Before visitors settle into their vacation rentals, it helps if they know what exactly they should be looking for in this scenic city.

For starters, no trip to Sedona is complete without time spent appreciating the area’s many rock formations – each of which has its own unique name and personality. Twin spires sit atop Cathedral Rock, while Courthouse Butte looks as though the profile of a human face has been carved into it. Other sights of this nature that deserve a gander include the Bell, Steamboat and Snoopy rocks.

The Grand Canyon may be what Arizona is known for, but it is not the only canyon travelers will find in The Copper State. Anybody staying in Sedona should make a trip to Boynton Canyon, which is considered by many to be one of the area’s most beautiful attractions.

For anybody who loves outdoor activities, the scenic hiking trails that can be found within the deep and narrow box Boynton Canyon are a must.

Whether or not visitors are followers of the Catholic faith, they should consider making the trek to see The Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is one of the most stunning examples of architectural work in Sedona. This structure, which was inspired by the Empire State Building, is built into a mesa and appears as though it is rising out of the red rock formations that surround it.

While McDonald’s is not the most unique restaurant in the country, or even the world, its Sedona location stands out from all the rest. That is because this particular branch of the fast food giant is the world’s only McDonald’s to feature teal green, rather than the iconic golden, arches. City officials felt that the restaurant’s usual color scheme would clash with Sedona’s own natural palette. As a result, the brand was forced to make a compromise and go with teal green arches.

Photo Credit: Ed Siasoco on Flickr

On June 9, families that are staying in timeshare rentals in Scottsdale, Arizona, can bring the kids to Mighty Mud Mania in Chaparral Park, where several freshly dug pits are filled with dirt and water for anybody ages 7-17 to enjoy.

Mighty Mud Mania actually started in 1976 under a different name – the Shout It Out Decathlon. Although the event was designed to be nothing more than a promotional gimmick for Johnson’s Wax “Shout” Spray pre-wash, it has since taken on a life of its own. In fact, thousands of kids show up to get dirty each year.

While the event is primarily for kids, there is a mini mud course for children under 6. This won’t be the cleanest family activity, but there are always showers and clean clothes waiting back at nearby vacation rentals.

When families are staying in Scottsdale vacation rentals, they are not far from Phoenix, Arizona. This also means they are just a short drive away from an attraction the kids are sure to love – the Phoenix Zoo.

This popular site covers 125 acres and is home to approximately 1,200 animals. With so many mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and invertebrates to see, families will want to put aside at least a few hours to experience the Phoenix Zoo.

After leaving their vacation rentals for the day, families can set out for adventure along each of the zoo’s four trails. For instance, the kids will have a ball venturing through the park’s recreation of Africa, where they will encounter lions, zebras, giraffes and mandrills. Then, visitors can see what animals can be found in the state on the Arizona Trail, where Mexican wolves and bighorn sheep reside.

Those who are not content simply watching animals can interact with them as well. Kids can feed one of the zoo’s giraffes, touch a stingray or go for a ride atop a camel without having to go to the desert.

Photo Credit Michael Bentley on Flickr

From April 17-22, venues around Scottsdale will help put on the 34th annual culinary festival. In addition to all the good eats, what makes this event stand out is its commitment to the Scottsdale League for the Arts. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting creative programs in the local area.

To help raise money for the league, the festival will host a series of fun events, including the Burger Battle, the Wine Country Brunch and Bubbles & Bliss. Meanwhile, two of the Travel Channel’s biggest stars, Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods, and Adam Richman of Man v. Food, will be in attendance to meet their fans and talk about their careers.

For foodies staying at vacation rentals in the area, the Great Arizona Picnic may be the festival’s most exciting event. On April 21 and 22, attendees can visit more than 50 exhibitors and dig into everything from hot dogs and pizza to Indian and Mediterranean cuisine.

Photo Credit: Desert Paradise Properties

Even the museum itself is relatively new, having opened in 1999 with the goal of educating visitors about contemporary art. Furthermore, the institution provides a venue for artists far and wide to share their works.

Inside the museum’s minimalist setting, visitors can peruse five galleries that are always changing. With so many temporary exhibits planned throughout the year, each trip to the Scottsdale attraction is guaranteed to be unique.

Travelers will have until April 29 to see the exhibit titled Economy of Means: Toward Humility in Contemporary Sculpture, which features installations like Lamps – which features four of the household fixtures falling like dominoes.

Individuals who are staying at nearby vacation rentals can also explore the museum’s outdoor sculpture garden. Here, they will find such works as James Carpenter Design Associates’ Scrim Wall, a towering curtain of prismatic glass.

Photo Credit: fabAZ

As the trek to Grand Canyon National Park by rail will take just over two hours each way, travelers will want to devote an entire day to this experience. Grand Canyon Railway’s vintage locomotive pulls out of the station at 9:30 a.m. and takes passengers on a scenic trip through the Copper State. As sightseers relax inside the classic train, they will want to have their cameras ready to snap pictures of the ever-changing landscapes outside their window.

How passengers decide to travel is entirely up to them. Grand Canyon Railway offers coach, first and luxury parlor class seats. In addition, they can enjoy an elevated train experience from seats inside one of the train’s observation domes.

Once passengers step off the locomotive around 11:45 a.m., they will have until 3:30 p.m. to explore the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park before heading back to their vacation rentals.

Photo Credit: Kashyap_hc on Flickr

Scottsdale, Arizona, is one of the Southwest’s most prominent destinations for resort rentals. The beautiful desert landscapes at sunrise and sunset have inspired individuals such as Frank Lloyd Wright to create magnificent winter retreats within the city’s limits, complete with pristine golf courses, fine dining restaurants and event attractions for all ages. Travelers who have discovered hot vacation deals in the neighboring city of Phoenix can consider these trip ideas when arriving on the desert land.

