Winslow is a small town of less than 10,000 in Navajo County, Arizona, along historic Route 66.
Winslow is an excellent combination of natural beauty and culture.
There are always ways to explore and get outside, such as walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, and even fishing, which are suitable for family adventures.
Meanwhile, St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad president Edward F Winslow presided over the railroad.
The railroad ensured the city’s prominence, which continued until the decline of rail traffic after World War II.
It is located at 4,000 feet above sea level and receives little rainfall.
However, the locals expect snow every winter.
It’s possible to mix history with natural beauty in Winslow due to petroglyphs, outdoor activities, and a well-preserved meteor impact site.
Let’s get to the best things to do in Winslow (AZ) already.
Fun Things to Do in Winslow (AZ)
1. Explore McHood Park’s Outdoor Activities
McHood Park offers lakeside access to Arizona’s beautiful nature.
In McHood Park, where there is a reservoir, you can go boating, kayaking, or canoeing.
On the ship, petroglyphs on the canyon’s walls can be seen. There are also boulders suitable for climbing and exploring.
McHood Park has a wide variety of birds for both serious and casual bird watchers.
After a long day of hiking, set up a tent or RV on the property and spend the night.
It offers free camping for the first 14 nights.
2. Check Out Standin’ on the Corner Park
Once the largest in the northern part of the state, Winslow, Arizona, has fallen into a slump.
Winslow was a popular tourist destination in the middle of the Arizona desert during the height of Route 66 tourism.
The city is so famous that the Eagles, loved by band fathers but despised by everyone else, referenced it in their iconic rock anthem “Take It Easy.”
Due to the completion and opening of I-40, Winslow’s portion of Route 66 was no longer an important corridor.
Many companies went out of business after stopping the route.
People believe it was the Eagles’ song that saved the city.
If you visit Winslow, you can see the place where they sang these lyrics.
Many people stop at Winslow’s Memorial Park to take pictures of the monument and pay tribute to the hit song that helped rejuvenate the city.
3. Don’t Miss a Thing at the Homolovi State Park
The park has many ancient ruins that shaped history.
The ruins of the Homolovi village, which existed before the Anasazi moved north to join the Hopi, can be found about 15 minutes from downtown Winslow, Arizona.
Many Hopi ancestors are descended from the Anasazi who built the pueblo.
That is why the location of Homolovi is important for them today.
You can explore the ruins and the surrounding desert scenery while walking the park’s trails.
The Hopi Public Visitor Center houses historical artifacts and the evolving art of contemporary Hopi members, along with ancient pottery, stone, and bone tools.
Tent camping and RV camping are available, perfect for Arizona nightlife.
Things to Do in Winslow (AZ) at Night
1. Grab a Bottle at Relic Road Brewing Company’s Locally Made Beers
Relic Road Brewing Company is just the perfect place to unwind after a busy day exploring the city.
Local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available at this Arizona pub, so there’s something for everyone.
This pub is a fantastic place to go if you want to experience a real Texas location as it is family-friendly, perfect for large parties, and full of Southern charm.
2. Spend a Night at Best Western Plus Winslow Inn
The Inn is a safe and comfortable place to stay during your visit to Winslow.
The Best Western Plus Winslow Inn is a classic hotel owned by individuals who work hard to please their guests.
The rooms are comfortable and well appointed, equipped with flat-screen TVs, good chairs, nice beds, enough windows for good ventilation, mini-fridges, microwaves and so on.
The Best Western Plus Winslow Inn provides clean bathrooms stocked with toiletries, plenty of water, bathrobes, and more.
The hotel offers delicious food and drinks from a full-service bar and 24-hour laundry and housekeeping services.
The Best Western Plus Winslow Inn is always clean and welcoming, with ample parking and great customer service that makes its guests feel at home.
3. Have Dinner at China Town Restaurant
An amazing restaurant that serves delicious Chinese food in Winslow is China Town Restaurant.
China Town Restaurant is a favorite restaurant of many families, which shows how delicious and tasty their food is.
Their famous dishes are sesame chicken, egg roll, mushroom chicken, egg drop soup, beef with broccoli, and more.
China Town Restaurant also offers delicious dumplings, steaks, fried wontons, lo mein, chicken donair, honey chicken, and more.
The restaurant staff is friendly and offers excellent customer service; they also accept the subscription. The environment is clean and associated with a calm atmosphere.
