Scottsdale

Founded in 1864 and once Arizona’s territorial capital, Prescott stitches Old West lore to everyday life. A lush courthouse plaza and Victorian blocks set a Midwestern note in the Southwest, while Whiskey Row, rebuilt after the 1900 fire, still buzzes, anchored by The Palace saloon. Nearby, the Sharlot Hall Museum preserves pioneer stories on the original governor’s mansion site, keeping the city’s roots close at hand.

Nature frames the rest. At a mile high, Prescott is ringed by ponderosa pine forest, the sculpted Granite Dells, and lakes like Watson and Willow. More than 450 miles of trails lead to Thumb Butte vistas and along the historic Peavine railbed. Community spirit peaks with the World’s Oldest Rodeo and the lights of “Arizona’s Christmas City,” proving this hometown warmth runs year-round.