NORTHERN ARIZONA


Deer, pronghorn antelope and Javelina also roam the banks. Passengers see ancient Sinaguan Indian ruins and historic mining structures. The four-hour trip creates the perfect environment for any group event. Make sure to stop by Jerome, which overlooks the Verde


Valley. During mining’s heyday, Jerome was the third- largest city in Arizona and a raucous, bawdy, frontier copper mining town. Nicknamed “The City in the Sky,” for its perch on the side of Cleopatra Hill, Jerome’s enclave of cute shops and galleries is a magnet for tourists today. Its population went from 15,000 in its heyday to a “ghost town” of under 50 people, to its role today, as a center for the arts with unique shops, galleries, wineries, tasting rooms, dining and lodging. The Jerome Mine Museum on Main Street brings to life the challenges and triumphs achieved during the booming mining era. This scenic view of the entire Verde Valley offers wonderful photographic opportunities. Nearby, the town of Cottonwood is the commercial hub


of the Verde Valley and is home to a number of antique shops, fine restaurants, art galleries, wineries and festivals throughout the year. Historic Old Town Cottonwood has shops, galleries, wine tasting rooms and restaurants lining Main Street and provides the backdrop for this quaint and colorful historic district. The unique Cottonwood Jail stands guard at the top of Main Street.


Jerome For a self-guided Riparian Gallery Forest Tour, pick up a


brochure at the Jail Trail trailhead located behind the Old Town Jail. The trail is part of the Verde River Greenway, a unit of Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Early birders may get a glimpse at the many birds that live and migrate through the area, as well as more common animals such as deer, raccoon, coyote, beaver and Javelina. For a unique western experience in Cottonwood, the Blazin’ M Ranch recently reopened after six weeks of renovations. Now so much more than a chuckwagon dinner and wild west show, the Ranch offers brand new venues, a museum, an updated western town and a brand new menu. Storyboards located throughout the town link visitors’ present and past and cowboys entertain throughout.


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