Things to Do in Winslow (AZ) For Couples
1. Take in the Beauty of Little Painted Desert County Park
Tourists visiting Winslow usually overlook this small park. Well, they sure are missing out on a lot.
The park got its name from the subtle rock hues it exhibits.
Parking and toilet facilities are available to visitors, along with a paved walk.
As the route drops altitude, it eventually enters the desert.
Ensure you have enough water and know the techniques and routes to get down and back, especially if you are traveling alone, as hikers tend to get lost there.
2. Experience Winslow at Arizona 66 Trading Company
Before you leave town, pick up unique gifts at this country store.
This is the place to go if you’re looking for t-shirts, art, local jewelry, or home decor.
The store exudes the atmosphere of the Wild West.
In the heart of town, it’s right on Route 66 and easy to find.
Small souvenirs like Route 66 fridge magnets and interesting postcards can serve as inspiration for your photos in Winslow.
3. Take Photographs With the Giant Rabbit and Signage at Jack Rabbit Trading Post
If you a fan of the Disney Animated Movie Cars, then Route 66 may be a familiar setting, as is Radiator Springs.
One of the signs in this fictional town refers to the one at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post.
However, the “HERE IS:” sign features a Ford Model T instead of the rabbit logo.
In real life, the Jack Rabbit Trading Post is a gift shop where you can buy rabbit-themed items.
It is the first of five surviving attractions along Route 66.
The Jack Rabbit Trading Post, which first opened in the 1940s, has seen the rise and fall of Route 66 and changes in ownership.
Its success can be traced largely to the savvy marketing of original owner James Taylor, who placed billboards along the Mother Road from Arizona to Missouri, a strategy subsequently imitated by numerous tourist attractions across the United States.
Finally, a “HERE IS” billboard stood near the trading station, displaying the store’s signature jackrabbit logo.
Only the famous sign remained on the billboards, repainted every few years.
Things to Do in Winslow (AZ) For Kids
1. Teach Them Local History at Old Trails Museum
This has been a cultural crossroads since the westward expansion of Native American tribes began here.
The local history is on display at the Museum of Old Trails.
The museum features a diverse collection of historical artifacts, including prehistoric meteor craters and ancient Columbian mammoths.
There are exhibits on the Laguna, Navajo, and Hopi people and information on the trails of early settlers and the various railroads that shaped Winslow’s history.
Several exhibits explore Winslow and its past.
Winslow people volunteered their oral histories, which are now part of the collections.
Collections include artifacts, papers, paintings, and textiles.
2. Take Them to Captain Tony’s Pizza & Pasta Emporium
Dining at Captain Tony’s Pizza & Pasta Emporium is one of the best things to do in Winslow (AZ).
Captain Tony’s Pizza & Pasta Emporium is one of the best restaurants in town; it was built in 1972 by Antonio Martella.
They serve delicious pizzas with various toppings and preparation styles, pasta, subs, and wings.
Captain Tony’s Pizza & Pasta Emporium also offers fresh salads, Jumbo Chicken Wings or New Boneless Wings, tacos, sandwiches, and more.
3. Let Them Play at Winslow City Parks & Recreation
Winslow City Parks-Recreation offers several recreational facilities open for everyone to explore and enjoy great fun.
The park features baseball fields, basketball courts, racquetball courts, little league fields, softball fields, scout houses, volleyball courts, and tennis courts.
Winslow City Parks-Recreation also includes two beautiful and equipped playgrounds for the little ones to have a great time.
Winslow City Parks has nice picnic spots where you can grab lunch with your travel companion. You can also relax in the pool; there are indoor and outdoor pools.
Indoor Activities to Do in Winslow (AZ) For Adults
1. Explore the Apache Death Cave
In 1878, Apache raiders murdered all but three individuals in a Navajo camp and took three young girls hostage.
This cave takes its name from the incident.
The Navajo sent revenge-seeking men to avenge their people but could not find them.
On the other hand, the Apaches had just completed a new attack and were still present.
Scouts discovered them in an underground cave thanks to the smoke their fires produced.
Once the guards were killed, the Navajo set fire to the cave entrance and filled it with smoke.
Despite the negotiations, when the Navajo learned of the death of the three girls, they abandoned the 42 Apaches in a cave where they died of inhalation of the smoky air.
Some people still believe that the region is cursed even now.
This Route 66 cave is now open for exploration, but watch out for the ghosts!
2. Grab a Bite at Bojo’s Grill & Sports Club
If you’re craving delicious Mexican food in Winslow, Bojo’s Grill & Sports Club is your restaurant.
