Sydney Hay for Congress

The Best of CD 1

Congressional District One of Arizona is an amazing place. It is the size of the state of Pennsylvania and stunningly beautiful. After the 2002 race, there were those who thought that I would be “burned out” after having put a couple hundred thousand miles on our Dodge pick-up (we retired it after the campaign was over), having had our “Hay Wagon" in 42 parades and having campaigned from morning ‘til night for nearly a year. But, far from it. Running for Congress in the District where you can “get your kicks on Route 66”, “stand on a corner in Winslow Arizona”, build a snowman in Munds Park and then drive 2 and a half hours south the same day and lay out by a pool in Casa Grande, well, it is a great honor and privilege, and more fun that most people can imagine.

So, after having worked in this District for nearly 15 years and having traversed it many many times, my family and I have compiled this list of our favorites. You will see that many of these places are small businesses. That is one of my hot buttons. As a small business owner myself, and as someone who sits on the Boards of Directors of small business groups and advocates for small business at the legislature, I try to patronize local small businesses whenever possible.

This list is by no means complete, so, we welcome your additions (or corrections.) Email us at sydney@sydneyhayforcongress.com and we will add your favorites. Let’s have some fun while we celebrate this place we love – the most amazing Congressional District in America – CD One of Arizona.

Our Favorite Things:

Best Breakfast Spot:
Charley’s@ the Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff -- complimentary peaches and cream for everyone.

Best (and biggest) Chicken Fried Steak:
Mary’s Café, East of Flagstaff on Hwy 89.

Best Irish Stew:
Collins in Flagstaff -- they have great onion rings and chips, too.

Best place to see Elk:
Munds Park – across the highway from our place.

Most Unique B&B:
Noftsger Hill Inn in Globe – former school where, in our favorite room, guests write their impressions on the old blackboards. And the breakfast that proprietor, Rosalie, makes is wonderful!

Favorite Hotel:
Hotel Vendome in Prescott – see the photo of my friend John Ratzenberger (Cliff on Cheers) who stayed there when he came to Arizona to campaign for me.

Best Mystery Walk:
Sharlott Hall Museum in Prescott during October – history comes to life in the historic buildings.

Best Prime Rib:
Horseman’s Lodge in Flagstaff – great salad bar, too, and you can wander the premises and see the brands (and chaps and ropes) from all around the area.

Best Place to Eat Lunch above 9,000ft:
Snowbowl in Flagstaff -- (Take the ski lift during the summer months to marvel at the beauty looking down from above.)

Best Place to Stand on a Corner:
Winslow (of course.)

Best Place to Get Your Kicks:
Seligman, Williams, Flagstaff or Winslow (it’s a tie!)

Best Mexican Food:
(This is a tough one!) Any restaurant in Globe/Miami or Casa Manana in Safford.

Best Enchilada with Egg (my favorite Mexican meal):
Guayo's El Rey in Miami

Best Historic Hotel Lobby:
Hassayampa Inn in Prescott – sit by the fire during the Christmas season and see the trees decorated by local children!

Best Homemade Bread:
Murphy’s in Prescott

Best (and oldest) Rodeo:
It’s a tie! (OK, I am sounding like a politician here, but, who am I to decide the rivalry between Prescott and Payson!)

Best Place to Buy a Cowboy Hat:
Gene’s in Flagstaff – (and we have bought boots, jeans, kids' clothes, home décor, belts, jackets, etc. there – we practically have our own reserved parking place!)

Best Indoor Shooting Range:
High Noon in Prescott Valley

Best Outdoor Shooting Range:
Prescott Sportsman’s Gun Club – but soon Munds Park may have one in the running!

Best Place to Watch it Snow:
A window table at Pasto’s in Flagstaff

Best Porterhouse Steak:
Crestline Restaurant in Globe

Best Scenic Overlook:
The Morenci Copper Mine

Best Place to Board a Horse:
Northern Arizona Riding Stables in Mountainaire. (Earl is staying there during this campaign – last campaign he stayed at Whistlestop Ranch in Dewey – they are great, too!)

Most Verdant Glenn:
Peeple’s Valley

Most Hidden Secret Beauty:
Aravaipa Canyon in Graham County

Best Hotel Room:
Majestic Mountain Inn in Payson – a stone fireplace in the room!

Most Interesting Swimming Pool:
Francisco Grande Hotel in Casa Grande (where the Giants used to train) – shaped like a baseball bat and the spa is the baseball!

Place You REALLY have to WANT to get to:
Crown King – but it is well worth the effort!

