9 Close-Knit Towns to Visit in Arizona
Arizona may be a “zona arida” (arid zone) for the Spanish, an “arizuma” (silver-bearing) region for the Aztecs, or a place with a few "haritz ona" (good oak trees) for the Basque (all unlikely etymologies), but in any case, it is one of the most spectacular and dynamic states in America with unchanged features dating back to when humanity started roaming. In Wild West-themed small towns like Tombstone and Jerome to panoramic areas like Patagonia and Greer, you will find some of the most close-knit towns to visit in Arizona with a community as old as the first gold and silver and copper mines in the state. Get ready to beat the heat of the day when you are journeying through the arid regions and sunny forests in Arizona, towards these nine close-knit towns to visit in Arizona.
Tombstone
For people who are diehard, you can definitely enjoy the morbidly named small town of Tombstone. Only about 74 miles from the city of Tucson, a number of famous outlaws from the Wild West once walked the dusty and often empty streets of Tombstone. Among the most famous outlaws of the Old Wild West were Wyatt Earp, John H. “Doc” Holliday, and Johnny Ringo. Other gunfighters and outlaws are buried in Boothill Cemetery. Additionally, those with a sixth sense or an affinity for the paranormal can find all sorts of ghosts haunting establishments like at the Bird Cage Theatre. When it comes to history, you can either see an old gallows at the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park or watch a reenactment of the famed 1881 gunfight at the O.K. Corral, despite the fact that the actual gunfight took place elsewhere. Should you dread the haunting evenings in Tombstone, feel relaxed and at ease when staying in lively hostels like the Tombstone Grand Hotel or Tombstone Miners Cabins.
Bisbee
Bisbee, about 25 minutes away from Tombstone and close to the US-Mexico border, will have you buzzing and busy high up in the Mule Mountains. Both the Bisbee Restoration Museum and the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum provide sufficient evidence to show that this underrated and close-knit small town was once one of the wealthiest mining towns in Arizona due to the geological treasures in the Mule Mountains. Being the “Queen of the Copper Camps,” Bisbee also provides a Queen Mine Tour through many of its abandoned mine shafts in the Mule Mountains and at the Lavender Pit mining overlook. You should not miss out on the migration of Bisbee’s turkey vultures each year during the second week of March, and you should consider booking a room in lodgings like the Shady Dell or the Bisbee Grand Hotel.
Prescott
Do you love the ponderosa pines that are abundant throughout Arizona? Then you are going to enjoy the small town of Prescott, particularly the adventurous routes you can take to immerse yourself better into the Arizona landscape such as the Prescott Heritage Trail and History Hunt Adventure. Travelers can know more about Prescott’s early pioneers at the Sharlot Hall Museum, whereas the Museum of Indigenous People showcases exhibits of Native American artifacts from a time when Arizona was not yet filled with newcomers from Europe and beyond. You can always trust the Whiskey Row to find the best saloons, bars, and live music venues in Prescott. Not only does Prescott celebrate American independence on the Fourth of July, but that week the townsfolk also participate in an annual cowboy tournament known as the World’s Oldest Rodeo. Many more invigorating activities await in Prescott, so consider booking a room at either the Prescott Pines Inn or Hotel Vendome.
Jerome
Jerome, widely considered the “Wickedest Town in the West,” was a hotbed for gamblers, bootleggers, prostitutes, and cowboys at the time when Jerome was the biggest copper mining town in Arizona. Only about midway between Prescott and the city of Flagstaff, one can admire the sceneries of the town from atop Cleopatra Hill and learn all about the shady businesses and illicit histories of Jerome when exploring the Douglas Mansion at the Jerome State Historic Park. If you are not so afraid of heights, you can walk a glass platform at the Audrey Headframe Park so that you can take a good look at an abandoned mine shaft from the year 1918. You need not feel so anxious in Jerome, since the wickedest town in the west now contains some of the wackiest and wickedest wineries, art studios, and historic galleries in the Verde Valley. More importantly, you can find some of the best lodgings to spend a longer vacation in Jerome such as the Connor Hotel, The Clinkscale, and Ghost City Inn.
