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Prescott hotels unleash summer deal

If anyone is looking for some last-minute ideas for a summer getaway on the cheap, consider a mid-week stay in the cool confines of Prescott.

I just received a press release stating that a bunch of historic and quirky hotels and bed & breakfasts are offering the following: Book the first night Sunday through Thursday and receive the second night during the week at 50 percent off. The offer is good until Aug. 28.

Yes, that only gives you a couple of weeks to capitalize, and yes, it’s kind of a let-down because it’s for a mid-week stay. But the question you must ask is, How many sick days do I have left?

To take advantage of the discounted rate, consider burning two at the following locations, all of which are part of the promotion:

• Apple Creek Cottages, 1001 White Spar Road, Prescott, 928-445-7321

• Prescott Cabin Rentals, P.O. Box 4301, Prescott, 928-778-9573

• Hotel St. Michael, 205 W. Gurley St., Prescott, 928-776-1999

• Hassayampa Inn, 122 E. Gurley St., Prescott, 928-778-9434

There are also a few chain hotels participating, including Comfort Inn Prescott, Springhill Suites by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn.

If you go, tell those Prescott folk where you heard about it. And don’t forget, it’s pronounced "PRES-kit" like a "biscuit." That way you’ll be treated like a local.

Top 10 places to explore in Arizona

Trapped by the summer heat in Phoenix, I couldn’t help but ponder the best places to get away around Arizona. With the monsoon humidity and searing temps, it’s like a Southwest Airlines jingle. ["Wanna get away?"]

Granted, this weather is the only thing that keeps the Californians from moving here in droves. And who could blame them?

But it also forces one to take stock of all the reasons for living in the desert. And I have all those reasons — neatly compiled into a handy list below for your viewing pleasure. It is based on years of traveling and experiencing our great state. No doubt this list will change as I get out even more. [Note: The Grand Canyon and Sedona are not on this list for obvious reasons.]

TOP 10 PLACES TO EXPLORE IN ARIZONA

Payson : There’s a reason Media World USA proclaimed Payson the "Best Small Town in Arizona" this year. Cooler temps, a friendly small-town feel, quick access to the woods and the waterfalls of the East Verde River probably made it a no-brainer. For local flavor, hit the Beeline Cafe for breakfast, where the wait staff gives everyone a good ribbing for fun. For lunch or a cold beer, try the rough-and-tumble Buffalo Bar & Grill. The drive up State Route 87 is one of the most scenic commutes in the state.

Flagstaff : OK, so I’ve got cool weather-itis. This slightly larger town (about 60,000 when college is in session) sits just 130 miles north of Phoenix. I love this one for the historic, eclectic downtown and access to skiing and ample hiking. For food, try Alpine Pizza and the Downtown Diner for tasty, cheap eats. Late for the Train is a great place to get coffee, and the lounge in the basement of the historic Monte Vista Hotel is great for quaffing a few pints and shooting pool. Schultz Pass and the towering San Francisco Peaks are right around the corner.

Prescott : This one’s closer to Phoenix, but not quite as cool as Flagstaff nor as populous. Once the original capitol of Arizona, Prescott has a fun downtown made cool with historic hotels, an old courthouse, huge trees, funky cafes, a brewery and the infamous "Whiskey Row." Take the personal challenge: See if you can stay at the Hassayampa Inn, have French crepes for breakfast up the street, eat lunch at the brewery and attend a downtown festival. Walk it off with a hike near the Granite Dells outside town.

Superstition Mountains : There’s plenty of hiking to be had here in the fall, and Globe’s historic downtown around the corner is as entertaining as any place to sample small-town Arizona’s colorful subculture. My favorite, however, is Apache and Canyon lakes just outside Tortilla Flat (whose owners once put the town on eBay). Full services plus a hotel and bar are available on site, so hitch your boat and head on up during a full-moon weekend. It won’t disappoint.

Cochise County : Moving on into Southern Arizona, this could possibly be the most historical corner of the state. We’re talking battles between the U.S. Army and Native American warriors like Geronimo and Cochise. Try a hike in the Dragoon Mountains or Cochise Stronghold. Tombstone’s pretty touristy, and in fact, was in danger of losing its historic status a few years back due to so many modern renovations to accommodate tourists. But it’s still a big draw (no pun intended.)

Tucson : Ah, the Old Pueblo. Here’s a place that covers a couple hundred years of Arizona history and whose residents make sure much of that flair stays intact. This is what makes Tucson so different from Phoenix. Try a stroll down Fourth Avenue, grab some Guatemalan food and visit La Hormiga Blanca. If it’s warm, knock down a cold one at The Shanty on the south end of the strip. And you can’t go without visiting Hotel Congress downtown or the pie shack atop Mount Lemmon.

Lake Havasu City : Gearheads will rejoice at this town’s boundless energy for boating and all things related to terrestrial toys. Check out the famed London Bridge in town, visit the brewery nextdoor, and boat the wide, canyoned expanse of this man-made wonder. To get away from it all, try a hike through the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. Bring your binoculars for birdwatching.

Page/Arizona strip : Call me crazy, but there’s something about the bare, windswept mesas of the northern Arizona strip-county town and it’s surroundings. Rent kayaks and a trailer, head for Lee’s Ferry and hook up with the river-boating tours for a ride upriver. Drop kayak and enjoy. The trip back down includes petroglyphs and the occasional eagle sighting. Head back to town, clean up and rally at the Windy Mesa for a cold drink and an entertaining look at the locals. Stick around for the dancing.

