Prescott, the original capital city of the Arizona Territory in the 1860s, grew up around the U.S. Cavalry’s Fort Whipple; now, it’s best known as Everybody’s Hometown. Prescott is in Yavapai County, one of the largest counties in Arizona (approximately the size of the state of Massachusetts!), and despite Prescott’s recent population boom, much of this cowboy town’s charm remains intact.
Located about 100 miles north of Phoenix (take I-17), expect a 90-minute drive. Stop at the rest area between Bumblebee and Black Canyon. The sweeping vista is a welcome respite from the 18-wheelers driving up this mountain pass.
If you’re from Denver or Los Angeles, you can fly directly to the Prescott airport with multiple flights daily. However you arrive, here’s what to enjoy during your time in Prescott.
1. Yavapai County Courthouse Square And Plaza
Popularly known as “the Square,” when you arrive, you’ll understand exactly why this setting has been used in a Hallmark movie. The square speaks to an earlier time with old-fashioned values and ideals. Here, you’ll find the rough and tumble Palace Restaurant and Saloon (more on this below!), where cowboys would fight and rush out, guns drawn, before cooler heads prevailed.
These four acres are the heart of this town, and the square is home to more than 100 celebrations annually, from car shows to festivals, holiday parades, and art displays. It was named one of the American Planning Association’s Great Public Spaces in 2008, as it “exemplifies how citizen support, planning, and design … create a treasured urban space that is the center — both geographically and spiritually — of the community.”
The courthouse itself is the jewel in the crown, so while there are more than 200 things to do within three blocks of the Square, don’t forget to actually walk in the building. On each level, historic photographs give you an even better taste of the history of the town. Through the grand windows, you can see over the top of the Palace to the West or MOBS Burgers to the East.
But one of the better-kept secrets is in the basement … the museum. Free admission makes it super easy to access (after you go through security to enter the building) to read the stories of historic heists and see a historic bank vault and prison cell. The entire courthouse is handicapped accessible with elevator access from the ground level. The courthouse is open business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pro Tip: The courthouse is decorated most memorably for the Christmas holiday, making it the perfect time to visit. The first Friday of December typically hosts Acker Night, during which the businesses around the square open with music and fellowship for a $1 donation that goes directly to the cities’ (Prescott and Prescott Valley’s) art programs for all ages.
2. Whiskey Row
With so many Prescott residents over the age of 50, many events are held twice — including the Boot Drop on New Year’s Eve, which takes place at 10 p.m. and again at midnight. But on Whiskey Row, the action doesn’t really get going until after 10 p.m. each night.
Matt’s Saloon is perhaps the most famous establishment here, with two-stepping cowboys dancing and drinking the night away. Live bands play above the crowd with an occasional “Footloose” thrown in during a break to keep the young ones energized.
Handicapped accessible: Jersey Lilly Saloon on the second floor over the Palace has an elevator up to the only balcony overlooking the Courthouse.
3. Rodeo
The oldest Rodeo in the country (though to be fair, they did make the rules about what constitutes a rodeo) is held in Prescott each year during Frontier Days.
Prescott remains a very active city filled with hikers, bikers, and cyclists. Consider penciling in one or more of these routes and trails, starting with Thumb Butte, one of the most recognized symbols of Prescott. This iconic landmark lives just west of town, where it offers great hiking and spectacular views of the valley and surrounding mountain ranges.
It’s a steep hike that will leave you breathless — both because of the altitude and the views. The trail that leaves from the left of the ranger stand is considered the more difficult route. Expect to spend 2 hours to complete this 1.75-mile trail.
Do not wear flip-flops. Rattlesnakes and other small animals may be hazardous to your health. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. Note that parking is $5 except on Wednesdays (when it’s free).
4. Climb Thumb Butte
Prescott remains a very active city filled with hikers, bikers, and cyclists. Consider penciling in one or more of these routes and trails, starting with Thumb Butte, one of the most recognized symbols of Prescott. This iconic landmark lives just west of town, where it offers great hiking and spectacular views of the valley and surrounding mountain ranges.
It’s a steep hike that will leave you breathless — both because of the altitude and the views. The trail that leaves from the left of the ranger stand is considered the more difficult route. Expect to spend 2 hours to complete this 1.75-mile trail.
