9 Picture-Perfect Main Streets In Arizona
Arizona keeps its history alive right out on the main street. As people moved into this land, each town developed a distinct personality, and that is evident in these very different nine main streets. Wander down Whiskey Row in Prescott where Doc Holliday used to drink, or feed the many wild burros in Oatman, and you will find one thing in common. It is a certain kind of Wild West forthrightness that is unique to Arizona. This rugged territory was carved by time and several southwestern Native American tribes. It sprang into new life with the gold rush and the railroads, and has been saved time and time again by dreamers and artists.
Prescott
Doc Holliday spent time here in Prescott before he joined up with the Earp boys down in Tombstone. Point of fact, Virgil Earp and his wife Allie also lived here in Prescott for a time in the late 1870s. The main drag here is anchored by the Courthouse Plaza, a town square lined with more than 170 towering trees and fronted by historic Victorian buildings. But the adjacent Montezuma Street, known as Whiskey Row, is the main street, and it is a real step back in time to the Old West. Not only do you have the chance to walk down this well-preserved brick-lined boulevard, but you have the chance to get dinner there at The Palace, Arizona's oldest and most famous saloon. This is a handsome steakhouse that was well known to Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, and can be well known to you, too. After your meal, you can follow in their footsteps and head over to the Jersey Lilly Saloon for a drink. Be sure to step out onto its granite balcony, which overlooks the Courthouse Square and is the place to see and be seen for all the happenings on Whiskey Row.
Bisbee
High in the Mule Mountains, Bisbee has a historic Main Street with 19th century brick buildings now filled with eclectic art galleries and cafes. One of the favorite first places to stop is at the Bisbee Coffee Company (the city's official coffeehouse) where you can grab a freshly roasted brew before you start to browse. There are so many tempting places to explore, but be sure to step into the Bisbee Restoration Museum, a three story treasure box of heirlooms from Bisbee families over the years. The museum is housed in the original "Fair Store" on Main Street, built in 1909, and is itself a fine example of the preservative and creative spirit that lives in Bisbee. For a more contemporary exploration, check out 55 Main Gallery to see modern art across mediums and consider purchasing an heirloom of your own from their fine art imports. There are a number of quirky sights to see in Bisbee away from the Main Street (like a wall of art, a thousand stairs, and the 1950s time capsule that is Erie Street), but just a few steps away from the main drag, you will want to wander down to Brewery Gulch, a place of historic saloons and the new "old" breweries that are proudly producing award winning beers today in the mile high town of Bisbee.
Jerome
Clinging dramatically to Cleopatra Hill, the former copper mining town of Jerome has a Main Street so intriguing it may literally haunt you. There is a reason this place was once known as "the wickedest town in the west," with far more saloons than churches in its mining heyday. The history in brief is that Jerome was once one of the largest towns in Arizona, thanks to the great copper mines, and filled with rough and tumble miners and robber barons. When the mines finally closed in the 1950s, this place was almost completely abandoned, and if it were not for the artists who saved it, Jerome could possibly be the largest ghost town in America today. But while the town still thrives, some of the ghosts do too, and are memorialized in some pretty kitsch and creative ways. For instance, it is not every day you can get a meal at the Haunted Hamburger, where the owners assure guests they can always get a terrific meal but also warn folks to leave their hammers at home or run the risk of getting smashed by an audacious ghost (speculated to have been tradesmen when alive). And you can also step inside the historic Connor Hotel and Spirit Room (established 1898) where the spirits are more than just gin, they are residents who also enjoy the live music and famous ghost stories. It is easy to look at life differently in Jerome, and that includes perusing a massive collection of kaleidoscopes for sale in the curious shop called Nellie Bly. And if you are in Jerome on the First Saturday of the month (recommended) you can see all the living artists open up their studios and spill into the streets with local art and artistic events that are simply to die for.
