Located just under two hours north of Phoenix and southwest of Flagstaff, Prescott is nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains at an elevation of 5,400 feet. With its high-desert climate, Prescott is surrounded by lush Douglas fir and ponderosa pine forests, clear lakes, and tons of granite rock. If you’ve ever needed a reason to vacation in a gorgeous, lively mountain town, we’ll give you more than one!
This story was created in partnership with Visit Prescott.
The Mountain Town Your Adventurous Heart Has Been Looking For
Between the hiking and biking trails, the lakes, the campgrounds, and the rock climbing, Prescott is like one giant outdoor playground. The area offers over 450 miles of trails and enough wide open spaces for you and your little ones—no matter if they are humans or pets! It’s no surprise that Prescott is an outdoor adventurer’s dream, considering that the annual Whiskey Off-Road mountain bike endurance race is hosted on 50 of those 450 miles. If you have a few days in Prescott, take a few of our favorite adventures and get outside:
- Mountain bike, hike, or run Salida Gulch Trail (watch for the petroglyphs about .5-mile in on the 4.5-mile trail)
- Kayak on Watson Lake—rentals available at the lake from Born To Be Wild Adventures
- Hike at Constellation Park for views of wildflowers and unique rock formations
A Rich and Diverse Food and Brew Scene
All that adventuring outside will get you hungry—and thirsty, for that matter! Luckily, Prescott has been steadily growing its diverse food and craft drink scene the last few years, and it’s developed quite the reputation. Much of it can be discovered all within a 10-minute walk of Prescott’s downtown and historic Whiskey Row. Grab a classic diner-style breakfast at b.simple, a healthy post-hike lunch at The County Seat overlooking town square, and a delicious dinner just an elevator ride from your hotel room at Triple Creek Kitchen & Spirits.
Showing off Prescott’s uniqueness, visitors can taste mead—known as the oldest alcoholic beverage—at the Superstition Meadery in their “speakeasy” location. For beer lovers, you’ll find Arizona’s largest self-serve beer tap room at Founding Fathers Collective, which also happens to be home to a coffee shop, a barber, gym and shop.
Thriving Downtown & the Historic Whiskey Row
Thanks to its downtown area and Whiskey Row, it’s hard to forget how alive this town can be. Whiskey Row is a city block that was developed after a fire in 1900 destroyed the entire block. It was rebuilt and included a large number of saloons—at one point the block hosted 40, which is why it has its name Whiskey Row. Today, the area includes some of the historic saloons, as well as art galleries, hotels, shops, and more. With a large green space around Yavapai County Courthouse, downtown makes for a great place to picnic and enjoy sunshine on the lawn.
Beautiful Accommodations in the Perfect Locations
When on vacation, we believe that where you rest your head at night can make a good trip better, and location is everything! Prescott has a wide variety of accommodations—whether you’re someone with an RV, a simple tent, or a large family looking to be in a spacious hotel. For camping, we suggest Point of Rocks RV Park, or Yavapai Campground for tent-campers looking for something a little more secluded. If hotels are more your style, choosing something downtown and close to the best food and shopping is definitely worth it. We particularly like The Hilton Garden Inn and the Grand Highland Hotel. For more ideas, check out our Northern Arizona itinerary.
