Famous for outdoor adventure, cultural attractions, and family events, Prescott is a beautiful and vibrant city nested in the Bradshaw Mountains. Visitors at Prescott are introduced to the Wild West Lore featuring the Courthouse Square showcasing the building and iconic Yavapai County Courthouse.
Explore the rowdy past at the Whiskey Row Museum, or delve deeper at the Sharlot Hall Museum. And if you are an outdoor enthusiast, hike or bike through Prescott National Forest's meadows and mountains. Kayak on Watson Lake or take a scenic drive along the Thumb Butte Trail.
Whether you crave history, nature, or a bit of both, Prescott Arizona awaits with these 20 Amazing Things To Do In Prescott Arizona.
1. Explore Courthouse Square
Courthouse Square in Prescott, Arizona features a rich blend of history and local charm. At its heart lies a famous building, including the Yavapai County Courthouse, surrounded by towering trees and a lot of green. This historic square is a central hub for community events, art shows, and festivals.
Visitors at Courthouse Square are served with a perfect blend of shopping and dining as it is surrounded by unique boutiques, antique shops, and inviting restaurants. The vibrant atmosphere of the square, complemented by its historical significance, makes it a popular attraction in Prescott Arizona.
2. Hike Or Bike In Prescott National Forest
With over 450 miles of trails featuring stunning vistas and thrilling terrains, hiking or biking in Prescott National Forest offers an exhilarating escape into nature. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned hiker/biker, the forest with its popular trails like Granite Mountain Trail offers breathtaking views and challenging routes that provide something for everyone.
Visitors can also indulge in the diverse landscapes, from dense pine forests to high desert terrain, providing a unique experience each time they visit. The well-marked trails suitable for all skill levels make hiking or biking in Prescott National a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, and popular things to do in Prescott Arizona.
3. See A Show At The Prescott Center For The Arts
Within Prescott Arizona resides the Prescott Center for the Arts; a place where people go to feel the energy from diverse cultural activities and performances. A wide range of activities can happen in this historical landmark including theater productions, concerts, art exhibitions, and workshops.
The center enhances society through art by featuring some works from home-based talents as well as professional ones who are invited. Those who come here either to see drama shows, attend musical events, or observe artistic exhibitions will find that it is an intimate setting that allows them to become absorbed into their experience completely.
4. Spend A Day At Lynx Lake Recreation Area
The moment you step foot in Lynx Lake Recreation Area in Prescott, Arizona, you will realize that it is a place where outdoor activities and nature come together perfectly. For instance, tourists can begin their day with a picturesque hike or ride around the lake on well-maintained trails offering awe-inspiring views of the water and surrounding woods.
The tranquil waters of the lake are open for fishing or boating, with kayak, canoe, and paddleboat rentals available. There are also picnic spots featuring grilling facilities making it perfect for family outings. To end your day, you can also wander the nearby campground or sit beside the water while enjoying peaceful surroundings.
5. Learn About The Wild West At The Sharlot Hall Museum
The Sharlot Hall Museum, located in Prescott, Arizona is an essential destination for those curious about Wild West and local history. The museum was named after Sharlot M. Hall, a pioneering historian who was also the first woman to have a public office in Arizona allowing visitors to see a collection of historic edifications including the Governor's Mansion full of artifacts and displays that present frontier life.
The museum has interactive displays on Native American culture, mining, and cowboys’ lifestyle aspects for a look inside the Wild West period. Furthermore, there are showpiece movements alongside special events which make it possible for history to come alive thereby creating an unforgettable experience for all individuals.
6. Cool Off At Splash Pad At Mountain View Park
The splash pad at Mountain View Park is an awesome place for a family outing during hot days in Prescott Valley, Arizona. It has various water jets, sprinklers, and fountains that keep kids busy and help them cool down.
Furthermore, the park has picnic areas with shaded umbrellas, and play structures making it a good place to spend time outside. Additionally, their well-kept grounds amid breathtaking mountain ranges promise to be enjoyable to both the old and the young alike.
