After hitting up Sedona, the first stop on my solo Northern Arizona road trip, I drove the winding 28 miles to the tippy top of Cleopatra Hill to the quaint town of Jerome, Arizona. Truth be told, even though its charm attracts thousands of tourists, I was there for only one reason, to see where rock star Maynard James Keenan lived.
Jerome may be the Cutest Town in Arizona (& where rockstar Maynard James Keenan lives)
The streets of Jerome, Arizona are narrow and lined with unique shops worthy of more than just a peek. I easily found parking, with a view, and started peeking.
Many stores were housed in these buildings reminiscent of an old Bordello. I was charmed by the clothes hanging on the porch.
I had to refrain from purchasing this ceramic pig made by a local Jerome, Arizona street artist. Though tempting, I was on a mission that didn’t involve a swine. Besides, I couldn’t imagine it fitting in the planes overhead bin.
I passed the House of Joy and backtracked because I wanted some. The store is housed in a building that once did business as a brothel. Was this pig a representation of this? Hmmm. And the inside of the shop was loaded with whimsical knick knacks; capes, vintage jazz posters, World War artifacts, burlesque-style attire, etc.
Even the exterior of The House of Joy was decked out. Its “No Trespassing” yard was decorated in a hodge podge of…stuff. Fire hydrants, stoplights, antique glassware, pottery, etc.
Finally, I ended up at Caduceus Cellars/Merkin Vinyards tasting roomin the downtown of Jerome, Arizona, where I hoped to stalk Maynard James Keenan from the band Tool. Not only is he a rock star, he makes wine too.
I had visions of him working the tasting counter, pouring me a little sip of red and explaining the importance of wine breathing. Heck, maybe he would even be belting out a song from the Lateralus CD.
Turns out, the closest I got to Maynard was this very cool poster.
At least there was wine.
After a fruitless rock star hunt, it was time to leave the cute town of Jerome, Arizona. Even though my search came up empty, spending a few hours here was worth the trek.
Have you ever tried to hunt down someone famous? Have you been to Jerome, Arizona?
Traveling Soon? Use my Favorite Resources for Booking Your Trip!
Book Your Flight
Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine, because it checks dozens of airlines so you can easily find the best fare deals. You can also select ‘cheapest month’ to find the lowest fares for your destination (I use this all the time!).
Book Your Accommodations
I use both Booking.com and Expedia for hotels, because each offers a couple different hotel choices and I like to compare the reviews on each one. If you have a group or are looking for more of a home atmosphere, head over to VRBO or AirBNB that has houses, apartments and even just a room for rent in every price range.
Book Your Rental Car
If love the freedom to explore like I do, driving from place to place is the best option! I always book with Discover Cars for the best prices and top brand options.
Book Some Fun Tours!
Viator and Get Your Guide are my go-to search engines for cool bucket list experiences! Each one can have different tours, so check both—why limit yourself, right?
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel can be unpredictable. Whether it’s a last-minute cancellation, an injury, or (ugh) theft, things happen. That’s why I recommend never leaving the country without travel insurance. Here are my faves: Safety Wing and World Nomads.
Get Packing & Travel Essentials Ready
Check out the Bucket List Journey Amazon Store to find all my favorite travel essentials. Everything from Packing cubes, to travel adapters and toiletry containers to walking shoes.
*Lastly, check travel.state.gov for visa requirements and safety information.
More About Arizona
A Guide to Visiting Goldfield Ghost Town in Arizona
Take a Helicopter Ride Into the Grand Canyon
Getting Bit By An Ostrich Bird. Not on the Bucket List.
Sedona Chapel of the Holy Cross: Church in the Rock
What to do in Scottsdale, Arizona in 12 Hours
A Unique Arizona Attraction: Mystery Castle in Phoenix
Visit Louis Lee’s Oriental Rock Garden in Phoenix
Hey..so that very cool poster…I was an assistant editor for that documentary..my name is in the credits!