Best Pies:
It's a tie!  Rock Springs Café in Rock Springs or Strawberry Lodge in Strawberry

Most Christmas-y Place:
Prescott’s Courthouse Plaza

Best Place to Star Gaze:
Mount Graham

Best Place to Discover a Planet or Learn about One:
Ft. Lowell Observatory

Best Place to Rent a Houseboat:
Page

Best Fourth of July Celebration:
Everywhere!

Prettiest Main Street:
Snowflake, with the beautiful hanging flower baskets!

Best Place to Pet a Deer:
Grand Canyon Deer Farm on I-40 West of Flagstaff. You have to do this with your kids or grandkids!

Best Train Ride:
Verde Canyon Railway – last time I rode the train (On my birthday in 2006) I saw the Bald Eagle that lives there.

Best Place to Smell the Pines:
Alpine

Best Skiing:
Sunrise

Best Place for a John Wayne Fan:
Springerville, or the Copper Hills Hotel in Globe (once it is fully rebuilt after the fire) or the Francisco Grande in Casa Grande

Best Place for the Western Movie Fan:
Monument Valley

Best Place for a James Garner Fan:
Florence

Best Corn Festival:
Cornville, of course!

Best City for a Dog Lover:
Flagstaff

Best Ghost Town:
Klondyke

Best Ghostly Town:
Jerome

Spookiest Hotel:
Jerome Grande

Best “Castle”:
Montezuma’s

Best Restaurant Name:
Road Kill Café in Seligman

Best Train Depot:
Williams – Take the train to the Grand Canyon!

Best Place for a Henry Fonda Fan:
Sedona

Best Place for a Clint Eastwood Fan:
Superior

Best Place for a Steve McQueen Fan:
Prescott

Best Place for a Charlton Heston Fan:
Page

Best Place to Team Rope:
Mormon Lake

Best Place to Take a Hike:
On the Arizona Trail

Best Fluffy Pancakes:
The Place Restaurant in Flagstaff

Best Skinny Pancakes:
Cuppers Coffee House in Prescott

Best Place to Train an Astronaut:
Meteor Crater

Best Place for a Wile E. Coyote Fan:
Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

Best Place for an Anthony Hopkins Fan:
Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff

Best “Hundred Dollar Hamburger”:
Payson Airport

Best Fly-in for Breakfast:
Sedona

Best St. Patrick’s Day Parade:
Sedona

Best Trout Fishing:
Show Low

Most Romantic Hotel:
El Tovar at the Grande Canyon

Most Romantic Restaurant:
The Rose in Prescott

Most Amazing Scenic Drive:
Schnebley Hill Road off I-17 south of Munds Park

Best Place to Watch Birds:
All Over Graham County

Best Place for a World War II Buff:
Florence

Best Antique Auction:
Riatta Pass Gallery in Dewey-Humboldt.  We have bought some great bargains there, including some beautiful candlesticks and a McClellan Cavalry saddle in great condition!

Best Old House Museum:
Riordon (pronounced Reardon) Mansion in Flagstaff

Best Antique Stores:
Everywhere!

Best Fall Festival:
Pinetop

Best Place to Enjoy Oak Creek:
While having lunch at Page Springs Restaurant

Best Place to Buy Cowboy Odds and Ends:
Pollock’s in Safford – We have framed some postcards we bought there and made them into a great display!

Best Place to Buy Candles:
Armadilla Wax Works, Flagstaff and Prescott – Our grandchildren love to take a plain white candle shaped like a cat or a pine tree or one of a dozen shapes and dip them into the colored wax to make a work of art.

Best Place for a Cavalry Buff:
Fort Verde

Best Art Museum:
Phippin Gallery, Prescott

Best Free Museum:
Zane Grey Museum in Mormon Lake Lodge, Mormon Lake

Best Pit Barbecue:
Yavapai Cattle Growers event at the Yavapai Rodeo Grounds

Best Country Quilt Making:
40 years and counting by the Yavapai Cowbelles

Best Place to Teach Kids About Firearms:
The Bob Frushon Firearms Training Center in Prescott

Best Coffee House:
Cuppers in Prescott (Try any one of the quiches – real candidates DO eat quiche. Also, the ultra-thin pancakes are amazing!)

Best Chicken Wings:
Kelly's in Globe

Best Friday Night Fish Fry:
The Lone Pine in Munds Park

Best Cheese Crisp:
Casa Bonita, Flagstaff

Best Place to View the Lights of the City:
At the Branding Iron Steak House on the hill above Safford

Best Comfort Food:
Bylers Amish Cafe in Black Canyon City  (Try the open-faced turkey sandwich and real mashed potatoes!  Homemade pies, too!)
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Sydney Hay to Congress