I've been working nights and weekends for about the last 8 weeks (on top of the normal day hours) and me and MrsCheShirt are about due for a break...  She's been a damn saint and I'd like to take her up north a bit and hit Prescott.  Last time we were there, we stayed at The Motor Lodge and it was great.  We'll probably do this after the Thanksgiving holiday, maybe after Christmas...  It'd be nice to get out of the valley and away from the goddamn snowbirds.

We love the bookstores and will be hitting those up.  What else should we do?  Should we skip the main drag?  Skip the town and hit somewhere close to there?

Prescott residents, help a dude out...

Well as you know we are a "tourist Destination" (read that "trap" ) The leaves are turning. You may consider driving the Senator Highway into the hills so see some Aspens. You can drive the highway in fairly far with a passenger car, but eventually you may wish to turn around. Vehicles with high clearances can go farther back. When road conditions permit, high clearance vehicles can make it all the way to Crown King. 4WD is sometimes helpful, but not necessary. (Not sure of the road conditions now.) Anywhere a sedan can reach, there is room to turn around. Be on the lookout for abandoned mines.


http://www.experience-az.com/adventures/4wd/senatorhwy/senatorhwy.html

Walker Kiln is kind of neat. It's an easy walk in a nice area. It's off Walker Road. (Costco sits at the corner of Walker Road and Highway 69.) You drive through the forest on Walker Rd (paved) to Big Bug Mesa Road and turn left into a residential area and some small signs will direct you there.

http://bradshawmountains.com/walker_charcoal_kiln.htm

Lonespur for breakfast in Prescott, Haunted Hamburger for lunch up in Jerome (the drive and town is worth it), and the PBC for dinner and same location as Lonespur.