A road trip with something for all
For the sheer variety of activities available, it’s hard to beat the drive from Prescott to Jerome.
Are you into Western art? Got that. Interested in history? Yep. Picnicking? Camping? Shopping? Dining? Check, check, check and check. And, in fewer than 35 scenic miles, Arizona 89A takes you from scrubby prairies up to mountains topped by pines and aspens. What’s not to like?
Things to note along the way:
Prescott Brewing Co.: More than an award-winning microbrewery, PBC offers an extensive menu of pub fare — burgers, pizzas, wraps, salads and sandwiches. An early lunch here will stave off hunger pangs on your drive, while window seats provide good views of Courthouse Plaza.
Details: 130 W. Gurley St., Prescott. 928-771-2795, www.prescottbrewingcompany.com. Phippen Museum: This small museum and gallery showcases the work of George Phippen and other prominent Western artists, including Bill Nebeker and John Coleman, with everything from watercolors and pencil drawings to acrylics, oils and bronzes.
Details: 4701 Arizona 89 North, Prescott. 928-778-1385, www.phippenartmuseum.org.
Smoki Museum: The museum, designed to resemble a pueblo, was built in 1935 by the Smoki People, a fraternal organization of Prescott businessmen who imitated Indian dances and ceremonies to raise funds for the Frontier Days rodeo. The group disbanded in the 1990s after protests by the Hopi Tribe that the dances were sacrilegious. Today, the museum collects and displays artifacts and promotes Indian art and culture.
Details: 147 N. Arizona Ave., Prescott. 928-445-1230, smokimuseum.org.
Total miles: About 240 miles, round-trip, from central Phoenix. Take Interstate 17 north to Cordes Junction, then Arizona 69 west into Prescott. Turn north onto Arizona 89 and go a little more than 6 miles to Arizona 89A. Head east about 25 miles to Jerome, then continue about 12 miles to Cottonwood. Head east on Arizona 260 about 12 miles to Camp Verde, then south on I-17 back to Phoenix.
Don’t miss: Put this on your to-do list for next summer: Mingus Mountain Campground is a fine side trip, offering sweeping vistas of the Verde Valley. It’s open from May through October and is a great getaway. If you don’t want to camp, you can picnic at a day-use area or hike one of the nearby trails. Look for Mingus Mountain Road (aka Forest Road 104) about 19 miles from Arizona 89 (about 7 miles west of Jerome) and go about 3 miles to the campground. The unpaved road is rough in places and, although you could make the drive in a sedan, you’ll feel more comfortable in a highclearance vehicle. $5 for day-use areas, $10 per night for a campsite with electricity, $6 for a site without.
Details: 928-443-8000, www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott.