If you find yourself in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area, a highly recommended day trip is up Interstate 17 to the historic town of Cave Creek, Arizona, and its modern sidekick, Carefree. You’ll find Cave Creek about 30 miles north of Scottsdale and Carefree immediately east of that along Arizona Highway 74–locally known as Carefree Highway (made famous in the 1974 Gordon Lightfoot song of the same name.)
To quickly familiar yourself with the highlights, I recommend jumping onboard the Foothills Trolley. We caught it at the Cave Creek Visitors Center, and it stops at 16 different places along its route. You can park your car or bike and use the free service to explore the highlights of this fascinating diversion.
Founded in the 1950’s as a planned community, Carefree is an artistic hub, with many galleries and gardens to enjoy. We happened to be there on a Sunday afternoon, so not much was open in Carefree, but we did enjoy a visit to the Carefree Desert Gardens, home to the one of the world’s largest sundials–spanning 62 feet and pointing to the North Star.
Arriving first in Cave Creek, we stopped at the Visitor Center and spoke to Community Outreach Coordinator, Patty Pollnow, who described Cave Creek as, “An equestrian town where people drive up to the DQ (Dairy Queen) drive thru on horseback.”
Cave Creek was founded in the 1870’s as a (gold) mining town and in the 1880’s grew to include a number of cattle ranches–a town that truly celebrates its western heritage.
Today, Cave Creek has a thriving real estate industry offering vacation rentals with western flair, and an escape from the hustle and bustle of the thriving metropolis of Phoenix.
For the most part, horses have been replaced on the roadways by motorcycles. Lots of them! Bikers will be pleased to learn that Cave Creek is incredibly biker friendly and there are hundreds of custom motorcycles at the various watering holes along Highway 74.
tasty eats in cave creek arizona
We were more into the food and galleries, so we enjoyed a burger at Big Earl’s Greasy Eats followed by a fabulous hot fudge sundae at The City Creamery.
We found some great chocolate at the Cave Creek Olive Oil Company (olive oil infused chocolate) and at It’s a Divine Bakery (where we spoke to owner Susan Fiebig who specializes in European-style brownies.)
Another fabulous diversion in Cave Creek are the rock shops and galleries. My favourite is the Rare Earth Gallery, where you will find petrified wood and stone sculptures large and small, jewellery, and other various forms of art.
If all this makes you want to stay and play in Cave Creek or Carefree, Arizona, you might be interested in a stay at the Boulders Resort & Spa. The resort and golf course are set behind the protection of massive boulders that are estimated to be 1.4 billion years-old!
I found the natural surroundings of the Boulders Resort to be breathtakingly beautiful and surreal and I would love to stay there on a future visit to the area. Did I mention the Taste of Cave Creek foodie fest happening October 16-17, 2019? That would be an amazing time to visit this very special place on earth.
Have you been to Cave Creek and Carefree? Please share your experiences with us here. And join me next week for more Arizona gems.
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the USA. What a wonderful looking place Arizona appears to explore.
Good info, great site. Nice article about Carefree and area. Keep it up! Many thanks for sharing.
nice blog about travels.
i like your blog photo and contents.
What a beautiful place of Cave Creek Arizona. This place is perfect place to having a day trip. Hope to visit it someday to look the breathtakingly natural beauty of the place.
I love Cave Creek! It’s a great excursion from Scottsdale. Thanks for bringing back good memories.
Right on, Irene! Thx for stopping by. š
The Cave Creek looks like a fascinating place for a day trip. The stagecoach and the horses bring alive the romance of the Wild West to which I was addicted through books and Hollywood blockbusters. The desert garden sounds like an intriguing place to explore. The trolley too looks like a great way to explore the area. Finally the Fudge Sundae looks so inviting!
Sandy, Cave Creek is all those things and more! I’d love to go back for a longer visit. š
It must be great fun to travel in search of great chocolate. The chocolate infused olive oil sounds intriguing. What did you think of it?
