Vines and views in the historic Verde Valley.
Long before the neighborhood was know for its grapes , people fare for a excavation boom in the other 1900s . The boom produced a billion dollars worth of copper — while pay miners up to three bucks a day to do the grunt workplace , of course . finally , the operation was too dangerous to continue and the area ’s population dwindled . In recent years , the Verde Valley has reemerged as a scenic tourist terminus with a colorful history . And while you may come for the wine , you ’ll surely find yourself partake in the orbit ’s other offerings , from scenic gearing rides to top - notch restaurants , Pueblo ruin to Cu art museum . So raise a glass and pledge to the following way to make the most of your next vacation in Arizona wine country .
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Ride the rails through the natural beauty of the Verde Valley
TheVerde Canyon Railroadtravels the same tracks that once carried copper color ore out of Cleopatra Hill . The roundtrip journey is a little more than 40 miles , following the Verde River with unbelievable sights along the path , from steep canon walls with ancient cliffside dwellings to lush landscapes with old homesteads . Everyone rides in a luxury car ( with the choice to step out into the unresolved air ) , perfect with a champagne toast , bite , and a mixologist eager to share both drinks and info . The train turns around at Perkinsville , an sometime spread town , after winding its direction through the area ’s furrowed landscape . On any give trip , you may see a cervid , bird of Jove , mountain lion , or even a bear .
Rides usually depart day by day from Clarkdale at 1 pm with themed excursions for specific holidays . Wine festivity are held throughout the summer , featuring a rotate lineup of regions , although Arizona wines are almost always usable . The railway mixes things up recently in the year with a specialAles on Railsride for those who love cunning beer .
Keep things easy and breezy in Clarkdale
Clarkdale , known good as the dwelling of the Verde Canyon Railroad terminal , was in the first place a " company town " during the mining thunder . Upper management lived uptown while enjoying a commons , pond , and club . The workers lived in abject Clarkdale and many of those homes are still around today . Clarkdale extend to have a magical small town feel that ’s take in new business and customers . Sip on craft beer at theSmelter Town Brewery , enjoy brunch and pastries fromViolette ’s Bakery(remodeled from an sometime gearing ship’s galley ) , and check out unparalleled masterpiece at theArizona Copper Art Museum , renovated from the quondam Clarkdale High School .
Get an education in wine making
TheSouthwest Wine Centerat Clarkdale ’s Yavapai College was plant as a programme in 2009 and expanded to a full - blown facility in 2015 , instruct educatee how to make wine from vine to bottle with northerly Arizona ’s climate and soil conditions in judgment . Only grapes from the college ’s own vinery are used . breeding is the precedence , but the world-wide public is welcome to make an date to try some flight . It ’s an piquant , comfortable environs with a cake and garage - way doorway that rolls up to a patio with vinery views . With every pour , the stave is eager to partake in detail about how their own delicious planetary house wines are bring on .
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Explore ancient ruins at the Tuzigoot National Monument
Long before miners and vintner come around , Arizona ’s Verde Valley was populated by indigenous tribes . Their bequest is comprise at theTuzigoot National Monument , where you may see remarkablywell - preserve Pueblo ruinsthat were build from stone a thousand year ago and excavate in the 1930s . The pathway to the ruination is convenient and accessible , but steep . At the top , you ’ll research various room and take a stairway to a rooftop deck of cards . The centralized views of the surrounding vale are spectacular . add up early in the day when gang are minimal to fully appreciate the scene , which include tree - filled landscape painting , a nearby horse cavalry cattle farm , and glimpse of the Verde River .
Eat and drink your way through Old Town Cottonwood
Cottonwood ’s charmingOld Towndistrict skip national chain in favor of independent businesses . A few of them shareSedona ’s fondness for religious mysticism , betray unearthly graphics , healing stones , and tie beam - dyestuff .
But you ’re really here to drink Arizona ’s best wine , and Cottonwood has at least eight taste elbow room within a couple cylinder block of each other on Main Street . The late , Cellar 433 , has black walls and floors to set a moody and cryptical tonus . It ’s range by John McLoughlin , a leading figure in the Arizona vino picture , whose Bitter Creek wine feature labels resembling tarot card game . His wife Brigid McLoughlin runsTantrumwines . Her tasting elbow room reflects the spirit of a adult female - running business concern , complete with a pink tin cap and a mural hired hand - painted by a former Disney artist . She does n’t believe in supplying tasting note , prefer to let customers make their own judgement without judgement .
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Yet the most prominent presence in the Arizona wine-colored residential area is that of Tool singer Maynard James Keenen . HisMerkin Vineyardstasting elbow room doubles as an osteria with pasta dishes ( including individual portions of lasagna ) made from local farm - fresh ingredients . Keenen was also a cofounder ofArizona Stronghold , the state ’s large wine-colored manufacturer , but is no longer involved . Try some of the stuff and nonsense anyway , especially if you may score a patio tail at the wine maker ’s Cottonwood savor room .
Balance out all that wine with great food . You ca n’t go wrong with the wood - fire pizzas atBocce , where a bar opens up to a well-off outdoor outer space with a big triangular fire colliery . TheColt Grillis a top spot for barbeque , cocktails , and whisky brownies , whileNic ’s Italian Steaks & Crab Houseis the closest matter in town to formal fine dining .
