Taliesin West is the desert laboratory of Frank Lloyd Wright, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark. They offer multiple ways to visit, including the self-guided audio tour, Behind-The-Scenes tour, Apprentice Shelters Hike, Golden Hour Sunset Hike, Sonoran Desert Plant Hike and Tasting. The most popular visitation experience is through the self-guided audio tour, which my partner and I opted for on a Sunday morning during their last slot at 10:45am and purchased the additional matching card set. We parked in the small, gravel parking lot out front, walked to the gift shop entrance to start our audio tour. Since we were about 15 minutes late, we were advised to start a few stations into the tour and follow through until its completion. While it's clearly outlined on its website to bring your own earphones, we forgot to, but we were provided with equipment to borrow. We also downloaded the app for listening. This day was particularly hot, so we opted to skip over the outside stations and instead listen to their tour while sitting in the inside stations. The site in general is not very air-conditioned, although some stations do have some air-conditioning. I would highly recommend bringing an umbrella to shade from the sun as well as a hat and handheld personal fan. The experience speaks for itself. But I'd recommend it for anyone in the area with free time in the morning and an appreciation for art. read more

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Truly a treasure of humanity, and has been awarded so by UNESCO. For Frank Lloyd Wright, this was his Western expression that allowed him to connect with nature in so many ways. After seeing several of his works, this is perhaps the best. Everything flows, everything connects, from the reflecting tiles to the Chinoiserie to the additional and more expansive rooms as his creation added staff who needed more space. It is interesting to visualize the space as it would have been when he lived here. Beautiful views of the desert and Phoenix far away. Yes, it ain't cheap but well worth it. read more

I really enjoyed this. I didn't think it would be my jam, but nana wanted to go so you do what nana says. Turned out to be really interesting and beautiful. We had a struggle with her headphones and luckily they had a pair to borrow. The whole place was beautiful and I learned a lot. If I had to pick one negative it would be the app worked in a funny way for the self guided tour. You hit the next button, then you click the link then you click play. It wasn't a big deal but a couple times I got stuck playing the same section over again. Beware of the gift shop they have some great stuff, and it's all expensive. I had to get a book for nana. I highly recommend read more

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This place is so rad! We took the self-guided audio tour. Got to walk it at our own pace. Was a very cool experience. read more

Taliesin West - Masonry theater - Architectural Tours Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Such an incredible place to visit. The audio tour was so helpful. There were umbrellas to shield us from the blazing sun provided at the entry. Inspiring to see what Frank Lloyd Wright and his crew built in the desert so many years ago. read more

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Lovely morning walking around the grounds taking the self guided tour. The experience was great but at $44 a person seems a bit steep for what you get. I've been to a few different Wright sites and I'm always amazed how seamlessly he blended nature and structure to create a harmonious design. The availability of umbrellas was a nice touch to shield you from the sun since it is located in the Arizona desert. read more

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Took a self-guided audio tour while in town. This would be our 31st FLLW house visited, which is kind of crazy. But when in the general area (Las Vegas) of Taliesin West, it just made sense to take a side quest and visit here. The audio tour is very good - lots of information. We were unable to do a regular tour due to timing and scheduling, but this was fine. I would recommend it unless you want the every inch of the house tour. There were a few places that weren't part of the tour I would have liked to see but oh well. The gift shop was also very nice - lots of items. Picked up a couple stickers, pins and postcards to send. read more

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For any history lovers or just those who can admire and appreciate the gift of architecture, Taliesin West is a must see. I grew up fascinated by architecture and the way an inanimate object like a building could take on its own personality. Being a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, at Taliesin West you can retrace the steps of an American Icon and physically sit in the chairs within his living quarters and sit at the very drafting table where creative genius took shape. From the self guided tour and audio from Wright himself, visitors are immersed into the grounds, vision and views intended for this remarkable building. The tour is about an hour and may be challenging for someone with some physical limitations. It is not impossible, perhaps more of a general awareness to come prepared with a portable chair or other assistance device. You can avoid any large crowds by entering the property with tickets that are early entry which is nice, particularly in the hot AZ sun. The volunteers there working were all quite friendly but I think lacked the more in-depth knowledge of the life and experiences this property one had within its walls. For anyone with an interest in AZ history and architecture, this is a must see! read more