Bojo’s Grill & Sports Club offers the best Mexican cuisine in Winslow; you can never go wrong at this restaurant.
They serve amazing dishes like Chimichanga, Stuffed Sopapilla, Nachos, Picaros, Steak Picado, Quesadilla, and more.
Bojo’s Grill & Sports Club offers the best Mexican-style pizza, burgers, salads, soups, sandwiches, steaks, enchiladas, fries, and more.
In addition to food, they serve wonderful drinks such as Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Pink Lemonade, Hot Coffee, Raspberry Tea, Rootbeer, Cherry Limeade, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew, Hot Tea, Iced Tea, and Milk.
Bojo’s Grill & Sports Club creates a cozy atmosphere for guests to relax and enjoy a meal. The staff offers excellent customer service.
3. Visit Brown Mug Cafe
Brown Mug Cafe is a highly recommended coffee shop in Winslow and a pleasant place to enjoy a meal with your loved ones.
The cafe offers a wide selection of delicious traditional Mexican dishes and an extensive menu of American cuisine.
Their signature dishes are Navajo Taco, Huevos Rancheros, Chili Cheese, Chilaquiles, Mexican Steak, Navajo Taco with Green Chili Sauce, One Taco Side of Rice, and many more.
Brown Mug Cafe also offers hamburger steak, cheeseburger, hot sauce, specialty green burrito, taco salad, refried beans, chips and salsa, fish tacos, Sopapillas, and several others.
They serve meals perfect for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner; they also offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options; in other words, there is something for everyone.
Brown Mug Cafe accepts takeout and offers great service and amazing food at a reasonable price.
Romantic Things to Do in Winslow (AZ)
1. Go Shopping at La Posada Hotel’s Unique Gift Shops
La Posada Hotel & Gardens was built by the Santa Fe Railroad in 1929 and is now a historic landmark.
Perhaps the last grand train hotel was renovated in 1997 and reopened to the public.
Visitors to La Posada can purchase unique products and items made mostly for the region in the town’s gift shops.
Handpicked original items are available here, regardless of your interests or age.
Its Zapotec Pottery section features collectibles from Mexico and the Four Corners.
Also available are vintage Route 66 memorabilia, handwoven Navajo rugs, and jewelry renowned local Native American artists designed.
Native American tribes in the Southwest produce various crafts, including hand-carved Kachina dolls.
2. Visit Clear Creek Rentals
Clear Creek Rentals is a gem in Winslow that is overlooked and not talked about as much as it should be.
They offer canoes, kayaks, vultures, tubes, and more.
Clear Creek is excellent for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and boating. Whichever you choose, the rental equipment comes with paddles and a life jacket.
The clear water in the creek is beautiful, and you can enjoy its breathtaking view when you go boating, kayaking, or doing other water activities.
Just book an appointment, and Clear Creek Rentals will drop off the equipment you need, and they’ll come to pick it up when you’re done.
Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture incredible photos of the moment.
3. Check Out the Tiny Church of the Mother Road
For Christian brothers and sisters, Tiny Church of the Mother Road in Winslow is a place you will love to visit.
It is popularly described as the smallest church on Route 66 and was built in 2012.
The church is open to everyone, including tourists; it’s another exciting free place to visit in Winslow. Stop by for a picture to serve as a form of remembrance.
The Tiny Church of the Mother Road is big enough to accommodate only two people; it’s a covered bench with a small aisle, which makes it unique.
The church walls carry a lot of Winslow information and history, and the church is usually quiet; you can just stop for a picture and relax for a while.
Free Things to Do in Winslow (AZ)
1. Visit the Meteor Crater
The Meteor Crater at Arizona has the best-preserved meteorite impact site in the world and is located in Winslow.
Located in northern Arizona, minutes from Route 66 and Interstate 40, this site is a remarkable remnant of a fifty-thousand-year-old collision between Earth and an asteroid traveling at about 26,000 miles per hour.
The Meteor crater is about a mile in circumference and more than 550 feet deep.
You can find the Visitor Center and the Interactive Discovery Center on the crater’s edge.
Here you can go on an excursion, watch a movie or watch it from the observation deck.
2. See the Petroglyphs at Rock Art Ranch
The ancient petroglyphs of Rock Art Ranch attract tens of thousands of tourists each year, many of them archaeologists.
Very few places worldwide have a collection of this ancient art form.
