Prescott, the Yavapai County Seat, was founded in 1864 on Granite Creek, the source of the placer gold discovered here circa 1838.  Named for Mr. William Hickling Prescott, historian and author of ‘Conquest of Mexico’.  More on the history of the first Territorial Capital of Arizona can be found on the Covered Wagon link on this page.  You can also click on the Sharlot Hall Museum link for more history. Talk about history of Arizona did you know that The Palace restaurant and saloon is the oldest bar in Arizona?  Whiskey Row has a lot of history that is for sure.  Famous for a lot of action during the 1800’s Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate had a lot to do with it.  Wyatt Earp’s brother, Virgil Earp, ran an early sawmill near the base of Thumb Butte and became the constable of Prescott.  Tom Mix spent many nites here in Prescott, one of his favorite hideouts and shot a few movies out in the ‘Granite Dells”.  And, a few Hollywood movies were filmed right here in downtown Prescott, one with Steve McQueen. Check out The Palace and The Dinner Bell for photos shot during the filming of these movies. If you want a ‘cold drink’ and a little nostalgia of the early days of Prescott check out the many saloons or bars on Whiskey Row. The Bird Cage Saloon is one of the longest running bars on Whiskey Row and has some pretty good live music. Check out their website to the left.  Locals like to call Prescott ‘preskitt’ and I really don’t know why.  Etiher way there is a lot to see and do in this ‘1800’s mid-western style’ town hidden among the Ponderosa pines and some of the oldest out-croppings of granite bolders in the world.  There are around 500 homes here listed on the National Historic Register and most of them are within walking distance of the town square.  Although there was a time that folks like ‘Doc Holliday’ gambled and won on Whiskey Row in downtown Prescott you will have to visit Bucky’s Casino and Yavapai Casino on highway 89 east of town if you want to lose your money.  If antiques are your bag then just one block north of the courthouse on Cortez street you will find what you are looking for.  There are around 10 lakes and resevoirs around Prescott, all within about a 15 mile radius.  Although there are plenty of hotel rooms here, some of them with a unique history, like the hotel St Michael and The Vendome, there are also alot of campsites available for those who carry tents.  If you camp out you most likely like to hike around.  Well, you’ve come to the right place so park your bike and hit the trail and just click on the hiking link to the left for a little exercise.  I am always hungry after a hike and there is more than enough places to eat here in Prescott.  Some of my favorites are listed to the right but I have to mention that if you like pizza you don’t have to go very far from the downtown square.  In fact, Bill’s Pizza is on Cortez Street on the eastside of the courthouse.  Sit down and enjoy pizza and salad or buy a slice and wander about downtown.  Either way it is the best ‘by far’.    Like I said, there are a lot of great places to eat in Prescott and I have listed some in the link menu to the right.  Prescott has a ‘No Smoking’ ordinance like a lot of other towns, so you can’t smoke in the restaurants and bars.  However, you can smoke on the reservation, Bucky’s Casino and Yavapai Casino, and you can also smoke, drink, and play pool at the Pinon Pines Bar and Grill just north of town on highway 89.  Another great place to have a smoke while you’re wettin’ your whistle is Hot Rodz at the west end of town off of Iron Springs Road.  Click their banner at the top of the page for directions.  Well, that’s about enough I think...check out the links on this page and email any comments to scott@centralarizonabikers.com.  See ya on the road!