I really liked it, Jerome. The chocolate was infused with olive oil that has been infused with chipotle! Tons of flavour, and lots of silky texture. Look for the Olive Oil Company if you make it to Cave Creek. Tastings and temptations! Thx for stopping by. š
I haven’t been to that part of Arizona, but Cave Creek looks really fun. I’d love to see the petrified wood and stone sculptures at the Rare Earth Gallery.
The Rare Earth Gallery was one of the highlights of our visit to Cave Creek. It is really amazing!
You certainly have a knack for finding charming spots off the beaten path. how can you not love a place with the name of Care Free? I bet there’s some picturesque hiking in the area as well. Great find.
Thanks, Alison. I’m always on the lookout for places off the beaten path or that offer a quirky flavour. Cave Creek and Carefee, Arizona, certainly met those criteria! Thx for stopping by. š
Boulders Resort sounds like an ideal spot to spend a week soaking up the history of this fascinating region. I love the horse-friendly attractions
Hi Michele. I would truly love to revisit The Boulders and stay there and take advantage of their spa and peaceful environment. The setting and ambiance are breath-taking!
What fun, it looks like an awesome place to visit. You find some amazing spots in your travels.
Thanks, Debra. I do love to find obscure places with personality. So much more in tune with my essence than great big cities. Thx for stopping by. š
Cave Creek really is a great destination for all ages. What a fun outing!
Absolutely, Kristin! I didn’t mention the horse rentals or bull riding. But there really is tons to do for western enthusiasts, and those of us who love the desert.
Wow, I love everything about Cave Creek. The old style dƩcor of the restaurant, the geography nearby. I know right now in March, I would enjoy the temperature too. Thanks for sharing.
Hi William. If you like retro and western adventure, you would love Cave Creek, Arizona. š
$150,000 for a bike? Wow! That’s unbelievable. Anyways, good compilation of your experience and pics.
Hi Umang. Yes, motorcycles become quite a passion for the newly retired with good disposable incomes. “The bigger the better” and then they add all the bells and whistles! Thx for stopping by.
Olive oil infused chocolate sounds yummy!!!
Yes, the olive oil infused chocolate is made by SaddleBack Chocolates and is really quite good. The one I bought was confused with a chipotle oil, so had a nice bite to it!
This sounds like a great place for a vacation. I’ve been to Scottsdale but haven’t ventured too much beyond the area. That ice cream looks really good! Great pics.
Thanks, Judy. Yes, sometimes we get pretty comfy at the resorts we may be staying at, and fail to venture out into the broader community. But I’ve found that Phoenix is quite unique in offering a huge number of great day trips to enjoy. Cheers, and thx for stopping by. š
It’s always fun to leave the big city and explore. Looks like you hit the jackpot in Arizona with Cave Creek and Carefree. I agree with taking the hop-on/hop-off trolley or bus when you arrive in a new location for ease of exploring and to hear the narrative. The natural beauty there is amazing too!!
Right on, Marilyn. I grew up in a city, but have been living the country life for the past 45+ years and LOVE it! So I seem to be attracted to smaller cities and quirky towns. Would’ve to go back and have the time to uncover some of those quirky stories of Cave Creek/Carefree. š
Even the name Carefree would make a good excuse for a road trip. And those custom motorcycles were pretty cool to see, too.
Hi Jane! Yes, I was surprised to learn that Carefree Highway was actually located right in this region. I’ve known it most of my life thru the Gordon Lightfoot song and always wondered …
We were delighted to meet you and your friend Doreen! We thank you so much for your patience as we were pretty busy that day, but so happy you enjoyed our homemade hot fudge sundae as much as we do!
Cheers!
Yes, it was too bad you guys were so busy, Chelsea (although not too bad for business!) It would have been nice to sit down and chat with you and your fiancĆ©. Hope to see you again sometime. š
Thanks for highlighting Cave Creek and surrounding areas. It looks ripe for adventures.
Cave Creek looks like a great place to visit with a bit of history and some wonderful scenery. It would be amazing to be there for the food festival.
