Let's call it a scenic ride. A group from Phoenix was doing this and I decided to join them. We then hiked the West Fork of Oak Creek the following day. I stayed at a motel in Cottonwood Saturday and Sunday nights, then headed back to Tucson by way of Jerome and Prescott Valley Monday. Great weekend, even with tons of people everywhere. However, it was nice to go to Jerome on a weekday and avoid the crowds.

This is a fine train ride from Clarkdale over to Perkinsville and back. The rails follow the Verde River through a very scenic section. I rode this train way back in the early 1990s with my Mom and it was fun to do it again. Very good narration is provided along the way, covering history and nature. I liked that many of the cars had full bars (at least first class). Nice touch.