Move Over Scottsdale! Unknown Mountain Town Is Arizona’s Best Kept Secret For A Winter Getaway

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When you think of gorgeous mountain getaways, places like Asheville, Lake Tahoe, and Colorado’s array of alpine villages likely come to mind.

But the Southwest is your best bet to avoid teeth-chattering chills over the next few months unless you’d rather stay back home and shovel your driveway — who wants to do that?

As much of the U.S. sees sweater weather become puffer-jacket season, Arizona’s vast desert landscape typically sees its harshest temps come nightfall, making for an underrated vacation spot, whether for an in-and-out weekend trip or a full-fledged vacation as an excuse to avoid holiday get-togethers (my favorite play in the playbook!).

At Travel Off Path, we do our best to dig deep and not regurgitate the same ol’ listicles you find elsewhere — and that brings us here to perhaps Arizona’s best kept secret.

Full of whimsy, wine, and twinges of winter wonderland vibes, leave Scottsdale to the thousand-dollar millionaires this winter in favor of Jerome, a delightful artsy hideaway, equal parts haunts and history, for a quiet retreat in the high desert.

Move Over, Marfa! Jerome Is The Southwest’s Coolest Town

There may not be a random Prada store anywhere in sight, but Jerome offers some eye-catching attractions where you’d least expect it.

You see, Jerome was once a mining boomtown, and after a period of dusty decline, it’s become one of the coolest towns you could ever experience.

It’s truly full of surprises.

At first glance, it may look like any ordinary post-Gold Rush ghost town. But once you start to wander the rustic strip of former outlaw hideouts and storied storefronts, you’ll quickly discover why this unsuspecting town is a tightlipped secret.

What appears to be old-timey saloons are now fine dining restaurants past the weathered batwing doors, as well as numerous art galleries, boutique shops, cozy cafes, and selection of classic inns.

Don’t let the initial rustic aesthetics fool you. Sure, it’s jam-packed with history with plenty of accommodations etched in time to immerse yourself between 4 walls you wish could talk — or maybe not given the endless ghoulish stories passed down through generations…

But, with a vibrant arts scene, and friendly yet very eccentric locals, sensational restaurants in timeless settings, Jerome is no doubt one of the Southwest’s most fascinating small towns.

One Of America’s Most Underrated Wine Towns

It’s not just tales of infamous gunslingers who once roamed the mean streets of Jerome.

There is one current notable resident who has brought Jerome to the global stage, priding himself on putting Jerome’s wine scene on the map — and he is definitely one of the town’s aforementioned eccentric individuals.

Lead vocalist of popular bands Tool, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle, Maynard James Keenan’s Caduceus Cellars is even more impressive than his stage wigs.

Jerome is only a 2-hour drive from Phoenix, and many of Caduceus’s patrons are day-trippers or weekenders who love to come sip Arizona-grown reds.

There’s a tasting room on the main strip with rave reviews. While Caduceus is certainly the most well known at this point, Jerome is a true wine destination home to a few other wineries worth visiting too:

• The Original Jerome Winery
• Passion Cellars
• Cabal Cellars

Plus, since the town is so walkable, you don’t have to worry about spitting out the wine so you can drive back to your hotel.

Stay In A Real Old Town (Sorry, Scottsdale)

Scottsdale’s Old Town is a seemingly endless maze of turquoise trinkets and kitschy souvenirs, but after a while you notice it begins to feel like a textbook tourist trap, lacking authentic character.

The entirety of Jerome feels like a real Old Town and there’s no further proof beyond its classic hotels that have unapologetically kept the same creaks and crumbles for years and years.

The Jerome Grand Hotel is undoubtedly the most popular — and the rates show for it. It’s often triple digits given its historic status in a National Historic Landmark town and prime real estate steps from the heart of downtown.

We also recommend the Ghost City Inn, a name nodded to its moniker of previously mentioned ghost stories hence its Halloween popularity.

You might be a month late for Halloween ghost tours, but you’re not too late to see Jerome blanketed in snow for a postcard-worthy winter.

While Jerome remains green most of the year, it’s best to check the weather when road-tripping in January and February due to the slick winding roads.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.