Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria. Photo by by Greg Bernstein.
MERKIN VINEYARDS HILLTOP WINERY & TRATTORIA
Northern Arizona wine has slowly made a name for itself throughout the state and country. In late 2021, the Verde Valley earned its official American Viticultural Area or AVA. One of the wine region’s latest achievements? The opening of Cottonwood’s Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in October of 2023. This new development is Arizona’s first true wine destination, and there are plenty of reasons to visit this impressive place. The views alone make the trip up to the top of this facility worth it. We went to the grand opening party and loved taking in the sweeping views of downtown Cottonwood and the surrounding area as the sun set. You can drive to the top, walk up the hill to reach the main 6,600-square-foot restaurant, or take a tram at the bottom. When you’re at the bottom, it’s worth checking out the Merkin Vineyards Pocket Park Gelateria. Gelato maker Kelly E. Foy handcrafts inventive flavors. Many are made from the vineyard’s grapes. At the restaurant, you’ll find plenty of Merkin Vineyards Arizona wine (naturally) and food that’s inspired by the local ingredients.
Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria. Photo by Greg Bernstein.
The menu features plenty of Italian food like bruschetta, pasta, lasagna “cupcakes,” wood oven pizza and desserts like cannoli and tiramisu. Perhaps the most Arizona-centric entrée on the menu, the pink Merkin Mac & Cheese features prickly pear infused pasta with pancetta-mascarpone cream sauce and is dusted with beet powder. Merkin Vineyards also has a brunch menu served on Sunday only with options like French Toast, a Daily Quiche and a variety of espresso-based drinks. The menu showcases Merkin’s wines (naturally), and guests can even order six different wine flights. A few unique offerings include the Shinola Orancia – an Italian orange wine – the Jane Pink rose and Tarzan Red, which is described as “a big hairy old world Iberian beast of a blend.” The entire campus also includes an exclusive tasting room, a 4.5-acre vineyard and a 9,500-square-foot production facility. The facility gives visitors a true grapes to glass experience. Following this latest opening, it seems that Northern Arizona wine has finally arrived.
Museum of Northern Arizona.
MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA
The Museum of Northern Arizona is located in a prime spot that’s surrounded by Flagstaff’s tall green trees and at the base of the towering San Francisco Peaks. This is a fitting location for a museum that’s dedicated to showcasing and honoring the history of Northern Arizona. Founded back in 1928, the 200-acre museum features an exhibit building, office space, research space and storage for over five million pieces of Native American artifacts, fine art and natural science specimens. The museum houses various collections – some permanent and others that rotate. On display from now until Jan. 19, 2025, is The Grand Canyon Dragon Map. This historic map documents the geological state of the canyon in 1976. It’s, perhaps, the most famous map of the Grand Canyon that resembles a, you guessed it, a dragon. Another exhibit showcases works romanticizing the Southwest and is called “Selling the Southwest.” The historic Santa Fe Railway and the Fred Harvey Company teamed up with artists who then created art that made the Southwest a desirable destination. Some of the work was created by iconic Southwest artists like Thomas Moran, Louis Akin and Gunnar Widforss.
Museum of Northern Arizona.
Visitors also can see pottery made by Hopi/Tewa artist Nampeyo and paintings of some of the most famous Grand Canyon sites like El Tovar and a Navajo rug. Many of the paintings were used in advertisements to entice visitors to travel via railway to the Southwest. One of our personal favorite collections in the museum? The Southwest jewelry. Admire pieces made with turquoise, lapis, coral and mother-of-pearl by Native artisans hailing from the Hopi, Zuni, Navajo and Rio Grande tribes. The Archaeology Gallery features plenty of ceramics, baskets and other artifacts that document more than 12,000 years of history. And there’s even more. The museum also hosts many events. One of the most interesting ones is Easton Collection Center tour. These typically happen every month (the next one is on Sept. 13) and offer guests a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s vast collection. The Center is home to more than 800,000 objects.
Lowell Observatory.
LOWELL OBSERVATORY
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory is perhaps best known as the place where Pluto was discovered. Visitors can even take a self-guided tour where they can look through the very telescope – the Lawrence Lowell Telescope – that first found Pluto. Lowell has a long history. It was founded in 1894 by astronomer and mathematician Percival Lowell. Today, Lowell is also a place where the public can go to learn more about the skies and stars and where astronomical research is conducted. Another highlight? The 24-foot Clark Refractor, a striking site on Lowell’s campus. The telescope is housed inside the Clark Dome. Lowell is also adding to its programs frequently.
