Scottsdale, a city of more than 217,000 adjacent to Phoenix, bills itself as a sophisticated city on the move that's at the heart of the Sonoran Desert. It is also one of TravelOrMove's super coolest places in the world.

Ideal backdrop for adventures

Scottsdale's sunny skies and desert setting provide an ideal backdrop for outdoor adventures, golf, spa visits and upscale shopping. The New York Times reportedly has described downtown Scottsdale as "a desert version of Miami's South Beach" filled "plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene." Almost 40 percent of Scottsdale's jobs in the tourism industry, the city attracts 7.5 million visitors annually with an impact of $3.1 billion. The city is home to more than 70 resorts and hotels that generally cater to a higher-end demographic. According to Wikipedia, Scottsdale is third in the nation as having themost AAA Five-Diamond hotels and resorts and the highest number of destination spas in the U.S. Other important employers: Scottsdale Healthcare (6,650 employees), Mayo Clinic (4,900), General Dynamics (3,600), Go Daddy (1,915) and The Vanguard Group (1,899).