10 Odd & Interesting Off-the-Beaten Path Arizona Destinations

6. Jerome Grand Hotel & the Asylum

Jerome is often referred to as the “largest ghost town in America.” Today, the small community resembles anything but a ghost town. Revitalization efforts have transformed the tiny town into a tourist destination. Art galleries, boutiques shops, and trendy restaurants populate the area today.

While it is Jerome is now a popular daytrip destination for history buffs and shopper, the ghostly legends still remain. We actually took a drive here from Flagstaff just because we love anything to do with the paranormal. Also, there is a great restaurant (the Asylum) which goes all out for Halloween.

The same eerie ghost sightings dating back decades continue to plague visitor and locals. At one time, a paper called the Jerome Ghost Post was published. Unlike other haunted towns where only one building is haunted, ghosts inhabit almost all of this city. You can take a ghost tour anytime of the year to learn more.

The most haunted building in town is the Jerome Grand Hotel, not surprisingly, as it once was a mental institution. You can sign up for a narrated ghost tour where you will be able to use real ghost hunting equipment. If you are up for a real scare, book a night in the spooky hotel. According to the hotel, many guests get so spooked that they end up sleeping in the lobby or leaving!

Location: 200 Hill St, Jerome, AZ 86331

7. Standin’ On a Corner Park

Standin’ on a Corner is a unique Rt. 66 roadstop tribute to the Eagles classic song Take It Easy. The most memorable lyrics in the song mention the small Northeastern Arizona town -“Well, I’m a standing on a corner In Winslow, Arizona. And such a fine sight to see. It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me.”

This quirky attraction pops up in the middle of nowhere – you can’t miss it as there are more than enough billboards!  Winslow itself is an odd town as it resembles a ghost town despite having a population of almost 10,000. The downtown is pretty much barren asides from this attraction and a few Rt 66 gift shops. Also be sure to check out “The World’s Smallest Church,” which oddly is not the world’s smallest, but rather the smallest on the Mother Road.

I would recommend this daytrip for any classic rock fans making their way out to the Petrified Forest or any other NE Arizona/Western New Mexico point of interest as it is directly on the route. If you are driving from Flagstaff, definitely plan for lunch inside the beautiful historic La Posada Hotel.

Location: 100 E Second St Winslow, AZ 86047. Plenty of free street parking available.

8. Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

The Mini Time Museum is one of the more interesting places to put on your Tucson bucket list. While the hikes are great here, for many months, it’s just too hot. This is when all the great indoor attractions come into play. While most regional museums focus on the state’s history, this one is a bit more unusual in that it showcases more than 400 antique and modern dollhouses.

There is so much detail in all these tiny pieces, it’s quite crazy to think that anyone could even accomplish such an impressive artistic feat. For a trip down memory lane, I would say a stroll around this retro museum should please. Admission is a bit pricey at $15 bucks a person, although you can usually find a 2 for 1 brochure at almost any hotel.

Location: 4455 E Camp Lowell Dr Tucson, AZ 85712

9. Tumbleweed Tree

Every year Chandler, a sprawling suburb in Phoenix, lights up a most unique Christmas tree. The annual tree downtown is composed entirely of tumbleweeds, making it the last still standing tumbleweed tree tradition in the Southwest. Tumbleweed collection begins in October, followed by a long process of constructing the tree, glittering, and painting. The end result is pretty amazing, and I love checking out all sorts of interesting holiday festivals so this was fun.

If you happen to be planning a winter escape to the desert, this is just one of a number of festivities I recommend adding to your lineup. The Zoo Lights is also pretty impressive and if you like skating there is a real desert themed ice rink at the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess.

Location: W Boston St Chandler, AZ 85225

10. Picture Canyon

Flagstaff is such a cool city. I lived here for 2 years and enjoyed endless hiking and access to historical sites. One of these cool places where you can enjoy a bit of nature and history at the same time is Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve.

On the trails here, you can see over 800 petroglyphs from the Northern Sinagua tribes who occupied the area between 700-1300 A.D. Unfortunately, this trail is pretty poorly marked. Hopefully rangers will put some effort into improved trail markage in the future.

Veit Springs is another great Flagstaff trail with pictographs hidden along the route. Come fall, gorgeous aspens which shimmer a brilliant gold line the trail. I would never recommend Picture Canyon above some of the more gorgeous trails in this beautiful town (I love Inner Basin, Bear Jaw, the Aspen Nature Loop, and Slate Mountain first), although it’s a nice addition if you are interested in history.

Here are a few more unusual/oddball attractions if you have extra time. As you can see, this state is just meant for explorers. Really, you can fill up your itinerary each week with roadside attractions.

El Tiradito Wishing Shrine

El Tiradito is a historic site near downtown Tucson which has the unique distinction of being the only US shrine dedicated to the soul of a sinner buried in unconsecrated ground. Visitors began lighting candles to free the soul of Juan Oliveros. Juan, who was having an affair with his mother-in-law, was caught, and killed at the site where the shrine sits today.

Legend says that if you make a wish while lighting the candle and the flame burns throughout the night that your wish will come true. The shrine is a quick stop if you are already visiting the downtown area, although I wouldn’t go out of your way unless you are a big history buff.

Location: 420 S Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701

Learn more about the history of El Tiradito

The Thing – Benson

At this odd roadside attraction off of I-10 about 17 miles east of Benson, you pay 2 bucks to see what lies in a mysterious box. You’ll have to visit yourself to find out just what “the thing” is. It is located in a travel plaza with a gas station, Dairy Queen, and gift shop on-site, so if you are traveling out this way enroute to Tombstone, Bisbee, or Kartchner Caverns, it’s a place to stretch your legs and refuel.

Don’t worry, you cannot miss this roadside attraction as endless bright yellow billboards will constantly remind you to take Exit 322 to see “The Mystery of the Desert.” This was a really fun stop on one of our recent roadtrips. Really, how could we not stop after seeing hundreds of eye catching billboards. Plus, it was fun to look around the shop and grab a snack after a lot of time of the road.

Location: 2631 Johnson Rd, Benson, AZ 85602

Horseshoe Bend – Page

Horseshoe Bend is one of numerous natural wonders you have easy access to when vacationing in this region. It’s a perfect roadside stop on the way to any of the fabulous Utah national parks, especially Zion since it is so close by. I’ve seen this landmark so many times in pictures, but nothing compares to seeing it yourself. The way that the sandstone curves around the Colorado River is truly a sight like no other.

A short & steep hike takes you to a stunning overlook with a 1000 foot drop. Lots of hikers die here trying to take silly photos so please don’t risk anything for a social media picture. The hike is not at all shady, not to mention quite a workout, although worth it in the end for one of the grandest views in the Southwest!

Location: Hwy 89 S, Page, AZ 86040