Top Things to do in Central Arizona
Top Hotels in Central Arizona
- 1. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
- 2. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport
- 3. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Happy Valley
- 4. Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas
- 5. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
- 6. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
- 7. Gila River Resorts & Casinos - Wild Horse Pass
- 8. The McCormick Scottsdale
- 9. The Wigwam
- 10. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Tempe
10 Historic Sites in Central Arizona That You Shouldn't Miss
Home to the Phoenix metropolitan area and its more than 3.4 million residents, Central Arizona offers an amazing array of museums, cultural venues and outdoor adventures. The Valley of the Sun boasts hopping nightlife and a thrilling selection of restaurants, resorts and spas. Discover Old West and Native American history. Hike among the cactus in the Sonoran desert. Try your hand at ranching in Glendale. Drive the Superstition Mountains. Visit Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West in Scottsdale.
Restaurants in Central Arizona
1. Lawrence Memorial Hall (Spook Hall)
2. Clarkdale National Historic District & Townsite
3. World War 2 ,1943-1945 Uncommon Virtue
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By robbygc - Toronto, Canada
This is the World War 2 ,1943-1945 Uncommon . In Belgium we would had never see with the Germans. The Germans found to wining the Ardennes. The Germans had found a terrible to kill people with a Flame Thrower. The good soldiers didn't know what to do. It was terrible!
4. Douglas Mansion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 233 reviews
This former home of a mining baron became a state park and a museum in 1965.
Reviewed By AZJoeW - Sun City, United States
The Douglas Mansion is the main feature of the Jerome State Historic Park. This is well worth the stop. It is a self-guided tour of the mansion and there is a 30-minute film about the history of Jerome, AZ. The views are also spectacular looking north towards Sedona. Unlike the rest of Jerome, parking here is easy.
5. Montezuma Castle National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,517 reviews
This stone castle built into a shallow cave on a cliff was once a six-story dwelling with 45 rooms.
Reviewed By DonN263 - Raleigh, United States
Montezuma's Castle is well worth a visit. It is only about 3 miles from I-17 so it is very easy to get to and you don't have to go out of your way The 5 story castle is pretty spectacular built on the side of a cliff. There is a short easy trail that tells the history and more details about the people who lived there from the 1100s to the 1400s. If you are a senior over 65 don't pay the admission price. Either buy the senior pass for one year for $20 or the senior lifetime pass for $80. These passes Grant you free access to all National Monuments (Arizona has the most of any state as well as Grand Canyon and Petrifed National Parks Also Montezuma's Castle has a nice visitor center with souvenirs and restrooms
6. Chief Surgeon's House
7. Fort Verde State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 409 reviews
Winner of the 2015 Arizona Governor's Heritage Preservation Honor Award. Fort Verde is one of the best preserved examples of an Indian Wars period fort in Arizona. This original Military Headquarters is now a museum which contains artifacts, photos, videos, and interpretive exhibits focused on the history and lives of those who lived and served at Fort Verde: soldiers, Indian Scouts, settlers, doctors, and Native Americans. Three of the original homes along Officer's Row are still remaining and furnished with period artifacts.
Reviewed By Mysticman78 - Sedona, United States
If you love history and the Verde Valley, don’t miss this on your stops of must-sees in the Sedona / Verde Valley region. This place is packed with charm, the historical displays are engaging and well done, full of artifacts, and everything you want to know about what life was like for the officers and soldiers during the Indian Wars with local tribes. Also gives a strong Native American perspective and history. The grounds are immaculate and each of the officers and bachelors quarters (houses) were charming and well worth it, and I’ve seen it all growing up in Virginia and going to so many historical sites like Monticello and Colonial Williamsburg. I am a Sedona tour guide and I feel lucky I can see this kind of preserved history with my own eyes, and will heartily recommend it to my guests. Ranger Sheila is a wonderful story teller and made our visit that much more enjoyable. The historical costume photo shoot was awesome as well. Many Thanks, will be back!
8. Powder Box Church
9. Jerome State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 574 reviews
The Douglas Mansion has been an eye-catching landmark in Jerome since 1916, when James S. Douglas built it on the hill just above his Little Daisy Mine. This former home is now a museum devoted to the history of the Jerome area and the Douglas family. The museum features photographs, artifacts and minerals in addition to a video presentation and a 3-D model of the town with its underground mines. There are more displays outside along with a picnic area offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Verde Valley.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
My wife and I love to visit ghost towns, the remains of old mining camps in California, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. One of our favorite stops is Jerome, Arizona, a 45-minute drive from Sedona, across the Verde Valley. Established in 1965, the Jerome State Historic Park has survived budget cuts that closed the park from February 27, 2009, to October 14, 2010. Today, it is open seven days a week thanks to additional funding by Yavapai County, the city of Jerome, the Jerome Historical Society and the Douglas family, which built the Douglas Mansion in 1916 that remains the major attraction in the park. The mansion was built by Jimmy Douglas, the head of a family of mining entrepreneurs, on a hill above his Little Daisy Mine. It features a museum with photographs of the family, the town of Jerome during its mining years, mining artifacts, minerals, antique mining equipment, a video detailing the history of the town and a 3-D reproduction of the town showing the mine shafts underneath the town. The mansion also features a wine cellar, billiard room, marble shower, steam heat and a central vacuum system which was much ahead of its time. Constructed of adobe bricks made on the site, the Douglas Mansion is the largest adobe structure in Arizona. Outside, a picnic area offers a panoramic view of the Verde Valley and Verde River and the Red Rocks of the Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon region. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
10. Cosanti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 376 reviews
Our Windbell Gallery features an awe-inspiring collection of our hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind bells. Cosanti is a designated Arizona historic site, designed by world-renowned architect Paolo Soleri, featuring terraced landscaping with experimental earth-formed concrete structures. Organic structures emerge out of the Arizona landscape to immerse guests in a creative, meditative experience. Guests can take guided tours of the property 7 days a week, and can also view the dramatic bronze casting process weekday mornings at Cosanti’s foundry.
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