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ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE: I'm an architecture fan, so touring this Frank Lloyd Wright house felt truly special. Seeing the way he used light, space, and materials up close gives you a much deeper appreciation for his genius than photos ever could. Tickets are quite expensive, but it's still worth it to experience the design firsthand and understand why his work remains so influential. If you have any interest in architecture or design, this tour is time well spent. read more

My friend and I did a self-guided tour in August around 10am. Be sure that your phone is charged up as you need to download the tour onto your phone. It takes about an hour tour the house. We were told that half of the tour is inside and half was outside. That is technically true. However, many of the rooms inside are not air-conditioned. We recommend you take a bottle of water with you. Other than the heat, we very much enjoyed our tour. Some of the house needs some TLC but I imagine that the upkeep of this property is challenging. It is well worth it to finish at the store. It's a very nice store with clean restrooms, water refills, and clean bathrooms. It's a lovely gift shop. read more

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Lovely setting and we are a frank Lloyd wright fan. For the price, we all would have preferred a human guide. The headphones aren't as interesting as a person. The artist in residence was meh. All in all would definitely recommend. read more

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Loved the tour! Learned so much and enjoyed the grounds tremendously! Been here twice and enjoyed it each time

Let me start out by saying this is a vital piece of history that I'm thankful we were able to visit. We will be seeking out buildings designed by FLW on our future travel & a documentary as well. We got a good overview of Organic Architecture, and the site is breathtaking. However, this is a *really* expensive tour for a self-guided audio tour - $44/adult for a 60-minute tour you're not allowed to deviate from (staff will be waiting at various points and stop people who aren't following the route), and the staff were not friendly, helpful, or engaged. With that price point, we don't bring our kids; this is a tragic side-effect of their prices, since the next generation is already likely to be less interested than today's adults. And, behind-the-scenes tours are around $100, so if you are interested in their kitchen or living quarters or more of the landscape, it will be very expensive to see. I hate to use a trendy phrase, but this feels like gatekeeping at a National Historic Landmark. read more

His winter home. We did a tour on Saturday morning before heading out of town. So glad we did. The architecture is just stunning. We weee there the Saturday after thanksgiving and the weather was what they would have had when they lived there. Love the style, the concepts, and the layout. Helpful staff, and I liked the self guided audio tour. Go at your own pace. Highly recommend you bring earbuds so you don't have to get theirs. Will definitely be back read more

Taliesin West - Architectural Tours Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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I recently attended the "Outstanding in the Field" dinner event at Taliesin West and it was an amazing experience. We toured the Frank Lloyd Wright property, including two theaters, design studio and beautiful architecture. The staff were very knowledgeable and professional. Following the tour, we sat down to a family style 5 course farm to table dinner. It was an amazing event! read more

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While staying in Scottsdale my husband and I took a day for art and visited Taliesin West. I was taken back at all the details! It was beautiful and inspired me as an artist! I would highly recommend a visit here. We did not listen to the audio as we wanted to take everything in. read more

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Guided tour with headphones was very nice to go at my own pace and learn about how Frank Lloyd Wright designed his home in Arizona. They give you headphones if you do not bring your own, and just ask for you to return the adapter, which they have for usbc and lightning. They also had a standalone device for those who can't download the app. $40 was a bit steep for a tour that seemingly has time blocks even though it is self guided. The store has some great pieces for gifts which are tax free. read more