Sedona
The town proper of Sedona is so small that its Main Street is technically the State Route 89A that runs through it. That said, the town is surrounded by surreal red rock formations, renowned for its natural energy vortexes (which draw people from all around the world), and its main strip is a shop till you drop flurry of high-end galleries, new-age shops, and out-of-this-world eateries. Park at the Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village, an outdoor market that looks something like a traditional Mexican village with courtyards and cobblestone paths draped in ivy. You can lose yourself for almost a day in here with over 40 galleries alone and several dining spots. Or if you want to get your bearings first, take a Trolley Tour. One tour takes you south through the Arts District and all the way to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a 90 foot cross built into the red rocks and designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Whether you want to swim, hike, take a water-to-wine kayaking trip, golf a very fine course, indulge in some retail therapy, or even discover your higher self, there is something to catch your attention in Sedona. But for an unforgettable addition to whatever your plans may be, you cannot do better than to see the red rock country, feel its energy, and contribute to its beauty by sailing up a colorful hot air balloon piloted by the Arizona Hot Air Balloon Company. Remember, there is no steering mechanism on a hot air balloon, so your adventure will whisk you away to wherever the winds may take you (flights run a few hundred dollars per person and end with champagne toasts).
Tombstone
You have heard of Tombstone, and maybe even heard it referred to as "The Town Too Tough to Die." So far that seems to be the truth. The Main Street, "Allen Street," has perfectly preserved the wild, dusty aesthetic of the 1880s. But it is the O.K. Corral that is the epicenter of Tombstone, and every day you can watch a live reenactment of the shootout between the Earps, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton gang right there where it happened. Stroll by the historic Bird Cage Theatre, once a theatre and brothel in its day, and you will see the bullet holes still in the walls of this 1881 establishment. And inside, the chandeliers, wallpaper, stage, and balcony boxes are all authentic to the building's boomtown era. History is everywhere in this beautiful old building, from the "cribs" upstairs where sex workers plied their trade during performances, to the subterranean gambling rooms for the highest stakes games. Self guided tours are open to the public, and ghost tours can be booked by reservation in the evenings. All along the boardwalk there are fabulous shops selling boots, antiques, and western gear. But you can step off the street anytime for a cool drink in one of the historic saloons like Big Nose Kate's, which has been preserved in its 1880s splendor. Or if you would like to put your feet up outdoors, hire a carriage ride from Allen Street to see Tombstone the way it was designed to be seen, by horse and carriage. You will pass by many other memorable sights including the namesakes of the town, the original tombstones in Boothill Graveyard, the most famous Wild West cemetery in the world (now graveyard and one of a kind gift shop).
Williams
Williams promises that grand adventures await you here at the gateway to the Grand Canyon. This small town on Route 66 is packed with nostalgic neon signs and vintage diners with a Wild Western flair. The Main Street here is pure Americana and includes more than a few beloved dining spots. For instance, the Cruiser's Route 66 Cafe is something out of a Norman Rockwell painting, from the vintage interior to the comforting food and hospitality. Or if you would rather put back a pint than sip a shake, you may want to grab a giant Bavarian pretzel and try a prickly pear wheat beer at the Grand Canyon Brewing Company. Walk off some of that good American food wandering along the (highly photographed) murals on the main drag, and then for a quirky twist, check out the free dinosaur coprolite exhibits in the Poozeum (now you know that "coprolite" is a fancy name for dinosaur poop; Williams has the largest coprolite in the world on display along with a bronze t-rex affectionately called "The Stinker" posed on a toilet). Or for something a little more mainstream Americana (although dino poop proudly on display is certainly American), you may want to see the perfectly restored vintage cars and "petroliana" in Pete's Route 66 Gas Station Museum. No matter where you wander in Williams, you are sure to be in for a rare and unusual treat.
