The Verde River passes through the wooded hills and fertile meadows of central Arizona before opening into a wide, green valley between Flagstaff and Phoenix. The heart of Arizona is full of charming towns such as Sedona, hidden away among stunning scenery, and the former mining town of Jerome. Over the hills lies Prescott, once the state capital and now a busy, attractive little town with a center full of dignified Victorian buildings. The area’s ancient history can be seen in its two beautiful pueblo ruins, Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot.