Arizona - Hot for More than Just Temperature

Most people who don't know otherwise, think of Arizona as perpetually hot. Okay, yes, the bottom half of the state can be oppressive, especially in the summer, but winter is pleasant, and the farther north you go, the cooler it is, in general. Flagstaff has some good skiing at Snow Bowl.

I'm going to share a 24-hour itinerary for the area in which I live. My town, Cottonwood, is in the Verde Valley, part of the northern half of the state. It's not as hot as Phoenix, and it's not as cold as Flagstaff.

For people who enjoy coffee or tea, start your day with one of many options. Some of the big chains are in Cottonwood - like Starbucks, The Human Bean, and Dutch Brothers - but there are other great choices, such as Sedonuts, Crema, The Neighborhood Coffee Shop, and Jerona, to name some favorites.

With some caffeine in you, a morning hike is in order. Drive 20 minutes to Sedona. You can't go wrong with any of the red rock hiking trails. The scenery is gorgeous, and you can find a hike for any skill level.

If you are wealthy, go ahead and have lunch in Sedona. Everything there is pricey, so I prefer to go back to Cottonwood. We have lots of restaurants to choose from. One of my favorites is Calavera, with Latin inspired food and sugar skull decor.

After lunch, enjoy a quick dip in the Verde River, just downstream from the Tuzigoot Bridge in Clarkdale. You may see people jumping off rope swings, kayaking, canoeing, or floating on tubes.

Next, visit the neighboring town of Jerome up on Mingus Mountain. It was a copper mining town back in the day. When the mine dried up, it became a ghost town. Now, it caters to tourists. You can tour the mine and patronize amazing gift shops. One of my favorites is the kaleidoscope store. After all of that, it will be time for dinner, which is great, because The Haunted Hamburger makes exceptional food. Yum! And if you're vegetarian, there are options for that too.

Now, back to Cottonwood for some live music at Main Stage. Dance if you like, or just watch, listen, and/or drink.

In the morning, visit one of many cafes in Historic Old Town, where there are varied menus and friendly, small-town service.

You can always substitute any of the above ideas with a trip to one of many parks in the area:

Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood. No dead horses, but there are beautiful lagoons and places to camp.

Tuzigoot National Monument, Clarkdale. Native American ruins.

Fort Verde State Park, Camp Verde. Check ahead, because you may see some live reenactors, dressed accordingly, complete with a bugler.

Out of Africa, Camp Verde. You would have passed right by it on the way to Cottonwood. Be sure to feed the giraffes and watch Tiger Splash.

Jerome State Historic Park, Jerome. Learn about the copper mining.

Red Rock State Park and Slide Rock State Park, Sedona. Again, stunning views!

You’ll want to extend your stay because one day isn't enough to discover the full beauty of The Verde Valley, Arizona.

If you’re in the area, I’d be delighted to give you a personal tour.