Wickenburg AZ pt 2

When I wrote about our trip to Wickenburg, there was so much to share, but as it was getting too long I saved other outings for a second post. So, if you are looking for more to do and see around Wickenburg, Arizona, read on!

If you enjoy shopping for home goods and clothing and need to satisfy a taste for cowboy luxe, you must stop at the Double D Western World, aka: the Double D. They have gorgeous cowboy boots (still lusting for the polka dots), unique accessories, men’s wear, and they stock some of the coolest cabinet hardware I have seen in a long time. We stop every time we are in town, mostly to browse, but on one visit we found Christmas lights perfect for our sons. Who knew there were shotgun shell Christmas lights?

Wickenburg Antiques & Artisans is a shopping stop in downtown for the person who likes a treasure hunt. We stop each time we are in town, and are constantly surprised at what we find. We usually travel with carry-on luggage, so our buying options are limited. If the shipping wouldn’t have been more expensive than the musicians, these three gentlemen would have gone home with us! I would love to have them in my yard… They could play for my growing flock of metal chickens! (Chicken dance anyone?)

This trip we skipped over one of our favorite places to visit, the Hassayampa Nature Preserve. The Hassayampa is a river that runs (mostly) underground, and where it surfaces creates lush green oases in the desert. The interpretive center is in an old home, and the hikes are cool and shady, until you head up onto the surrounding hills. The climb is worth the view, but we wisely chose to avoid climbing in the heat of a summer day… The Preserve is on our must do list for the next trip in cooler weather!

If you are lucky enough to be visiting in February, Wickenburg throws down the welcome mat for Gold Rush Days and the Senior Rodeo. This coming February (2018) will be their 70th Anniversary, and I expect the to-do will be bigger and better than ever. If you plan on going, book your rooms early. The last time we went, we didn’t know about the festival, and couldn’t find a place for all of us. Luckily, the Yarnell Bunkhouse came to the rescue. Our adult sons stayed in their comfy suite; it was so cozy that the “boys” didn’t want to go anywhere with mom and dad… (When you do emerge, there is dangerous shopping to be done at the Yarnell Emporium downstairs, and they ship!) If you are in Wickenburg for the February fun, beg, buy, borrow, or steal to get tickets to the Melodrama. On our February visit, after spening a long day driving and visiting relatives in Phoenix, our “boys” just wanted to go back to their suite; they complained about the the detour to the Melodrama, but afterwards said it was one of the best parts of the trip! Local entertainers put on a fabulous and funny review, poking fun at local institutions and personalities. Even us soft east-coasters left feeling more like locals!

If I have missed any of the things you like to do in Wickenburg, please let me know in the comments below. I will put it on our list of things for our next visit!