I agree, Karen. We should have a meet up! š
Sounds like a lovely place to visit and oh the ice-cream looks good! Thanks for sharing! š
Been there and enjoyed that! My husband’s best friend–from Pittsburgh–has lived in Cave Creek for a long time. Harold’s Bar is a must when we visit because of all things Steeler that exist there. Yes, that black & gold can be found worldwide. I, too, enjoyed the dining options!
So cool, Rose! We didn’t find Harold’s Bar, but we did find a lot of fun at the places we visited. I can see why someone might pull up the stops and relocate to this cute and quirky western town. š
Doreen, It was such a pleasure to meet you while you were in Cave Creek. The article you wrote of our favorite little western Town is fantastic!! We are very proud of our Town and keeping it “western” is very important to us. Please come back to see us again.
Thanks so much for your comment, Patty, and for your great western hospitality. It would be my pleasure to return to Cave Creek and continue the experience. Fingers crossed that will happen soon. Cheers!
I haven’t yet made it to Arizona, other than a brief overnight in Phoenix when my flight was delayed! The more I read about Arizona and places like Cave Creek, the more I want to go! The Boulders Resort and Spa looks amazing! I’d love to stay there.
Wouldn’t it be great to meet up at The Boulders, Debbie! They have a really nice spa as well. š
Cave Creek and Carefree Highway are the stuff of fun, light English novels! How I’d love to visit this place at least once – it sounds so quirky and lovely! Great read! š
Thanks, Priya! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. š
I really enjoyed seeing all the spectacular photographs displayed throughout your article about Cave Creek. The photographs along with your written description really make me want to visit the location.
Thanks so much, Bev! I have then achieved my goal. š Glad you enjoyed the post.
As a non american, I find reading your blog interesting since you bring alive all the smaller places in US, which the rest of the world has probably never heard about. Cave creek sounds like a place best suited for a relaxed holiday. The old style ice cream making looks and sounds really interesting.
Hi Denny. That’s indeed what I love to do. Find interesting places off the beaten path around the world, and share them with my readers. I’m glad you enjoyed the post featuring Cave Creek and Carefree, Arizona. š
I have spent a lot of time in the Great Phoenix area, but have not yet made it to Cave Creek. Maybe I can fix that when I’m there this April.
How lucky you are, Donna, to be heading to AZ next month! I’m glad my recent posts have given you a few new places to check out.
Carefree definitely sounds worth a visit. I love sundials, so Desert Gardens attracts my attention and I’d love to stay at that Boulders Resort. Sounds like it could be a real carefree travel day!
Right on, Carole! The Carefree Desert Garden is much smaller than the Desert Botanucal Garden in Scottsdale, but it is still a pleasant sojourn.
Glorious scenery and amazing food! Thanks for sharing another grand adventure with all your readers!
Thanks so much for your comment, Esther. It’s great to see you back on the blog. I hope to talk to you soon. š
You’ve just got to love our great little Town!
Ernie Bunch
Well, hello Mr. Mayor! So nice to hear from you, Ernie. I loved meeting Patty. She is a terrific ambassador for your community. And you can thank the folks at Experience Scottsdale for recommending the day trip to Cave Creek and Carefree. I’d love to return and spend more time exploring …
I live here in Mesa, Arizona and you have gone to Cave Creek earlier than I have! Too bad I won’t be here October or that would have been the time to go! I will venture out sooner then.
Hi Carol. Let me know when you get to Cave Creek and how you like it. Don’t miss the Rare Earth Gallery. It is incredible!
When we get back in the fall, I’ll have to pry Jim away from ukulele a little more to explore all these new ideas you’ve given me! We did take some friends on a trip to Scottsdale yesterday and really enjoyed it. But we were disappointed to find that Zak’s Chocolate isn’t open on Sundays! š
Hi Judy. You’ve got to give these folks a day off once in a while! they are just a husband and wife team and work very long hours. I was suggesting to Jim that a student could probably help out back and give him more time to be at the front counter. But right now, Jim and maureen are very hands-on at Zak’s. I’ll look forward to how your trip to Cave Creek goes. We really enjoyed it! š
Of course they need the days off. In fact we were surprised at how many places were open on a Sunday. We just had our cravings set on that dark chocolate, but we will try again when we head that way in the fall.
