Blessed with sunshine, ample outdoor activities and spirited Western-flavored culture and history, Scottsdale is one of those special destinations that invite families to come out and play. Kids, and adults prepared to spoil their inner child, will find endless opportunities here not only to be entertained, but to learn as well (who knew learning could be so much fun!). Whether watching live demonstrations devoted to Native American culture, listening to a cowpoke rattle off Western lore, or learning about the habits of gila monsters from a desert guide, Scottsdale is a treasure trove of enriching experiences for families ready to explore. No wonder then that when it comes to family travel options, the sky is the limit in Scottsdale. Following is just a selection of the many diversions and activities that make Scottsdale such a welcoming destination for families.

Resorts Roll Out Red Carpet for Families While some destinations may wince at the idea of children at resorts, Scottsdale and many of its fine properties roll out the welcome mat, finding myriad ways to keep kids entertained and parents smiling. Among the treasure trove of activities found here include specialized resort programs that keep kids knee-deep in Scottsdale-style fun. The Phoenician�s Funician's Kids Club features its very own clubhouse, a place where kids can, well, just be kids. The brightly painted space serves as a meeting place, game room, arts and crafts studio and lunchroom all-in-one. Themed activities include Wild West Day, where kids film their own Western-themed video, and Desert Discovery, which offers a chance to learn about the wildlife of the Sonoran Desert from a park ranger. And with a nod to healthy family fun, The Phoenician has designed the latest activity designed to keep families playing together, family yoga classes, which are held on the resort's serene grounds.

At Camp Hyatt Kachina, located at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, youngsters can go native, learning about Navajo beadwork or Native American dances. And for a splashing good time, there is the resort's two-and-a-half-acre Water Playground, with its waterslides, sand beach, fountains and waterfalls.

At the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, kids are greeted with a stuffed animal and complimentary milk and cookies. Then, they get the kid glove treatment, as the resort has their very own Kids' Concierge who ensures families get a hand with anything child-related, from making reservations at family-friendly restaurants to scheduling pee wee golf or tennis for tykes. The resort's Kids for all Seasons program includes the use of The Children's Center, where youngsters are entertained and educated with activities ranging from making dream catchers to learning rope tricks.

At the Marriott's Camelback Inn Resort, Hopalong College is a seasonal program that engages kids with a wealth of activities ranging from computer classes to Native American storytelling. A program with a legacy of almost 70 years, Hopalong College has a special bond with guests as generations have grown up enjoying this family-oriented tradition.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess renovated their year-round Kid�s Club. Packed with exciting activities and adventure for children and families, the new Kid�s Club �Headquarters� is a brightly-colored play land equipped with a Quiet room and Play room. The Quiet Room features five computer terminals and SONY Playstations for kids to enjoy their favorite video and computer learning games. The Playroom features brightly colored tables and chairs where children can enjoy board games, arts and crafts, Nintendo Game Boys and storytime. Children in the program can participate in morning fitness walks, potato sack races, hulla-hoop contests and the wildly-popular fishing derbies! Fishing poles and bait are provided so kids can try their luck at the resort's catch-and-release lagoon. Other activities include a Western-themed Wrangler Day and eco-friendly Green Thumb Day.

Kulture for Kids Kids like their culture too, as long as it is served fresh and fun. The Kerr Cultural Center offers family-oriented musical ensembles, talent workshops for youths and cameo theatrical events to entertain young and old alike in a quaint adobe recital hall. For just a dollar, kids can explore the colorful legacy of Native American art and artifacts in the Heard Museum North at el Pedregal Festival Marketplace. Changing exhibits and demonstrations here provide a chance for youngsters to see and appreciate the works of indigenous artists from all around the country.

For a real hands-on experience with Native culture, the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch boasts their award-winning Native American Learning Center. Formed as a partnership between the resort and the Hopi Advisory Committee (a group of Hopi individuals who guided the development of the Center), the center was developed to provide guests opportunities to learn and experience aspects of living Native American culture, both on- and off-site. Programs offered at the Learning Center include tours, artisan demonstrations, informal discussions, lectures and cultural exchange dinners. The center also features a reference library complete with books, videos, and audio cassettes as well as an interactive Native American computer kiosk providing more in-depth information. An extension of this program is the resort�s new Native Heritage Seed Garden. Representing the early agricultural practices of traditional Native cultures to their guests, the Garden reflects the resort�s continued commitment to cultural conservation. As families tour the Garden, they can discover more than 30 different varieties of indigenous plants. With the help of Native Seeds SEARCH, a non-profit organization dedicated to seed conservation and the preservation of traditional native crops in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, resort staff have planted scientifically researched and genetically pure strains of flora kept alive by indigenous peoples for hundreds of years. As the Garden continues to develop, its plants will be utilized by the resort�s restaurants and Sonwai Spa. Both the Learning Center and the Garden are featured in the resort�s Family Camp program, which provides opportunities for the whole family to learn about everything from mysterious stone petroglyphs to how to make Indian clay whistles!

