Travel

Arizona's Coolest Small Towns Are Filled With Cowboys, Wine, And Mysticism

It's a state of caves, cosmic vortexes, and living history.

Unsplash/Vicky T
Unsplash/Vicky T
Unsplash/Vicky T

In its not-so-ancient past, Arizona’s dusty desert expanses were home to Indigenous tribes, raucous cowboys, and hopeful miners looking to strike gold. But despite its Old Western roots and relatively recent statehood, Arizona has become one of the country’s fastest-growing states, with its capital of Phoenix firmly planted as the United States’ fifth largest city, attracting nearly 50 million tourists each year to trek the Grand Canyon, see a Spring Training game, or party at the country’s most disorderly and well-attended golf tournament, the Phoenix Open. Arizona’s small towns are wildly different, yet it’s within their limits that Arizona’s legendary past meets its bright future. Here, ancient civilizations and experimental communities coexist beautifully. From ghost towns and gunfight reenactment sites to vortex-laden spiritual centers, there are layers of unconventionality to explore in the state’s least-populated cities. Arizona has always been prime road-trip country-and these are the towns that deserve a spot on any itinerary.

Chris Saulit/Moment/Getty Images
Chris Saulit/Moment/Getty Images
Chris Saulit/Moment/Getty Images

Winslow

Winslow was notably immortalized in The Eagles’ hit song “Take it Easy,” but the northeastern town of roughly 10,000 has deep roots in Arizona history beyond dad rock. It began as a railroad hub before reinventing itself as a tourist stop along the iconic Route 66. Today, a visit to Winslow isn’t complete without paying homage to the aforementioned Standin’ on the Corner Park and statue commemorating the song reference, souvenir shopping at the Western-themed Arizona 66 Trading Company, or strolling through the Old Trails Museum. For something more adventurous, hit the nearby Meteor Crater site, the haunted Apache Death Cave, and several ancient Native American ruins.

Carwil/Wikimedia Commons
Carwil/Wikimedia Commons
Carwil/Wikimedia Commons

Arcosanti

Just an hour north of Phoenix, the experimental community of Arcosanti-population < 100-feels like visiting another world thanks to its domed structures and dense, multi-story dwellings. Imagined by the late Italian architect Paolo Soleri, Arcosanti aims to maximize community, efficiency, and sustainability with specially insulated concrete structures that negate the need for air conditioning (even in Phoenix’s 100+ degree heat) and a roadless layout to reduce the sprawl of the city. While construction is just 5% complete, Arcosanti still attracts thousands of visitors per year. Back in precedented times (remember those?), it even hosted the annual FORM Festival, which has hosted A-list artists from Florence and the Machine to Skrillex and Anderson .Paak.

Photo courtesy of Arizona Office of Tourism
Photo courtesy of Arizona Office of Tourism
Photo courtesy of Arizona Office of Tourism

Bisbee

Nestled among rolling hills just 11 miles from the Mexican border, Bisbee is another mining town-turned-tourist destination-but its knack for kitsch and bright colors easily makes it one of our favorite eclectic desert towns. Its free-spirited nature and unusual architecture have even earned it the moniker “Mayberry on Acid.” Bisbee has been gaining popularity with Arizona locals and out-of-state tourists alike since the’ 90s thanks to its plethora of art galleries, antique shops, and one-of-a-kind boutiques. However, it’s also worth going back in time to the town’s roots by checking out sites like the Queen Mine-where visitors can don a miner’s outfit and head 1,500 feet underground-and the Mining & Historical Museum.

Nick Fox/Shutterstock
Nick Fox/Shutterstock
Nick Fox/Shutterstock

Tombstone

If you’ve ever wanted to go full Westworld but have an aversion to murderous pleasure robots, Tombstone-which refers to itself as “the town too tough to die”-is your huckleberry. Like many other Old West relics, the town’s history predates Arizona’s statehood, having carried the spirit of the Wild West for approximately 150 years: It’s so well preserved that the ghost of Wyatt Erp could roll in and feel like nothing’s changed. Fortunately, you can safely relive the town’s rowdy roots with daily gunfight reenactments, a trip to the former bar and brothel at The Bird Cage Theater, or the touristy, yet top-rated and illuminating trek through the Goodenough Mine that skyrocketed the town to Southern Arizona fame. The town is exactly what it sounds like: Whether that’s cheesy or invigorating is a matter of taste.

Fotoluminate LLC/Shutterstock
Fotoluminate LLC/Shutterstock
Fotoluminate LLC/Shutterstock

Jerome

A scenic hillside village in Northern Arizona, Jerome was once a vibrant copper-mining town. Today, it’s famous for its rampant ghost stories, many of which revolve, unsurprisingly, around historic hospital-turned inn the Jerome Grand Inn. While the city’s decline in residents following the mining rush earned it a reputation as a “ghost town,” it’s really anything but. Its popularity as a tourist destination has grown in recent years, and it’s now home to great restaurants like the Haunted Hamburger, art galleries, and, of course, ghost tours for more adventurous visitors. It’s also growing as an Arizona wine hotspot thanks to spots like Caduceus Cellars, which is well-known for being owned by Tool’s Maynard James Keenan (in addition to the great wine, of course).