Lowell Observatory.
The Giovale Open Deck Observatory, which opened in 2019, includes six telescopes that let viewers take a closer look at the night’s sky. What’s on the horizon for Lowell? Slated to open in November of 2024 is a 40,000-square-foot facility called the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center. This family-friendly center will feature a kids gallery called the Orbits Curiosity Zone where kids of all ages can learn more about astronomy via a variety of exhibits, an 180-seat LED theater called the Lowell Universe Theater, a planetarium and outdoor gathering spaces.
Mary D. Fischer Theatre.
MARY D. FISCHER AND ALICE-GILL SHELDON THEATRES
The Sedona International Film Festival is one of Sedona’s biggest and longest running events that brings actors, directors and film industry pros to town to discuss their work. When the festival isn’t happening, Sedona residents and visitors can watch a variety of creative films at the Mary D. Fischer and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres. The festival owns both. What we love most about the festival is the fact it never really rests. The theaters host film screenings, stand-up comedy shows, concerts and concert films so Sedona residents can soak up culture year-round.
Sedona Symphony.
SEDONA SYMPHONY
Since 2005, the Sedona Symphony (formerly the Verde Valley Sinfonietta) has been bringing live orchestral to Sedona residents and visitors. Acclaimed musicians will travel to Red Rock Country and perform classical works of art at the Sedona Performing Arts Center. The group started out informally way back in 2002. According to the organization’s website, both Lelia Schoenberg, a violinist and a former arts administrator, and Tom Leenhouts, a cellist and a retired ophthalmologist, banded together and recruited a conductor and a violinist Clarence Shaw to create a formal group dedicated to playing classical music. The organization’s first official season was from 2005 to 2006, and it’s still running today.
Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund.
SEDONA RED ROCK TRAIL FUND
Sedona is hiking mecca. Trails like Cathedral Rock and West Fork are iconic in their own rights and are a big draw for tourists and locals alike. The city’s trails are really the best and most rewarding way to see Sedona’s vibrant red rocks. If you’ve spent any time in Sedona, chances are high that your hiking boots have been on over 400 miles of the city’s vibrant trails. Founded in 2013, the nonprofit Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund helps maintain these stunning trails that so many enjoy. With so much trail traffic, the trails are often in need of some TLC. The Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund works in conjunction with the Forest Service to determine what trails need some extra care. Projects from this past year include restoring Cathedral Rock and Soldier Pass Trail. The group is currently working on improving Schnebly Hill Trail. In the past decade, the nonprofit has built more than 60 miles of new trails in Sedona. Next time you’re on a trail, consider paying thanks to the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund.
Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Larry Lindahl.
GRAND CANYON
The Grand Canyon is Arizona’s most famous site by far. We’ll never tire of making the trip up to see the canyon and admire its awe-inspiring natural beauty that is seemingly endless. Just standing by the rim and soaking up the canyon’s rocks that (seemingly) change colors with the sunlight is an experience worth savoring. Visitors can explore the canyon via raft, helicopter, on foot and even on a mule. Walking along the paved Rim Trail is a great way to experience the canyon. Make sure you give yourself enough time to pause and really take it all in. Another event that makes the canyon all the more magical? The Celebration of Art. This arts-centric events kicks off in September. From Sept. 7 to 14, artists will set up their easels at various points along the South Rim and paint live. Seeing skilled artists capture the canyon’s beauty is a site to behold. If you can’t make the event, the paintings will be on display at the historic Kolb Studio until Jan. 20, 2025.
Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.
Located in Williams – roughly one hour from the South Rim – the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is an iconic property and has quite the history. It originally was the Fray Marcos Hotel, and it was opened by the Santa Fe Railroad as a Harvey House. The 298-room hotel features modern amenities like flat panel TVs, remodeled bathrooms and high-quality sheets. Property-wide amenities include an indoor pool and an outdoor playground. But the real highlight here is the train you can take to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. From March through October on the first Saturday of every month, guests can ride a historic steam train. The train goes through Flagstaff’s forest and then transports guests to the South Rim in roughly two hours and 15 minutes. Even if the steam train is not available (and it might not be), all passengers enjoy the ride in restored, historic train cars that follow the same route.
Grand Canyon Railway.
The train features six different classes that riders can partake in. These seats range from the Pullman Class cars (circa 1923) outfitted with bench seating to the Luxury Parlor, which includes a private bar. The train also includes a show. Guests can watch actors “rob” the train. Musicians also sometimes will play live inside the train cars.
