Founded in 1864, this Arizona town centers around its historic Yavapai County Courthouse and Whiskey Row, where former saloons now house local restaurants and art galleries.
Prescott, Arizona sits at 5,200 feet elevation surrounded by ponderosa pine forests and granite formations. Summer temperatures stay near 70°F here. Walk through downtown streets lined with Victorian-era buildings like the Palace Saloon, which opened in 1877 and remains Arizona's oldest operating bar. Every July, the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo fills the fairgrounds with bull riders and barrel racers. You can paddle through the rock formations at Watson Lake or explore 700 preserved historic buildings dating back to the 19th century.
Walk Through Downtown Prescott and Whiskey Row
Begin at the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, a central square shaded by trees with a white granite courthouse completed in 1916. Follow Montezuma Street from the plaza to reach Whiskey Row, where miners once crowded into 40 saloons during the 1870s silver boom. Inside the Palace Saloon, examine the original mahogany bar still marked by bullet holes from its early days. Nearby shops include Peregrine Book Company, which hosts author readings, and galleries filled with pottery and paintings by regional artists. Free concerts occur weekly on the courthouse lawn from May through September, with food trucks serving fry bread and prickly pear lemonade.
Trails and Lakes Near the City
Prescott National Forest provides hiking routes starting two miles west of downtown. Hike the 2.5-mile Thumb Butte Loop to reach panoramic views from a 6,514-foot volcanic rock formation. For longer treks, follow the Granite Mountain Trail's 8-mile path through scrub oak and juniper groves. Mountain bikers use the Prescott Circle Trail's 55-mile loop connecting urban areas with rocky paths like those in Spence Basin. At Watson Lake, rent kayaks to paddle between granite boulders rising from the water - swimming isn't allowed due to past mining activity upstream. The Peavine Trail follows an old railroad route along Granite Dells, where angled rock walls create narrow passages.
Rodeos and Local Events
The Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo has operated continuously since 1888, with bull riding competitions and calf roping during the first week of July. Arrive early for the Saturday parade down Gurley Street featuring horseback riders in vintage Western wear. In December, the courthouse plaza displays holiday lights nightly with carolers and a 20-foot pine tree decorated with ornaments. The Elks Theatre screens independent films during June's Prescott Film Festival in a building that originally hosted vaudeville acts. April brings guided wildflower walks through Granite Dells and demonstrations of rainwater harvesting techniques at local parks.
Local History and Cultural Sites
Sharlot Hall Museum's six buildings include Arizona's first governor's residence from 1864 and a blacksmith shop with working forges. The Smoki Museum displays Yavapai and Apache baskets alongside early 20th-century photographs of tribal leaders. Drive 20 minutes to the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe's Cultural Center to see beadwork demonstrations and hear stories about modern reservation life. Tuzigoot National Monument, 45 minutes away, protects a 110-room pueblo built by the Sinagua people between 1100-1400 CE. Montezuma Castle's five-story cliff dwelling sits 30 miles south, carved into limestone walls above Beaver Creek.
Lodging Options in Prescott
Hotel Vendome downtown retains its 1917 layout with antique furniture and clawfoot tubs in some rooms. Prescott Resort & Conference Center has patios overlooking the 6,836-yard golf course and direct access to the Peavine Trail. Rent a cabin near Lynx Lake through vacation rental sites to wake up to woodpeckers tapping on pine trees. Point of Rocks RV Park provides full hookups beside massive granite boulders two miles from the courthouse. Motels along Highway 69 offer affordable rates and quick access to downtown via ten-minute drives.
Nearby Towns and Natural Areas
Drive 55 miles north through Mingus Mountain to reach Jerome, a former copper camp with steep streets and the Douglas Mansion mining museum. Continue 12 miles to Cottonwood's Main Street, where Arizona Stronghold Vineyards serves wine flights in a historic brick building. Sedona's red sandstone formations appear 90 minutes north - hike the 1.2-mile Cathedral Rock Trail at dawn for sunrise views over Oak Creek. The Grand Canyon's South Rim sits three hours away; leave by 6 AM to spend five hours exploring Mather Point and the Desert View Watchtower before returning.