Winslow
"Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see." You will remember the name Winslow from the song by the Eagles, "Take it Easy." And the song is remembered by the town in its famous "Standin' on the Corner" Park on Second Street, which is Winslow's main street. Be sure to snap your picture there with an iconic flatbed Ford that is a fixture of the park along with some other song inspired statues. Next, you simply must step inside the gorgeous 1929 La Posada Hotel (aka the last great Fred Harvey railroad hotel) right across from the park. You will find sunken gardens, art galleries, and historic architecture waiting for you to explore (this hotel is considered architect Mary Colter's Southwestern masterpiece). The railroad is a beautiful centerpiece of Winslow. Just beside the main street (Second Street) you can follow the First Street Pathway along the tracks and straight through town beside outdoor art installations and peaceful scenery. On your stroll, keep an eye out for the Old Trails Museum (on 212 Kinsley Ave). This is a completely free and highly rated museum situated inside an old historic bank, and its exhibits feature Route 66, as well as exhibits about the "Harvey Girls" who waitressed in Fred Harvey's restaurants, and the town's long Santa Fe Railroad history. There are remarkable sights to see around this small town that include craters, waterfalls, petroglyphs and more, so plan to stay in this small town for a weekend at least.
Willcox
The flourishing wine country of Arizona is in the high desert surrounded by mountains dotted about with historic adobe buildings. Willcox, once a Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, is the central destination for connoisseurs of wine tasting. The main street here is called Railroad Avenue and it is a hub of tasting rooms. While all the places you will see are well worth stepping into, an excellent place to start is at the Birds and Barrels. From here you can get an "I Love Willcox Wine Passport," your guide to an interactive, gamified adventure that guides you along the scenic wine trail (checking in at locations, earning points, and unlocking prizes along the way). For a more localized adventure, stroll through the Historic Railroad Park, which is a beautiful place on the main street to relax and enjoy the small town atmosphere. Then head inside the Rex Allen "Arizona Cowboy" Museum, because Willcox was Rex Allen's hometown and he was the last of the real singing cowboys in those old school Western movies. You will find all kinds of memorabilia there across his escapades in TV, movies, and record-making days. (Younger travelers may remember Rex Allen as the voice of the narrator in classics like "The Incredible Journey" and "Charlotte's Web," but his career was truly expansive and earned him the nickname "The Voice of the West.")
Oatman
One of the prettiest and most action packed stretches of Route 66 in Arizona runs through Oatman, a former gold mining town that still sports a frontier theme complete with plank sidewalks and historic storefronts. Be sure to buy some "burro food" (hay pellets or oats) on the street, because feeding the wild burros is perhaps the most authentically Oatman thing that can be done. These wild burros are descended from the original pack animals left behind by the gold miners, and they are delighted to be hand fed by people (there are more burros than human residents here and they wander the streets freely, so it is common to see a dozen or more on the main drag at any given time). Get yourself some food and drink at the Oatman Hotel Restaurant and Saloon, which was built in 1902 and is one of the oldest buildings in town. The walls of this hotel are famously covered with thousands of dollar bills, and the upstairs features the preserved suite where, by local legend, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard honeymooned. Back on the street, watch the local Ghost Rider Gunfights, which are free (comic) Wild West shootouts that happen most days. As you stroll down the street you will see many free and fun exhibits like old jail cells you can enter, a blacksmith shop, and some purely photographable exhibits like a brothel room set up hiding in between the shops. Oatman is a great place to come with family or friends for a huge day of fun.
Only in Arizona
Wherever you go in Arizona, you are going to be surrounded by some truly grand scenery. Small wonder then that there are so many world famous saloons that are perfect for stepping out of the elements and raising a glass to the beauty of our natural and manmade world. Only in Arizona can you stroll down Whiskey Row (in Prescott) where Doc Holliday once strolled, or wander down to Brewery Gulch in Bisbee, or sit where the Earp boys once sat in Big Nose Kate's saloon in Tombstone, or enjoy a glass of spirits with an actual spirit in Jerome, or watch wild burros strolling past a window that is wallpapered all around with single dollar bills in Oatman. Only in Arizona will you find these main streets filled with the living history and spirit of the pioneering Wild West.
