10/5/2009 10:03:00 PM
Magazines tout Prescott's outdoor attributes
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Courier file photo
Prescott made National Geographic's 100 Best Adventure Towns because it has "something for everyone, whether you love hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking, climbing, snowboarding, or a little bit of everything." An example is Prescott's Whiskey Off-Road bike race. |
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Les Stukenberg, file/The Daily Courier
Katie Baird and her son, Dylan, paddle through the shallows on Watson Lake in their kayaks on June 18, 2008. Prescott made National Geographic's 100 Best Adventure Towns, in part, because of its kayaking. |
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Prescott received double accolades this month as it made two magazine lists that praise its outdoor opportunities.
Trail Runner Magazine included the city in its annual "Dirty 7" list of top seven trail-running towns, and National Geographic called it one of the country's 100 Best Adventure Towns. Both features are running in the magazines' October 2009 issues.
National Geographic says the cities on its list offer 100 good reasons to stay in our country's own backyard during the poor economy's run.
"These 100 adventure towns offer something for everyone, whether you love hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking, climbing, snowboarding, or a little bit of everything," the magazine states. "Stay for a long weekend or the rest of your life."
"Adventure" is the perfect word for Prescott, since it can describe all kinds of experiences from recreational opportunities to the rich Western history, said Chris Hosking, City of Prescott trail specialist.
"We have a lot of variety in this town," he said.
"It doesn't surprise me that we got written up for that, because I think we have more to offer here than Sedona," added Robert Coombs, visitor information manager at the Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce and an avid mountain biker.
Prescott definitely is known around the country for its mountain biking opportunities, said Coombs, who participates in the 50-mile-long segment of the Whiskey Off-Road bike race in Prescott that grew to more than 800 participants in its fifth year this year. The event also drew a crowd to Whiskey Row for the outdoor concert featuring Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. The Whiskey 50 has drawn raves from Bike Magazine, too.
Flagstaff and Tucson were the only other Arizona cities to make the National Geographic list.
Prescott also made the Geo's list of "The 50 next great adventure towns" in its October 2008 issue.
The October 2009 issue says Prescott has some of the best mountain biking in the country.
"Prescott draws crowds to its evergreen mountains, granite cliffs, and alpine lakes around town," it adds.
It mentions the relatively new Goldwater Lake Trail on the Prescott National Forest just south of the city. That happens to be one of Coombs' favorites.
Trail Runner Magazine says people should come to Prescott to "escape the heat and run amid towering granite rock formations and desert peaks on great trails."
The story lists numerous local trails inside the city and on the Prescott National Forest, which sport 28 miles and 450 miles of non-motorized trails respectively.
"Most people don't think of Prescott when they think of trail towns," Swift Feet running shoe store owner Mike Zengel told Trail Runner about his town. "But we have great trails with sandy terrain and few rocks, and they are isolated so you don't see many people."
The story mentions the non-motorized Prescott Circle Trail that circles Prescott on private and public lands, which Hosking believes will be a huge, unique draw once it is complete. Right now it's about 80 percent finished.
"The Circle Trail is key to our outdoor recreation tourism, and we're hoping to work with the State Land Department to make it happen because that's the only thing holding it up," Hosking said.
He envisions people staying for a week to complete the entire 50-mile loop, while enjoying other activities in the evening.
"If we bring the people here, I think the downtown will take care of itself," he said.
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Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Joe P.
Dear "Exiled forest user",
You might notice that they are on a dry road and that they are not causing much damage. The weight and speed of a "humanized" vehicle may have something to do with it.
Posted: Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Exiled forest user
We motorized trail riders were thrown out of the forest because of the alleged "damage" that we were doing to the forest. From the looks of the above photo, it looks like the cyclists are doing their fair share of damage. Guess it is O.K. to tear up the forest if it brings in a crowd of tourists. Prescott, your hypocracy is showing!
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Ashl, alpine lakes might refer to Goldwater lake and Lynx lake. They are relatively high altitude and have pine trees all around them.
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Asil can't read
Try again.
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Asil
Well Greg, you've plugged in your commits all over the place... maybe you should spend a little less time in front of the computer and more time kayaking on our "alpine lakes," unless you can't find the lakes from all of the smoke!
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Greg
Wow, positive story and the online responses are, per usual, negative. Says a lot about those who spend too much time in front of a computer.
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Asil
Prescott made National Geographic's 100 Best Adventure Towns because it has "something for everyone, whether you love hiking, skiing, biking, kayaking, climbing, snowboarding, or a little bit of everything." An example is Prescott's Whiskey Off-Road bike race.
This statement implies that Prescott offers skiing and snowboarding. Hey No Name, you're the one who needs to lighten up!
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Prescottstyle
Alpine Lakes?!?
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Asil, Please read the quote again. It is clear that the skiing,snowboarding comment was from a list of activities that could be found AMONG the list of towns on that are on the list. It did not state that those two activites can be found in Prescott specifically. Please lighthen up and let's agree to criticize less and be happy more.
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Use of State Trust land requires compensation to the "trust" The trust is used to pay for k-12 education. Pay your fair share!
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Asil, if you read the article it highlights Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff as the adventure area and maybe with Prescott's great year round weather and downtown Prescott is the base. While tourists are here, we do have quite a variety of outdoor recreation including hiking,biking,trail running,kayaking,climbing,bird watching etc, with a great downtown to stay and visit when your not playing.
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Asil
Skiing and snowboarding in Prescott? Come on... Show me the chair lifts and snow and I'll ski here. Adventure seekers who want to ski and snowboard in Prescott because of some plug in a magazine will be sorely disappointed.
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