Dorn Homes Blog

Prescott’s Best Day-Trips

Posted by Dornhomes on Apr 24, 2019 9:24:56 AM

One of the best parts about living in Prescott or the Verde Valley is being able to enjoy the charm of life in a small town without sacrificing the convenience of being close to a big city. But when you’re living in northern Arizona it’s not just the shopping and entertainment options of Phoenix that are nearby, there are plenty of day-trips to make throughout the region. Whether you’re looking for a quick jaunt for a local vineyard tour or a weekend near one of the Wonders of the Natural World, there’s a lot of fun to be had up here.

Flagstaff, Arizona (Travel Time from Courthouse Square – 1hr 45min)

downloadClose enough to visit for a day but packed with so many sights to see and experiences to have that you may want to make a weekend of it. Flagstaff is the go-to city for Arizonans looking to hit the slopes since it’s home to Arizona Snowbowl, one of only a few ski areas in the state. Flagstaff calls itself the “Dark Sky City” because of low light pollution laws that accommodate Lowell Observatory, a great destination for stargazing friends and family. When you visit you’ll find plenty of great local restaurants like Tourist Home All Day Café as well as a numerous local craft breweries. If you choose to spend the night, consider Hotel Monte Vista, supposedly one of the most haunted hotels in America.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park (Travel Time from Courthouse Square – 1hr)

1One of the best zoos in Arizona, Out of Africa Wildlife Park is probably the only place in the state where you can go to feed a tiger. The park boasts a wide variety of animals, mostly from Africa,and offers experiences like guided tours, in-park safaris, zip lines, shows, and more. Shows, like the walking carnivore feed tour, vary by day, so be sure to plan ahead. The park recommends allowing 4-5 hours to take in the whole experience and offers discounted admission during your birthday month.

Jerome, Arizona (Travel Time from Courthouse Square – 1hr)

5550766253_26a45ed511_bOnce one of Arizona’s busiest mining towns, Jerome is now a destination for artists and tourists alike. Jerome is located on Cleopatra Hill, high above what was once Arizona’s largest copper mine, and many of the storefronts and restaurants you’ll find are housed in buildings dating back to the late 1890’s. One must-see destination is Douglas Mansion State Park. Originally built for a copper magnate, the mansion now houses a museum exhibiting photographs, artifacts, and videos highlighting the history of the area. Downtown Jerome offers a bevy of dining options, local wineries, eclectic shopping, and several historic hotels.

Grand Canyon National Park (Travel Time from Courthouse Square – 2hr 15min)

0531fypNo day-trip list would be complete without including the Grand Canyon. Carved by the Colorado River 5 to 6 million years ago, the Grand Canyon has continuously housed Native American Tribes for thousands of years. The canyon was a favorite of Teddy Roosevelt and was first designated a National Monument in 1908. Visitors to the Grand Canyon typically visit the South Rim where they can enjoy casual sightseeing, hiking, helicopter tours and mule rides down the steep rocky trails. Although the Grand Canyon stretches for hundreds of miles (277 to be precise) the South Rim is the most popular site to visit and nearest to Prescott and the Quad Cities.


We hope this introduced you to a new experience or inspires you to explore the great state around you. Visitors come from not only across the country, but from around the world to see these sights that are in our own back yard. If you haven’t experienced them for yourself you can change that in a day. For more information about the communities we’re building in beautiful northern Arizona reach out to an Online Home Advisor today!

Topics: Insider, Prescott, Tips & Tricks