Do not wear flip-flops. Rattlesnakes and other small animals may be hazardous to your health. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. Note that parking is $5 except on Wednesdays (when it’s free).
5. Goldwater Lake
An easy walk around horseshoe-shaped, dammed Goldwater Lake is a great activity for the kids and grandkids. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy lakeside, pencil in a boat ride, or just walk the gentle hills.
Plan to spend two hours or more here. Parking is $5 except on Wednesdays (when it’s free). Goldwater Lake is about a 15-minute drive from town. Do not attempt to walk along the dam.
6. Watson Lake
In the Granite Dells, along Route 89 between Prescott and Prescott Valley, you’ll see this spectacular lake surrounded by boulders of granite and exposed bedrock that showcase each other. Here, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Dells, Granite Mountain, and Thumb Butte that greet you as you cast your gaze across the valley toward the San Francisco Peaks.
For the safest route, head to the left. The path is marked by white paint, but it’s easy to get lost on the dells if you come around the lake from the right. (If you do that, make your way over to the Peavine Trail and walk the two miles back to Sundog Ranch Road where you’ll have cell service and can call someone to pick you up.)
Park in any of the lots ($3 entry fee except on Wednesdays) and get thee to the lake!
7. Peavine Trail
If you want a nice long walk or a gentle bike ride, head over to 6-mile-long Peavine Trail, near Sundog Ranch Road on Route 89A. This is one of the most popular places to ride in the Prescott area due to its flat surface.
Best Restaurants In Prescott
You can eat at a different place in Prescott every day for a month and still have more to try. Here are some of our favorites.
The Palace
One of the most fun places to eat in town, The Palace, on the west side of the Square on the famous Whiskey Row, was rebuilt after the Great Prescott Fire of July 14, 1900.
Frequented by true cowboys, complete with cowboy hats and often even spurs, as well as servers dressed in dancer costumes, you can easily conjure the image of the Wild West when you visit The Palace. Doc Holliday and the Earp Brothers were all said to dine and drink here.
The saloon doors lead directly to the bar with historic exhibits evident. Check each of the display cases as you pass — and feel free to sidle up to a cowboy and ask for information.
Proceed past the bar if you wish to be served in the main dining room. Look to the left and you’ll see the stairways leading up to the Ladies of the Evening Chamber. Around the corner to the left, you’ll find the full wall mural of Junior Bonner, the Steve McQueen movie filmed in and around Prescott in the early 1970s.
And there’s food, too, glorious food. While naysayers will claim The Palace is primarily a tourist destination, the menu is packed with elevated meat dishes from the steak I so enjoy to prawns and prosciutto, pack mule pastrami, sizable salads, and even vegan options.
Farm Provisions
For a farm-to-table experience, and “simple food, elevated,” make reservations to dine at this favorite restaurant opened in 2018. Their sustainable ingredients in the chef’s talented hands are a true recipe for success.
Waffles-N-More
Nestled in the corner of a strip mall, this local favorite accepts only cash and includes several tables outside when the weather is fine. A Prescott staple for over 30 years, Waffles-N-More offers fruit or flavored waffles, biscuits and gravy, chicken fried chicken, eggs, potatoes, and even avocado options.
Best Places To Stay
Historic Hassayampa Inn
With 67 guest rooms (including the haunted #326), the historic Hassayampa Inn fits many needs.
Arrive in town, pull into the porte-cochere, check in, and consider stopping at the bar or the delightful Peacock Dining Room for a meal (try the Peacock Salad) before walking down a block to reach the Square. Come “home” to live entertainment in the bar and one of the best steaks in town. You can also relax in the rustic, history-laden lobby where Barry Goldwater waited for election results.
Zen Garden Suite Airbnb
This is my favorite place to relax and rejuvenate in Prescott.
Point Of Rocks RV Park And Campground
If you’re one of the many people who enjoy the privacy of your own (or a rented) RV, you’ll want to stay at the Point of Rocks RV Park and Campground as you travel across Arizona. Located amidst some of the picture-perfect Granite Dells, you’re only a short hike away from Watson Lake.
If you enjoy getting active out in nature during your vacations, maybe walking hand in hand with your beloved, and want to create a lifetime of memories, visit Prescott. There’s plenty to do for a weekend, or the rest of a lifetime!