Arizona

These are Arizona’s coziest towns. Why they are perfect for a getaway

Published

1 month ago

March 12, 2026

These are Arizona’s coziest towns. Why they are perfect for a getaway

Arizona is known for popular tourist attractions like the Grand Canyon and the state’s capital, Phoenix, but there is still so much going on in the shadows of small towns in Arizona.

Geography website World Atlas ranked the six coziest towns in the Grand Canyon State. These towns have a lot of unique elements to offer, like beautiful red rock formations, outdoor activities and unique things to do. All of these combine to give quintessential small-town vibes.

Here are six cozy Arizona towns to visit and what to do there, as recommended by World Atlas.

Sedona

Sedona is one of Arizona’s most popular tourist towns and for good reason.

It’s known for beautiful red rocks and powerful energy vortexes, which are said to bring peace and tranquility to those in the area.

There are also numerous stunning hikes to take in Sedona. One of the most popular is Devils Bridge, which is a 4.6-mile trail featuring the area’s largest sandstone arch, giving you amazing views of the surrounding area.

Sedona also has a unique shopping experience at the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. It features art galleries with local artists, along with clothing and souvenir shops that allow you to bring a little piece of Sedona home with you.

Bisbee

Bisbee is one of Arizona’s oldest towns that’s still brimming with culture.

The small mining town has been around since the 1800s and is said to be home to many ghosts. The Old Bisbee Ghost Tour takes you through town and explores the sites of many paranormal experiences and stories.

Bisbee also has a thriving arts district with galleries and museums like the Artemizia Foundation museum and Bisbee’s iconic art wall.

There are several historic hotels with architectural charm, like the Bisbee Grand Hotel, but don’t be surprised if you’re visited by a ghost.

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Wickenburg

Wickenburg is the perfect small town experience if you’re looking to get out of the city.

The Flying E Ranch allows for a relaxing stay while being stimulated with outdoor activities like archery, horse penning and corn hole.

Get a taste of the town’s history and visit Wickenburg’s Jail Tree, a 200-year-old mangled mesquite tree that is believed to be a makeshift jail during the town’s Wild West days.

Need more of the Wild West? Visit Vulture City, the town’s earliest settlements, discovered by Henry Wickenburg. The town was discovered in 1863 and is now a look into life in Arizona’s early days.

Williams

Williams is one of the stops on the iconic Route 66 and a close destination to the Grand Canyon.

Williams celebrates its place in car culture. Each summer, it hosts a historic car show that showcases unique and exclusive historic automobiles.

While visiting, it’s also essential to visit Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum. The cute little gas station is a perfect photo-op and is filled with Route 66 memorabilia.

Stay at or visit Raptor Ranch for a chance to have an up close a personal interaction with a raptor. The ranch is conveniently located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon with camping, glamping and RV spots available for overnight stays.

Prescott

Prescott is the perfect little town to get away from the Phoenix heat, while still having so much to offer. It stays about 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix and has hiking trails and historic bars to explore.

Prescott is known for Whiskey Row, a stretch that boasts bars, shops and hotels that speak to the town’s Wild West character. The Palace Restaurant and Saloon is Arizona’s oldest frontier saloon, established in 1877, where infamous outlaws and lawmen were said to have visited.

Bashford Courts is a three-story antique mall filled with fine jewelry, boutiques and crafts. All the stores are small businesses. Bashford Courts is also a three-minute walk from Whiskey Row.

Watson Lake Park also has so many outdoor activities to offer, from hiking, fishing, paddleboarding and more.

Cottonwood

Cottonwood is the perfect destination for a chill weekend getaway.

The little town is right in the Verde Valley, giving close access to the Verde River with water activities like fishing and kayaking.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park has many walking and hiking trails right by the river for a relaxing walk.

Cottonwood is also in the heart of Arizona’s wine country and home to many wineries and tasting rooms.

March is when Cottonwood starts its farmers market back up, every Friday from 4-11 p.m. The market sells local and organic snacks and produce, accompanied by live music. It is located in Cottonwood’s Main Street plaza and is surrounded by restaurants and shops, making it the perfect Friday outing.