Photo courtesy of Arizona Office of Tourism
Photo courtesy of Arizona Office of Tourism
Photo courtesy of Arizona Office of Tourism

Cottonwood

Jerome may be emerging as a mini wine destination, but nearby Cottonwood is the capital of Northern Arizona’s fast-growing wine scene. Home to Keenan’s Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, colorful, warm, and quirky Cottonwood has established itself as an off-the-beaten-path food and drink destination thanks to places like Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room, which doubles as a hyper-local trattoria. Its proximity to the hiking trails of Coconino National Forest offers an added bonus: Here, you can eat and drink yourself into lucidity, then walk it off in one of the most gorgeous patches of forest in the US.

Laurens Hoddenbagh/Shutterstock
Laurens Hoddenbagh/Shutterstock
Laurens Hoddenbagh/Shutterstock

Oatman

There is perhaps no better small-town welcoming committee than a gaggle of friendly donkeys. Such is the case in Oatman, where visitors will see the wild burros that freely roam the streets immediately upon arrival. The oldest continuously-inhabited mining settlement in Arizona, the town has stayed (relatively) populated thanks to its desirable location just off Route 66-which it pays hearty homage to with a main street full of themed souvenir shops. It’s also notably home to the Oatman Hotel, Restaurant, and Saloon, where beloved actor Clark Gable and starlet Carole Lombard are rumored to have stayed after getting hitched in the nearby town of Kingman.

Bronek Kaminski/Photodisc/Getty Images
Bronek Kaminski/Photodisc/Getty Images
Bronek Kaminski/Photodisc/Getty Images

Sedona

While Sedona’s popularity with tourists has been on a steep incline, it still has a relatively small year-round population, which clears it for a spot on this list. It’s a must-visit thanks to its stunning red rocks and outdoor activities, a culinary scene that’s blossomed thanks to restaurants like Mariposa, and the legendary mystical properties that have earned it a reputation as an energy vortex. Take it from us: skip the over-hyped Pink Jeep tours and instead explore on foot. And if you’re feeling really daring, you can even slide down the town’s 80-foot long natural water slide at Slide Rock State Park.

Cavan Images/Cavan/Getty Images
Cavan Images/Cavan/Getty Images
Cavan Images/Cavan/Getty Images

Prescott

As Arizona’s original capital, this haven in the pine forests between Phoenix and Flagstaff has more than earned its spot among Arizona’s most captivating towns. While it retains a bit of Western charm like many of the state’s other small towns, it also offers a uniquely mellow, laid-back atmosphere brought to you by events like art fairs at the Courthouse Plaza and shows at the historic Elks Theatre. It’s also the perfect town if you’re in the mood to explore a great beer scene: hit the ever popular Prescott Brewing Company or The Palace, an iconic saloon that’s been slinging drinks since 1877. Plus, just a few miles away from downtown, visitors can enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities-from fishing to kayaking-at scenic Watson Lake.

Jamie Killin is a Phoenix native and Arizona State graduate who specializes in lifestyle and features writing. You can usually find her at the spin studio, a concert, or trying new restaurants across the Valley. Follow her at @jamiefayekillin.

Travel

Ditch your Phone for ‘Dome Life’ in this Pastoral Paradise Outside Port Macquarie 

A responsible, sustainable travel choice for escaping big city life for a few days.

nature domes port macquarie
Photo: Nature Domes

The urge to get as far away as possible from the incessant noise and pressures of ‘big city life’ has witnessed increasingly more of us turn to off-grid adventures for our holidays: Booking.com polled travellers at the start of 2023 and 55% of us wanted to spend our holidays ‘off-grid’.  Achieving total disconnection from the unyielding demands of our digitised lives via some kind of off-grid nature time—soft or adventurous—is positioned not only as a holiday but, indeed, a necessity for our mental health. 

Tom’s Creek Nature Domes, an accommodation collection of geodesic domes dotted across a lush rural property in Greater Port Macquarie (a few hours’ drive from Sydney, NSW), offers a travel experience that is truly ‘off-grid’. In the figurative ‘wellness travel’ sense of the word, and literally, they run on their own independent power supply—bolstered by solar—and rely not on the town grid. 

Ten minutes before you arrive at the gates for a stay at Tom’s Creek Nature Domes, your phone goes into ‘SOS ONLY’. Apple Maps gives up, and you’re pushed out of your comfort zone, driving down unsealed roads in the dark, dodging dozens of dozing cows. Then, you must ditch your car altogether and hoist yourself into an open-air, all-terrain 4WD with gargantuan wheels. It’s great fun being driven through muddy gullies in this buggy; you feel like Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park.  As your buggy pulls in front of your personal Nature Dome, it’s not far off that “Welcome…to Jurassic Park” jaw-dropping moment—your futuristic-looking home is completely engulfed by thriving native bushland; beyond the outdoor campfire lie expansive hills and valleys of green farmland, dotted with sheep and trees. You’re almost waiting to see a roaming brachiosaurus glide past, munching on a towering gum tree…instead, a few inquisitive llamas trot past your Dome to check out their new visitor. 

