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Small Town Summer Fun in Arizona
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If you are looking for a summer get away, here are a few places around Arizona to explore. These communities offer small-town charm, perfect temperatures, unique attractions and an abundance of outdoor activities to make your Arizona adventure unforgettable!
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In Central Arizona, Prescott is 100 miles north and west of Phoenix. Nestled at an elevation of 5,200 feet above sea level amongst Ponderosa pine forests, Prescott's perfect weather provides an average of 21 degrees, with four beautiful and distinct seasons, and breath-taking landscapes are complete with granite mountains, lakes, streams, and rolling meadows filled with wildlife. Here you'll find many things to do including horseback riding, golfing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, local breweries, restaurants, shopping, and a hometown feel that keep visitors, young and old, coming back year after year. Once the territorial capital of the state, Prescott is rich with history embodied in its famous Whiskey Row (so-called for the large number of saloons in one place) and abundant historical landmarks. Whether you're seeking to relax in a natural environment filled with beauty and wildlife, or the history of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and cowboy forays in the most famous saloons of the Old West, Prescott has you covered.
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Flagstaff is located in northern Arizona, about 145 miles north of Phoenix, or a 2.25-hour drive. At an elevation of 7,000 feet in the midst of the world's largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest, Flagstaff is a four-season hub of activity with an eclectic mix of small-town charm and endless outdoor adventure including hiking, biking, and fishing in nearby lakes. Explore historic downtown Flagstaff, which offers unique shopping opportunities, restaurants, art galleries, Native American culture, jewellery, one-of-a-kind gifts and more - perfect for those looking for the spirit of Flagstaff. Enjoy the Historic Southside District - in the last few years the area south of the railroad tracks between Phoenix Avenue and Butler Avenue has seen several new restaurants move in and the city has completed beautification and streetscaping projects along South San Francisco Street and South Beaver Street.
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No Route 66 trip is complete without selfies from the road. The Flagstaff Visitor Centre is a perfect location to snap a picture with a Route 66 themed mural. The large-scale, 25-foot-wide public art was painted by a group of local mural artists, the Mural Mice, to provide a permanent Route 66 photo opportunity for Flagstaff visitors.
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Williams, also in Northern Arizona, is 175 miles north and west of Phoenix and directly west of Flagstaff. A quaint town, Williams lies under a canopy of Ponderosa pines of the Kaibab Forest. Just steps away, enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, and pretty much whatever else you can think of to do outdoors. It's also just an hour's drive from one of the seven natural wonders of the world: The Grand Canyon. Tired of driving? Hop aboard the Grand Canyon Railway, pictured above, for a two-hour ride straight into the Grand Canyon National Park. Historic Route 66 runs through downtown Williams with restaurants, shops and neon signs that maintain a historic charm. Also, in Williams is Bearizona, a drive thru wildlife park that is fun for everyone.
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Kingman is in the north western part of Arizona and 198 miles north and west of Phoenix. From Phoenix, drive time is approximately 3.25 hours. Enjoy majestic views, hiking, picnicking, camping, wildlife viewing, biking or cabin rentals in this county park nestled in the forest. Higher elevations are home to mule deer, elk, mountain lions, foxes and a wide variety of birds. Hiking trails wind up Aspen Peak and over to Hayden Peak. Stay at the nearby Hualapai Mountain Resort. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed the Park's roads, trails, picnic areas, camp sites, stone cabins and pavilions which remain much as they were, giving the Park a unique character all its own. Hike one of 14 trails which include six miles of developed trails and ten miles of undeveloped trails ranging from elevations of 6300 feet to 8240 feet. Enjoy the cool shade of trees among granite rock formations.
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In south eastern Arizona, Bisbee is located 90 miles southeast of Tucson and nestled among the Mule Mountains. From Phoenix drive south for around 3.25 hours and expect lovely and warm average summer temperature is between 30-32 degrees. The community was founded in 1880, and quickly became a thriving urban centre, driven by a booming mining industry that thrived on the area's rich reserves of copper and precious metals. Today, Bisbee's extraordinarily well-preserved early-twentieth century downtown draws visitors from around the world, who appreciate its historic architecture, it's welcoming, creative spirit and its cool climate. Bisbee also serves as an ideal overnight home-base for visitors - birders, hikers, wine-tasters, music-appreciators, and others who wish to explore our geologically, biologically and culturally rich "Sky Islands" region of southern Arizona.
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The "coolest" part of Bisbee? Take the Queen Mine Tour where the temperature is a cool 9 Celsius, year-round. Tour one of the most productive copper mines of the 20th century. Don the mining lanterns, hats and slickers of the miners and ride the mine train deep into the mine.... search for remaining veins of copper, gold, turquoise, silver, lead and zinc. Listen for the little people known as "Tommy Knockers" who were said to warn miners of danger by knocking on rocks.
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Pinetop-Lakeside is in the White Mountains on the eastern side of the state and is approximately 188 miles and a 3.25-hour drive from Phoenix. Sitting at an elevation of 7,000 feet, Pinetop-Lakeside offers clean crisp air, a mesmerizing star-filled sky, miles of trails through the Ponderosa pine forest, and over 200 streams and lakes. This year-round, natural playground provides endless opportunities for all of your favourite outdoor activities from camping to skiing to fishing to hiking. Pinetop - Lakeside has a vast array of accommodations from log cabins to quaint motels and many locally owned restaurants serving up home-made dishes.
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Staying East, we have Alpine on the eastern border of Arizona, which is around 252 miles from Phoenix. Referred to as "the Alps of Arizona" - Alpine is where mountain lakes and swift running streams dot the countryside and Ponderosa pine, aspen, and fir trees dominate the landscape. Here four distinct seasons offer something for everyone in our outdoor paradise from quiet relaxation to a myriad of recreational activities. When visiting you can choose to enjoy activities such as boating, kayaking, fly & bait fishing, hiking, mountain biking, wildlife and bird watching or just relax sitting on the shore of one of the lakes and streams.
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Summerhaven is located about 152 miles from Phoenix and about 29 miles north of Tucson. Summerhaven is named very appropriately considering how many Tucsonans and visitors escape there from the summer heat and to enjoy skiing in the winter. Summerhaven sits at 8,200 feet elevation, approximately 1,000 feet below the peak of Mt. Lemmon, approximately 29 miles north of Tucson. Numerous recreational amenities are offered on the mountain, including hiking, camping, fishing, birding, skiing, sledding and rock climbing. Mt. Lemmon's Ski Valley provides skiing from December into March. The University of Arizona's Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter offers unique astronomy camps for kids and adults. On the drive up, listen to the Mount Lemmon Science Tour. Produced by the University of Arizona College of Science, the Tour engages users with the surprising natural science of Southern Arizona, from the enchanting Sonoran Desert to the "Sky Island" mountains on every horizon. Along with the audio tour, the app also includes informative slide-shows and videos that visualize the science. Through science stories, the Mt. Lemmon Science Tour brings the wonders of this region alive. Enjoy bird watching, stargazing, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking and camping.
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Trade:
Katie Gould
kgould@hillsbalfour.com
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Media:
Lottie Phillips
lphillips@hillsbalfour.com
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For visitor guidance due to COVID-19 such as mask-wearing, a list of tourism-related reopenings or closures, and a link to public health guidelines, click here: https://www.visitarizona.com/covid-19/ .
Some attractions are open year-round and some are open seasonally or move to seasonal hours. To ensure the places you want to see are open on your travel dates; please check their website for hours of operation.
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