Signature City Phoenix-Scottsdale

Program Registration: 4:30-5:15 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the hotel meeting room to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. All lectures will be led, as indicated, by either local experts or our Group Leader. Exploration of museums and other sites on field trips will be led by experienced docents or our Group Leader. Transportation to off-site locations will be provided primarily by motorcoach, unless otherwise specified. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in available activities on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may be changed due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At the hotel restaurant.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel restaurant.

We’ll pull out our maps and become acquainted with the Phoenix Metropolitan Area – nicknamed the Valley of the Sun – pinpointing our destinations over the upcoming days and getting a sense of the Valley’s extent. Still at the hotel, we’ll learn about water in the west through a presentation given by a representative of the Salt River Project, the utility and water provider for much of central Arizona. After boarding the motorcoach, we’ll transfer to the Desert Botanical Garden (DBG), for a docent-led exploration. A valuable community resource, the garden aims to educate and conserve the wonders of the desert with a focus on plants of the Southwest. Since a Swedish botanist planted a sign “Save the desert” in his yard in the 1930s, community members came together to create, develop, and expand the garden as the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like at either of the two eateries on the Garden grounds.

Continue to explore the Desert Botanical Garden on your own wandering through the garden’s 50 acres in search of the 139 rare, endangered, or threatened species of plants from across the globe. Before returning to Scottsdale, we will take time to explore the Arizona Biltmore, designed by Albert Chase McArthur, a former student of Frank Lloyd Wright who served as consulting architect on the project. Opened in 1929, the Biltmore was immediately crowned the “Jewel of the Desert” and has been a preferred resort for celebrities, heads of state, and business scions. After a brief orientation to the Biltmore by our group leader, we will have the opportunity to explore the grounds on our own.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll be joined by a local expert for a presentation on a topic of local interest. Our topic will vary by week and feature a local author, artist, or regional expert.

At the hotel.

Our day will begin with a field trip via motorcoach to Taliesin West (pronounced “tal-ee-es-en”), Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, studio, and architectural campus. Wright began building this masterpiece in 1937 and lived here until 1959. It is located on 600 acres of Sonoran Desert in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains in northeast Scottsdale. An expert on Wright and his work will assist in our exploration of this unique architectural wonder. Wright and his apprentices gathered rocks from the desert floor, and sand from the washes to build this great desert masterpiece. From the beginning, this remarkable set of buildings astounded architectural critics with its beauty and unusual form. Today, it is the main campus of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and houses the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Next, we’ll transfer to the Musical Instrument Museum for lunch.

At the Musical Instrument Museum.

At the Musical Instrument Museum, we’ll engage in this one-of-a-kind experience for music lovers of any stripe. Opened in 2010, the museum allows the visitor to view videos and hear music from around the world in galleries organized by continent and country. Every visitor receives headphones with which to listen and learn about music from all genres. Enjoy an exploration of some of the museum's acquisitions with knowledgeable docents, many who are themselves trained musicians. Among the many instruments of note displayed in the MIM is the piano on which John Lennon wrote “Imagine”. There is also a room devoted to instruments that you can play. We’ll return to the hotel late afternoon.

At the hotel.

We’ll be joined by a local expert for a presentation on a topic of local interest. Our topic will vary by week and feature a local author, artist, or regional expert.

At the hotel.

Continuing our exploration of the vibrant art and culture in Phoenix, we’ll go on a field trip to the Phoenix Art Museum (PAM) where we will be led by a docent, followed by time to explore individually. The museum is one of the largest art museums in the Southwest, and within its labyrinth of halls and galleries is an impressive collection of works that span the major artistic movements from the Renaissance to the present. Changing exhibits may cover decorative arts, historic fashions, Spanish-colonial furnishings, religious art, and of course, works by members of the Cowboy Artists of America.

At a local restaurant.

After travelling a short distance from the PAM, we’ll head to the internationally acclaimed Heard Museum where a docent will introduce us to the many exhibits followed by time to explore independently. The Heard is one of the best places to experience the myriad cultures and art of Native Americans of the Southwest. The museum's 11 spacious exhibition galleries and beautiful outdoor courtyards feature outstanding traditional and contemporary Native American art. Since its founding by Dwight and Maie Bartlett Heard in 1929 as a small museum in a small Southwestern town, the Heard has grown in size and stature. A living museum giving voice to truly American people, the Heard is now recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, educational programming, and festivals. We’ll then return to our hotel in late afternoon.

On your own to enjoy local fare. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There is a free trolley that runs in the Old Town Scottsdale District M-F until 7:45pm.

At leisure. You may wish to enjoy a stroll on your own through the streets, shops, and art galleries in Old Town Scottsdale, just a short distance from the hotel. A list of nearby restaurants as well as walking maps and Old Town's free shuttle schedule are available at the hotel front desk.

At the hotel.

Setting out from the hotel, we’ll walk through Scottsdale's Old Town and Art District to one of Scottsdale's newest museum offerings, Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. Transportation will be provided for those who require it. For our morning field trip, we’ll enjoy a docent-led exploration as well as time for independent exploration. The museum offers high-quality exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach addressing regional history, particularly as reflected by the arts and the dynamic cultural exchanges that have marked the transition of the Old West into the New West. Changing exhibitions keep this museum experience fresh and dynamic. Afterwards, we’ll walk back to the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

In the late afternoon, we'll depart for a BBQ cookout and campfire as the sun sets amidst towering saguaro cacti, icon of the west. Don’t forget your jacket, as desert nights cool off quickly. If you plan to take photographs, be mindful of the cactus and uneven ground. Cowboy boots are optional! Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Watching the sun set we'll see the stars emerge as the campfire crackles. Then sing a song or two under the western sky. This will wrap up the week's experiences in the Valley of the Sun -- Scottsdale and Phoenix. After returning to the hotel, we’ll reconvene for a brief program wrap-up and farewells.Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!