Phoenix to Prescott: My Quick Weekend Escape from the Heat!
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
I love exploring all the small historic towns around Arizona. I’ve already visited pretty much all of them, with Prescott being one of the few I come back to most often. I just relocated back to Arizona this summer (I lived in Tucson and Flagstaff about 10 years back). Since my move fell during the hottest part of the year, I have been planning a lot of daytrips to escape the dreadful unending 100+ degree temps. Fortunately, there are a lot of small mountain towns located within a reasonably easy drive from “The Valley of the Sun” including: Flagstaff, Jersome, Cottonwood, Sedona, and Bisbee.
Mike and I visit Flagstaff most often, however, Prescott is a closer drive and we haven’t been here in a long time so we decided to spice things up a bit. This town has been nicknamed “Everybody’s Hometown” because everybody is supposed to be able to find something that reminds them of home here no matter where that may be. We feel like it is a friendly welcoming small town. I love the Victorian architecture (I recommend a walk down Mt. Vernon street). On one side note, the town’s name is pronounce Press-kit, not Press-cot which I find strange. The town is also home to the oldest rodeo, held continuously since 1888.
The elevation in this town sits at ~5200 ft so temps are considerably cooler than Phoenix. Morning temps were in the comfortable 60 degree range when we arrived and temps topped out around 80 later in the day. This is considerably cooler (about 25 degrees so) which makes a huge difference. In Phoenix, we can barely go outside after 9am so it was nice to sit outside for coffee, take our time hiking, and stroll around the old-time Main Street without worrying at all about overheating.
One of the things I love most about this town is the easy access to lakes, beautiful pine-lined hiking trails, and the amazing Peavine bike trail which runs along Watson Lake. You can check out my Prescott activity guide for more of my favorite things to do here.
This time we decided to hike a trail within the Prescott National Forest as our main activity. Also on our agenda was having a drink at the iconic Palace Saloon which is the oldest bar in the state. It’s located on historic Whiskey Row but somehow we never got around to stopping in (we were always too busy checking out all the shops downtown).
We decided to take the slightly longer more 89 N scenic route from Phoenix (about a 2 hour drive). The mountain views were incredibly and we avoided the I-17 “race car track” as Mike calls it (the drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff is always pretty crazy with traffic). This route was much more enjoyable and we will definitely be taking it again on any future daytrips/roadtrips. Check out some of the gorgeous mountain views along the way. There are some pullouts along the road if you want to take better pictures. As you can see the road is completely empty in the morning!
We also passed by the beautiful Prescott Forest on our way downtown to our coffeeshop. Just seeing the pines made me happy as I am used to seeing cacti all the time now.
First off: A quick coffee stop
We stopped by our favorite local coffeehouse Wild Iris before heading out to the national forest. I was a bit surprised that this place was still open after all these years but everything seemed pretty much the same right down to the lovely garden patio.
They serve great coffee drinks and also offer a selection of pastries, bagels, and quiche. Prices are quite high for a small town (but obviously much cheaper than paying for a full breakfast). The interior is very nice too, but we opted to enjoy a rare morning coffee outside.
Honestly, we were happy just to be able to sit outside as it is way too hot this time of year by us to even consider dining al fresco. It will be at least September, maybe even October before we can do so in Phoenix. I even had to put a light sweater on as the temp difference was pretty dramatic.
I ordered a Americano and Mike a regular drip (it was a very strong dark roast). Both drinks were decent although there were some grinds in the coffee which was a bit of a disappointment for the high price, but the free refills were nice. We ordered a slice of veggie quiche and a blueberry crumb cake – both were decent although quite pricey. We relaxed for a while in the pretty garden patio (I love the fountain) before embarking on our hike.
Hiking in the Prescott National Forest
We were looking to keep our hiking a bit more low-key as we had a lot of other things on our itinerary for the day. We chose a shorter, easier hike called the West Lake Trail No. 351. On previous visits we hiked more iconic trails like Thumb Butte and the Constellation Loop which I also recommend. We were seeking something a bit more low-key and this is exactly what we got with this trail.
The West Lake was just as scenic as other trails we have hiked in this area only completely deserted. We had the entire trail to ourselves which was quite surprising given the beautiful temps. We lucked out with the skies completely cloudy (this area is pretty sunny the majority of the year). The sun adds a lot of extra heat so we were happy to avoid it completely. When you are coming from the Sonoran Desert where the sun blasts down on you 24/7, a lack of sunlight is always a good thing.
The trek was 1.5 miles each way and not overly hilly (the sign said about 300 feet of elevation gain). We got in a little workout but nothing too major, so exactly what we were seeking. We loved the beautiful pine scenery and the beautiful mountain viewpoints along the way. The cloudy skies really made the mountains stand out even more. Here are some pictures we took during our hike. There are some nice overlooks along the way. I imagine the scenery will be even more impressive if you are coming up from the desert.
Strangely, we did not cross paths with one single hiker during our entire 3 mile trek. We saw a couple riding horseback and that’s it. It was so peaceful and the views were beautiful. It’s so nice to see green pine trees and enjoy cool temps after months hiking in extreme heat looking at nothing but cacti. Sure, I love all the exotic trails around Phoenix, but it’s way too hot this time of year and it’s fun to change up the scenery and see something different.
On a side note, I saw a signing stating “this is Bear Country” on the trail map. I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant to hike as we were the sole car in the parking lot. Fortunately, we didn’t see any evidence of bears but just a head’s up if you are scared. I think watching the very realistic bear attack in “Backcountry” left me terrified. However, I try to keep in mind that the couple in the movie venture off the main trail and camp in the remote wilderness. On a side note, mountain lions, coyotes, and foxes also inhabit the area. We didn’t see any evidence of any wildlife but we did see many gigantic butterflies that did not seem to leave us alone.
- Trailhead location: Cayuse Equestrian Trailhead (Granite Basin Rd.).
- Fee: $5 or display your National Park pass in your car window.
- Amenities: Restroom, water for horses, picnic tables
Exploring the historic downtown
This town easily has one of the nicest downtown squares in the state. I prefer the hiking trails and overall vibe of Flagstaff, but I’ll admit this downtown has more going for it. There is a beautiful historic courthouse (The Yavapai County Courthouse est. in 1916) as the centerpiece. On either side, you will find rustic eateries, lots of local shops, and historic Whiskey Row.
We took a stroll around the courthouse grounds. There is a historic fountain and some historic memorials (both war and Western based) along the route. There were a lot of people around, picnicking and just enjoying the mild summer temps in the grassy areas.
Here are some of the memorials we saw along the route:
If you like the Old West culture, you will love it here. Rustic restaurants include: Lone Spur Cafe, Doc’s BBQ and Whiskey, and Red White and Brew. It’s easy to find BBQ, burgers, and steak here. Many of these places have a touristy cowboy theme so definitely a fun time for anyone into The Wild West. On a side note, I’ve never seen so many people in my life wearing cowboy hats. Everywhere I turned -walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant, etc. I saw a cowboy hat and boots.
There are a lot of touristy shops, a few really cool western themed art galleries, and shops selling rustic wear. Drawn Boot is a cool place where you can buy your own cowboy hats and boots. Bashford Courts is a 3 story shopping mall with numerous Southwestern gift shops, jewelry stores, antiques, and art.
We strolled around a few local galleries including the quirky Van Gogh’s Ear. The Ian Russell Gallery of Fine Art is my favorite place. There are so many colorful and eclectic pieces in here. As a cat lover, I really loved all the cowboy cat art. I was going to buy a small painting but they were all sold out. Maybe next time!
Other attractions include: ice cream shops, olive oil tastings, antique shops (I recommend Cortez Emporium), clothing boutiques, and Peregrine – one of the largest indie bookstores in the state.
Brunch at the Bistro St. Michael
The Hotel St. Michael was built in 1901 which makes it the oldest hotel in the city. It is also home to the first elevator in the city which is pretty cool. The property is located in the center of all the action. It’s walkable to all the restaurants and shops, so a good place to stay if you want to splurge a bit. I recommend staying here over the holiday season so you can walk to the beautiful courthouse light display.
On a side note, Prescott is really beautiful during the Christmas season. There is a lot to do and temps are chilly enough to feel like it is winter. It’s a great daytrip for desert transplants missing the Midwest or Northeast climate. Being a Chicago native, I know I will be up here again this holiday season!
We have wanted to dine at the Bistro St. Michael for a while, but in the past, we had our go-to favorites like Papa’s Italian. We decided it would be a great day to try something new. Plus, being a vegetarian, there is not much I can eat at any of the saloons.
For brunch, they offer standard fare like French Toast and Omelets, plus lunch fare like Fish and Chips and sandwiches. We decided to go with a few appetizers: The Chips and Dips Trio, Bistro Lettuce Wraps, and the Crispy Macadamia Coconut Shrimp. Everything was delicious and we loved the historic dark ambiance and the big windows overlooking the downtown.
There are some shops to browse around too including a great puzzle store, an art gallery, a Native American jewelry shop and more.
Whiskey Row & The Palace Saloon
Whiskey Row is a block of historic saloons located along Montezuma Street downtown. In the early 1900’s, more than 40 saloons lined the block. Many of these closed due to fires in the early 1900’s and Prohibition. The oldest, The Palace Saloon, continuing operating during Prohibition by running an underground speakeasy in the basement. You can read more about the saloon’s history if you are interested.
While most of those are long gone, you can still have a drink and meal inside the state’s oldest saloon – the Palace established in 1877. For all the Wild West fans out there, you can say that you drank in the same place that Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp once frequented. It feels like a step back in time as soon as you walk in. The bartenders are wearing cowboy hats, the wood floors are over 100 years old, and there are bullet holes in the ceiling.
It was a bit crowded and the sun was streaming in, but these were the best pictures we could get.
We ordered the SW craft beer sampler which wasn’t too overpriced considering the touristy location. I loved the outlaw Wild West themed napkins and glasses!
I almost forgot that Ghost Adventures did an investigation here even though it is one of my favorite shows. The episode (Season 13, Episode 3) was playing at the bar. This makes visiting this saloon even more intriguing to me. I need to go back and watch this episode again now that we visited!
There are several other saloons on this historic street including the Jersey Lilly Saloon which features a balcony facing the gorgeous courthouse.
You will also find art galleries and western wear shops. It’s fun to just browse around the shops and enjoy the old time ambiance. It definitely is not boring, that’s for sure!
More fun around AZ
Check out my Arizona Travel Guide for more info on the best things to do in the state. I’ve lived in various cities throughout the state for more than 5 years now. I have explored a lot of really cool places pretty much everywhere. From ghost towns, to incredible hiking trails, to historic sites and museums, there is something for everyone.
