Prescott, Arizona: Downtown Courthouse Plaza

Prescott's most recognized icon is the historic downtown Courthouse surrounded by lush green lawns and century-old shade trees. The Courthouse Plaza (or Square) is home to events that include the Phippen Western Art Show, arts & crafts fairs, music and food festivals, holiday parades, the Annual Whiskey Row Marathon and Whiskey Off-Road Bike Race and charity and political events. It's truly the heart of Prescott. During the Christmas season, hometown folks and tourists alike flock to the Plaza for the Annual Electric Light Parade, Annual Christmas Parade, Annual Lighting of the Courthouse and Acker Night.

Things to do on Gurley Street: Gurley Street provides a distant view of Thumb Butte as it brings you into Downtown with its shops, restaurants, galleries, a museum and hotels. Things to do on Whiskey Row: Montezuma Street, known as historic Whiskey Row with its bars, restaurants and art galleries is famous for attracting fun-loving cowboys, tourists and locals since the 1800s. Things to do on Goodwin Street: Goodwin Street hosts the Public Library, Post Office, city offices, shops and restaurants. Things to do on Cortez Street: Completing the Downtown Courthouse Square is Cortez Street, favored by tourists and residents for its many antique shops, boutiques and eateries.

Prescott's slogan, Everybody's Hometown, came about because there's a little something here that seems to remind everyone of home. Money Magazine has ranked Prescott three times among the Top Ten Best Places to Retire in the U.S., but those of us who live here know it's a great place to be at any age. Known in its early days as a rowdy mining and cowboy town, Prescott held its first rodeo in 1888, an event repeated every year since, earning it the title of the World's Oldest Rodeo. Prescott relinquished its place as capital of the Arizona Territory to Phoenix in 1889, but it has never forgotten the early settlers, a history celebrated at the Sharlot Hall Museum. True West Magazine also honored Prescott as one of its Top Ten True Western Towns.