Six charming lodging options for your next northern Arizona road trip
The five-bedroom Mint House from Historic Flagstaff Stays
Every season is perfect for a northern Arizona road trip.
Autumn allows visitors to experience crisp, colorful leaves alongside a hot cup of coffee. Snowfall in winter makes room for snuggly fireplace cuddles after a chilly day spent exploring. Spring promises oodles of wildflowers. And, of course, the cool temperatures and fresh air are a welcome haven for those sweating out summers in the Valley.
When an overnight trip is in the cards, there are a number of local lodging operators we love at Local First Arizona.
These charming escapes – ranging from a bed and brew concept to historic retreats and eco-friendly suites to a hotel imbued with romance – give travelers a family-owned and locally-owned experience at a higher elevation.
Here are a few to check out if you’re headed north.
Grand Canyon Brewery Cabin | Williams
https://www.grandcanyonbrewery.com/
What goes better with a Prickly Pear IPA than a sleepover in a historic tack house that used to belong to the Gonzales Dairy Farm?
If that sounds like a match made in Arizona heaven, head over to Grand Canyon Brewery and Distillery in Williams and prepare for an overnighter in a two-story, 2,124 square-foot home unlike any other rental out there.
The two king rooms upstairs have their own private decks, while the cabin is just steps from the brewery, where guests enjoy music, locally-brewed beer and tasty bites.
Historic Flagstaff Stays | Flagstaff
https://historicflagstaffstays.com/
If “historic charm” is a priority when traveling to Flagstaff, Historic Flagstaff Stays has cornered the market.
Offering a collection of unique rentals, all benefiting from their proximity to downtown Flagstaff, this local lodging owner has something for everyone — from the solo traveler to the one coordinating a stay for up to 12 people.
Each historic home in the collection offers its own distinct personality, amenities and benefits allowing guests to immerse themselves in the Flagstaff community.
Kennelly Concepts | Williams + Flagstaff
Whether you’d like to stay just upstairs from downtown Flagstaff’s Historic Brewing or behind a tasting room in Williams, Kennelly Concepts has the hookup.
With four unique lodging experiences that tap into the local energy of both Williams and Flagstaff, Kennelly Concepts helps guests stay in the heart of a new-to-them location — keeping breweries, nightlife, boutiques and restaurants within walking or nearly walking distance.
The historic Red Garter Inn offers a boutique experience in Williams, which is a good stopover for anyone headed to the Grand Canyon, Jerome’s ghost town or other northern Arizona destinations.
Park Hotel | Clarkdale
A rare “Bed and Brew,” the Park Hotel and Smelter Town Brewery are an irresistible package deal in historic Clarkdale.
The corner building, which used to be apartments owned by a copper company, was purchased by the Backus family in 2018 and renovated into a quaint hotel and adjoining brewery — which is why they like to say guests enjoy a “room with a brew!”
It’s impossible not to feel the history of the space, with just six second-floor rooms, two main-floor rooms, no elevator, spaces that include exposed brick and a brewery that harkens to a bygone era with its aesthetic finishes.
Pines Inn & Suites | Cottonwood
Whether exploring the Verde Valley Wine Trail or as a Sedona-adventure outpost, the Pines Inn & Suites in Cottonwood offers a quiet escape in an eco-friendly atmosphere.
The family-owned hotel is a Local First Arizona Green Business Boot Camp alum, has invested in solar panels and motion-controlled thermostats, and offers chilled and filtered water to guests to save more than 11,000 plastic water bottles from the landfill to date!
A dog-friendly destination, Pines Inn & Suites has a few unique layouts from which to choose, including an apartment suite, a private home and traditional hotel-style rooms. And, while you’re relaxing, you can power up your electric vehicle thanks to an on-site EV charging station.
The Tavern Hotel | Cottonwood
The Tavern Hotel started small but has expanded to offer 41 guest rooms, four cottages and two penthouses while maintaining a quaint, boutique feel.
With its position in Old Town Cottonwood, not far from the Caduceus Cellars Hilltop Facility, the Tavern Hotel offers guests a home base that allows for walkability to tasting rooms, award-winning restaurants and local boutiques.
As a family-owned, euro-style retreat built in 1925, the Tavern Hotel takes pride in the details — one of which includes a complimentary check-in cocktail from the adjacent Tavern Grille.
