City: Scottsdale, AZ

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (480) 860-2700

Address: 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.

Description: Frank Lloyd Wright’s brilliance in creating organic architecture that harmonizes with its surroundings is perfectly exemplified at Taliesin West, which served as Wright’s winter home, studio, and architectural campus from 1937 until his death in 1959. The 600-acre site is nestled amid cactus and scrub, with wide-ranging views of Phoenix to the south and mountains to the east. At first glance, you may think Taliesin West looks strange. But the eccentricities of its design quickly grow on you as you learn how Wright and his apprentices gathered rocks from the desert floor and sand from the washes to use as building materials. You also will come to appreciate Wright’s attention to detail and how he used light and space. Taliesin West offers multiple guided tours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. They range from 1 to 3 hours and from $18 to $60. Times and rates vary by season and day of the week, so check the Wright Foundation’s website for specifics. The 1-hour Panorama Tour takes visitors around the campus, through the Cabaret Theater and Music Pavilion, and includes a peak at Wright’s office. The 3-hour Behind the Scenes Tour takes a much more intimate look at the grounds, and you’re treated to tea in the Dining Room.