Hi Judy. We had the same experience in Carefee. Not much is open there on a Sunday, so when you plan your trip to Cave Creek, I’d not make it on a Sunday if I were you. Safe travels home …
Cave Creek looks to be filled with tons of things to see and do. I’m really interested in those stagecoach rides, and wonder how much it would jostle my innards. Thanks for sharing.
We didn’t have a chance to ride the stagecoach, but they’re primarily riding on pavement, so it’s pretty much like riding in a horse drawn carriage.
Those boulders look amazing and when you add those food venues, wow what a fun visit this looks like!
Hi Noel. Yes, I was mesmerized by those incredible boulders, and loved the AZ desert as a whole. I’d love to go back! š
Oh my goodness a 62ft sundial, I am trying to imagine how one reads it!
It looks like a great town to visit, I am especially a fan of desert spaces.
Hi Rosalind. Me, too. The desert is so amazing. I hope you find your way to AZ soon. Thx for stopping by.
The Sundae looks so apetising and those boulders are breathtaking!
I love Arizona! We’ve been a few times and have always flown into Phoenix. Sedona is my absolute favorite. Other highlights include the Grand Canyon Railway trip to the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. We haven’t made it to Scottsdale yet. We were headed there and my husband (unfortunately) let me read the map. We ended up horseback riding in the Tonto National Park instead! LOL
Too funny, Sherryl! I’m not a great navigator either. Thank goodness for GPS! You’re right. AZ has so much to offer. I, too, love Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Was there before the days of digital, so all my pics are on slides or film. Some day … maybe I’ll get some fo them converted to digital. Cheers, and thanks for stopping by. š
When ‘in residence’ at our timeshare in Scottsdale we make regular trips to Cave Creek and its quirky shops and eateries. We’ve not completely ruled it out as a possible US base should we get serous about moving our belongings out of the storage unit in Washington State. You brought back some great memories.
Thanks, Jackie. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Cheers, and happy travels. š
OMG, I would love to have a go at that sundae. It looks amazing. Cave Creek sounds like a place l would enjoy very, very much. It looks idyllic.
Thanks for your enthusiastic response, Kemkem. I guarantee you that you would enjoy one of those amazing hot fudge sundaes! Cave Creek is really a great place to explore.
Given the snow we have had in the UK I could do with some time in the sunshine. Your photographs are rather enticing.
I would not mind having a ride on the foothills trolley though I imagine it is slow enough to take in the scenery.
Did the hot fudge sundae taste as nice as it looked? Very well presented too.
Beautiful setting for a retreat – time out from everyday life. No cooking or household chores- bliss!
Hi Phoenicia. Yes, that chocolate hot fudge sundae at the City Creamery shot my taste buds through the roof! You get to pick your ice-cream flavours that it is made with, so it is really customized to your likes. š
Your chocolate trips are really interesting. Arizona looks like a beutiful place to visit with good food.
Hi Catarina. Yes, chocolate travel is my mission. I hope to get to virtually every country in the world to see what they do with chocolate. Arizona was a very pleasant surprise. š
What some wonderful chocolate adventures you’re having in Arizona. I’d love to visit Cave Creek … and more. Ahh, one of these days maybe I hope.
Hi, Jo! Yes, the trip to Arizona was a complete success and utter joy. I never would have thought that we could find so many decadent chocolate diversions in just one short week!
Its worth a day trip to Cave Creek. The burger at Big Earl’s was just what I was looking for in a burger – big and juicy. Lots of eye candy between the horses, shops, bikes, and galleries. It was great to see the massive boulders up close at The Boulders Resort too.
Right on, Laverne! What a great day we had in Cave Creek. How I would love to back and continue exploring! š