Prescott
Called Arizona’s Christmas City.
Good local music, especially on Acker Night every December on the first Friday after the courthouse lighting. There are about 50 musicians all around the city.
Restaurants…
Flagstaff
Flagstaff is a summer get-away from the Phoenix Valley heat and a great place for fun events when the University is in session.
Head up there for an old fashioned Fourth of July compete with a big downtown parade, Art in the Park, live music and food, and all capped off by a spectacular nighttime drone show among the cool ponderosa pines.
Food, fun, and more…
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My personal fav because it isn’t busy… Mars Hill Trail! Starti right at Thorpe Park, you can go on the 1.9-mile dirt trail through ponderosa pines to Observatory Mesa. But, if you take a left instead of a right to the Observatory, you can cycle to your heart’s content and even get lost a little on some forest service roads Great ride!
Check out the Flagstaff Urban Trail System.
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Great bands and events, including Pickin’ in the Pines bluegrass fest in the fall. I saw a fun Heart band here and the venue and music was great!
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Creative small plates, adventurous flavors and excellent cocktails. An interesting place for a lively grown-up dinner.
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Set in a charming historic Craftsman home near downtown, Josephine’s pairs creative modern American food, a lovely garden patio and an excellent wine list for a cosy special-night dinner.
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Inventive beers, a fun downtown atmosphere and Pizzicletta pizza under the same roof make Dark Sky an especially good post-bike destination.
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Set in a restored lumber-era building downtown, Lumberyard is big, bustling and fun, with local beer, burgers and a lively crowd.
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Cozy, stylish and distinctly mountain-town, Tinderbox serves inventive New American food that's upscale without feeling remotely stuffy.
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Beautifully presented seasonal food, polished cocktails and a sophisticated-but-relaxed room make Atria a terrific choice when you want your nicest dinner of the trip.
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Smoky barbecue meets spicy New Orleans cooking at this quirky local joint where gumbo, Cajun flavors and smoked meats rule.
Sedona
Hiker’s heaven for beautiful views of the red rocks.
Sedona is also heaven for those seeking heavenly experiences. Get your aura read, join a sound bath, have your chakras cleansed, sit in a vortex… and more. Many of the high end resorts that offer these services are for guests only and have a pricy tag, so check before you book!
The Pink Jeep tours are a “must do” if you are new to the area. They were founded in 1960 and are still truckin’!
Restaurants and music…
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Hang with the local crowd at Vino di Sedona which has live music pretty much every day. Especially fun is Rick Busbea with his Jukebox book to select your requests to sing and dance to. Good food, beer, and wine.
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There are a lot of resorts in Sedona and the town has become so upscaled over the years. We caught Paul Valentine from Verde Valley at the Arabella Resort, which has music and fun on the patio (or in a funky conference room if the weather is equally funky).
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Hideaway House has been around forever. Great, basic food and lovely view of Oak Creek Canyon and the red rocks.
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Creekside American Bistro has a lovely view of Oak Creek and the red rocks. A little polished compared to Hideaway House but they are close, so if you can’t get into one, try the other!
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At Miley’s Cafe in Oak Creek, take a tractor seat at the bar or grab a table for regular breakfast fare. It is right next to a bunch of Rivian and Tesla chargers and, in this case, a good choice!
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My favorite in Prescott. Simple, healthy food elevated to excellence. Good vegan choices.
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Historical destination with good basic food right on the square.
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The fanciest place in Prescott. Fun prom date sightings one. Good American food.
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Arizona’s oldest bar on Whiskey Row. The saloon has been in one form or anther since 1877. Often has music.