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I'd heard from many people that Taliesin West wasn't to be missed on a trip to Phoenix. I'm so glad I listened! This place is interesting for anyone who likes architecture, history, nature, and learning about communal living. Taliesin West has their tours down to a science. You have a timed entry, and an audio guided tour. We got an email the day before telling us we could download an app and use our own phones and headphones, if we wanted. That made it so quick and easy once we got there! We were literally guided through 16 stops throughout the property. I'd say each stop had 2-4 minutes of audio, and really points out small details in each space that might otherwise be missed. I felt like I learned a lot about architecture and Wright as a person! The only thing I would have liked to see more of was living quarters. We mostly saw working spaces and communal dining and entertainment spaces, but I wanted to see where people slept! What did the bathrooms look like, where did the food get cooked, etc. Still a very cool experience! Also a great gift shop. read more

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We purchased our tickets on line about 3 months in advance. We booked a 9:15am tour. Unfortunately, I found the light at this hour not conducive for good photography, but due to our travel schedule, it was the only time that worked. If you're into photography, perhaps an afternoon tour would be better. On the day, we parked (complimentary parking, yay!) and checked in at the ticket booth. They directed us to the gift shop where we picked up the audio tour headphones. (You're encouraged to bring your own as the audio tour is played through your phone). The tour starts outside, so be prepared for being in the sun. I found each audio station quite long to listen to. You are then directed to various rooms and more outdoor points of interest. There's a docent in some rooms if you have questions. You can linger as long as you like and even sit on chairs and take in the moment. Since everyone's listening to an audio tour, it's a tranquil experience, although perhaps a little impersonal and leads to a tendency of not making remarks or discussing points with others you're with. You just kind of stay in your audio tour bubble. The gift shop offers really quality items, including Christmas ornaments, books, hats, table linens, clocks, T-shirts and garden decor. Restrooms are available in the gift shop. I thought the cost of this tour at $39 each (September '25) was steep. I think $25 would be more appropriate. In total, the tour, taking photos and visiting the gift shop, took about an hour and 45 minutes. Helpful? read more

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An exquisite look into Frank Lloyd Wright and his architectual camp. We did the self guided tour and was very impressed with the building and the tour. A lot of the tour was outdoors so plan accordingly for the weather. read more

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This is by far one of the best historic experiences in the greater Phoenix area. After 4 years of visiting as an architecture buff I final stumbled upon Taliesin West, and years later, I'm still reveling in the experience at this historic landmark. I chose to tour solo with a borrowed headset and iconic red umbrella to beat the heat! There are group options, behind the scenes tours, family tours and unique nighttime programming (where I'm sure the space transforms), but the solo tour allows you to explore (and photograph) the inner works of the indoor, outdoor, and studio spaces at your own pace which is appreciated. A few tips: *Be mindful that you'll be walking in an out of spaces so the experience is a bit less comfortable in the summer heat or in poor weather! *wear comfortable shoes, and lather on the sunscreen you'll be walking! *this is not one and done, there's certainly enough information and experiences provided to explore this historic landmark in many ways! read more

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One of the more experiential FLW locations. I will always love the J&J campus with all of the interesting and funny stories (like the three legged secretary chairs) but this was a wonderful example of how he is able to incorporate nature into his design. Form and function, with gorgeous colors you don't always see in other designs. The audio tour was very good and a nice length. The gift shop was awesome-- wish we'd allotted more time in the day to visit it! Overall would absolutely recommend visiting if you love architecture or art. read more

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Of architecture, of art, Taliesin West is a masterpiece right from the start! Finally! After trying many times to work this visit into my schedule, I finally found the time to go see Taliesin West in the desert foothills of the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale. The word "Taliesin" means "shining brow" in Welsh, which pays homage to the owner and architectural genius, Frank Lloyd Wright. The first Taliesin, located in Wisconsin, was built on the "brow" of a hill. The Arizona counterpart is just as captivating for visitors with its stunning desert setting. Taliesin West was built in 1937 using local materials such as desert rocks and sand, echoing its Arizona surroundings. It is declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. I absolutely have a deep appreciation for UNESCO sites and have visited many, especially during my travels around Asia and the UK. Visiting Taliesin West was an amazing immersive experience. The audio tour (which you must download on your device) guides you through every stop, providing detailed descriptions that enhance your appreciation for the site. There are 16 stops, each showcasing the site's amazing artistic design. The tour starts in Whitman Square, a beautiful open area that sets the stage for the rest of the visit. From there, we moved to the Courtyard, a lovely outdoor space where you can really appreciate the architecture. The next stop was Frank Lloyd Wright's office, where we could see where he worked and got inspired. Throughout the house, there are beautiful Chinese porcelain decorations, adding a unique and artistic touch to the place. My favorite was the Prow Pool, which adds incredible beauty to the house. There is also the Cabaret Theater, designed as a venue for the apprentices to enjoy the cultural aspects of the arts, especially music and theater. Now that I've visited Taliesin West, stepped onto it, and immersed myself in the architectural genius of Frank Lloyd Wright, I can't wait to visit Taliesin East in Wisconsin very soon. read more

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This work of architecture mastery is sure something ... A unique and expansive house which complements its desert environment. Created and lived in by Frank Lloyd Wright and his family. You can enter his studio and see some of his famous building designs !! Definitely worth a visit. Fascinating structures and natural materials. read more

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While planning a trip to Scottsdale, I knew I had to see the beauty of Frank Lloyd Wright's desert "camp" and lab. I educated myself before purchasing a ticket on what I was going to see and how it was going to be presented to me. I was also aware we could not access the entire house as some is blocked off for longer, more in-depth tours. It was worth every penny. I arrived and purchased a ticket for the next available time and I wandered the giftshop and entry grounds before starting my tour. Even though it is self-guided, the tour is spaced out so you can enjoy small groups and not large crowds. The audio tour gave a lot of wonderful information and history of the area and FLW's life and works. I love that the home is non assuming, and it makes use of the light and angles to capture the best moments for drafting and viewing pieces of architecture. I found this to be a wonderful experience to learn more about one of the most talented, innovative, and brilliant architects ever to be born. read more

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Even though it was a hot day, we enjoyed the tour with audio. If I would have known the audio downloaded on my phone, I would have brought my AirPods but they provide you with ear buds that connect to your phone. The audio was very informative and also not boring! Highly recommend. read more

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I enjoyed the self-guided audio tour and grounds displaying the organic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and laboratory in the Sonoran desert, when I visited on a weekday this January. Named on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Taliesin West is located in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, Arizona. The name Taliesin West nods to the original first home, Taliesin, located in Frank Lloyd Wright's native Wisconsin. Established in 1937, TW was built and cared for mainly by Wright himself and his apprentices. Preferring local materials, it was built using desert masonry consisting of local rock, cement, desert sand and wood. Roofs made of canvas are still covering the buildings today and provide nice, muted sunlight for the day tours. Glass windows were installed much later. I learned all of this and much, much more while listening to the self-guided audio tour that pointed out all of the significant features of the grounds, much of the history, and even quotes from Frank Lloyd Wright himself, in his own voice. Much of the art, including petroglyph rocks, Asian sculptures and panels, and furniture pieces that could be considered pieces of art themselves, are also described in the audio tour. After checking in at the ticket booth located directly beyond two large parking lot areas, audio tour devices and headphones can be picked up in the gift store located nearby. Restrooms are also located inside the gift store. There's not much shade when exploring the exterior so bring a hat and sunglasses if so inclined. The studio where Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices worked was also able to be toured. His original desk is still located in the same spot. Blueprints of several of his designs are tacked to the display boards near the drafting tables. I was impressed at how every design, color, and material were carefully thought out to flow and become one with the native desert surroundings. My favorite quote of Frank Lloyd Wright's during the self guided tour was as I looked out from the "bow" of the grounds (so named because it can be imagined as the bow of a ship), an angled concrete ledge that dropped off into the undeveloped Sonoran desert, he explained that the unique vegetation and dirt floor against the desert sky reminded him of being under the ocean on the sea floor. I couldn't help but agree, and wondered why this had never occurred to me before. He has influenced my way of seeing and experiencing the desert, even from beyond the grave. I found this to be an excellent tour and came away knowing more about Frank Lloyd Wright and also feeling closer to nature. read more

