The Arizona Hot List: Best Spots to Visit

Elephant Rocks Golf Course, Williams

Provided and sponsored by Visit Arizona.

The City of Williams

Williams, Arizona is a destination known for things to do for visitors of all ages. From cruising Route 66, to planning a visit to the Grand Canyon, riding the rails, getting up close to the wildlife at a drive-thru wildlife park, hitting the trail with some outdoor recreation, or shopping for that perfect souvenir, Williams, Arizona is the place to do it.

The Grand Canyon Railway is a perfect way to sit back and enjoy the ride to the Grand Canyon if you are traveling alone, with your partner or in a group. With entertainment on the way, the spectacular view of the Canyon when you arrive, and the chance to reflect on it all on the ride back- it’s an attraction you don’t want to miss.

Bearizona Drive Thru Wildlife Park is an experience you will not soon forget. Get up close and personal with many different animals in their natural environment and you’ll know why these bears have become an Arizona favorite. Ride in the comfort of your own vehicle as you see deer, elk, bison, wolves, bears, and more.

Canyon Coaster Adventure Park is the newest must do attractions on Route 66 in Williams. The year-round park brings Arizona’s first and only mountain coaster on a stainless steel tube track. Snow play can be enjoyed in the winter with a wonderful family style restaurant, and plenty of space to warm up and enjoy the views.

Everything you could want for lodging options are in Williams – Bed & Breakfasts, themed Hotels & Motels, RV Parks and Campgrounds. Wherever you choose to stay, it will be conveniently located to the area attractions of Williams and the Grand Canyon.

Route 66 conjures up thoughts of rich history, soda fountains, neon lights, classic cars, and fun! Only in Williams will you find a stretch of Route 66 with shopping, dining, lodging, and cowboy action- fun for the whole family.

Explore the Experience Williams website and find 66 things to do on Route 66, plan your trip, and make plans to visit the Gateway to the Grand Canyon®!

Find out more at experiencewilliams.com.

The Granite Dells of Prescott

The City of Prescott

Prescott, Arizona is known for True West. Real Adventure. But what does that mean? Prescott was once the stomping grounds for cowboys of old—think Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday, strolling famous Whiskey Row, or galloping through the town on horseback. Because of its high-desert terrain, Prescott was a place to escape the heat of the Valley and enjoy cool nights, western sunsets, and a slower pace.

Prescott is centrally located in the state, less than 90 minutes north of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Visitors making the scenic drive can watch the landscape change from saguaro-lined interstate to high-desert elevation, where ponderosa pine trees dot the landscape. Flying in from Los Angeles? Prescott has a daily service from LAX in its all-new terminal. Fly in and out of Prescott, making it your first and last stop in Arizona.

When you think of Arizona, you don’t think of water, but Prescott is surrounded by three lakes—these bodies of water brought the cowboys of old, and now they bring outdoor enthusiasts from near and far. Visitors can explore hidden pockets by kayak, stand-up paddle board or canoe.

Prescott is home to more than 400 miles of groomed trail system, weaving in and around the lakes, the city square, museums, and more. Stroll for a mile or hop on a horse or mountain bike for a real adventure with unique landscape.

Prescott is rich with history, and full of opportunities for exploration. Whether you want to relax in a natural environment filled with beauty and wildlife, or dive into the history of cowboys, saloons and the Old West, Prescott is the place.

Nestled at an elevation of 5,200 feet above sea level, amid the largest stand of ponderosa pine forests in the United States, Prescott also boasts perfect weather, with an average temperature of 70 degrees and four beautiful and distinct seasons. Enjoy year-round breathtaking landscapes complete with granite mountains, lakes, streams, and rolling meadows filled with wildlife.

Also in Prescott, you’ll find many things to do, including horseback riding, golfing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, local breweries, restaurants, shopping, and a hometown feel that keeps visitors, young and old, returning year after year.

Prescott is known worldwide as the host of the World’s Oldest Rodeo, and now the host of the annual Whiskey Off-Road Mountain Bike endurance race—the largest competitive mountain bike race in North America.

Visit Prescott and discover why visitors return year after year, making it their favorite place to discover True West. Real Adventure. Learn more at visit-prescott.com.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Superior, Arizona: The Next Place You Need to “Discover”

If you love unspoiled nature and rich heritage, Superior is the place for you: a picturesque, largely undiscovered gem that offers pristine desert experiences at the world-renowned Boyce Thompson Arboretum; top-notch outdoor adventures in an epic setting; unique annual festivals put on by a forward-thinking community; an authentic, budding culinary and art scene; and educational opportunities for the entire family.

