Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Civil War battle was fought there.

crapshooter Loc: Fox, Alaska

West Clearcreek Canyon, up on the Rim

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

DJD Loc: Seal Beach, CA

If you don't want to drive very far or if you are limited on time, you might consider this: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-566250-1.html I was very impressed with the place...nice layout and staff.

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

Keep 'em comin'. I live in Mesa and haven't seen a lot of the ones you listed.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I grew up in Glendale then when I got out of the service spent 8 years at ASU then lived in Gilbert another 10 years and still have family there.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

My favorite road. And your pics are beautiful.

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

No. 1 place to visit is the Desert Botanical Garden and the Butterfly Pavilion inside the DBG (free with DBG admission -- you can spend several hours in that one spot alone with your camera, which I do at least twice a year). In addition, there's plenty of nature and wildlife subjects to shoot throughout the Garden -- you can spend anywhere from an hour to all day there. The DBG borders South Scottsdale on the north and east and borders the Phoenix Zoo on the south. Right now there's a fantastic light and sound experience, "Electric Desert" going on and various musical groups with shows in the evenings inside the DBG throughout December. If you have time to take in only one thing, be sure it's the DBG.

And, if you're into photographing (or just watching) people (aka "wildlife") the Waterfront/5th Avenue area in central Scottsdale is a great place to just hang out on one or more of the area's relaxing restaurant patios for happy hour and everything from Mexican, Spanish, Italian, Continental and Pacific Rim cuisine -- my favorites are Thirsty Lion (best happy hour in Scottsdale), Barrio Queen, Tapas Papas Frita and Olive & Ivy. Just a couple of blocks away in Old Town is the Scottsdale Civic Mall, home to AZ88 (best outside patio and largest martinis in Scottsdale) and the famous "LOVE" sculpture. So, you only have to drive (or walk depending on where you're staying) just a few blocks to find some great photo venues (somebody mentioned the Grand Canyon, but that's a 5-hour drive each way).

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

just bought a new 60mm macro lens ( for my MFT OM-D camera ) just for this purpose in Jan, when I go; did I do the right thing ?

genesampson

Take 88 from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake (not the other way as this way puts you against the mountain instead of the cliff side drop off) then to Payson then 260 east to the Mogollon Rim (great overlooks on 300 road and Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes). Elk, bald eagles (and other birds) are commonly seen in and around Green Valley Park in Payson around dawn. Take 87, The Beeline, back south. It's a scenic Byway with wonderful changes in geology. You'd have a great time spending a night in Payson and planning your sunset and sunrise shots. I'm a bit biased as I'm blessed to live in Payson.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Here are some more.
I didn't know about this until my Architecture class took a tour of it. Huge museum and very interesting.
http://www.hallofflame.org/

Glendale Historical Society. When I was growing up this was a working ranch and was in the middle of nowhere about a mile from our ranch. We rode our horses here with friends from the area. The owner of the ranch had a white 1957 Tbird with the circle window hard top.

Superior, Globe Miami area with the open pit mines (Ray Mine) which wiped out the town where my Father lived for a while as a youth and rode his horse down the street roping the senioritas.
Sierra Ancha Mountains, very beautiful scenery
Florence Courthouse is beautiful and the town is quite interesting.
Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg is fascinating.

Take highway 88 from Roosevelt Dam north to where it intersects 87 this has some beautiful views of the Tonto Basin as well as Tonto Creek.

A bit up from that intersection is the road to Gisela where AZ pioneer Daniel W. Jones' Wife was killed in a storm and his youngest child when a tree fell on them and they are buried there. His statue is in Pioneer Park across the road north of the Mesa Temple. He is also noted in other museums including the science museum in downtown Phoenix. He organized the first irrigation canal in the area following the ancient Indian canal and founded Lehi. He petitioned for the formation of the Salt River Pima reservation for some Indians who had no land and were impoverished. He also hired them to work for him. He wrote the book "Forty Years Among the Indians" Less than an 8th grade education and speaks and writes better than 95% of college graduates today.

Pleasant Valley, another beautiful place, where the very famous Pleasant Valley War occured or also known as the Tonto Basin Feud, or Tonto Basin War, or Tewksbury-Graham Feud. Beautiful scenery.

Also south of the Valley is Tucson which is very rich in history and scenery including the beautiful Catalina Mountains and a must visit, Sabino Canyon (A whole day of scenic shooting there). San Xavier Mission just south of Tucson.
Saguaro National Park
Old Tucson Movie Studios
Old Tucson (The real one)

Tucson though is about 2 hours south of Scottsdale so is a bit of a drive and more like a 2-3 day trip.

Old Town Scottsdale and there are museums there and many restaurants (Take photos of your food LOL)

Finally I have been many places just following forest roads. I use the US Forest maps and my Jeep Wrangler to go to places by the hundreds where you are generally the only person for miles like on top of Four Peaks where you find pottery and stuff laying all over the ground.

Have fun.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

The poor OP. We're taking him all over the place. You'll have to stay a month to do all this! Don't forget Taliesen West. Just how much mobility will you have while in Scottsdale?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

True.
It takes years while living there to see it all.
But it is nice to know all the options, look at locations and time then high grade what one wants to do.
Many can be done in loop day, or 2 if extended, trips.
Example, Scottsdale-Winslow-Jerome-Clarkdale-Cottonwood-Montezuma Well/Castle back to Scottsdale.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Thank you. Just moved here permanently from Michigan after wintering here for 4 years. Getting too old for the snow and don't have to shovel the sunshine.