Downtown, another family-friendly setting awaits at the renowned Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, where the Young at Art gallery provides an area for kids to see exhibitions by other young people. Then there is the kid-friendly Shemer Art Center, a family-oriented art museum with exhibitions, art classes and even morning story times. And with free admission, the price cannot be beat!

From November through April, families can attend a free Native American dance performance called Native Trails in downtown Scottsdale. Held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, Native Trails provides a unique opportunity for children and adults to learn about the many facets of the Native American culture. Tribes from all over Arizona are represented including the Hopi, Apache, and Navajo. World-champion hoop dancer, Derek Suwaima Davis, and other accomplished traditional dancers perform pow-wow style dances set to traditional songs of the Southwest created with traditional flutes and drums. Native arts, crafts, jewelry and traditional foods such as Navajo tacos and Indian fry bread are also featured at the festivals.

Family Nature Surrounded by a natural wonderland, Scottsdale is the perfect setting for family adventures in the great outdoors. More than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails provide plenty of moderate options perfect for family excursions into one of Scottsdale�s recreation areas, such as the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Kids are also big fans of Jeep and Hummer tours, which allow them to ride safely in the rugged vehicles while colorful guides share tall tales and explain the fascinating habits of the denizens of the Sonoran Desert.

This unforgettable outing can include gold panning, petroglyph walks and chuck-wagon cookouts. And surely the highpoint of a visit here for any youngster has to be a flight over the Sonoran Desert landscape in a hot air balloon. Here, they will get the bird's-eye view of the desert wildlife from the gondola as the balloon drifts quietly across the blue Arizona sky. Horseback and hay rides are another wonderful way to experience the West's living legacy, which also is on display at the Desert Botanical Garden. The best place in the area to learn about the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, kids especially love the Garden's free clue sheet, which turns learning into a game as various cacti and plants are matched with their proper names and places of origin.

Cow Pokes and Indian Princesses Families ready for a taste of the Old West will find it is alive and well at some of Scottsdale's most popular venues. At Rawhide Wild West Town, children of all ages can step back in time courtesy of Arizona's largest Western-themed attraction. Here, the rugged, rollicking frontier days come alive with gunfights between cowboys and desperados and Pow Wows at the Native American village. For smaller buckaroos, there is a petting zoo, stagecoach, train and burro rides. All this Western fun is sure to work up an appetite. A visit to the Golden Belle steakhouse is sure to top off even the meanest hombre's appetite.

Speaking of Western-sized appetites, Pinnacle Peak Patio serves up hearty mesquite-broiled steaks, cowboy beans, and a darn good time! Families with a hankerin' for all things Western will find gunfighters and singing cowboys on hand to liven up the menu. Kids can be deputized and earn junior deputy badges, and then maybe turn dad in for wearing a tie. Scissor-wielding waitresses will then promptly cut off the tie and hang it high with about one million other condemned cravats.

A Walk on the Wild Side Scottsdale is host to an assortment of wildlife at Out of Africa Wildlife Park. And don�t be fooled, this one-of-a-kind adventure park is not a zoo. Rather, their garden-like setting allows visitors to encounter the kingdom of the wild including lions, tigers and panthers as well as their giant python. The park features nine unrehearsed, educational programs daily. Their most popular show, Tiger Splash, features the park staff swimming with tigers! Kids get to see these awesome cats chase their toys and human friends while demonstrating their instinctive behaviors.

Splashing Good Time Wet and wild fun in the middle of the desert? You bet! Scottsdale resorts are famous for their creative and playful use of water offering waterslides, fountains, beaches, free-form pools and lagoons. During the summer, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess features weekend Dive-in Movies, where the screen goes up as the sun goes down over the South Pool, allowing families a novel way to watch favorites like �Shrek� while relaxing on a float. The resort is also home to the Sonoran Splash, a 6,000-square-foot water recreation area with two of the longest resort water slides in Arizona, featuring almost 200 feet of wet and wild fun!

An oasis of fun also is found at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, with its two-and-a-half-acre water playground. A seemingly endless array of options for kids include a three-story water slide, a white sand beach perfect for building sand castles and a gushing waterfall called �Big Gun.� They also feature Dive-In movies at their poolside beach. The Phoenician boasts nine pools, including a 165-foot waterslide, waterfalls and an 11-million gallon necklace pool where families can watch staff feed the resident ducks every morning.

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Media Contact: Laura McMurchie +1 480-429-2253 LM@scottsdalecvb.com