North or South on 89A - Both!

Nov 11/16  Close by Camp Verde are two extremely worthwhile scenic drives...  both involve hwy 89a.  Head over to Cottonwood and south on 89a you climb to the mile high old miners ghost town of Jerome.  Lots of quirky little shops to explore and numerous foodie stops.  Jerome is now an Artists town.  Somehow the last time we were here we missed stopping in at the State Park which has the Douglas mansion built in 1916 who were influential mining entrepreneurs in the mining boom town era.  The views from here looking up at the town of Jerome are probably some of the best.  The town is built on the hillside so you can never get a good picture of it as you weave back and forth on the highway in and out of Jerome; but now we see the mansion has a perfect view.  No wonder they built on this property, which also had their mine called Little Daisy Mine...   Run up through Jerome towards Prescott to find the perfect viewpoint looking down from Mingus Mountain.

view of Jerome on the hillside from Douglas mansion (Jerome State Park)

The second drive is to head north on 89a through beautiful red rock Sedona.   The road winds and twists following Oak Creek.  Stay with it for about 15 miles to the top ledge leading into Flagstaff.  Once again you will be rewarded with some gorgeous views.   We met a fellow the other day who told us he took these hairpin turns in his Motorhome pulling his car...... Why would you do that???   Crazy.  Ha! There are signs on 89 a to Jerome and Oak Creek telling you nothing over 50 feet allowed.  Lets say both are great rides on the motorcycle !

89a - Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive

Mar 13 Jerome, Arizona

Weather 80 sunny, night time 48
Jerome is a very cool artsy ghost town that sides on the side of Cleopatra mountain.  It is a mile high about 5200 feet and you have to climb serpentine roads to get there and each street level is perched on levels between a higher street and stairways to get there.   Lots of art stores, restaurants and memorabilia. We had a horrible time time trying to park the bike without being on a very steep slope up or down.  After we drove to Prescott on the winding scenic 89A road.  the day was so gorgeous and the view was great.... oh yes and this was a first for us in our motorcycle riding ~ SNOW!  Not on the highway but on the sides of the road, it as about 7500 feet. 

Billy was teasing me about my Belgian heritage!!!  In the 1800's there was a Bordello here run by a this lady, well maybe not a lady???