7. Go Kayaking On Watson Lake
Kayaking is a serene and scenic adventure in Prescott, Arizona within Watson Lake. The lake provides a perfect environment for paddling surrounded by stunning graphite rock formations and lush landscapes. This peaceful lake has a cove and inlets that are suitable for both beginner and average kayakers.
Watson Lake also provides other outdoor recreational activities including picnic areas, hiking trails, and bird-watching opportunities making it one of the top tourist destinations in Prescott, Arizona for nature enthusiasts. Renting a kayak or just bringing yours will help you enjoy the picturesque nature and calmness of Watson Lake.
8. Visit The Phippen Museum Of Western Art
Since 1984, Prescott Arizona has been home to the Phippen Museum of Western Art, named after the famous American painter and sculptor Geroge Phippen. Many different kinds of paintings, sculptures, and other displays that capture beautiful landscapes and the wilds of this region can be found in this place.
Fine art, artifacts, and other objects found in Phippen could be described as memorabilia for Americans who take pride in their ancestry. Apart from rotating exhibitions held at various times during the year, there are also educational programs organized by the museum so that members may have opportunities to learn about different aspects of the world of art and history.
9. Go Horseback Riding In The Bradshaw Mountains
Horse riding is an appropriate way of experiencing the wild beauty of Arizona’s landscape. Hence, visitors can enjoy different terrains such as greenish forests to vast deserts from a unique and therefore immersing perspective. Horseback Riding in Bradshaw Mountain allows people to get in touch with animals, move along paths that have been there for a long time, and see them in their natural habitats.
There are guided horseback tours in Bradshaw Mountain for novices to enjoy too. Prescott Arizona has become popular with horse riding because it usually highlights the area’s rich history and provides great viewing points.
10. Have A Picnic At Heritage Park Zoo
The Heritage Park Zoo is a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary based in Prescott, Arizona where native and exotic animals are saved from disturbing places or those with abuse; hence, they serve as an education plus fun for everyone visiting the zoo. The zoo’s well-maintained picnic grounds blend surprisingly well into its nature and wildlife giving people a perfect ambiance to relax.
People who come to the zoo can also see its various exhibits, including those of big cats, monkeys, colorful lizards, and birds among others. It has interactive sections such as Tarantula Gorotto playground and Kiwanis Corner, making it an appropriate choice for families
11. Visit The Whiskey Row Museum
At the Whiskey Row Museum in Prescott, Arizona, the vibrant and storied past of Prescott's historic Whiskey Row comes alive. With its lively bars, gaming houses, and colorful personalities, it was a center for social life in the late 19th century and early 20th century. An assortment of exhibits, photographs, and artifacts bring forth Prescott's rich history through which the visitors are introduced.
A look into its transformation from a dusty outpost to being central in the growth of Prescott is also available within the display setting. The crown jewel is a display that showcases the famous 'fire of 1900' that destroyed this region but resulted in an incredible rebuilding.
12. Take A Scenic Drive Along Thumb Buttle Trail
A drive down Thumb Buttle Trail is a pleasant and peaceful drive through the Prescott National Forest. The scenic trail in Prescott, Arizona, is famous for its remarkable views, rich wildlife diversity, and a recognizable Thumb Buttle, an enormous granite outcrop that presents the scenery.
Visitors may observe green pine woods, and clear meadows, among other animals. The trail also attracts hikers and bikers who enjoy this outdoor adventure with their trails along its passageway that takes them to Thumb Buttle, encompassed by heavenly peaks and hollows in the surroundings.
13. Savor The Local Flavors
Prescott, Arizona is a feast for the senses, encouraging a rich cultural heritage along with a dynamic local flavor scene. Perched atop the high desert cliffs, it has different cafe options ranging from traditional southwestern dishes to modern-day farm-to-table meals.
Typical Southwestern fare includes mouthwatering fajitas, green chile enchiladas with much cheese or fiery cowboy steaks often served with freshly made tortillas and zesty salsas. Besides that, there are Italian, Mexican, and Asian restaurants among others that can provide people with what they like when tasting their dishes.