Scale the heights of historic Jerome
beat back intoJeromeis an experience all by itself . The scent roads tighten as the elevation gain , go to an enclave once dubbed the " Wickedest Town in the West"–and it extend the foul views of the Verde Valley . The Wild West mental attitude and imagery from the days of the copper rushing are still in place with old pub and brothels repurposed as advanced - twenty-four hour period byplay . Some structure have been provide in ruins , but serve as spectacular accents instead of eyesores .
There ’s passel of wine to salute in Jerome , and Keenen is spreads his influence here too , at bothCaduceus CellarsandFour Eight Wineworks(a noisome tasting way , vinyl group record storehouse , and old - school barbershop in one ) . Grab breakfast atThe Flatiron , lunch atHaunted Hamburger , or dinner at theClinkscale . comprehend even further into Jerome ’s chronicle with a sojourn to theGold King Mine Ghost Town(littered with old automobiles and mining equipment ) or a selfie academic term in front of the Jerome Sliding Jail . The offbeat photo spot actually was the town jail at one item , but founder off , decrease aside , and slew slowly down the versant before getting locked into its current positioning .
Spend the night at the Jerome Grand Hotel… if you dare
Jerome ’s most notorious landmark is one of themost haunted hotels in the land . TheJerome Grand Hotelhas a lofty , ominous mountainside perch that overlooks the rest of the town , originally built up high to avoid a fracture line and the effects of mining blast . When the edifice was first progress , it serve as a infirmary where thousands of patient role expire forth during 24 years of operation . The sturdy concrete building by and by reopened as a hotel with almost 30 invitee rooms grace with antique piece of furniture in the elan of the 1920s . The lobby was once the emergency elbow room and guest can still move between floor on the original lift . A yoke of garage door out front assailable to display a 1928 Rolls Royce and 1923 Pierce Arrow , both part of the current owner ’s personal collection .
The hotel is a fleck of a hike from the main part of town , with a long winding private road to aid burn off some calories . Unless you ’ve booked a room , the better way of life to check out out the Jerome Grand Hotel is with a reservation at the on - siteAsylum Restaurant . If you ’re play things by ear , halt by for a cocktail at the bar , which used to be the infirmary ’s chemist’s tabulator .
See how the 1% lived during the copper boom
Jerome was such a profitable mining surgical procedure that the guy in charge of the whole thing ( James Douglas ) start out to live in a manse ahead of its time , with unobstructed mountainside views to bang . The Douglas Mansion , now the centerpiece ofJerome State Park , was build in 1916 and have intercoms and a centralized vacuum cleaner system long before those perquisite became commonplace elsewhere . The house now serves as a museum , with exhibits on two floors where visitors can learn about Jerome ’s excavation legacy , a lowly motion picture theater , and leftover historical artifacts that let in a library , piano , and billiards board .
The entrance to Douglas ’s Little Daisy Mine sits just outside the mansion gate . research old equipment and pace on plexiglass that covers a shaft engross more than 1,900 metrical foot deep — that ’s a corking vertical drop than you ’ll find from the top of the Empire State Building . Not recommended if you ’re vile about heights .
Detour to Cornville for a quick bite, hike, and glass of wine
At first glance , Cornville is the most unremarkable of the vale ’s " big four " wine towns . However , this cozy community is n’t without its quirky magical spell . Have dinner party atManzanita , which serves traditional German dishes alongside elk , bison , and other raving mad game , or load up on kilocalorie atG ’s Burgers , where Arizona - ground Angus beefburger are assist in a rustic context with a selection of milkshake or whiskey . Farm a Go Gobegan as a food truck , but is now a brick - and - mortar restaurant , serving dishes made with farm - fresh ingredients , including locally raised pot - feed beef cattle .
If you could surmount the top of House Mountain , which is in reality a vent , you ’ll bask bright pink Sedona consider as your reward . The spot is eastward of Oak Creek in the Page Springs area , where a collection of wine destinations posture along the brook . Javelina Leap , Oak Creek Vineyards , andD.A. Ranchall grow their grapes on web site , taking vantage of the area ’s natural springs and volcanic territory . The tasting elbow room are all within a mile of each other , which makes it prosperous to do a true crawling .
Photo courtesy of the Verde Canyon Railroad
The train ride offers sweeping views of the surrounding valley.|Photo courtesy of the Verde Canyon Railroad
Gaze at masterpieces in the Arizona Copper Art Museum.|Photo by An Pham, courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism
Sip some flights at the Southwest Wine Center.|Photo by Patrick Coulie, courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism
Explore ancient Pueblo ruins at Tuzigoot National Monument.|EWY Media/Shutterstock
The most prominent presence in the Arizona wine community is Tool singer Maynard James Keenen, who owns Merkin Vineyards.|Photo by An Pham, courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism
Perched high up in the mountains, Jerome has an incredible view of the valley.|Cheri Alguire/Shutterstock
The Jerome Grand Hotel is supposedly one of the most haunted hotels in the country.|FiledIMAGE/Shutterstock
The Douglas Mansion houses a museum where visitors can learn about Jerome’s history.|Photo courtesy of Arizona State Parks and Trails
Wine destinations along Oak Creek grow their own grapes on site.|Cavan-Images/Shutterstock
