Between Jerome and Prescott, Historic US 89A takes you on quite a ride. Expect to repeatedly slow down to about 10 m.p.h., as you wind your way through the hills. There are hundreds of curves on 89A between Jerome and Prescott Valley. Once the road straightens and flattens out, drive into Prescott’s charming downtown.
Prescott and the surrounding area is growing fast, but for now its downtown still holds on to a small-town feel. You’ll find plenty of small shops and restaurants in the old buildings surrounding the town square. Also, Prescott is well known as a paradise for antique shoppers, with at least a dozen stores lined up on Cortez Street, just one block north of the town square.
A carpet of green grass surrounds Prescott’s courthouse. You’ll also find a gazebo underneath the shade trees.
On one side of the town square, you’ll find Whiskey Row, a collection of old saloons that provide the center of the city’s nightlife.
After visiting a few antique stores and walking around the town square, I decided to head back to Cottonwood for the night. The return trip over Historic US 89A can take a while, especially if you or the person driving in front of you is uncomfortable on mountain roads. Be sure to allow a little extra time. Or, just stay in Prescott.
Note: This trip was first published in 2005.
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