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Self guided tour..Overpriced. Slow. Rude personnel. The company needs to catch up to modern times. For example, why have everyone download the app and use corded earbuds? Have Bluetooth automatically connect to phones, earbuds or hearing aides. Don't make people remove hearing aides to use corded earbuds. People want to take pictures. Having to hold the phone with the app open, switching back and forth from app to camera was a pain. Hand out any written dialogue automatically. The staff from beginning to end was rude and not focused on enhancing people's experience here. For $44 open up the areas instead of having ropes and "do not" enter signs. Much of the area was needlessly off limits. This tour was a poor value imo. For FLW's vision, the restrictive vibe was antithetical. I'm uninterested in continuing this review..just save your money and time. read more

Terrible customer service at the check in. Down right rude. Mix up in our tour tickets, my fault. Just wish they had been a little nice.

An incredible and inspiring place ! Definitely must visit ! I wish I could give it a 4.5 Parking: There's a large parking lot with plenty of free parking available. Plus the drive up from the main road is stunning and inspiring as well. You can tell why this spot was chosen. Tour: You need to book your tickets online ahead of time. There is a guided audio tour, so make sure to bring your phone and headphones. There is a ticket booth so it may be possible to order tickets there, though it seemed every gets theirs online. Foe the audio tour you need to download the app. My data connection wasn't too good out here but you can use their free guest wifi to download it. There is 1 area you need to be part of a guided tour to see (not available for audio tours). Unfortunately guided tours were not available when we visited The tour: You are outside in the heat and sub for a LARGE portion of this tour ! Come prepared ! They do have some complimentary sun umbrellas for your use but a lot of them are damaged. The audio tour was helpful and informative, but seemed a bit limited in information. It did have a few tidbits of architectural things which was very appreciated. The space: Obviously it is absolutely amazing and inspiring! Just being here and experiencing it was amazing ! I personally could have just followed the path without the audio tour and been just as inspired/satisfied with the experience Shop: There is quite an extensive gift shop on site. That being said, there's quite a lot of items available to order online as well. If you do shop in store, they do have free shipping if you purchase over a certain price point. Other things to note: There is a water fountain right at the edge of the drafting room There is no cafe on site read more

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A lovely experience at a Christmas party on the breathtaking grounds of Frank Lloyd Wright home. How blessed Scottsdale is to have a foundation continually renovating and caring for the upkeep. Many hours must go in lovingly to care and preserve this lovely southwestern treasure. I also took a tour several years ago here so hopefully you can visit and tour also. So peaceful here with quail and bunnies running thru as well. The grounds are enjoyed by all. read more

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Love this place, somehow i always feel at peace touring this wonderful creation of Frank Lloyd Wright. The arts and crafts movement certainly found its place here. I could write a long missive but others found words better than mine. I would have loved to work with him and in this space. My muse woke, always a great thing! Visit, the price is not too bad but they have no military nor elder discount. Different tours to suit your curiosity. read more

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First time visiting when sister in town even though I'm a resident. Go at your own pace with iPhone and personal earbuds. Considering other attractions I town, I thought it was a little pricey. Interesting but not something I would do again. read more

A bit of a bummer for me on a stunning day because: --audio only tour. It felt weird to be plugged into my phone and I missed the interaction between a small group and an expert guide. --many of the spaces were closed off: no bedroom(s), bathroom(s), or kitchen. --the secret garden was also closed off --no more coffee or cold drinks for sale (sitting in the sun, talking and enjoying the views after self-guided tour would have been delightful) --the gardens beyond the house were closed off Here are the positives: I was surprised that we could sit on the furniture--that was a nice surprise. The gift shop was pleasant and offered several interesting items for sale. Two staff members were informative about the four petroglyph-covered boulders on the tour. I am unclear if the foundation has permission from the indigenous peoples to display the petroglyphs, however. The same question remains for the Japanese art throughout the house and exterior walls. Apparently, the tour will expand in January 2025 to include more of the house and grounds. Still, for now, at $44 per person, it's very limited, and you will likely be done within an hour. That's a pity. read more

