This Is The Most Hospitable Town In Arizona
Located along the historic Route 66 in northeastern Arizona, Winslow is a testament to the power of community reinvention and exceptional hospitality. This community has transformed itself from a struggling railroad town into a thriving cultural destination that warmly welcomes travelers. The city gained recognition through the Eagles' 1972 hit "Take It Easy," which immortalized the experience of "standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona," and this musical connection continues to draw visitors who discover the community's hospitality.
Winslow's history dates back long before rock and roll, encompassing Spanish exploration, railroad expansion, and the golden age of American automobile travel. The Santa Fe Railway established Winslow as a major division point in the 1880s, and the town flourished as trains brought travelers, commerce, and opportunity to the high desert. When Route 66 followed the railroad's path across northern Arizona, Winslow became an essential stop for motorists seeking food, fuel, and lodging on their journeys between Chicago and Los Angeles.
Downtown Winslow
The walkable core is best explored on foot, allowing visitors to discover murals, public art installations, and historic markers that document the town's rich and layered history. Standin' on the Corner Park occupies the intersection of Second Street and Kinsley Avenue, commemorating the Eagles' song with a life-sized bronze statue of a musician holding a guitar. A flatbed Ford truck, another reference from the lyrics, stands permanently parked beside the statue, and a mural depicts a young woman in a window, completing the scene described in the song. Visitors pose for photos at this location, making it a great spot to engage in conversation with locals or other tourists.
Local business owners love welcoming visitors, often stepping outside their establishments to greet passersby and offer recommendations for exploring the community. This proactive hospitality distinguishes Winslow from popular destinations in Arizona, where tourists are anonymous consumers, creating an atmosphere in which visitors quickly feel seen and valued.
Community Events
Winslow organizes an impressive calendar of events throughout the year. The Standin' on the Corner Festival stands as the community's signature celebration, drawing thousands of visitors each September for live music, classic car shows, arts and crafts vendors, and activities that honor both Route 66 heritage and the Eagles' musical legacy. Musicians perform throughout downtown, and the festival maintains an inclusive atmosphere that welcomes families, motorcycle fans, and travelers of all backgrounds.
The town hosts an annual 4th of July celebration, typically featuring a traditional parade. Past events have included themes honoring first responders and city workers, often held along the historic Route 66 corridor. Following the parade, the downtown park becomes the stage for live performances blending classic American tunes with local flavor. When it gets dark, the Winslow Fireworks Show is one of the largest Independence Day fireworks displays in Northern Arizona. The show is funded entirely by community donations and is free to the public.
Winslow hosts the longest-running Annual Christmas Parade in northern Arizona. The parade processes through downtown, featuring floats, marching bands, and visits from Santa Claus that delight children. Tree-lighting ceremonies, caroling performances, and seasonal markets create festive atmospheres that attract visitors seeking fun communal holiday experiences. Throughout the year, smaller gatherings, including farmers' markets, art walks, and community potlucks, reinforce the social bonds that sustain Winslow's welcoming character and hospitality.
La Posada Hotel and Harvey House Heritage
La Posada Hotel stands as Winslow's crown jewel, representing one of the most significant historic hotel restorations in Arizona. Architect Mary Colter designed this masterpiece for the Fred Harvey Company in 1930, creating what she considered her most important achievement: a Spanish Colonial hacienda that provided the highest level of hospitality for travelers passing through the high desert. During its heyday in the 1930s, the hotel was a favorite destination of Hollywood stars. The hotel closed as passenger rail service declined, and the building served various utilitarian purposes before passionate preservationists began restoration efforts in the 1990s.
Today, La Posada operates as a fully restored destination hotel, welcoming overnight guests and day visitors who come to experience Colter's architectural vision and the hospitality traditions established by the Fred Harvey Company. The Turquoise Room restaurant occupies the original Harvey House dining room, serving contemporary Southwestern cuisine that honors the innovative culinary traditions and top-notch hospitality introduced by Harvey Houses to the American West. Executive Chef Angel Soto creates dishes featuring locally sourced ingredients and Native American influences, attracting diners from throughout the region who appreciate both the cuisine and the incomparable setting.
Visitors who do not stay overnight are welcome to explore La Posada's public spaces, where they can wander through gardens, galleries, and common areas featuring art collections, historic photographs, and interpretive materials that document the hotel's story. The gift shop offers carefully curated items, including books, jewelry, and crafts that reflect the hotel's aesthetic sensibilities. This accessibility exemplifies the inclusive hospitality that defines Winslow, ensuring that all visitors can experience La Posada's magic, regardless of their budget.
Route 66 Culture
The retail establishments in downtown Winslow reflect the community's transportation heritage while meeting the needs of contemporary visitors. The Standin' On The Corner RT66 Gift Shop occupies prime real estate adjacent to the famous park, offering Route 66 memorabilia, Eagles-related merchandise, and Arizona souvenirs that allow visitors to take tangible memories home from their experiences in Winslow. The staff is enthusiastic about the community's musical connection, often engaging visitors in conversations about the song's history and the town's ongoing relationship with its celebrity.
A pleasant stroll from the corner leads visitors to additional shops that reward exploration. The Route 66 Gallery and Gifts features a collection of Route 66 merchandise, vintage advertising reproductions, and travel-themed items for road trip enthusiasts. The shop maintains relationships with regional artisans, ensuring visitors can purchase authentic items.
Railroad Heritage and Living History
Winslow's identity remains inextricably linked with the railroad that created the town and sustained its economy for generations. The Santa Fe Railway established Winslow as a division point where crews changed, locomotives were serviced, and passengers stretched their legs during transcontinental journeys. Amtrak's Southwest Chief continues serving Winslow, stopping at the restored depot adjacent to La Posada Hotel. This ongoing passenger rail service maintains tangible connections to the transportation heritage that defines the community, and train enthusiasts gather to watch arrivals and departures while imagining the countless travelers who have passed through Winslow.
Nearby Destinations Worth Exploring
Located approximately thirty miles east of Winslow along Interstate 40, Holbrook provides access to one of Arizona's most remarkable natural attractions while maintaining its own distinctive Route 66 character. This community serves as the gateway to Petrified Forest National Park, which protects one of the world's largest concentrations of petrified wood alongside badlands formations painted in bands of red, orange, purple, and white. Visitors drive through the park along a scenic road that provides access to overlooks and hiking trails that document both the natural history and the Ancestral Puebloan people who once inhabited this landscape.
Approximately twenty-five miles west of Winslow, Meteor Crater presents visitors with one of the best-preserved impact craters on Earth. This massive hole, nearly a mile across and 550 feet deep, formed approximately 50,000 years ago when a nickel-iron meteorite struck the Colorado Plateau at extreme velocity. The crater is privately owned, featuring an excellent visitor center that offers educational exhibits, observation decks, and guided rim tours exploring the science of impact geology.
Winslow is the most hospitable town in Arizona, thanks to its remarkable combination of heritage, cultural reinvention, and genuine community warmth. From hotel staff who share restoration stories to shop owners who engage visitors in conversation, this town was built on the principle that good hospitality is essential. Whether visiting during the energetic Standin' on the Corner Festival, peaceful winter months, or any season between, visitors to Winslow discover a Route 66 community that has mastered the art of making every visitor feel genuinely welcome, so come on down and take it easy.
