I went back up to my room jumped on my computer and let’s
see where we are going to go today. I
had the idea of going into Prescott again just to check out the area for a bit
then I wanted to head north to Sedona and possibly stay in Flagstaff for the
night. My thought was that Flagstaff hotels
would be cheaper than Sedona. As I got
on-line with my computer that just what I found out. Set up my reservation packed and off I went.
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| Photo- Prescott's Courthouse Square a very walkable park like setting. |
Back into Prescott I drove.
Prescott is nestled in foothills and mountain valleys. It is a very pretty area. There’s nice neighborhoods that looked average
income but were well kept near the historic
downtown. I parked on the street
next to the courthouse square. Prescott’s
historic downtown is centered off of the Courthouse square. I noticed signs under light poles that stated”
Prescott Everyone’s Hometown”. I will
admit that Prescott did have a nice comfortable feel to it.
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| Photo- Signs stating Prescott Everyone's Hometown. |
On one side of the Courthouse Square there’s a grouping of
older buildings called Whiskey Row which has a variety of shops, restaurants,
and bars. The art collective that I
visited last night is here. Almost down
at the other end, I visited another gallery call Van Gogh’s Ear. Yes, I’ll admit I went in because of the name
but it was a very nice gallery with a wide variety of art; paintings,
photography, sculpture, jewelry, purses, and other wearable art. I also loved that they were playing soft jazz
music.
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| Photo- Part of Prescott's Whiskey Row. |
I walked around the rest of the street area surrounding the
courthouse square. There were quite a
few western wear or art shops but among those were woman’s upscale boutique clothing
stores and antique shops. It was an
understated easy going shopper’s paradise in one aspect but I was really enjoying
walking around and window shopping because real effort had been put into the window
displays. I bet this place would be
amazing at Christmas.
I looked at the clock and realized I had better get going to
Sedona or I would really be driving in the dark to Flagstaff. I took a chance
that Hwy 89 would run into Hwy89A. I had
a general map but it didn’t show the city area of Prescott and where the
highways met up. As I headed north out
of Prescott the landscape changed dramatically from mountain valley to sandy
rock formations. This was very interesting
and within such a short distance.
Wow! I wish I had known and made
more time. I think I may have to come
back here to explore more in the future.
But I will admit that I’ve felt that way in several areas. I often feel I could spend weeks or years
exploring some of these places that I have visited.
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| Photo- A rocky landscape just north of Prescott. |
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| Photo- Scenery along Hwy 89A north before Jerome. |
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| Photo- View Area just before Jerome. |
Jerome is a ghost town that has turned into an artist
haven. I was here years ago with a
friend and it was marvelous place to spend the day. The highlights I can remember of that day is
eating a hamburger at the haunted hotel and watching a glass blowing demo in a
lawn chair from 4 ft. away. I was there
to late in the day to find a parking place easily and I really wanted to spend
time in Sedona. I drove through Jerome
slowly remembering some places and seeing new places too.
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| Photo- Red rock scenery just outside of Sedona. |
I was several miles away from Sedona when I started to see
the red topped bluffs that surround the area.
I was just barely within the town area when I saw these pink jeeps
turning down a side street. I HAD to
check this out. The side of the jeeps
stated that they were off-road tours and they were packed with people. I followed two of the vehicles and there was
another two behind me. I figured I would
follow until they went off the road and get a taste of what the riders
get. I was on Dry Creek Road and it was
a nice drive out on the road. I
completely lost interest in the pink jeeps and was enamored with the scenery.
WOW! The road came to a “T” and I took a
right hand turn. I stopped at a parking
place not far down the road and took a few pictures.
I turned around and headed back to Sedona. I saw signs for a visitor’s center and
followed those. I went in and asked one
of the older men at the busy counter if there was a shopping area with a lot of
galleries and some restaurants too. He
grabbed a map and told me of two that were very close.
I went to the Tlaquepaque; no please don’t ask me to
pronounce this name out loud. Parking
was a bit of a struggle but it ended up really being worth it. I walked from the boondocks and into a
Mexican Oasis. Among the Spanish
inspired architecture there were graceful arches, the soft splashing of
fountains, tranquil plaza areas, and shade covered verandas. It was all very relaxing and there are about
45 restaurants and shops spread throughout the area.