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Arizona

This Arizona Red Rock Formation Looks Exactly Like a Peanuts Character

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

This Arizona Red Rock Formation Looks Exactly Like a Peanuts Character

Sedona, Arizona is home to some of the most striking red rock formations in the American Southwest, but Snoopy Rock might be our favorite. Sitting on a bluff above the city, the formation seems to depict Snoopy from the Peanuts comics lying on his doghouse with Woodstock sitting on his nose.

The formation is best viewed from Uptown Sedona, where the shops, restaurants, and galleries along the main strip all offer solid sightlines. The parking lot behind the Sedona Arts Center and the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center on State Route 89A are two of the best spots to take it all in.

For those who want to get closer, the hike via Margs Draw Trail can be worth the effort. The trailhead is located on Sombart Lane, accessed by heading south on Highway 179 from the junction of Routes 89A and 179, then turning left. The out-and-back route covers 2.1 miles and is considered challenging, with an unmarked social trail leading to the base of the formation.

A Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is required if you’re planning to start at the Schnebly Hill Trailhead, and the best hiking window runs from September through May. Dogs are permitted on leash, though the scramble section near the top is not suitable for most animals.

For non-hikers, Jeep and helicopter tours of Sedona regularly point out the formation along with others in the area.

Nolan Deck is a writer for Unofficial Networks, covering skiing and outdoor adventure. After growing up and skiing in Maine, he moved to the Denver area for college where he continues to live and work…
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Arizona

Michigan defenseman Hunter Hady transfers to Arizona State

Published

14 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Michigan defenseman Hunter Hady transfers to Arizona State

Former Michigan sophomore defenseman Hunter Hady has transferred to Arizona State, according to an announcement on the team Instagram. The 6’4’’ defenseman will join the Sun Devils for his junior year.

Hady played just two games on Michigan’s blue line this season against Harvard in November and against Bentley in the NCAA regional semifinal. He recorded a secondary assist on junior forward Garrett Schifsky’s goal in the Bentley game for his only point of the year.

Hady’s contributions were more substantive in his freshman season — though his point total remained the same. He played 32 games for Michigan as the team struggled to find defensive pairings that worked throughout the year. Hady was a reliable blue line presence who could be counted on to provide solid defense and not make significant errors.

Prior to playing for the Wolverines, Hady spent three seasons with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, where he played with current Michigan teammates senior defenseman Luca Fantilli, sophomore forward Michael Hage and junior forward Jayden Perron, among others. He joins an Arizona State team that lost ground in the NCHC this season and is looking to reach a Frozen Four for the second time in its program history.

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Arizona

Pilot Jessica Cox to be inducted into Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame

Published

1 day ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Pilot Jessica Cox to be inducted into Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Jessica Cox, the world’s first licensed armless airplane pilot and a leading advocate for disability-led innovation, will be inducted into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame on Friday, May 15, 2026. The induction ceremony, hosted by Rightfooted Foundation International in collaboration with the Pima Air & Space Museum, will take place at the museum from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Cox’s recognition honors both her historic achievement in flight and her ongoing work expanding access and opportunity for people without arms. Through her leadership at Rightfooted Foundation International (RFI), Cox has championed mentorship, education and practical innovations that help aspiring pilots and families reimagine what’s possible in aviation and beyond.

“Saying I’m proud of her can’t fully encompass what I feel,” said Patrick Chamberlain, Cox’s husband and RFI’s Inclusive Engineering Director. “Jessica’s induction into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame recognizes both what she has accomplished and what she continues to do. She has helped shed light on the many pilots with disabilities in aviation and shown the world that disability does not mean inability.”

The 2026 induction class also honors two military aviators: Frank Schiel Jr., a Phoenix-born Flying Tigers veteran credited with seven enemy aircraft destroyed in World War II, and James K. Johnson, a Phoenix-born U.S. Air Force colonel and Korean War double ace credited with ten aerial victories.

The Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame, established in 1985 and housed in the Dorothy Finley Aerospace Gallery at Pima Air & Space Museum, pays tribute to Arizonans who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace history.

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