If you’re making a list of underappreciated places in Arizona, be sure to put Prescott right at the top. Affectionately known as “Everybody’s Hometown,” Prescott blends small town charm with outdoor adventure and sprinkles in a dollop of history. Here are some highlights you don’t want to miss when visiting.
Courthouse Plaza
Prescott boasts one of Arizona’s most distinctive downtowns, anchored by the stately courthouse built in 1916. Surrounding the two-story Neoclassical Revival-style building is a grassy lawn shaded by more than 170 trees. It is an old-fashioned town square, the kind you don’t find much anymore. For decades, this urban oasis has served as a gathering place for celebrations, commemorations, and festivals. Some restaurants not to be missed around the plaza are Bill’s Pizza, Brown Bag Burger, or tapas and creekside dining at El Gato Azul.
Whiskey Row
Adjacent to Courthouse Plaza is historic Whiskey Row. This avenue of saloons and red-light establishments was the scene of much debauchery and gunplay in frontier days. Push through the swinging doors of the Palace Restaurant and Saloon and drink where Wyatt and Virgil Earp and Doc Holliday once drank. Or tuck into a tender steak or half-pound burger. Today, a colorful collection of galleries, shops, and eateries stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the watering holes of Whiskey Row, offering something for everyone.
Walking Tours
If you’re a fan of old-timey gossip, don’t miss the downtown walking tours conducted by the Chamber of Commerce. They take place weekend mornings from May through October unless there is a special event on the Plaza. You’ll see a different side of Prescott as tour guides dish the dirt on some legendary residents. Topics include the 1900 Whiskey Row fire, the Victorian homes of Nob Hill, shenanigans of early politicians, brothels and speakeasies, resident ghosts, and the shenanigans of latter-day politicians.
Sharlot Hall Museum
Spread across four downtown acres, visitors will find the First Territorial Governor’s Mansion, an elegant log cabin from 1864 still in its original location, several other historic buildings, numerous exhibits, and gardens bursting with flowers. It’s named for a remarkable woman, Sharlot M. Hall, historian and poet, who created the museum.
Watson Lake
Nestled amid the Granite Dells, this is Prescott’s most striking lake. The Dells are a beautiful collection of massive boulders. Rounded and stacked, these sculpted rocks rise directly from the water and then spill across the shore in bony clusters. Hike a 5-mile loop around the lake lined by cottonwoods and boulders. Views are spectacular every step of the way.
Prescott Ebike
If you prefer to enjoy your sightseeing while seated, Prescott Ebikes has you covered. Ride in comfort, while also enjoying a little exercise with an electric bicycle. On their popular self-guided lakeside trail rides, they meet you with the bike at the trailhead and pick it up after you’re finished. You just have to show up and cruise.
Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary
There’s something sweetly charming about this rescue zoo. Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary is a small but intriguing non-profit wildlife refuge housing a variety of well-tended critters. You’ll appreciate the easy-to-navigate grounds, knowledgeable staff, and up-close interaction with the animals. There’s even a play area for families with kids.
Phippen Museum
Named for Cowboy Artists of America co-founder George Phippen, the Phippen Museum showcases western art with all its inherent drama. Bucking broncos, blazing sunsets and radiant landscapes are captured in paintings, photographs, and sculptures.
Kayak Prescott Lakes
Born to be Wild makes it easy to get out on the water. They deliver kayaks, paddleboards and canoes to the lake of your choice—Watson, Willow, Goldwater—and pick them up again at the scheduled time. Explore miles of shoreline, slip in and out of slender coves, glide past the boulders of the Granite Dells, and paddle across open water. Born to be Wild operates year-round, weather permitting.
Granite Gardens Trail
Granite Gardens makes a great kid friendly hike, but why should the half-pints have all the fun? You’ll clamber across boulders and climb an actual 38-step staircase in the middle of nowhere, an impressive engineering feat. Circle the dome-like formation of Castle Rock and then catch your breath on a bench bearing the words “Go outside and play.” After crossing a grassy cleft, the trail scrambles back into the granite, weaving among weirdly shaped rock piles and squeezing through a narrow grotto for a 1.5-mile loop. Now aren’t you glad you came outside to play?
Roger Naylor is an Arizona travel writer and author. His latest book is Arizona National Parks and Monuments: Scenic Wonders and Cultural Treasures of the Grand Canyon State. He is a member of the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame and narrator of Verde Canyon Railroad. For more info, visit www.rogernaylor.com.
