Local Secrets of Northern Arizona!

Motorcycle Route 89A

Route 89A is considered to be one of the best motorcycle roads in Arizona.  Locals here who noticed our motorcycle mentioned that we really needed to check out this 100 mile trek.

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The route winds through the red rocks of Sedona, Cottonwood, the ghost town of Jerome and ends in the beautiful Prescott Valley.  This road has it all – scenery, open stretches, twists and turns, elevation changes, interesting towns.

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You won’t be able to go too long without stopping to get some great photos.  Here is a view of the Oak Creek Canyon just a few miles north of the town of Sedona.

We had lunch in Sedona where I had a tuna fish sandwich.  Which I thought was a good idea at the time.

However, the next part of the trek involved driving through the valley and the town of Cottonwood where the temperature spiked to nearly 120 degrees.

Seriously.

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By the time we climbed to the top of Cleopatra Hill to the town of Jerome, I was in need of butt break.  And a gallon of water.  And maybe some anti nausea meds…

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Fortunately, Jerome is at a higher altitude, and the temperature of 100 degrees felt amazing!

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The historic copper mining town of Jerome is perched on the side of a cliff.  Once known as the wickedest town in the west, Jerome was once the fourth largest city in Arizona.  It’s population peaked in the 1920s to about 15,000.

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Today Jerome is a thriving tourist and artist community with a population of about 450.

And it is celebrated as a historic ghost town with many vacant buildings and stories of the past.  Due to the 30-degree incline of the mountainside, gravity has pulled a number of buildings down the slope.  Which makes it even more interesting.

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And check out the view from the city of Jerome!  An amazing vista.

Once out of Jerome, heading south-west toward Prescott Valley, the road has over 100 hairpin curves as it winds up the mountain range and then back down into the valley.

Truly a great adventure!

Are you ready for secret #3?

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11 thoughts on “Local Secrets of Northern Arizona!”

  1. All 3 “secrets” seem like very fun things to do …. and like you said, who doesn’t love an all you can eat seafood buffet ? 🙂 I visited Jerome by motorcycle in the 60s and in my VW camper in the 70s.

    1. Hi Neil and Yoly!
      I imagine that Jerome hasn’t changed a whole lot. The town itself seemed to consist of original buildings. Many are uninhabited. All of them are beautiful in their own way.

      We are going to miss this area of the country. We will be leaving in early November and heading to Tucson for the winter. It will be sad to leave. But adventure awaits!
      suzy

  2. You should try to get to Young, AZ if you get a chance. Young is located East of Pason on Highway 288. It about 20 miles in on a gravel road and about the same coming out. Really pretty place in the middle of nowhere. I have enjoyed your travels and live vicariously through you, as my husband does not want a camper. I would love to do you are doing. My two sons live in Phoenix and Arizona is a beautiful state. We live in North Carolina so Arizona is a very different experience. Love the posts.

    1. Hi Nancy!

      We will definitely put Young on our list of things to see! We love this part of the country and will be a bit sad when we have to leave in early November. It has been a fast six months! Our next stop is Tucson for the winter. We will get a taste of the desert parts of Arizona.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! Hope you are having a wonderful week!

      suzy

  3. I LOVE seafood – and a seafood buffet sounds so nice. We are currently on holiday in Australia, so tasting some new flavours not found home in New Zealand. Such as camel, kangaroo, buffalo and crocodile!

    1. Hi Jenny!

      Wow! Camel, kangaroo, buffalo and crocodile…. not so sure I’m that adventurous. LOL! Actually, I’ve had buffalo and alligator. Buffalo burgers are popular in Montana. And fried alligator is a Florida thing. But a seafood buffet is total awesomeness!

      Hope you are doing well! Enjoy your travels and stay safe!
      suzy

  4. Suzy…i enjoyed this so much! I have never been interested in what i consider desert states..but this looks very nice, adn interesting. Yes, Tuna did not sound good even as i was reading it, then winding roads and 120 degrees….ack! We have 122 degrees here ALSO..YOU ARE SO BRAVE! When we go out in the heat, the air hits me like a very frigid cold day does, takes my breath away. I cant imaging riding in it. But what nice pictures you have shared! Thank You!

    1. Hi Bernice!

      Actually, that was the first time I had ever experienced that kind of temperatures. Next time, I will do it differently! LOL! We figured the breeze while riding would keep us cool. Didn’t think it would be an oven breeze. ?

      Thank you so much for stopping by!
      suzy

  5. Wow Suzy that was an amazing trip. I could never be out in that kind of heat. The shots were beautiful. Well you be camp/working in Tucson? Enjoy the upcoming holidays. Big hug from Grambo ( great-grandma to Scarlett and Clara)

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