10 Best Sights in Verde Valley, North-Central Arizona

The award-winning wines at Page Springs Cellars focus on grapes popular in the Rhône wine region of France. Sit outside on the deck overlooking Oak Creek and enjoy the wines, as well as antipasti plates and pizzas. There's live music Tuesday–Thursday evenings, and you can take a tour Monday, Wednesday, and Friday–Sunday ($44 includes wine tasting).

Train buffs come to the Verde Valley to catch the 20-mile Verde Canyon Railroad, which follows a dramatic route from Clarkdale through the Verde Canyon, the remains of a copper smelter, and much unspoiled desert that is inaccessible by car. The destination—the ghost town of Perkinsville—might not be that impressive, but the ride is undeniably scenic. After arriving in Perkinsville, the train turns around and heads back to Clarkdale. Knowledgeable announcers regale riders with the area's colorful history and point out natural attractions along the way—in winter you're likely to see bald eagles.

This four-hour trip is especially popular in fall-foliage season and in spring, when the desert wildflowers bloom; book well in advance. General tickets include seats in comfortable, living-room-like cars with hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast (a cash bar is also available) for $109. Reservations are required.

Housed in the former Clarkdale High School building, this museum takes a fascinating look at the metal that fueled the local economies for decades. Exhibits include everyday items like copper cookware and tools as well as copper instruments, spiritual items, and artwork. The museum is also known for its collection of trench art, like spent artillery casings embellished with ornate designs that World War I soldiers hammered into the metal.

The 423-acre spread of Dead Horse Ranch State Park, which combines high-desert and wetland habitats, is a pleasant place to while away the day. You can fish in the Verde River or the well-stocked Park Lagoon, or hike on some 6 miles of trails that begin in a shaded picnic area and wind along the river; adjoining forest service pathways are available for hikers and mountain bikers who enjoy longer journeys. Birders can check off more than 100 species from the Arizona Audubon Society lists provided by the rangers. Bald eagles perch along the Verde River in winter, and the common black hawks—a misnomer for these threatened birds—nest here in summer. The park is 1 mile north of Cottonwood, off Main Street.

The military post for which Fort Verde State Historic Park is named was built between 1871 and 1873 as the third of three fortifications in this part of the Arizona Territory. To protect the Verde Valley's farmers and miners from Tonto Apache and Yavapai raids, the fort's administrators oversaw the removal of nearly 1,500 Native Americans to the San Carlos and Fort Apache reservations. A museum details the history of the area's military installations, and three furnished officers' quarters show the day-to-day living conditions of the top brass. It's a good break from the interstate if you've been driving for too long.

Predominantly red wines with bold, dry flavors are produced by Javelina Leap Vineyard. Taste a few here and you'll be welcomed by the owners as if you were family.

The five-story, 20-room cliff dwelling at Montezuma Castle National Monument was named by explorers who believed it had been erected by the Aztecs. Southern Sinagua Native Americans actually built the roughly 600-year-old structure, which is one of the best-preserved prehistoric dwellings in North America—and one of the most accessible. An easy, paved trail (0.3 mile round-trip) leads to the dwelling and to the adjacent Castle A, a badly deteriorated six-story living space with about 45 rooms. No one is permitted to enter the site, but a viewing area is close by. From I--17, take Exit 289 and follow signs to Montezuma Castle Road.

This winery offers Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay, and dessert wines. You can also pick up fixings for a picnic here—salami, cheeses, and crackers.

Impressive in scope, Tuzigoot National Monument is a complex of the Sinagua people, who lived on this land overlooking the Verde Valley from about AD 1000 to 1400. The pueblo, constructed of limestone and sandstone blocks, once rose three stories and incorporated 110 rooms. Inhabitants were skilled dry farmers and traded with peoples hundreds of miles away. Implements used for food preparation, as well as jewelry, weapons, and farming tools excavated from the site, are displayed in the visitor center. Within the site, you can step into a reconstructed room.