Celebrate native culture during your resort vacations
The city of Scottsdale abounds with free festivals from January to mid-April, celebrating Native American culture and highlighting Arizona’s various tribes including Hopi, Apache and Fort McDowell Yavapai. Visitors of these celebrations can witness the historic dances and traditional music of Native American flutes and drums, or pick up jewelry and crafts as souvenirs.

A film screening sneak peek for Scottsdale vacationers
Vacationers who book last minute timeshare rentals for a February vacation in Scottsdale can attend the highly acclaimed Talk Cinema at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Audience members gain exclusive access to a sneak-preview cinema series of prize-winning indie and foreign films before they are released in theaters. The films’ introductions and screenings are followed by moderated discussions with celebrated guest speakers from the movie industry.

Party at Scottsdale’s Parada del Sol
Sanctioned as the official celebration of Arizona’s 100 years of statehood and culture, Parada del Sol will celebrate its 59th year early this spring, providing entertainment with its Parade and Trail’s End Celebration in February and major Parada del Sol Rodeo in March. The parade comes to a close with its grand finale, The Trail’s End. The celebration is a massive block party with kids’ games, pony rides, plentiful food and merchandise vendors lining the streets. If you visit the southwestern city one month later, you can watch the top professionals in rodeo duke it out atop raging bulls.

An arts festival for March timeshare vacations
If you’re planning a trip to Scottsdale in March, get ready to attend the 42nd annual Scottsdale Arts Festival, featuring 200 jury-selected artists from all over the United States. The weekend-long celebration provides guests with an artistic feast for their eyes as well as their ears and taste buds, with energetic live music, good eats from gourmet food trucks and activities for all ages to enjoy. For only $7 – kids under 12 are admitted for free – your cheap vacation deals in Scottsdale can be an affordable vacation jam-packed with entertainment.

Savor Sedona’s artistic culture
Located in North Central Arizona, Sedona possesses a culture rich in art and Native American history. Famous for its artist enclaves, the city boasts several scenic small towns where creative thinkers have found inspiration in the histories of the land. Galleries, studios, festivals, concerts and film screenings entertain residents and visitors throughout the year, creating a tight-knit cultural community within the state.

If you book your next vacations at timeshare resorts in the art-filled city, you may find the excitement you’re looking for at the Sedona Arts Center, which used to be an old apple-packing barn until 1958. Events such as the Sedona Plein Air Festival and Sedona Photofest take over the barn in the months of October and June and keep community members and tourists educated in the artistic successes of neighborhood artists.

Other festivals in the city include the Sedona International Film Festival in February, the summertime’s Red Rocks Music Festival and the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks concert series in the fall.

Nighttime tours in Red Rock State Park
Under the desert stars, Arizona vacationers can journey on a guided moonlight hike in Sedona’s Red Rock State Park. The national park offers two-hour treks twice a month from April-October. Flashlights or headlamps are required for the nightly stroll, because you never know what you may encounter along the park’s 10 developed trails.

The moon’s glow will offer you just enough natural light to witness the manzanita and juniper plants growing along the trails, until you reach the rich banks of Oak Creek. You may want to have your camera ready when you arrive at the rippling stream – the hills of red rock reflecting across the moonlit creek will be a view you won’t want to forget.

Many locations around the country are ideal for entertaining individuals of all ages. Travelers can take a spring vacation road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco across Highway 1 and cruise around its curvy turns and steep cliffs that plunge straight to the crystal clear ocean. Sightseeing through each California city and booking the occasional nightly condo rentals when drivers need a rest can open children’s eyes to unfamiliar cultures and style.

A visit to Flagstaff, Arizona, will give family travelers the ultimate look at the wonders of the Southwest. The city is found 7,000 feet high in the world’s largest ponderosa forest, welcoming visitors to seven national parks and monuments. Families can visit Bushmaster Park or FoxGlenn Park and take advantage of the great outdoors, or visit the Mountain Top Honey Company to savor a taste of its sweet quality product.

In this gorgeous Arizona locale, there are many different options for Sedona lodging. The Bell Rock Inn is one great place to stay, especially for individuals who are traveling with a large group of friends or family. At these accommodations, there are poolside barbecue areas that overlook beautiful red rock formations. Visitors may wish to plan a get-together at one of these sites, as it is the perfect setting for a fun afternoon cookout. Additionally, The Bell Rock Inn is located close to the Coconino National Forest, where adventurers can embark on exciting Sedona hiking expeditions.

There are also many spas in Sedona, such as the Los Abrigados Resort and Spa. This hotel is located right on the edge of Oak Creek, a beautiful and well-known body of water that many visitors enjoy walking along to take in the scenery. The accommodations at this resort are comfortable and upscale, and provide a very tranquil and peaceful atmosphere in which individuals can relax. There are many spa treatments that one can undergo while staying at this hotel, such as manicures, pedicures, body wraps, massages and sea salt scrubs.

Other resorts in Sedona that individuals may wish to consider staying in include The Ridge on Sedona Golf Resort and the Sedona Summit Resort. The latter, in particular, is a great place for families, because it offers many activities that both children and adults that are young at heart are sure to enjoy. Some of the fun options that guests can chose include barbecuing at a beach side pit, swimming in one of the many heated pools, picnicking at Slide Rock State Park or taking a wild ride down one of the hotels waterslides. As for The Ridge on Sedona Golf Resort, guests who wish to play a few holes on a perfectly manicured green are guaranteed to find exactly what they are looking for at this hotel.

While staying in Sedona, individuals should explore some of the area’s other attractions, such as the Oakcreek Country Club, Red Rocks and Sycamore Canyon, and the Pink Jeep Tours company.