While walking through the canyon to visit what was once the home of Arizona’s indigenous people, you can see the artwork.
The stream seems out of place in the otherwise barren landscape.
Spend some time at the ranch museum, where you’ll see exhibits dating back thousands of years.
3. Honour Fallen Heroes at 9/11 Remembrance Garden
The 9/11 Memorial Garden stands on the border of Winslow, Arizona, near the eastern part of town.
It is one of many memorials erected in tribute to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in places far removed from the destruction.
You can’t tell by looking at it, but the Twin Towers replica is made up of actual rubble from the World Trade Center.
Two corroded metal beams cover the concrete foundation of the towers, one 15 feet tall and the other 14 feet tall.
Accompanying the two steel towers of the 9/11 Remembrance Garden is a plaque that shows how united the country is in its response to the tragedy.
Cheap Things to Do in Winslow (AZ)
1. Check Out the Old and Abandoned Two Guns
Formerly known as Canyon Lodge, Two Guns began as a small trading post run by two locals, Daniel B. Oldfield and his wife, in the early 1800s.
After several other western pioneers claimed the region, the National Trail Highway through town became a popular route through Diablo Canyon.
Earle Cundiff and his wife brought 320 acres of land, making Canyon Lodge a popular tourist stop.
While things prospered for a while, a series of misfortunes befell Miller. Even after Miller left the area, Two Guns and its residents continued to suffer.
Two Guns is currently a ghost town.
Remains of a zoo and gas station remain, as well as a cave.
Actor Russell Crowe bought Two Guns in 2011 to film an adaptation of Westworld, but only time will tell if Hollywood is immune to the curse.
2. Take a Walk Along First Street Pathway Park
Even if you’re not into trains or railroads, you should visit the nearby First Street, Pathway Park.
As you approach the totem pole, you will come face to face with a railroad. In addition to the station clock, there is plenty of signage along this route.
The track itself tells a lot about the history of the train.
Take your time and walk through the park; it’s peaceful and at the same time teaches you a lot about the city and the railway.
3. Visit Triangle Park
For fun and an unforgettable experience, visit Triangle Park with your family and friends; there are many entertainment facilities to explore.
Triangle Park features a gigantic playground, a popular spot for young children, and a basketball court.
There is a designated picnic area with several picnic tables connected to a grill. You can also check out the sand volleyball court.
Triangle Park is elegant and well-kept, with convenient restrooms for your convenience.
Cool Places to Visit in Winslow (AZ)
1. Winslow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center
A visit to the Winslow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is one of the best things to do in Winslow (AZ).
It is a historic site in Winslow that also helps promote the history of Winslow.
There are tour staff available to educate visitors more about the history of the city, and you will be given brochures about the region.
The Winslow Business and Visitor Center offers large halls or rooms to rent for any type of event, such as baby showers, birthday parties, wedding receptions, and much more.
The restrooms are pretty clean and well maintained, including the entire facility.
Outside the center are great trails for long walks.
The center has a wealth of information and the history of the town. Parking is also available on the property.
2. Turquoise Room Restaurant
The Turquoise Room restaurant is located in the La Posada Hotel; it was originally owned and designed by Mary Jane Colter in 1935.
The restaurant was later closed for about forty years. Allan Affeldt and Tina Mion bought the place in 1997. The owners put so much effort into renovating the restaurant that everything was in complete disarray.
The Turquoise Room Restaurant is known for serving delicious food prepared by one of the best chefs in the state.
Some of their famous dishes are New York Cheesecake, Crispy Fried Calamari, Smoked Salmon Carpaccio, Grilled Salmon Papoose, Shrimp with Pappardelle Pasta; Grilled Bacon Wrapped Filet, and many more.
The Turquoise Room restaurant has a nice atmosphere and great staff that make everyone comfortable.
3. E & O Kitchen
It’s no wonder Mexican cuisine. It is popular in a region that was once part of Mexico. This restaurant is definitely a place to enjoy it in all its glory.
You can choose beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, fish dishes, tacos, rice, and beans.
Whether you prefer tamales, burritos or enchiladas, all the favorites are on the menu for a great lunch or dinner.
Conclusion
You’ll never be bored on your Winslow adventure if you’re looking for various recreational activities, entertainment, and historical things to do in the area.
Winslow always has something for everyone: entertainment, educational museums, restaurants, recreation centers, hotels, breweries, and more.
Start planning your vacation already with our checklist of things to do in Winslow (AZ).
