(39) Helldorado Days, Tombstone Photo by Sam Nalven

WINTER

40 Overnight at Arcosanti
Cordes Junction
Under construction since 1970, Arcosanti is a solar-powered, pedestrian-friendly eco-city developed by Italian architect Paolo Soleri (pictured right). Soleri’s concept of “arcology” (architecture plus ecology) strives to create a sustainable alternative to urban sprawl. Progress is slow – after 38 years, the prototype town for 5,000 people still houses only 80 residents – but Arcosanti’s model of reducing energy use, land sprawl and environmental pollution isn’t as radical now as it was in the ’70s. Arcosanti offers onsite tours where you can see metal workers casting bronze bells (pictured top right), a café, bakery, gallery and amphitheatre. Accommodations are Spartan; don’t expect five stars.
Elevation: 3,750 feet
Directions: Take I-17 north to exit 262 (Cordes Junction). Turn right and follow the signs along a 2.5-mile dirt road to Arcosanti.
Driving Time: 1 hour (65 miles)
Hours: Check in by 5 p.m.
Rates: $30 to $100 per night, depending on amenities
Info: 928-632-7135 or arcosanti.org


41  Chocolate Lover’s Walk Cottonwood
Holy cannoli, at 50 calories per bite you’d better mix a little walking in with that chocolate. Guilt trips aside, participants in Old Town Cottonwood’s annual Chocolate Lover’s Walk travel to 31 different merchants, who each drop a scrumptious piece of homemade chocolate – think chocolate-covered cherries, truffles and cannolis – into their bags. “It’s kind of like trick-or-treating but with homemade chocolate,” says Amanda Hayes, who helps promote the event. The walk usually coincides with Cottonwood’s Christmas parade. Tickets are limited to 400, and they do sell out.
Elevation: 3,320 feet
Directions: Take I-17 north to Highway 260 toward Cottonwood. Turn left onto Main Street and continue to Old Town. The Cottonwood Civic Center – the Chocolate Walk starting point – is right at the curve.
Driving Time: 1 hour, 46 minutes (106 miles)
Hours: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission: $15
Lodging: sedonacottonwoodhotels.com
Info: 928-639-0676

(40) Overnight at Arcosanti, Cordes Junction Photos by Richard Maack

42 Route 66 through
Seligman
Flagstaff to Kingman
Angel Delgadillo (pictured left) was born in a house on Route 66 in Seligman. He went to barber college in Pasadena on Route 66. He apprenticed in Williams on – you guessed it – Route 66. And today, though semi-retired, he’ll give you an old-fashioned shave and haircut at his barbershop, located at 217 E. Route 66. “I do PR haircuts and shaves,” says Delgadillo, who single-handedly captured a worldwide following to restore America’s Mother Road to prominence. He might start his story something like this: “We were bypassed September 22, 1978, at 2:30 in the afternoon,” referencing the day I-40 opened. And what you’ll hear between the snips and cuts is a remarkable cross-section of history. Before you continue west into Kingman on one of the largest unbroken stretches of Route 66, ask Delgadillo about his consulting work on Disney’s animated movie Cars. While in Seligman, grab a burger at the world-renowned Snow Cap Drive-In. Can’t miss it. It’s on, um, Route 66.
Elevation: 7,000 feet (Flagstaff); 5,250 feet (Seligman);
3,345 feet (Kingman)
Directions: Take I-17 to Flagstaff, then I-40 west to Route 66 and exit west of Ash Fork. Continue through Seligman and into Kingman.
Driving Time: 2.5 hours to Flagstaff (144 miles); 1 hour, 17 minutes to Seligman (77 miles); 1 hour, 20 minutes to Kingman (80 miles). Total driving time: 5 hours.
Lodging: kingmantourism.org
Info: route66giftshop.com/history.html, route66.com

43 Longhorn Grill Amado
If you don’t pay through the nose, you’ll at least walk through the nose of a giant longhorn skull that forms the entrance to the Longhorn Grill in Amado. And this is no happy heifer imploring you to “Eat Mor Chikin,” as the famous Chick-Fil-A ads say. Measuring 40 feet from horn to horn, the rebar and plaster skull stares you down, daring you to walk through its nasal cavity and order the house special, the Border Burger. So, if eating cow inside a cow sounds fun, drive south and steer toward the steer.
Elevation: 2,900 feet (Green Valley)
Directions: Take 1-10 east to Tucson and exit south on I-19. The Longhorn Grill is just off I-19 at exit 48, located at 28851 S. Nogales Highway.
Driving Time: 2.5 hours (146 miles)
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Lodging: Amado is about halfway between Tucson and Nogales. Visit these Websites for area lodging: tubacaz.com, greenvalleyazchamber.com, visittucson.org
Info: 520-398-3955

44 Holiday Shopping Spree Sedona
Preemptively burn off a few holiday calories by walking among galleries, boutiques and one-of-a-kind shops in Sedona. Whether you need “Arizona” gifts for out-of-state friends (try Zonies Galleria in uptown) or want to stroll through the Sedona Center or Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, you can shed the stress of big-box lines and enjoy some holiday merriment while shopping for pottery, rugs, art glass, hand-crafted furniture or even cactus jellies and custom-made birdhouses.
Elevation: 5,000 feet
Directions: Take I-17 north to State Route 179 into Sedona. Plan your shopping route by visiting visitsedona.com.
Driving Time: 2 hours (122 miles)
Lodging: There are plenty of options, from high-end resorts to rustic camping sites. Check visitsedona.com for a full list of choices.
Info: Go to visitsedona.com, then click on “where to shop.”

45 Marilyn Makes a Comeback Douglas
Some like it hot, and at Grand Café & Gallery, you can eat spicy enchiladas and get your fill of all things Marilyn Monroe. The place features wall-to-wall Marilyn memorabilia, with posters, news clippings, photos, even lunch boxes. “We had to take some stuff down,” says owner Jose Jimenez. When he bought the Grand Café, the Marilyn collection came with it. But it’s all good. “If you’re going to wake up to something every morning, she’s not too bad on the eyes,” he says. “I’d like to think people come for Marilyn and the food, but Marilyn outshines everything.”
Elevation: 3,990 feet
Directions: Take I-10 west to US 191. Go south into Douglas. Turn west onto 12th Street and then south onto G Avenue. Proceed to 1119 N. G Ave.
Driving Time: 4 hours (229 miles)
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; noon to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday
Lodging: Visit hotelgadsden.com for information on the historic Gadsden Hotel, or visit douglasaz.gov or discoverbisbee.com for other nearby options.
Info: 520-364-7501