Prescott is a popular weekend destination for Phoenix residents who seek the relatively cool climate of its higher altitude (5,300 ft/1,615 m). This charming old mining town twice served as the capital of Arizona and is now home to a community of artists and lots of businesses that cater to visitors.
The Sharlot Hall Museum offers a taste of the Old West with a good collection of local pioneer artifacts and several historical buildings, including a schoolhouse and a blacksmith shop. The grounds of the museum come alive during the annual Folk Arts Fair (first weekend in June), the Arizona Cowboy Poetry Gathering (third weekend in August) and the Folk Music Festival (first weekend in October).
Whiskey Row, a series of authentic Wild West taverns, is especially busy on the weekends. Also in town are the Governor's Mansion (at Sharlot Hall), which was built in 1864 when Prescott was the capital of the Arizona Territory, the Phippen Museum with its displays of western art, and the Smoki Museum, which contains a collection of Native American artifacts.
Nearby, Prescott National Forest offers a range of outdoor activities, from picnicking to horseback riding. Fishing and hunting (with a license) are also permitted. Also in the area, 35 mi/55 km east of Prescott off Interstate 17, is architect Paolo Soleri's Arcosanti. The experimental town aspires to blend ecology and architecture to create a happy, productive, energy-efficient community. Work has been going on for more than two decades. Concerts are held at Arcosanti during the summer. Prescott is 100 mi/160 km northwest of Phoenix.
