6 Most Memorable Small Towns In Arizona
Arizona is famous for its Wild West and mining history, sunny skies, colorful desert landscape, and limitless, year-round outdoor recreation. As the nickname clearly boasts, the Grand Canyon State is also home to some of the nation's most incredible natural features, which draw annual visitors by the millions. Last but not least, this member of the Four Corners region is home to many small towns that are as eccentric as they are beautiful. So, amidst your upcoming road trips to all the unforgettable landmarks, be sure to leave some bonus days to explore these six memorable Arizona towns.
Sedona
Sedona is a one-of-a-kind place. Here, red rock formations encapsulate a small city that feels more like a quirky town – one that is obsessed with health and wellness, the arts, fringe spiritualism, and fun in the sun. In the heart of the state – a region known as Verde Valley – and just 30 miles South of Flagstaff, Sedona enjoys quick access to the 1.8-million-acre Coconino National Forest, Slide Rock and Red Rock State Parks (to the North and South, respectively), Munds Mountain Wilderness Nature Preserve (to the East), and all kinds of hiking trails (including the Sedona Secret 7), viewpoints, landmarks, and heritage sites in between. Sedona fosters traditional religious practice (with the Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park and Chapel of the Holy Cross being particularly powerful outdoor sites), as well as every kind of New Age outlet one could possibly imagine – from tried-and-true yoga to crystal energy work to vortex gatherings.
Jerome
Less than 30 miles West of Sedona, the defunct mining town of Jerome is a place with many intriguing reputations. This Yavapai County gem has been dubbed "The Wickedest Town in the West" (owing to its mischievous and licentious days of yore), "The Billion Dollar Copper Camp" (given its prosperous extraction industry that lasted for over seven decades), and "The Most Vertical City," because of its steep layout atop Cleopatra Hill, in the Black Hills of Verde Valley. Nowadays, Jerome is a National Historic Landmark and the largest ghost town in the country. In addition to the historical novelty (for a broad overview, pop by Jerome State Historic Park/Museum), this quirky town has made a name for itself as an artist's enclave and a place to experience the fruits of Arizona's overlooked wine region.
Page
The small Coconino County city of Page is blessed with the unforgettable surroundings (both natural and manmade) of Northern Arizona. Splash around in Lake Powell (one of the world's largest artificial reservoirs), explore the sandstone slot passageways of Antelope Canyon, take hundreds of photos of Horseshoe Canyon, which was dramatically carved by the incorrigible Colorado River, and marvel at the petroglyphs in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Given the limitless, multi-medium playground, Page specializes in tours that couples, families, and friend groups will reminisce about for years to come. Visitors can take to the skies, board a whitewater raft, do some hands-on canyoneering or make day trips to the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley – all in the company of a trained and knowledgeable guide. For a place that started out as a housing site for the Glen Canyon Dam construction workers, Page sure has morphed into a top-tier adventure hub.
Bisbee
Dropping down to Arizona's South end, mere minutes from the Mexican border, the old mining town of Bisbee still shines. Bisbee experienced a heyday like few others. After substantial metal deposits were discovered in 1877, the "Queen of the Copper Camps" ballooned into one of the largest towns in the Southwest and one of the richest mineral sites on the planet. Just shy of a century later, the last mine was officially closed, but Bisbee happily shares its history with the plethora of annual visitors. The Queen Mine Tour, for instance, decks attendees out with traditional gear and brings them 1,500 feet below ground to explore the tunnels of the old money makers. Above ground, Bisbee shows its opulence in tasteful ways. Seemingly, the entire place is designed to match the beautiful surroundings. All around, crimson, auburn, and custard-colored buildings subtly pop against the muted red mountains of Cochise County – a sight that, in the right light, is sure to imprint in your mind's eye.
Tombstone
Another town in Cochise County that brings the past to life is Tombstone – where the cowboys and gunslinging outlaws of the Wild West still roam (albeit in a harmless, entertaining way). "The Town Too Tough to Die" stages daily reenactments of the 1800's shootouts (using actors in period-specific outfits) at the O.K. Corral/streets of the open-air Tombstone Theatre, the Saloon Theatre, the Old Tombstone Western Theme Park, and Wyatt Earp's Oriental Saloon & Theatre. Other popular attractions include the supposedly haunted Bird Cage Theatre, the Gunfighter Hall of Fame, the Boothill Graveyard, the Rose Tree Inn Museum (home to the world's largest rose tree), and the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (to name but a few). In between stops, why not cement the memories by taking the local trolley tour and/or horse-drawn stagecoach tour? Before hitting the dusty trail, be sure to stop by one of the classic saloons and maybe even buy some cowboy boots as a souvenir.
Williams
No conversation about Arizona is complete without a giant salute to one of the most breathtaking and memorable natural features of the American landscape: the Grand Canyon. The closest town to the national park's main entrance also happens to be an adorable and welcoming community. Williams sits on Route 66, aka "The Mother Road," with six blocks of original buildings (diners, lodgings, vintage shops, museums, etc., that have collectively been designated as a National Historic District) commemorating one of the nation's first substantial highways. Speaking of nostalgic scenic routes, Williams also operates the Grand Canyon Railway (which it has done since 1901) – a two-and-a-half hour trip through stunning desert landscape to the South Rim of the jaw-dropping geological wonder.
When all is said and done, we can only hope to be surrounded by good people, swapping stories gathered from full lives. This is what makes travel so enriching. It is rewarding both in the moment and many winters on when vivid memories transport us back to those magical places. The small towns of Arizona, with their natural beauty, captivating histories, and fun-loving spirits, are ripe with such opportunity. The Grand Canyon State is a big place to narrow down, so start with these six memorable spots.
