Prescott, Arizona: “Everybody’s Hometown”
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Prescott is a small city in North Central Arizona, known for its’ desirable mild 4 season climate, small town setting, Victorian architecture, and scenic natural surroundings. With just under 50,000 residents, this city feels so much less congested than Phoenix, yet still offers many of the same amenities. Most of the year, you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, boating, golfing, as well as local dining and shopping. I love how each city in Arizona has its’ own totally unique vibe and charm.
Driving into the city you will find many chains lining I-69, however, if you venture into the downtown area and explore the surrounding trails and lakes, you will see that this small Southwestern city has much to offer both residents and tourists. I have visited this city many times; it is an easy and worthwhile day trip from Flagstaff. While I love everything about living in this charming Northern Arizona mountain town, I also love exploring new places. Prescott offers a completely different vibe and amenities. I love the old-school Main St., the beautiful bike trail (one of the state’s only rail trails), and the historic charm.
There is something to do here for everyone, thence the city’s nickname of “Everybody’s Hometown.” In my guide, I will cover a few diverse options to consider adding to your bucket list.
4 season fun!
Even though the city lies just an hour and a half north of Phoenix, it sees 4 distinct seasons due to the high elevation (5200 feet). I love the weather here – you can enjoy the changing seasons without too many extremes. Spring is wonderful temp wise for just about any activity outdoors. Summer temps are hot but dry enough to still enjoy hiking, boating, and biking. You can enjoy leaf peeping in the national forest thanks to the presence of many aspens. And winter is just cold enough to enjoy the seasonal festivities but not too cold that you have to dress for the arctic. The city even sees a little snow, and according to this article there is a 4% chance of snow on Christmas!
Like Flagstaff, the city is located within the country’s largest ponderosa forest. This in terms means you can see plant life not found in the Southern portion of the state.
“Everybody’s Hometown”
The city’s slogan is “Everybody’s Hometown,” because almost everyone no matter where they grew up can find something here that reminds them of their hometown. The small town vibe is all around. The downtown is very charming and the neighborhoods are lined with historic Victorian homes. The architectural style definitely sets this city apart from the more suburban towns populating much of the southern portion of the state. Of course, Flagstaff and Sedona are also quite unique and 100% worthy of a visit.
Go back in time on Main Street
The historic Yavapai County Courthouse stands out as an attractive centerpiece. The courthouse looks especially beautiful in December with a fabulous Christmas light display (more on this later on).
Also of historic interest is Whiskey Row, named as so for its’ lineup of historic, western style saloons (once home to over 40). The oldest saloon is The Palace which opened in the 1870’s. I love the show Ghost Adventures and enjoyed watching their ghost hunting experience here. What a surprise – it’s haunted! It’s Season 16, Ep 3 if you are interested.
You will not find many chains here, but you will find a great selection of local restaurants. I love Rosa’s Pizzeria and Papa’s Italian; both are charming old-fashioned Italian joints with a cozy setting. I usually dine at one of these gems before strolling around the courthouse light display.
You could easily spend a few hours just strolling around looking in the shops. I love antique shopping here. Also, unique to the area, you will find many cowboy and country western themed shops. This city is known for its’ laid-back cowboy culture. In fact, I’ve seen many people dressed in full cowboy apparel which is something you don’t see everyday! Anyone who loves the Old West vibe should appreciate the culture. It’s unique to say the least.
A great city for fitness buffs!
One of the things I love most about this city are the many outdoor recreational areas. There are tons of great hiking trails, an awesome bike trail along Watson Lake, and 3 other lakes to enjoy kayaking and other watersports on. The weather is perfect much of the year for any outdoor fitness pursuits and the scenery is amazing.
Miles and miles of trails can be found throughout the Prescott National Forest, which surrounds the city. Kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, boating, and fishing are just some of the fun outdoor sports you can enjoy during your time here. Mike and I mostly hike and bike, although we have kayaked at Lynx Lake a few times.
Peavine National Recreational Trail
One of Arizona’s few rail trails, the 5.5 mile out and back Peavine trail follows the former Santa Fe, Prescott, & Phoenix railway which was built back in 1893. You can choose to walk, bike, jog, or even horseback ride along the trail’s easy, flat surface. Great views of both Watson Lake and the stunning Granite Dells rock formations will have you reaching for your camera the entire journey. This is to date one of the most scenic bike trails I’ve ever come across! I really love the scenery. The air is so fresh, the sky is so blue, the endless lake views. I just love everything about it.
