In & Around Camp Verde
Out on the edge of town, you'll find Camp Verde's top attraction -- Cliff Castle Casino, 555 Middle Verde Rd. (tel. 800/381-SLOT or 928/567-7900; www.cliffcastlecasino.net), at exit 289 off I-17.
About halfway between Camp Verde and Cottonwood, you'll find Alcantara Vineyards, 7500 E. Alcantara Way, Verde Valley (tel. 928/649-8463; www.alcantaravineyard.com), which, although away from the area's other wineries (which are in the community of Page Springs), is far and away the most beautiful winery in Arizona. The terraced vineyards overlook limestone cliffs and a bend of the Verde River. Although the winery only began using its own grapes in 2007, the wines, primarily big reds, have been excellent so far. The tasting room is open daily from 11am to 5pm.
In & Around Cottonwood & Clarkdale
Cottonwood, 6 miles from Jerome, isn't nearly as atmospheric as the old copper-mining town up on the hill, but there are a few blocks of historic buildings filled with interesting shops. Old-town Cottonwood's Main Street, with its shops, galleries, cafes, and covered sidewalk, is a pleasant place for a stroll. Be sure to check out Ramona Stites's colorful landscape paintings at Javadog Gallery, 1023 N. Main St. (tel. 928/634-5217; www.javadoggallery.com). From here, you can also walk the Jail Trail, which begins beside the old town jail (now a visitor center) and heads 1 mile through the cottonwood-willow forests along the banks of the Verde River. At its far end, the trail connects to Dead Horse Ranch State Park, which has many more miles of trails. There's good bird-watching along the Jail Trail, so bring your binoculars. This trail is part of the 6-mile Verde River Greenway, which protects the riparian forests along the riverbanks.
If it's a hot day, you may want to head up to Sycamore Creek to cool off in one of the creek's swimming holes. It's only a 1/4-mile hike to the first swimming hole, but there are more farther up the creek. To reach the trailhead for this hike, follow signs to Tuzigoot National Monument, and after crossing the bridge over the Verde River, turn left onto Forest Road 131 (signed for the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness). The road quickly turns to gravel and then dirt and is very rough in places. Don't try driving this road without a high-clearance vehicle and preferably one with four-wheel-drive. The trailhead is 11 miles up this road.