To fully capture the awe of inhabiting a geodesic dome for a few days, a little history of these futuristic-looking spherical structures helps. Consisting of interlocking triangular skeletal struts supported by (often transparent) light walls, geodesic domes were developed in the 20th century by American engineer and architect R. Buckminster Fuller, and were used for arenas. Smaller incarnations have evolved into a ‘future-proof’ form of modern housing: domes are able to withstand harsh elements due to the stability provided by the durable materials of their construction and their large surface area to volume ratio (which helps minimize wind impact and prevents the structure from collapsing). As housing, they’re also hugely energy efficient – their curved shape helps to conserve heat and reduce energy costs, making them less susceptible to temperature changes outside. The ample light let in by their panels further reduces the need for artificial power. 

Due to their low environmental impact, they’re an ideal sustainable travel choice. Of course, Tom’s Creek Nature Domes’ owner-operators, Cardia and Lee Forsyth, know all this, which is why they have set up their one-of-a-kind Nature Domes experience for the modern traveller. It’s also no surprise to learn that owner Lee is an electrical engineer—experienced in renewable energy—and that he designed the whole set-up. As well as the off-grid power supply, rainwater tanks are used, and the outdoor hot tub is heated by a wood fire—your campfire heats up your tub water via a large metal coil. Like most places in regional Australia, the nights get cold – but rather than blast a heater, the Domes provide you with hot water bottles, warm blankets, lush robes and heavy curtains to ward off the chill.

nature domes port macquarie
Photo: Nature Domes

You’ll need to be self-sufficient during your stay at the Domes, bringing your own food. Support local businesses and stock up in the town of Wauchope on your drive-in (and grab some pastries and coffee at Baked Culture while you’re at it). There’s a stovetop, fridge (stocked as per a mini bar), BBQs, lanterns and mozzie coils, and you can even order DIY S’More packs for fireside fun. The interiors of the Domes have a cosy, stylish fit-out, with a modern bathroom (and a proper flushing toilet—none of that drop bush toilet stuff). As there’s no mobile reception, pack a good book or make the most of treasures that lie waiting to be discovered at every turn: a bed chest full of board games, a cupboard crammed with retro DVDs, a stargazing telescope (the skies are ablaze come night time). Many of these activities are ideal for couples, but there’s plenty on offer for solo travellers, such as yoga mats, locally-made face masks and bath bombs for hot tub soaks. 

It’s these thoughtful human touches that reinforce the benefit of making a responsible travel choice by booking local and giving your money to a tourism operator in the Greater Port Macquarie Region, such as Tom’s Creek Nature Domes. The owners are still working on the property following the setbacks of COVID-19, and flooding in the region —a new series of Domes designed with families and groups in mind is under construction, along with an open-air, barn-style dining hall and garden stage. Once ready, the venue will be ideal for wedding celebrations, with wedding parties able to book out the property. They’ve already got one couple—who honeymooned at the Domes—ready and waiting. Just need to train up the llamas for ring-bearer duties! 

An abundance of favourite moments come to mind from my two-night stay at Tom’s Creek: sipping champagne and gourmet picnicking at the top of a hill on a giant swing under a tree, with a bird’s eye view of the entire property (the ‘Mountain Top picnic’ is a must-do activity add on during your stay), lying on a deckchair at night wrapped in a blanket gazing up at starry constellations and eating hot melted marshmallows, to revelling in the joys of travellers before me, scrawled on notes in a jar of wishes left by the telescope (you’re encouraged to write your own to add to the jar). But I’ll leave you with a gratitude journal entry I made while staying there. I will preface this by saying that I don’t actually keep a gratitude journal, but Tom’s Creek Nature Domes is just the kind of place that makes you want to start one. And so, waking up on my second morning at Tom’s —lacking any 4G bars to facilitate my bad habit of a morning Instagram scroll—I finally opened up a notebook and made my first journal entry:

‘I am grateful to wake up after a deep sleep and breathe in the biggest breaths of this clean air, purified by nature and scented with eucalyptus and rain. I am grateful for this steaming hot coffee brewed on a fire. I feel accomplished at having made myself. I am grateful for the skittish sheep that made me laugh as I enjoyed a long nature walk at dawn and the animated billy goats and friendly llamas overlooking my shoulder as I write this: agreeable company for any solo traveller. I’m grateful for total peace, absolute stillness.” 

Off-grid holiday status: unlocked.

Where: Tom’s Creek Nature Domes, Port Macquarie, 2001 Toms Creek Rd
Price: $450 per night, book at the Natura Domes website.

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