Four Corners area : These tribal lands have some of the most colorful rock formations in Arizona outside Sedona. Hiking is by permit only through the Navajo Nation’s parks and recreation department. Scoot along the highway and stop for curios at Four Corners. Hit the Keet Seel trail near the Navajo National Monument for a native perspective.

Bisbee : It’s long drive from Phoenix, but Bisbee is worth the haul. The remnants of this historic mining town have been reborn thanks to a quirky, progressive populace whose shops literally stick up from the mountainsides. It’s full of local shops, eateries and bed and breakfasts whose prices are negotiable if you’re daring enough to book upon arrival. Try Hotel San Ramon, whose staff puts homemade chocolate chip cookies in a mason jar by your bedside. Wander over to the Bisbee Coffee Company for hot cup of jo’, then drive five minutes out of town for the Bisbee Breakfast Club. Hike, explore, visit the mine, but don’t forget to have a stellar dinner at Cafe Roka.

New pipeline key to Arizona’s energy future

NEAR PRESCOTT — A 284-mile-long pipeline that soon could be delivering 500 million cubic feet of natural gas energy throughout Arizona and parts of New Mexico may be partially operational by this summer and fully functional by the end of the year.

The pipeline will deliver energy to users throughout central and southern Arizona. A large portion will run through ranch lands in Yavapai County and snake southward around Phoenix toward Gila Bend before turning east toward Coolidge.

The pipeline will deliver energy to a number of smaller additional users but also to nine primary providers, including the Redhawk and Sundance power plants, which are operated by Arizona Public Service Co.

“It’s strategically designed to meet capacity needs for some time in the future and to add to Arizona’s mix of resources some features like gas storage that weren’t there in the past,” says Arizona Corporation Commission member Jeff Hatch-Miller, a Scottsdale Republican.

Heavy use of natural gas has been part of the nation’s recent energy evolution, Hatch-Miller says. Congress once frowned upon the use of natural gas, a cleaner-burning yet non-renewable form of energy, because of concerns about the supply.

But after less government regulations came to the energy industry, Congress changed its stance. Hatch-Miller, who has worked on several pipeline issues as a commissioner, says natural gas is practically endorsed as a source of electricity these days.

This month, construction on the pipeline expansion project is scheduled to begin, even as the company building it finishes acquiring the necessary land. Transwestern has acquired all but six acres needed for the project, company spokesman John Ambler says.

Those two remaining parcels will be acquired by eminent domain – the process by which land is condemned for a public use and a fair price is negotiated, sometimes in court.

“In this particular case, they weren’t able to obtain an easement from the landowners. The strong preference is to do this amicably, rather than trying to use any kind of eminent domain,” Ambler says. “There are other tracks along the pipeline route that may make eminent domains filings necessary, but it’s handfuls of tracks. It’s not a huge number. We’re still trying to resolve most of them. I don’t know how many filings are likely.”

Since November, Houston-based Transwestern has been multiple legal actions in federal court in Tucson seeking permanent easements on 132 parcels from Yavapai County to points south. Four more cases were filed in January. Yavapai County supervisor Carol Springer declined to comment.

Pipeline helps peaking needs

Arizona residents’ increasing energy demands and concerns over global warming are the two factors driving development of the pipeline, Hatch-Miller says.

Over the past decade, Arizona’s overall consumption of natural gas has tripled, according to figures from the Energy Information Administration, which tracks energy consumption throughout the U.S. Most of the natural gas consumed in Arizona goes toward producing electricity. And in the Valley, it represents more than half of the electricity produced by APS, which also operates Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.

The pipeline will add more capacity for Arizona’s future needs instead of those in California, who have traditionally been the largest consumers of the gas line crossing northern Arizona. The new line will give Arizonans a competitive advantage, a state corporation commission spokeswoman says.
The environmental effects are also a consideration, Hatch-Miller says. Natural gas burns cleaner than coal, so it helps Arizona address global warming concerns.

“Everyone who’s using electricity seems to be increasing their usage per person,” Hatch-Miller says. “If we want to have a robust electric grid and have the energy necessary for modern society, natural gas is pretty much the dominant player right now.”

Hatch-Miller adds that extending building setbacks from the new pipeline will help the public answer concerns about safety in case of a rupture or explosion.

“Most communities and most neighborhoods are not focused on the benefit to themselves and the state that they derive (from the pipeline’s electricity), but it usually doesn’t interfere too much with the community, and they’re accepting of it,” Hatch-Miller says.

“They’re always concerned with a gas pipeline explosion or some kind of a gas leak. These are going to be built with the highest, new, state-of-the-art standard and be plenty deep under the Earth. While no man-made machine is 100 percent foolproof, these are going to be inspected dozens of times before they’re even allowed to have natural gas in them.”

Bonus points for pipeline

The pipeline has a few other benefits. The pipeline will also deliver natural gas to a facility near Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix. The storage facility can be tapped during peak demands and help avoid power outages, Hatch-Miller says.

The expansion project also provides a second pipeline company for the heart of Arizona as an alternative to El Paso Natural Gas Co., which has had a relative monopoly on pipeline service through Arizona for years, Arizona Corporation Commission spokeswoman Rebecca Wilder said in an email. She said this could help lower costs for Arizona consumers.

And finally, the new pipeline’s added capacity could help Arizona consumers cushion themselves in case California demand surges again and natural gas supplies from other sources, such as Canada, start dwindling.

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>>Email the editor at aklaw@zoniereport.com. [Read more]