Activities

Superior is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream! With destinations like the Boyce Thompson Arboretum and an expansive landscape offering beautiful vistas along hiking, biking, and rock climbing paths, Superior is one of Arizona's best locations to experience the outdoors. Boyce Thompson Arboretum is home to a variety of lush desert gardens, all with a considerable degree of seasonal beauty for you to experience. Spring visitors will experience the vibrancy of a variety of wildflowers in bloom, summer visitors will be rewarded with blooming exotic and native cacti—including the renowned "prickly pears" later in the season—and in fall and early winter will enjoy a beautiful display of changing leaves.

The Legends of Superior Trails take you on a hiking journey of urban trails that will lead you strolling right into the patio of a restaurant upon completion, with the reward of a cool beverage in hand.

Shopping

Discover authenticity in a place where history is celebrated through art, and where locals welcome you like family. You will find a plethora of outlets for artistic representation of Arizona’s history and heritage. Whether you’re into art galleries, colorful murals, specialty boutiques or antiquing, Superior has a variety of options to appreciate the arts. Get familiar with and enjoy the peaceful pace of life in Superior.

Food and Drink

After a long day of exploring attractions and perusing downtown shops, fuel up in one of Superior's locally owned food and drink establishments. Settle in and enjoy something authentic in our budding culinary scene, from fresh-food markets to unique dining spaces featuring menus full of family recipes where you will be able to taste the culture.

Whatever your adventure of choice is a restorative day hike or a challenging rock climb, or the adrenaline rush of a bike race, Superior has got you covered. All of the pieces are in place for an epic Arizona desert experience.

Come make lifelong memories in the gorgeous high desert of Superior, AZ. Learn more at superiorarizona.com.

B Troop at BCR. Image by Alexandra Winand.

Extraordinary flavors—and colorful history—hit the mark in Sierra Vista

Home of the world’s first drive-thru McDonald’s restaurant, Sierra Vista, a vibrant southeast Arizona city, scores major foodie points thanks to its colorful history.

Easy to spot, the Mickey D’s on Fry Boulevard is home to the world’s first drive-through McDonald’s restaurant. Although the original building was renovated into a modern store, the site is the one-and-only. Check out the original window at the Henry Hauser Museum, where the horizontal glass slider, sporting a dark tint to shield employees from the Arizona sun, is on permanent display. The window was installed in 1975 to serve soldiers from nearby Fort Huachuca, who were not permitted to get out of their cars off-post while wearing fatigues.

Fort Huachuca (The Post), established in 1877, has long influenced Sierra Vista. Along with the cultural diversity it naturally brings (and plenty of international cuisine!), the Post is proud to have been home of the Buffalo Soldiers, distinguished for their exceptional fighting abilities and horsemanship. Today, Fort Huachuca’s B Troop cavalry stables carry the regiment’s moniker.

At chow time, fill your belly with a taste of Army history at The Brite Spot. Order the hefty Buffalo Soldier, a hand-formed burger topped with creamy barbeque sauce and onion rings. Huuah! Smaller appetites can choose The Scout, a seasoned charbroiled burger, named for Native Americans who served as integral members of the Fort’s Signal Corps.

Nola Walker circa 1942.

The Brite Spot isn’t the only restaurant recognizing local history. Try the Ethel Berger Burger at the Landmark Café, named for Sierra Vista’s first female mayor. Topped with grilled peppers and onions and a slab of Pepper Jack cheese, the burger is a nod to Ethel’s Pennsylvania birthplace and her spicy yet lovable personality.

The Landmark also serves the Nola Walker Club, a sandwich of towering influence, like the woman who is its namesake. Sierra Vista was named by Nola, who “lied through her teeth” (her words) about tallying votes to name the city when it officially incorporated in 1956. Short on time—and fancying “Sierra Vista”—she reported that “Sierra Vista” earned the majority vote. When the gig was up 50 years later, Nola was officially pardoned, claiming “I’m sure everyone would have chosen Sierra Vista anyway.”

Meaning “mountain view,” Sierra Vista is great name for an extraordinary city in a temperate corner of Arizona. Discover more about Sierra Vista’s colorful history, mountain views, and savory flavors at VisitSierraVista.com.