Area Attractions

Ranch Area Attractions

In addition to getting a great equine education in a very unique setting, Talking Horse Ranch has exciting area attractions for the “full experience”.  Here are some things the beautiful Verde Valley has to offer:

Ancient Indian Ruins and Cliff Dwellings at Montezuma's Well and Montezuma's Castle:

Nestled into a limestone recess high above the flood plain of Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley, Montezuma's Castle stands as one of the best preserved and most easily accessible cliff ruins in North America. This 5-story, 20-room cliff dwelling served as a "high-rise apartment building" for prehistoric Sinagua Indians more than 600 years ago. Early settlers to the area assumed that the imposing structure was connected to the Aztec emperor Montezuma, but this "castle" was abandoned almost a century before Montezuma was born.

Montezuma's Well is a sinkhole, a collapsed underground limestone cavern filled with water. More than a million gallons of water a day flow continuously, providing a lush, verdant oasis in the midst of surrounding desert grassland. Montezuma's Well is 368 feet across and 55 feet deep; it sits at an elevation of 3,618 feet, with large quantities of warm water (76° F) entering through underground springs. Locating the source of the well's water has researchers baffled. No connection has been established between the well's water and any other water source in the area. The well is a unique ecosystem with several plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. Due to the high concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide, 600 times higher than most natural aquatic environments -- it affords unique conditions for scientific studies of plant and animal interactions not found anywhere else. This rich supply of dissolved CO2, hence lack of oxygen, has precluded many aquatic animals from living in these waters, especially fish.  www.nps.gov/moca 

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Tuzigoot

Tuzigoot is a prehistoric Sinagua site located in the Verde Valley. Rather than being built into the side of a cliff like Montezuma Castle, Tuzigoot was constructed on a hilltop near the Verde River. A large pueblo, or village, Tuzigoot stood two to three stories high and contained around 110 rooms. The first buildings were constructed around A.D. 1100 and were inhabited until the abandonment of the area about A.D. 1400. www.nps.gov/tuzi 

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Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Out of Africa Wildlife Park is not a zoo or a circus it is a garden-like setting over 98 acres that allows visitors to actually encounter and participate in the habitat of over 300 exotic animals in the kingdom of the wild. Daily shows feature unrehearsed and educational programs with various exotic animals.  www.OutOfAfricaPark.com

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Verde Canyon Railroad

The Verde Canyon Railroad is an old fashioned train ride that lets you ride in comfort as you explore the most secluded and amazing scenery in Arizona. This experience through the Verde River Canyon visits areas that are only accessible by train. The Verde Canyon Railroad takes its passengers passed unforgettable desert cliffs and an abundant amount of wildlife while traveling in open-air viewing cars. This railroad trip is a great opportunity for seeing new sites and for taking amazing pictures of Arizona.  http://www.railsnw.com/tours/verde/verde.htm

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Sedona

Some people visit Sedona for the breathtaking beauty that fills the senses and feeds the soul.  Some visit Sedona to shop in the delightfully eclectic shops and galleries.  Many others visit Sedona to savor the flavors and scents of our restaurants, to be pampered in a world-class resort or stay in a log cabin while sampling the diverse cultural events all year long. 

Sedona is situated in a unique geological area that has mesmerized tourists for decades.  Indeed, this picturesque city is surrounded by beloved red-rock monoliths named Coffeepot, Cathedral and Bell even Snoopy because their massive shapes resemble these distinctive objects.  Also, the site of this memorable city marks the mouth of unbelievably beautiful Oak Creek Canyon, a breathtaking chasm that even today, is wildly wonderful. 

Towering high above Sedona and its hallmark canyon is the geologically dominating Mogollon Rim, formed from ancient deposits of limestone, mudstone and sandstone when this area was the west coast of a still-emerging continent.  This awesome rim, which constitutes the southwestern boundary of the vast Colorado Plateau, is home to the largest contiguous stand of ponderosa pine in the world and imagine the enormous plateau extends into parts of five other states.

