You should visit the World’s Smallest Museum, located at the corner of Gurley and Cortez in Prescott. What makes it so small, you ask? It’s located in an old telephone booth! In fact, it’s so small that your tour guide can only send you one piece of art at a time. You have to wait your turn to see each piece. With no admission fee and a trusty honor system donation box, this is one place not to miss out on.
You may be wondering what kind of art they display in such a tiny space. Well, turns out it changes every now and then. On my last visit, there was a button labeled “Do Not Touch” with some glue stuck on its backside from all the fingerprints from previous visitors who did not heed the warning (myself included). The hours are posted on the door–but if you want to guarantee your chance for viewing rights I recommend showing up around lunchtime or after dinner when traffic is lightest.
The Prescott Film Festival debuts in downtown Yavapai County from September 27th – through October 2nd!. The festival began in 2003, and it has grown every year since then. The films are projected on a huge outdoor screen with comfortable seating for about 500 people. During the festival, you’ll see a combination of independent films and Hollywood classics, with documentaries and short films thrown into the mix. Since Prescott is known as one of Arizona’s most dog-friendly cities, there’s even a Dog Day Film event where dogs are allowed to tag along to watch movies with their owners!
You can purchase tickets ahead of time and save them for any day during the weeklong film festival. Before you buy your ticket, be sure to check out our list of all the other awesome things you can do while you’re at the Prescott Film Festival.
Explore Granite Mountain Wilderness
Granite Mountain Wilderness is part of Prescott National Forest, which is located in the Bradshaw Mountains. It covers 11,400 acres and has many trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
The wilderness features a variety of plant life including piñon pine, juniper trees, oaks, manzanita shrubs, pines, and firs.
There are also numerous rock climbing opportunities on rocks that date back to the Paleozoic era.
The Prescott Frontier Days is a weeklong series of rodeo events. It includes bull riding, bronc riding, and steer wrestling. In fact, this rodeo has been around for 123 years and is called the “World’s Oldest Rodeo”.
Many people like to see the rodeo, but you can also participate in it if you want to! You will need a horse or a motorcycle and some training though. It will help if you have some experience with horses or motorcycles as well because there are no qualifying rounds. The other thing you’ll need is $50 to pay the entry fee. If you do decide to participate, make sure that you leave yourself enough time after the first event before your second event begins because there may be a lot of people between each event!
Prescott is home to several local artists and is a great place to appreciate their work. The Prescott Art Gallery on Gurley Street is the place to start, but then you should head west along Cortez Street to visit the other galleries in this collection of about two dozen galleries known as “Gallery Row.”
You can spend an entire afternoon or evening in Prescott enjoying art from some of the area’s best artists, and maybe take some home with you! There are many different types of art: photography, jewelry, painting, sculpture, and pottery which are sure to please any taste.
The local artists in Prescott will make your experience even more memorable. You’ll enjoy meeting them and learning about their craft. So be sure to stop by Gallery Row the next time you’re here!
Prescott has also become a popular golfing destination. The mild climate and scenic beauty of the surrounding mountains make for some lovely courses, which feature lush fairways and beautiful views—and the affordable green fees won’t break the bank. Prescott is home to three public courses, and you can find more in nearby Chino, Prescott Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt. The area also has several private clubs for those who want to become members. Some of the courses are open year-round, while others are seasonal. You can read more about local courses here: Antelope Hills Golf Courses, Prescott Golf Club, and Stone Ridge Golf Course. Fees range up to $75 on weekend afternoons at most of the public courses (you’ll pay less if you reserve your tee time early).
A journey to Thumb Butte is a must for anyone in Prescott. This landmark is a popular destination for hiking, biking, and other outdoor recreational activities. The butte sits on Thumb Butte Road and is part of Prescott National Forest.
For a small town, Prescott has a surprisingly wide variety of restaurants and bars from which to choose. Across from the Courthouse, you will find Whiskey Row where you will find some of the best bars and restaurants, many of which are locally owned and operated. To get an authentic taste of Prescott’s heritage, I recommend eating here at one of the many great restaurants that line the streets. There’s pizza, Chinese food, Mexican food, Thai food, and more! For those who prefer to eat vegetarian or vegan food, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of options for you as well.
There’s no way you’ll get bored on a trip to Prescott, Arizona! Whether you’re into spo
