From south to north, Arizona offers a wide-variety of bed and breakfast accommodations to please the most discerning traveler.
Arizona is best known as the Grand Canyon State. However, there is a lot more to it than that. There are the many areas with evidence of the blended cultures, Hispanic, Native American and European, amidst some of the nation's most diverse scenery. You can go from skiing in the mountains near Flagstaff to walking through the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, viewing desert plant and animal life, is less than one day.
Our first stop, as we head north to the border, is Bisbee. Here, we find the historic Bisbee Grand Hotel. It is truly an escape from the modern world, however, with all the amenities. There are eight rooms and seven suites in this 1906 hotel that was originally built for the traveling mine executives. Each room has its own distinctive theme. For example, the Old West suite offers you the opportunity to sleep in a built-to-scale covered wagon. A full breakfast starts your day and there is much to see and explore in Bisbee and the surrounding area. You can take an underground mine tour, visit local art galleries and museums and enjoy the weather that some say is the "best year round weather on earth."
A short drive north finds us in legendary Tombstone, site of the O K Corral and setting for several old western movies. Tombstone is also home to the Silver Nugget Bed and Breakfast that is the only lodging with a balcony that overlooks Allen Street, the locals say it is the Old West's most famous street. There are four guest rooms offered here and continental breakfast is served every morning. The rooms are all upstairs and an ice cream parlor, dining room, and gift shop take up the lower level. Take the time to walk the wooden boardwalks where Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp once strutted their stuff or take a drive to see one of the several ghost town sites around the area.
Moving northward finds us in Tucson, Arizona's second largest city. Here we find two BnB's worth a visit. One is the Double K Ranch Bed and Breakfast Homestay, one of the more unique places to get away from it all. The entire place has a railroad theme and will please the kids and the kids-at heart. You are invited to bring your own train or use the one there. There are three guest accommodations and one of these is in a fully restored Southern Pacific Caboose. The garden has been taken over with towering Saguaro cacti, a burro named Brighty and rail tracks and trains everywhere. A real railroad buff's oasis in the desert.
Also in Tucson, you will find the Congenial Quail Bed and Breakfast. This 1940's ranch home is situated within easy access of downtown on three acres. There are four guestrooms and a full breakfast is served every morning. With this as a home base, you can go skiing, visit the Kitt Peak Observatory, the "Old Pueblo" historic district, or peek at the future at the Biosphere 2 Project.
On to the big city of Phoenix, and our next stop for the night is the Maricopa Manor Bed and Breakfast. This elegant property is located just north of downtown on 32 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. It is an "all-suite" inn. Each room has a private entrance, living room, bedroom and private bath. There is a swimming pool with a waterfall and lovely patio for the guests to enjoy. To top it off, there are many attractions to visit in the area including: Phoenix Botanical Gardens; Scottsdale shopping district; Heritage Square; and Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West.
If you crave a getaway from the hustle and bustle, a short trip to Cave Creek is just the answer. Besides being 10-degrees cooler than Phoenix, Cave Creek has kept its old west charm. Here is the Spur Cross Bed and Breakfast. There are four guest accommodations, all with a private entrance. You can stargaze on the patio at night. The BnB is located next to a four acre public nature preserve with interpretive trail for anyone who wants to learn about the desert and its inhabitants.
Moving to the cooler pine covered hills we come to Prescott. The Log Cabin B&B offers four guest rooms and breakfast is served each morning. You can hot tub under the stars or relax on the deck and look out at the San Francisco Peaks. There is a big screen TV in the living room and a couple of the rooms have fireplaces. There are hiking trails right outside the door. In Prescott, you can shop, visit museums, have lunch, go horseback riding or drive some scenic loop routes to see the area.
A real treat is just up the road in the little mountain mining town of Jerome. The Ghost City Inn is the place to call home while you visit this area. In this restored 1890s boarding house, there are six guest rooms with access to the two large front porches that overlook the Verde Valley. A full breakfast is served each morning and dinner can be arranged if you want to eat in. The innkeepers also provide a barbeque grill if you wish to grill on the patio. There is much to see and do in Jerome, especially if you are interested in history, mining, ghost towns, and everything old west. The inn also offers murder mystery weekends periodically.
Just a few miles up the road we come to Sedona. Known for its red rock formations and, as some believe, spiritual energy in the known vortexes, Sedona is a scenic, relaxing place to visit. The Territorial House B&B is like walking into the Old West. Each of the four guest rooms is decorated in movie character themes. The Miss Kitty Room is one of the finest, with a four-poster bed, access to a private balcony, and an oversize jetted tub made of marble. The other rooms are named Ponderosa and the Bunk House, the Indian Garden room and Cisco's Room. You will think you have stepped onto a movie set. A gourmet breakfast is served each day and afternoon refreshments greet you after a day of exploring the area.
Further north finds us in downtown Flagstaff and on the front porch of the Inn at 410. This 1907 Craftsman-style home has been transformed into one of the area's finest BnB's. There are nine guest rooms, all with private bath and other in-room amenities like: mini-fridge, coffee maker, fireplace, and oversized Jacuzzi tub. Fresh baked cookies are offered each afternoon and a full breakfast each morning featuring traditional breakfast foods like stuffed french toast and hash brown pie to southwestern favorites like southwest frittata and curried cornbread pudding with pumpkin sauce.
Making our way towards the state's premier attraction, the Grand Canyon, finds us in Williams. The closest BnB to the park entrance is the Terry Ranch House. With pine trees and beautiful gardens to explore, this BnB is a real treat from the desert motif of further south. This country Victorian inn offers five guest rooms, all named after the brides who came to live at the Terry Ranch when it was still part of the Mexican Territory. Each room reflects that bride's taste and personality. And before you set out to explore the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest or the Painted Desert, sit down to the breakfast table and enjoy some of the innkeepers favorite dishes like baked pears, homemade granola and savory eggs.
On the western border of the state you will find the Brunswick Hotel in the town of Kingman. This 1900s hotel now boasts 24 rooms and is located downtown on historic Route 66, and just a short drive over the Nevada border to the casino town of Laughlin. The accommodations are either suites, which offer a living room, bedroom and bath, or a simple "cowboy/cowgirl" room that shares a bath. Deluxe continental breakfast is offered each morning with fresh brewed coffee, choice of cereals, homemade breads, fruit, and juices.
A jump to the eastern side of the state brings us to the Osmer D. Heritage Inn in Snowflake. This historic inn, built in the 1890s, is located in the heart of the White Mountains. It has 11 rooms, all furnished in period antiques. There is much to see in the area including pioneer homes, the Petroglyph Canyons, museums, and much to do like golfing, hiking, gambling, and fishing.
And, at the northern border, in Page we find the Canyon Colors B&B. It is the oldest BnB in the Lake Powell area, it has been in operation since 1996. There are two guest rooms with private bath. There is a pool for guest use and a full breakfast is served each day plus afternoon refreshments. It is located close to downtown and an easy drive to Lake Powell or Monument Valley.
From south to north, Arizona offers a wide-variety of bed and breakfast accommodations to please the most discerning traveler.