14. Catch A Movie At The Historic Elks Theater
The Elks Theater, an iconic building, situated in Prescott Arizona, was constructed in the year of 1905. The theater underwent restoration works to keep its oldness intact and is now known for its elegant design that resembles those from the earlier periods of the twentieth century. For a long time, it has been a house for art ranging from screenplays by Steven Spielberg to other blockbuster movies screened there.
Viewing classic movies or a modern blockbuster at this place gives you a different sensibility than in any other place. There are also live performances, concerts as well as community events at the Elks Theater in addition to the movies that are shown there.
15. Visit The Prescott Farmers Market
Situated right at the center of Prescott’s historical district in Arizona, you will find The Prescott Farmer's Market which represents what much of the American West was like before highways and chain stores. The market is open from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm every Saturday but remains small enough to preserve its charm.
This market promotes a sense of togetherness by bringing residents and visitors with local farmers and artisans. It is not only a commercial venture where people buy supplies but instead, a community enclave where folks celebrate Prescott’s rich traditions as well as support locally owned enterprises.
16. Take A Guided Tour Of The Governor's Mansion
Visit the old Governor's Mansion in Prescott, Arizona, on a guided tour. It is a log cabin built in 1864 and was used as Arizona's first territorial governor’s residence. The visitors can have a look at the early stages of statehood for Arizona through examples of furnishing, items that were there at that time, and stories related to leaders who were important in making history for this region.
The Governer's Mansion is located within Sharlot Hall Museum surrounded by beautiful gardens and other exhibits. A guided tour helps its visitors to get an insight into that period making history feel real.
17. Explore Granite Dells
Granite Dells is a place in Prescott, Arizona where geology has surprised many with its strange appearance. Hikers and rock climbers are drawn towards ancient granitic boulders that have been worn out by time. Visitors can explore the varying forms of the rocky terrain through trails that lead to hidden lakes, elaborate rock formations, and magnificent views combining them all into one exciting experience.
Such diversity within a small area has made this site a favorite among tourists visiting Prescott, Arizona. Watson Lake and Willow Lake are located in this region where you can kayak, fish, or picnic while taking in the breathtaking sights around you, making it a popular things to do in Prescott Arizona.
18. Visit The Prescott Aquatic Center
The Prescott Aquatic Center has numerous water-based recreational facilities and amenities for swimmers of all ages and abilities. The large indoor pool is meant for lap swimming, aquatic exercise classes, and swim lessons. Families flock here during warmer months due to the availability of a seasonal outdoor pool with a water slide and splash pad.
Because Prescott Aquatic Center is filled with certified lifeguards and other facilities, it should be on every family’s bucket list. Furthermore, they also host several programs and activities such as water aerobics, competitive swim teams and informal events like pool parties or swim meets regularly.
19. Take A Ghost Tour Of Prescott
What preferable option exists for studying and relishing the past compared to plunging into haunting events that had occurred in town? Guided by experienced escorts, Prescott Arizona’s ghost tour introduces visitors to ancient places such as abandoned inns, taverns, and obscure lanes where phantoms are believed to glide.
The journey brings together spine-chilling accounts of encounters with ghosts, eerie occurrences, and illustrated characters who trod this street, making it a must-have experience for lovers of excitement and stories.
20. Go Bowling At Prescott Lanes
Prescott Lanes is an enticing bowling location for everyone regardless of age. Bowling is always entertaining, social, and participative whether one is a beginner or an expert in this game. This place offers well-groomed bowling alleys, modern scoring systems, and a friendly ambiance making it the best choice when planning a date night or hanging out with friends or family.
Apart from bowling, Prescott Lanes offers several facilities including arcade games, snacks, beverages up for grabs, and a lounging section. This venue also forms an arena for leagues, contests, and other occasions making it more than just a soft hangout spot. Have fun memorable moments at Prescott Lanes where strikes and spare shots count toward good time!