The collection of Sedona's impressive, natural endowments also includes the 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest, which essentially engulfs this city and encompasses seven intriguing wilderness areas.  Obviously, the list of sightseeing and recreational amenities, including state parks and national monuments, is extensive.  In fact, it hardly is a surprise that the winding road through Oak Creek Canyon not only is Arizona's first officially designated scenic highway, it is the first leg of a day trip to one of the world's great wonders, the nearby Grand Canyon.

Despite this land's myriad geological features, however, many tourists relate Sedona's exceptional charm to the fact that visitors conveniently can spend a day hiking, horseback riding, or bouncing in a Jeep on trails and dirt roads that crisscross this area, and then enjoy the comfort of deluxe hotels, country inns and prestigious resorts at night.  Indeed, this is the paradox and enchantment of Sedona: luxurious resorts and bed and breakfasts, unique shops, impressive art galleries and fine restaurants nestled in an unusually rugged canyon surrounded by an expansive national forest.

102 things to do around Sedona  http://www.visitsedona.com/index.php?action=article&id=158

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Verde Valley Wineries

Since the turn of the millennium, the Verde Valley has seen the birth of five vineyards and wineries in the bucolic communities of Page Springs and Cornville. 

These wineries are producing handcrafted, limited production wines in both white and red varietals as well as library wines and multi-grape bottlings. Several have been applauded by wine critics and have won national awards. The public can give the wines a try in the vineyards’ tasting rooms during visiting hours, during occasional winemaker dinners and by picking up a bottle in area restaurants and in fine food emporiums and liquor stores.

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Jerome-"America's Most Vertical City" and "Largest Ghost Town in America".

Located high on top of Cleopatra Hill (5,200 feet) between Prescott and Flagstaff is the historic copper mining town of Jerome, Arizona. Once known as the wickedest town in the west, Jerome was a copper mining camp, growing from a settlement of tents to a roaring mining community. Four disastrous fires destroyed large sections of the town during its early history, resulting in the incorporation of the City of Jerome in 1899.

Jerome is an enchanting town, and a photographer's paradise. From its external appearances it hasn't changed much in nearly 100 years. Many of the buildings used by present-day business folks are those built after the fires of 1894 and1899. A number of the buildings have been restored and more are planned for restoration. Due to the 30-degree incline of the mountainside, gravity has pulled a number of buildings down the slope. To the delight of some, one of those buildings was the town's jail. Those buildings still standing make for interesting visiting and with a little research you can find their historical significance. One notable section is the "Cribs District." You will find this area across the street from the English Kitchen, in a back alley where all the buildings were part of Jerome's ill-famed "prostitution row."

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Flagstaff

Down the road" from one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders, the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff is the ideal home base from which to spend several days exploring our exciting region. There are many good reasons for this.

The Grand Canyon is Flagstaff's most famous nearby wonder, but certainly not the only one. Many other no less remarkable wonders surround Flagstaff: Among them are the red rocks of Sedona, Meteor Crater, the San Francisco Peaks, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the Wupatki ruins, Sunset Crater, and numerous Native American communities.

Enjoyed for its cool summer weather, Flagstaff is also an exciting urban center that abounds with dining, shopping and nightlife opportunities, a unique arts and crafts scene, and a wide selection of quality hotels and inns.
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Energy Vortex Tours with Ron McLain

Journey with us to the vortex sites and learn the spiritual and scientific aspects of the vortexes.  Participate in a smudging and cornmeal blessing for ourselves and the Earth.  Walk with us along the creek and discover

the ways the native people learned from their environment and how they gave symbolism to all things around them. 

http://www.secretmountaintours.com

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Wild Wind Motorcycle Tours with Andrea Bordelon

Many Day Trip tours to pick from.  One such exciting one is:

Swim With Grapes Ride
Ride to the beautiful vineyards of Sedona, then on to our secret Eden along a river most locals don’t even know. Cool off in the pristine waters, relax on warm red sandstone. You will never want to leave.

http://www.wildwindmctours.com/daytrips.html

With so many great adventures to take in the Verde Valley, plan to spend a couple extra days after your clinic to enjoy the "full experience".