Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/648531
One might think that Arizona is an arid moonscape dotted with cacti and other prickly plant life, but Prescott is a mile above sea level and enjoys four mild seasons with blooming flora and pristine forest. The city boasts 16 parks and three lakes, with kayak and canoe rentals available at Watson, Goldwater and Lynx Lakes. Bike rentals are available at Watson Lake for those to enjoy the unlimited trails that surround the lake. Watson Lake is a particularly popular destination for tourists and residents alike, not only for the normal regimen of activities a lake offers, but especially for the stunning scenic beauty of the huge, weathered granite boulders and rock formations. The Granite Dells at Watson Lake arguably attracts as many amateur and professional photographers as rock climbers. These rock climbing enthusiasts undertake an ascending and rappelling adventure in the gorgeous Granite Dells with the expert assistance of companies offering guides, guidance and more in outdoor adventures. Thousands of bike riders and spectators turn out for the Annual Whiskey Off-Road which features a 50-mile and 25-mile course through the Prescott National Forest (a part of the largest stand of Ponderosa pine trees in the United States), as well as a 15- mile "fun ride." The Whiskey Off-Road, organized by Epic Rides, is held at the end of April each year and offers a winner's purse and free post-race rock concert under the towering elms in the downtown plaza. The Whiskey Off-Road mountain bike race has evolved into one of the nation's top annual mountain biking events. The event starts and finishes on "Whiskey Row" which is the century old main street in downtown Prescott, where was once the locale for over 40 saloons. Prescott also caters to those in the mood for an outdoor odyssey of trail trekking, with more than 450 miles of groomed trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The Mile-High Trail System contains nearly 28 miles of trails, including Rails-to-Trails projects along the former Santa Fe Railroad, Prescott Circle Trail System and Greenways Trails System. The Prescott Circle Trail is a network of trails that continues to expand, and eventually will encircle all of Prescott. The Greenways Trails are urban trails along Granite and Miller Creeks that run through downtown Prescott. Comprised of PRESCOTT'S Great Outdoors In Historic Downtown Prescott 928-776-0998 www.marriott.com/prcri At the Prescott Gateway Mall 928-775-2232 www.marriott.com/prcsh Spacious suites at both locations - perfect for longer stays! Residence Inn has a full kitchen and SpringHill Suites features kitchenettes. Complimentary full breakfast and free wireless Internet. Conference Space and Fitness Facility • Seasonal Golf and Vacation Packages Prescott AZ "Your Marriott Awaits"