Arizona is a spectacular state to visit, with numerous national parks featuring amazing landscapes filled with cacti, mountains, deserts, and sunshine. Besides the more popular destinations of Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Sedona, there are numerous offbeat towns that are unique and definitely should be on your list of next stops in Arizona. Here are nine offbeat towns to visit in Arizona that will immerse you in Arizona’s mining history, Route 66, local art, and natural and historical landmarks.
Bisbee
Bisbee is a laid-back historic mining town in Southeast Arizona, nestled in the Mule Mountains. Built on the profitable copper mining industry back in the day, it has evolved into a thriving artist community and tourist destination, offering visitors a glimpse into the past. Go ahead and don a hard hat to take a train ride down into the Copper Queen Mine, stop to marvel at the Lavender Pit Mining Overlook, and wander through the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, the first Smithsonian affiliate in the Southwest. Bisbee is full of character, with its 1000-stair climb, antique shops, art murals throughout the town, and ghosts at the Copper Queen Hotel—and frankly, ghosts everywhere on the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour. If you aren’t sure where to start exploring, the Jeep Lavender Tour will take you through the back roads and even up high to get a different perspective of Bisbee.