Oatman
Many might assume that a lot of ghost towns in Arizona are totally empty and filled with, well, ghosts. But the small town of Oatman proves the contrary due to its vibrant atmosphere and townsfolk who continue to preserve the history of the town. Back in the 1800s to early 1900s, Oatman used to be part of the Apache and Mojave Native American territory before gold prospectors began buying up the land in search for unalloyed and unrefined treasures. Over $10 million US dollars’ worth of gold was extracted from the Black Mountains near Oatman and other surrounding landscapes. These days, Oatman mostly accommodates tourists taking the well-known Route 66. More importantly, Oatman shelters the burros, the descendants of the early miners’ donkeys that are plentiful throughout Oatman’s outdoors. Despite being a ghost town, Oatman is one of the most vivacious and thriving destinations in Arizona.
Sedona
About 67 miles away from Prescott, you will serendipitously find the serene town of Sedona. Where Native American artifacts are on full display in the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and where the Grand Canyon can be explored in all its fiery colors and contours, Sedona is a seductive destination when one wants to see the natural and cultural beauties of Arizona. At Camp Verde, one can admire a mural wall called the Hisatsinom, a Hopi term meaning "ancient people“ and which talks about the Hopi ancestors’ exodus towards the Sedona and Verde Valley since 2,000 BCE. Meanwhile, landmarks like the nearby Tuzigoot National Monument and Montezuma Castle National Monument are additional places for you to learn more about the indigenous cultures of Arizona. Should you wish to see more of what Sedona contains, then you should first seek out accommodations at the Sedona Reál Inn and Suites, A Sunset Chateau, or Sky Rock Sedona.
Holbrook
Holbrook, located within the Painted Desert, preserves centuries of Native American history. Visitors can daytrip to ancient dwellings thousands of years old that the Navajo Nation used to live in at the Canyon de Chelly or the uniquely sculpted Chinle Formations. For years, people have been mesmerized by all the new sights and spectacles to savor in and around Holbrook. Do not feel petrified when you are traipsing about in the Petrified Forest National Park, home to several ancient petroglyphs, a hundred-room Pueblo compound, and the Agate House in the Puerco Pueblo. There are also the Homolovi Ruins and nearby Window Rock for you to admire, as well as the Bucket of Blood Street and the Blevins House where Sheriff Commodore Perry Owens battled against the Blevins gang during the violent days of the Wild West. No need to worry about lodgings, especially when the famous Wigwam Motel or Brad’s Desert Inn have all the things you need to feel satisfied in Holbrook.
Greer
Get gearing for Greer since this small town in the White Mountains greets newcomers to an array of new amenities. As the highest town in the state at an elevation of approximately 8,400 feet, Greer is a gateway to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, a 2.76-million-acre woodland replete with trails and historic landmarks, like an old Apache Railroad for scenic photography. Greer is also relatively close to the Apache National Forest which shares its arboreal features with the state of New Mexico. Follow the Little Colorado River towards panoramic sites such as Sunrise Lake Campground, Winn Campground, or Point Of The Mountain Overlook. Fall in love with the premier resorts and accommodations in Greer such as The Lost Resorts, the Greer Springs Resort, East Fork Retreat, or Greer Lodge Resort & Cabins.
Patagonia
There is a region in South America called Patagonia, and there is also a small town in Arizona called Patagonia. Though separated by history, culture, distance, and geography, both Patagonias are excellent tourist destinations and rewarding retirement communities in their respective domains. Once a supply center for nearby ranches and mines in the 19th century, Patagonia is part of the Sky Islands, a series of mountain ranges rising many thousands of feet and supporting five diverse habitats for migratory birds. One can admire over 200 avian species at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, while the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve protects one of the last remaining riparian habitats in Arizona. You ought to venture into the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area and the nearby Patagonia Lake State Park. You should also see a number of historic landmarks like the John Ward Ranch and the World's Fair Mine. For lodgings, look no further than the Stage Stop Inn for all that you require in Patagonia.
The Takeaway
Arizona, one of the corners in the Four Corners of America, has produced the most copper out of the other states in the US, with over 60% of the aggregate copper originating from some of the nine close-knit towns to visit in Arizona. The histories and cultures of Arizona — dating from indigenous times all the way to the hectic days of the Wild West — can be delved into in small towns like Sedona, Prescott, and Holbrook. Whenever you start sauntering through the windblown streets of these close-knit towns, you can almost feel the sense of community born out of a struggle to survive the hardships of the land and the violence brought between gunslingers and gangsters from long ago. This year, begin to appreciate the magnificent wonders the state of Arizona has to offer.
