7 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Arizona

Calling Arizona pretty doesn’t do it justice. The stunning red desert landscapes are often described in frilly words, but the state’s beauty conjures a feeling more abstract than what's conceivable in simple adjectives. Between desolate deserts, Arizona is full of towns offering glimpses of the past, including the Wild West and indigenous tribes. This article is focused on the prettiest downtowns you’ll find without all the hustle of big-city life.

Prescott

This high desert gem is a place you can call home for a weekend, a week, or permanently. Downtown Prescott is well known for the entertaining Whiskey Row, a street lined with saloons from the early 1900s that stay true to their roots. Check out Whiskey River Tavern, Matt’s Saloon, or The Bird Cage Saloon for classic ambiance and live music performances. Guests will enjoy a stay at Hotel St. Michael, which is also located on Whiskey Row. The hotel features a swanky speakeasy, Fire & Sword, along with comfortable rooms that carry 19th-century tributes in their decor.

Sedona

Sedona has over 400 miles of trails to hike and is additionally known as a site for spiritual wellness. Thousands of visitors come to Sedona for either (or both) reasons each year. Uptown has a walkable main hub with shops and restaurants to explore. Visitors can enjoy the Sedona Heritage Museum or Sedona Arts Center before grabbing a meal at SaltRock Southwest Kitchen or Elote Cafe; Elote has inventive, flavorful Mexican dishes like smoked brisket enchiladas or the popular elote appetizer. Make sure to shop at the Original Uptown Mall Plaza for all of your souvenir needs, and the Amara Resort & Spa is perfect for a luxurious getaway right in the middle of the beautiful action of uptown.

Tubac

Known as “where art and history meet,” Tubac is a small community between the Tumacacori and Santa Rita mountain ranges. The main drag is full of historic buildings, galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. Travelers will enjoy grabbing dinner at Stables Ranch Grille, and you can join in on the fun of the annual Tubac Festival of the Arts if you’re lucky enough to be in town during the first part of February. Southwestern American art is a specialty of Tubac, and you can find anything from ceramics to jewelry at places like Tumacookery, the Tubac Center of the Arts, or the Lone Mountain Turquoise Company. Tubac Golf Resort & Spa is a favorite place to stay among golfers, sporting a beautiful 27-hole golf course.

Jerome

The small town of Jerome, known in the past as the “wickedest town in the West,” has transformed into an artsy destination. Copper mining boomed here in the 1920s, but the population had plummeted by the time the mines closed in the 1950s. Now, tourists can visit downtown for restaurants, galleries, and saloons that have been repurposed and preserved with character and history. Head to Laughing Mountain or the Jerome Heritage Shop for gifts or souvenirs. The Mine Museum is a great way for history buffs to spend an afternoon. Many travelers choose to stay at the Jerome Grand Hotel, a former hospital that houses the award-winning Asylum restaurant and has incredible views overlooking the Verde Valley.

Tombstone

Tombstone is a Western history mecca in the southwest corner of Arizona. Visitors will be transported back to the frontier on the main street, and there are live reenactments of shootouts in the afternoons, free to the public. Travelers can enjoy preserved historic sites like The Bird Cage Theatre or Big Nose Kate’s Saloon. All establishments exude 1800s ambiance with decor and staff that dress of the era. Museums like Wyatt Earp’s home or the Gunfighter Hall of Fame are popular places to observe artifacts of the Wild West. Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park features the original jail, sheriff’s office, and courtrooms. Hotel Tombstone is the best spot to overlook Allen Street, and downstairs, you can get some of the best handmade pizzas and pies in the state.

Bisbee

Bisbee is located near the Mule Mountains and sits at 5,538 feet. Downtown is a thriving creative area with shops, galleries, hotels, and restaurants. Bisbee Grand Hotel is a fun choice for a place to stay; it has excellent Old West artistry in its decor, along with a stocked bar and restaurant with nightly live entertainment. Consider The Carrick Hotel in the heart of town as a more upscale option. Travelers will enjoy a guided tour of the Copper Queen Mine or exploring the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum to learn about Bisbee’s copper mining history. Check out live music and dancing at St. Elmo Bar, the longest continually running bar in Arizona. You can also get a tie-dyed shirt from Doc’s Dyes, or pick up a new book at Bisbee Books & Music.

Winslow

Made famous by the Eagles song "Take It Easy," Winslow is located along the famous Route 66. Visit the bronze statue resembling Jackson Browne (who wrote the song with Glenn Frey) at Corner Park. Standin' On The Corner RT 66 Gift Shop or Arizona 66 Trading Company are tourist favorites for shopping. RelicRoad Brewing Company or Sipp Shoppe offers classic American fare with diner-style ambiance. Stay at the La Posada Hotel; built in 1929, it has 12 acres of gardens, a restaurant, and a museum. Guests can expect colorful rooms with original mosaic tile and handmade Ponderosa pine beds.

Arizona’s small-town downtowns tell stories. The Old West has been immortalized by movies, books, and legends. Visitors help keep the stories alive and well by wandering these roads and witnessing the preserved structures of the era. The significance of culture throughout Arizona is unique, with Native American legacies, Spanish and Mexican influences, and the rapid boomtown mining growth of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These elements weave a tapestry of historical significance and beauty that every traveler should consider visiting.