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| Photos- The Tlaquepaque shopping area in Sedona. |
There were live musicians playing out in a couple of the plaza areas. One was a new age on an electric guitar that I didn’t care for but another was playing soft flamenco guitar which just fit in perfect with the architecture. He had CD’s that were available to purchase. I sat down and listened for a while on a nearby bench; watching people walk by and shopping. I just sat and enjoyed this was a wonderful place to come. It was also rather confusing to find your way around because there are so many nestled verandas and plaza areas of all sizes.
Most of the shops were galleries, but there were a few
restaurants, pottery, clothing, and what not among them too. I ended up having a late lunch on an outside
patio of a Mexican restaurant called El Rincon which had bright colored umbrella
tables. The food was okay but it was on the bland for Mexican but it was a
mostly white high end clientele in the area.
But a warning if you do purchase or eat anything in Sedona, you need to
figure in their 10.75% sales tax. I
overheard one lady complaining about it when she purchased an item that was
under $5 at one store with the clerk.
Next I drove further north on Hwy 89A, the highway went by
state parks and recreational areas. I
was really enjoying the drive and enjoying the scenery of rock formations,
evergreen trees and colored leaves. About
10 miles out of town, I look down to see the fuel light has come on. Oh shit!
I should’ve fueled up when I was in Sedona; what was I thinking? I had gotten a little too relaxed at the
Tlaquepaque. I pulled into the next turn
out area, turned off the car, and grabbed the map to see where I was. Well, I could be anywhere along a 27 mile
stretch and not particularly sure if there would be a fuel station at the end
of that stretch. I opted to turn around
back into Sedona and hoped that the downhill would help get better gas mileage to
get me further. I thankfully made it to
the first gas station and filled up.
It was getting later and I thought it might be faster to
work my way over to I-17 to head north to Flagstaff. I turned onto Hwy 179 heading south. It was the only way to get to I-17 from Sedona. Well, I don’t know if it was any faster to go
this way because every 4th intersection was a round-about where you
had to slow to 15mph. They sure love
their round-abouts! There wasn’t as many
as Bend, OR but this area from Sedona heading over towards Cottonwood sure had
them. Just before Cottonwood the road
finally straightened out and widened.
The speed limit increased and I felt like I finally arrived at I-17. I turned north to Flagstaff.
The interstate was virtually a straight shot going north but
had a fair amount of climbing. I took it
easy. The car has been fine but I didn’t
want to push it. The interstate speed
was 75 but I stuck to about 70mph. Now
the only problem is that I had directions to the hotel from Hwy 89A. But I did have a Woodlands Blvd that was
supposed to be a turn off. I take an
exit off to double check the address and directions. As I’m trying to get back onto the interstate
I stumble upon Woodlands Blvd. What
luck!
I drive along and look for the hotel. I turn in and park. I wait while the clerk checks in two married
couples. I get up there and tell him I’m
here to check in. I give him my name,
and he asks how to spell it. Just like
it sounds—All Good, I say. He checks his
computer and asks if the reservation maybe under another name. No, I say.
Is there another Radisson in the area?
Mamm, this is Ramada. The Radisson
is down the street and off on your right.
I turn around and laughingly announced to the whole room,” Go
figure! I got the wrong hotel!” Out the door I went, while the perplexed
faces of the other hotel guests looked on.
I found the Radisson and I was so glad to see it because
this was definitely a step up from the Ramada down the street. I went into a marbled entrance and up to the
desk where a clerk helped me right away.
He was happy because I guess my reservation was the only one that had
gone smoothly for him for the night. He
said I was his lucky one and upgraded me to a suite. Sweet!
While he finished checking me in I told him about checking in at the
Ramada down the street. He said that
happened all the time. They used to have
a Residence Inn down the street that they used to get people trying to check in
here too. He was probably just being nice but I was feeling rather like a blond.
I got to the room and changed into some warmer clothes. The temperature overnight in Flagstaff was supposed
to get down to 42 degrees.
Brrr-rrr! Man, I’m turning into a
whimp! I decided to just take it easy
and stay in the hotel to eat. I went
into the Lounge area where there was only one other couple. They had the game of the first World Series
on and I sat at the bar ordered an appetizer from the Happy Hour Menu and had a
bottle of Blue Moon. It was myself and
the bartender watching the game alone for the most part. We would make comments about the game here
and there but neither one of us were really vested in it. He was a Diamond Back fan and I’m a Braves
fan; but we still watched the Giants win the game.
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