Prescott, AZ

I just want to start this off by saying that this trip was so much more than a vacation for me. 

My fiance grew up coming here, to a family owned cabin, since he was very young. I had heard a hundred stories about this place ages before I got to see it in all its glory, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. 

I'm going to preface a little bit by saying this was our daughters first very long (more than 3 hour) road trip, a total of about twelve and a half each way to be exact, and she couldn't have handled it like more of a champ. We timed our departures so that she would sleep almost the entirety of the ride either way, and I can't explain how much of a blessing that was for us. She was only about thirteen months old at the time, so we knew how lucky we were to get this level of calm with a baby, a dog and nothing else but open road.

Arriving, the excitement my fiance, Ethan, was feeling was utterly contagious. I could physically feel the energy in the car explode as we pulled into town and drove up winding roads to get to the family cabin. We got in right as the sun was going down, and it was already one of the most gorgeous settings I'd ever seen.

Let me tell you, if you are into the small town, expansive landscape, outdoor activity and cute little antique shop feel, this place is 100% for you. The below list of "Must-Do's" is in no particular order, as I can't recall the exact series each of our outings was in, but I do remember every single detail of each.

#1: The Superstition Meadery.

This neat little meadery is set underground, where they have crafted over 150 unique flavors of mead.  If you're like me and you've never tasted mead before in your life, this is a must. Ethan and I each got a flight, which consists of 12 totally distinct flavors (my favorite was the PB&J.) You follow along on your menu, from left to right, and honestly reading the descriptions of each of the flavors was half the fun to us. They are all so incomparable to anything I'd ever tasted, it made for such a special experience. The overall feel of this place was so cool and inviting, it was totally modern, industrial style, brick room with huge, clear glass vats of mead lined up and an adorable little shop up top full of local honey, art, and souvenirs. The best part was that the service was wonderful and they were kid friendly. We got Addie a charcuterie platter that came with crackers, cheese and fruit and she was content for the entirety of our tasting, though she was eyeing our Strawberry Sunrise; a strawberry mead aged on Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans (insert drool here).

Did I mention you can order a bottle of their mead and have it delivered anywhere online? I'll link their website below in case anyone is interested in sampling a couple. ;) 

http://www.superstitionmeadery.com/

#2: The Sharlot Hall Museum.

I have been to a lot of museums, and this was by far one of the coolest I've ever seen. It was primarily outdoor, meaning you walked outside to get from exhibit to exhibit. They had displays that ranged from artifacts left behind by early Native Arizona settlers to the actual first homes that were built in Prescott, including the first Governor's Mansion. It was so intriguing to walk into these homes and see how things used to be. It was like walking into a time capsule!

There was so much to see and I wish I would've taken more pictures (but thinking back, I'm not 100% sure it was allowed). We spent a good few hours here just marveling at everything it had to offer. This is a definite MUST while you're in town.

#3: El Gato Azul. 

I am not kidding when I say I am salivating just READING this menu right now. This place was unbelievable. If you are a picky eater, I suggest going to the Burger King on the outskirts of town and getting yourself a cheese burger, but if you're anything like us and love trying new, unique foods, GO HERE IMMEDIATELY!!! We each ordered 4-5 of the tapas above, and shared everything, so we got a pretty expansive taste of the menu. I can not tell you how many times I have fantasized about going back since our return home. It is unlike any restaurant I've ever been to, not only is the food unmatched, but the atmosphere is wonderful. There was a live band outside near where we sat the night we went, and I think this is a pretty regular occurrence. The Fried Goat Cheese has been the center of all my obsessions since trying it.

#4: The sunsets. Seriously, the sunsets here are unfathomable. If I hadn't seen them with my own eyes, I would think the photos we took were photoshopped. We spent every night of our vacation watching the sun go down, in different locations each time, and every single one was memorable. These were some of my favorite moments of the entire trip, sitting out on the deck with my family and a drink, enjoying the astonishing beauty of the valley below us as it transformed with the light. 

Honestly, I could write a book about this place. There was so much to do and see for such a quaint, adorable, little town. Not only was it packed with an immense amount of history and so many activities that were family friendly, but the surrounding areas were absolutely stunning. We hiked, walked a lake, drove for miles and miles on back roads and through valleys, and everywhere we went there was something new and exciting to see. 

If you ever get the chance to visit Prescott, Arizona, this is a trip you will not want to pass up.

I, for one, can not wait to go back and relive every moment of our last trip!