On the other side of this mountain range and across a wide valley, you'll come to the town of Prescott, the former territorial capital of Arizona and the most western town in the state. Not only is there the huge old courthouse in the middle of a shady park, but along one side of the courthouse plaza stands Whiskey Row which once boasted 25 saloons and still has several saloons today. The Palace, completely restored a few years ago, is by far the most impressive of these saloons. Although today it is more restaurant than saloon, the Palace has a more genuine feel than just about any other saloon in the state. Prescott is also home to a trio of interesting museums.
Displays here focus on pioneer days in Arizona.
In contrast, the Smoki Museum, in a historic stone building, is filled with Native American artifacts. Here in Wickenburg you'll also find the Desert Caballeros Museum, which not only has displays of western art but also has a reproduction of a street in a wild west town. From Wickenburg it is about an hour's drive back to Phoenix. The next day head north on I-17, stopping at the Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum, to Camp Verde. From here, take Highway 260 to Cottonwood and Highway 89A to Jerome.