I was planning on doing this tour for over a year and really glad now I did it. It was a great experience. My Dad was an Architect and we had alot of Architecture books in the house; including of course FLW books. I was very impressed with the Giftshop and the professional, knowledgeable staff: Ms. Jackson and Mayda. This Giftshop has amazing custom designed FLW themed shirts, hats, coffee mugs, hard to find specialty books and even an FLW chess set! Very cool. The Taliesin West house is very impressive considering it was built in the 1930s and way ahead of its time. I preferred the self guided audio tour so I could go at my own pace and I redid a few stops on the tour not having to worry about following a guide. I liked the explanations such as the pool being triangular to reflect and symbolize the desert mountainscape behind the TW complex. There are several intriguing rooms. I liked the Garden Room and theatre rooms the most. There is also an adorable sculpture garden. The staff was excellent but a few of them didn't know the answers to simple questions such as what year TW was turned into a museum and when the furniture was made. All staff should know the basics at this prestigious landmark. Another issue is I hiked in on foot and found out later that is not allowed. The Manager said there's rattlesnakes on the surrounding preserve(not the museum area)so don't walk take an Uber. I bump up to five stars partially because the Manager did give me a ride out on the golf cart to FLW street but don't ask or expect for that and don't walk in like I did. My issue is this should be on their website and all their media which apparently it is not. I paid $39 for the Tour including audio pod guide which is probably the most I ever paid for a museum type tour but I consider it worth it since this is a rare, hard to find type of landmark and subject matter. I also rank this attraction 5 stars for being so unique and celebrating a great architect which is rare, as our pop culture focuses too much on movie and rock stars; not so much on these important, historical, cultural icons. Highly recommended. read more

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Taliesin was an amazing experience. It was so fun to walk the grounds and go through the rooms to experience the history of Frank Lloyd Wright and how and where he taught his students. The audio tour was excellent and provided a lot of insight into the principles of his design work. read more

Went to the FLW Discovery Day at Taliesin. An hour self guided tour with a docent in each area to chat with. $5.00 for adults (Discovery Day is twice a year) and so well worth it! We asked inside/outside,and the museum shop is one of the best around. Again we'll worth the $5, however, I wouldn't go during regular days because the cost is ridiculous. read more

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Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most famous architects in the world, and in history. He built homes for other people. I'm from Chicago and in the neighborhood of Oak Park there is a street with Frank's homes that he designed, but didn't live in. The homes that he built and lived in are amazing, especially for the era they were built in. In today's standards they may not be huge houses or anything special, but when they were built they would have been huge houses with highly advanced technology. Today, you can tour his homes he has called Taliesin. The original is Taliesin in Wisconsin, which I have been to and toured. Now I got the chance to tour Taliesin West in Scottsdale AZ. Both are amazing to visit, but spread across the country. If you're a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, I highly recommend visiting both properties. read more

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I love art and have been to the House on the Rock in Spring Green WI so I was excited to book a tour at Taliesin West. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the guided tour. Frank, no not Mr Wright, lead a group of about 15-20 guests through the grounds and structures of the area. It's stunning. The compression and release design was an aesthetic felt over and over throughout the tour. We learned so much from our guide. The ability to be able to ask questions along the way also was a great way to learn. I didn't take a lot of photos because I wanted to focus on the art and design and be in the moment. However, I did snap a few from the prow. This was one of my favorite areas. read more

Taliesin West - Architectural Tours Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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I'm a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs and it was such a nice surprise to discover that his desert hide away, Taliesin West, was located not far from where we were staying in Phoenix. This compound is picturesque and located in a beautiful location. This is a treat for mid-century modern and architecture fans. The tickets are not cheap but it's worth doing the self guided tour. Make an early reservation before it gets too hot and while the light is nice for pictures. The parking lot isn't too far from the main grounds and the living quarters so if you're with older people who might not want to walk as much it's really not that far. The staff is attentive and can answer any questions you might have. Make sure to ask for discounts on admission like being a local resident or AAA. read more

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