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

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.

Not sure where to go? Take my advice by heading south to one of these four warm weather vacation destinations:

1. Orlando, Florida: It is not too late to hit the beach and Disneyworld. An average temparature of about 73 degrees in December will help you defrost and take in some last minute sunshine. Airfare is cheap and there are plenty of places to stay such as Sheraton Vistana Resort or Bahama BayResort… both 5 star quality for amazing prices.
   

   Sheraton Vistana Resort Pool in Orlando Florida

2. San Diego, California: America’s Finest City… for a reason. There isn’t a single month of the year where the average high for the day is lower than 66 degrees. Every day is a beach day and if the sun is shining you can be sunbathing for your Christmas vacation. Don’t miss the unique beach towns of Coronado , Carlsbad, and Del Mar.
   

   View of San Diego Bay from Coronado Island

3. San Antonio, Texas: The most visited city in Texas has great temperatures for travelling there between October through April. Plenty of fun activities such as Sea World, the Alamo, the River Walk, and more all make San Antonio a great warm winter vacation destination. I recommend staying at the the Wyndham Riverside Suites.
   

   San Antonio, Texas

   http://www.flickr.com/photos/wattsbw2004/
4. Scottsdale, Arizona: Right now is the best time of the year to visit Scottsdale. Be sure to pack accordingly because you won’t need three layers to walk around in 68 degrees this winter. Stroll through art galleries, visit museums, or hone in on your golf skills, Scottsdale has something for everyone during the winter. There are many great places to stay, here are two of my favorites: Sheraton Desert Oasis and Westin Kierland Villas
   

   Scottsdale Golf at Westin Kierland Villas