Thumb Butte Trail
I recommend hiking Thumb Butte, a gorgeous short hike within the Prescott National Forest, if you are limited on time. This trail is conveniently located just minutes from town – a great place to explore nature in a quiet, uninterrupted setting. I love the diverse scenery changes, which varies from wooded ponderosa forest, to desert, to beautiful mountain overlooks. The trek is about a mile uphill, followed by a mile downhill. The uphill trek is definitely a workout, although well worth the effort for the panoramic views of the city and mountains.
Constellation Trails
The Constellation Trails system, located near the Phillipe Museum, is a great place to enjoy a leisurely hike away from all the congestion. It’s another great hiking area close to the city. I really love looking at all the interesting rock formations and exotic desert plant life. A series of connecting loops combine for just over 2 miles of hiking – the perfect distance for relaxing weekend hiking.
Lynx Lake
My favorite lake for recreation is beautiful Lynx. There’s a lot to do here including boating, hiking, and picnicking It’s just 15 min from downtown so easily accessible. I recommend taking a walk along the beautiful Lakeshore loop which features great views of the lake throughout. I love that they offer boat rentals (spring-fall months) so you don’t have to bring your own (great for tourists).
Heritage Park Sanctuary
Heritage Park Sanctuary is a wonderful small non-profit wildlife sanctuary, which is very nicely landscaped, affordable, and home to a surprisingly nice variety of animals despite its’ small size. You will see black bears, tigers, mountain lions, and leopards. You can easily walk around the entire zoo in about a half hour-45 minutes, making it a great place for a refreshing light morning walk.
This zoo hosts a variety of community events throughout the year including a fantastic holiday light display known as Wild Lights. I usually make a quick stop here in between enjoying other holiday festivities.
Local dining
There are many chains throughout the city, however, you can still find great local choices especially if you head downtown. Cuppers Coffeehouse on historic Cortez Street is a great choice. They have a lovely outdoor patio, great espresso drinks, and excellent homemade quiche. Wild Iris is another nice coffeehouse offering a shady outdoor garden patio, fantastic drinks, and tasty homemade pastries.
I already mentioned earlier that Papa’s and Rosa’s are 2 great local Italian dining options. Also, El Gato Azul is one of my newer experiences – this local gem offers plenty of flavorful Spanish tapas which you can mix and match with your party. It’s a great place for groups or families looking for a fun night out.
Annual Events
This city puts on a number of annual events aimed at both locals and tourists. Some of the most popular include: The World’s Oldest Rodeo, The Jazz Summit, art walks, and various mountain biking/nature themed events. The event lineup is pretty unique with lots of unique festivals you will not find elsewhere.
These are all great, however, the best time to plan your visit is during the month of December. The city really shines this time of year with the most festive Christmas lineup. I’ve basically traveled all around Arizona since moving here – I find the Christmas light displays here the most memorable.
Arizona’s Christmas City
Prescott is known as “Arizona’s Christmas City” due to the abundance of seasonal events planned throughout the month.
Highlights to add to your itinerary include:
- Zoo Lights at Heritage Park
- Holidays lights parade downtown
- Valley of Lights drive thru at Fain Park
- Courthouse Square lights festival
- “The World’s Largest Gingerbread Village” at the Prescott Resort
December is a great time to plan your trip to the city, especially if you are coming from warmer climates like Phoenix and Tucson. The chilly temperatures, historic architecture, holiday culture, and chance of snow, make it a great escape from the hot, routine atmosphere of other Southwestern cities. I really love the old-fashioned vibe and the lights truly are beautiful. The charm and weather this time of year remind me of when I lived in New England a few years ago. I love living in Flagstaff but sometimes I miss that Northeastern architecture and charm!
As you can see, there is plenty of fun to be had year-round. This underrated city often gets lost in the crowd as tourist hotspots like Flagstaff and Sedona draw all the attention. This is a shame as there is something here for everyone, from outdoor enthusiasts, to foodies, to those who enjoy unique cultural traditions. Prescott is a town everyone will feel at home in, if just for an hour or 2.
