Arizona is a beautiful state full of many cool cities and scenic towns. I have lived in Arizona all of my life (31 years) and still feel like I haven’t explored all the best places in Arizona. It is a beautiful time of year to get out and explore, enjoy the weather and the beautiful colors. If you are looking for something to do, here are a few of the best hidden gems in Arizona.
- Bisbee – The historic mining town of Bisbee is about a 3 hour drive from Phoenix. It is a colorful culturally diverse town that was once known for its mining, is now known for its artistry and unique buildings. It is full of gorgeous architecture, great restaurants and lots of things to do. If you decide to take a trip, be sure to take a tour of the Copper Queen mine, stop by the Lavender mine, enjoy many of the delicious restaurants and walk around main street. Taking a trip to this town is a must.
- Jerome – Jerome is a 2 hour drive north from Phoenix and it best known for his haunted ghost tours. In fact, it boasts the title of the largest ghost town in America. There are several different haunted tours available for those who love a good fright. If that’s not your thing, don’t worry, Jerome has lots of other things to offer. You can check out the Douglas Mansion, which was owned by one of the mine owners. It tells of the rich history of Jerome. Like Bisbee it also offers lots of delicious restaurants and shopping.
- Sedona – For the hikers and outdoorsy people out there Sedona is a must visit. The beautiful red rock city is about 2 hours from Phoenix and is totally worth the drive. Sedona is full of almost every outdoor adventure you could imagine. You can hike, bike, raft, horseback ride, golf, mountain climb and enjoy one of my favorites, the pink jeep tours. Sedona has something for everyone, whether you prefer the outdoors, the arts or just relaxing at one of the many resorts, you are sure to find something you love.
- Pine/Strawberry – One of my favorite places in AZ in the Pine/Strawberry area. It’s a quaint town and the beautiful scenery is relaxing and its almost like taking a step back in time. It is about an hour and a half from Phoenix, and the drive is beautiful. While there you can take in the scenery or catch a festival on main street. The Tonto Natural bridge has hikes for all ages, and is just a short drive. There is plenty of spots for camping, fishing and hunting. There are a few hidden gem restaurants, and Payson is just a short 20 min away.
With our beautiful scenery and historic little towns there are many hidden gems in Arizona. It was hard to just pick a few. The next time you have a day off and are looking for an adventure, I highly suggest starting with one of the places on this list. What are you favorite hidden gems in Arizona? I would love to hear them to add them to my places to visit!
