park, lake for boating and fishing, and a swimming pool.
Even if spending time in the great outdoors isn’t your thing, you’ll still find plenty to do in Scottsdale. Located just 20 minutes from Phoenix, the community has a vibrant downtown with more than 70 art galleries along with excellent shopping – check out Fashion Square – and plenty of restaurants, bars and nightlife spots.
Scottsdale also has a thriving entertainment scene, complete with the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and the Arizona State University Kerr Cultural Center, where concerts, plays and other events take place throughout the year.
“The city is a hub for outdoor adventure, arts and culture, regional cuisine and shopping,” says Stephanie Pressler, Experience Scottsdale’s community affairs manager. “Scottsdale is home to the 30,500-acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the largest urban preserve in the U.S., where visitors can explore the lush Sonoran Desert on hundreds of miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. Old Town Scottsdale offers an energetic mix of art galleries, boutiques, world-class museums and acclaimed restaurants. Plus, Scottsdale hosts exciting seasonal events, running the gamut from the arts during Canal Convergence to baseball during Cactus League spring training.”