Consider a Day Trip to Sedona and Jerome, Arizona
Sedona and Jerome are two popular tourist destinations in Arizona and they are just two hours north of Scottsdale and about 40 minutes from each other.
Sedona is a town surrounded by stunning Red-Rock Buttes, steep canyon walls and Pine forests. It is known for its vibrant art community, and is filled with excellent restaurants and art galleries.
The area deserves more time, but for a day trip I would recommend two stops in Sedona. First, stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross on your way North from Scottsdale to Sedona. Second, stop and shop and probably eat at Tlaquepaque (The Best of Everything). Tlaquepaque is an outdoors shopping area filled with restaurants, art galleries and other fine shops. Then drive through the Verde Valley to Cottonwood and then up the mountain to Jerome.