Arizona
Trip Ideas|Small Towns

You’ll Never Guess This Tiny Town In Arizona Has The Most Incredible Shakes

Dateland, Arizona, is famous for its delicious date shakes served at a roadside market.

Updated Mar 21, 2023

Written by 

Monica Spencer

Do you consider yourself a connoisseur of delicious desserts? What if we told you that one of Arizona's most famous treats just happens to be served in a roadside market in what feels like the middle of nowhere? In fact, we’re pretty confident this is one rest stop you won’t soon forget. Looking for delicious desserts in Arizona? Look no further than this tiny little town:

Located just off Interstate 8 and about halfway between Yuma and Gila Bend, Dateland is the little place we're going to visit today.

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Jenn/Flickr

This is the spot where all the magic happens! Dateland was first established in the 1920s as a watering stop. Since then, it has flourished into a full-fledged rest stop serving thousands of visitors each year.

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Joseph Y./Yelp

Located off to the side of the store is the date farm, where eight varieties of the fruit are hand picked straight from the palm trees.

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Dateland Date Gardens/Facebook

Inside, you will find a nice air-conditioned marketplace with a couple of eateries, including a spot to get the famed date shakes.

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Robert Z./Yelp

This is the perfect treat after a long journey through the desert. The shake is decadent, a rich blend of dates and vanilla ice cream that creates a flavor reminiscent of butter pecan ice cream.

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Dateland Date Gardens/Facebook

You can also find other desserts filled with dates: ice cream, pie, muffins, and cookies. In the shopping area, you'll even find a mix of the date shake to take home so you can enjoy one at your convenience.

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Mark A./Yelp

And, if delicious dates are all you want to take home, they have plenty of those as well!

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Lisa P./Yelp

Have you visited Dateland before? Be sure to let us know what you thought of its shakes!

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Del R./Yelp

Curious and craving more? You can find details about hours of operation, merchandise, and more by visiting the official town of Dateland website or its official Facebook page.

Want to check out more great places to dine in small-town Arizona? Read some of our favorite suggestions in an article filled with our favorite small towns in Arizona home to top-rated restaurants and places to dine in. You just might be surprised!

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

This Blink-And-You’ll-Miss-It Town In Arizona Is So Worth Exploring

For outdoor explorers and history lovers, Tuba City is a tiny town in Arizona worthy of a day trip.

Published Aug 28, 2024

Written by 

Melissa Mahoney

Arizona is a huge state so, needless to say, there are so many small towns and communities we may miss while traveling around. But some of these towns should not be missed as they offer hidden gems just waiting for you to discover. One such place is Tuba City, a tiny town in Arizona that's worth a day trip, especially if you love history and exploring the great outdoors.

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Tuba City is an unincorporated town within the Painted Desert and badlands found in the Navajo Nation. It's remote, to say the least. However, it's absolutely worth a stop.

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Google Maps

One place you must stop at is the Tuba City Trading Post which was established in 1906 and is a working trading post to this day.

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Remco Neerhof/Google Reviews
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Harold Carey Jr/Google Reviews

Here you will find a large selection of Native American art, pottery, Kachina dolls, silver jewelry, clothing, rugs, and more.

Exploring the Navajo Interactive Museum is another must when in the tiny town of Tuba City. Located on the same property as the trading post, it is super easy to visit.

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Marion Montgomery/Google Reviews
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Marilyn Chilese Hatch/Google Reviews

Exhibits and artifacts fill the 7,000-square-foot museum. You'll see a traditional Navajo hogan, art, pottery, and cultural information throughout.

Another incredible place to visit in Tuba City is the Navajo Moenave Dinosaur Tracks considered the best-preserved dinosaur tracks in North America.

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The tracks were left behind by dinosaurs from the Jurassic period. However, it is unclear what species of dinosaur made them. Regardless, this is a great spot for kids and adults may feel like kids when they visit!

Have you been to this tiny town in Arizona yet? If you have, let us know about your experience in the comments. To learn more, head to the Visit Arizona website.

If you plan on taking a road trip to Tuba City, make sure you take a look at our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for everything you need before you go.

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The One Arizona Town That’s So Perfectly Western

Wickenburg, Arizona, offers a rich Western experience with historic sites, themed shops, and annual events like Gold Rush Days.

Updated Aug 7, 2024

Written by 

Monica Spencer

Scottsdale may have the official motto but if there’s any town that deserves the designation as the most Western town, then Wickenburg may be just the candidate to get it. Here are just a few reasons why Wickenburg, Arizona is one of our favorite places.

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Welcome to Wickenburg! This little town sits about 65 miles northwest of Phoenix and has a population of about 7,900.

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Town of Wickenburg, AZ/Facebook

One of your first stops should be the Wickenburg visitor center, which sits in an old train depot and has all the information you need about upcoming events and suggestions for where to go in town.

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TJfrom AZ/Flickr

While walking through downtown, you’ll find an array of Western-themed shops and restaurants.

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Diann Bayes / Flickr

Stop by a saloon or two!

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Jimmy Smith / Flickr

In the downtown area, you can get a brief history of the town by checking out the train depot and the old jail tree.

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Ken Lund / Flickr

You can also book a guided historic tour for more in-depth knowledge about the town!

There are also plenty of events that go on around here, such as rodeos...

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Dagny Gromer/Flickr

...and the annual Gold Rush Days that happen in early February! They welcome the three-day celebration with a parade, rodeo, car show, art show, and more.

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marksontok/Flickr

Don't forget to visit the Desert Caballeros Western Museum! You'll get a chance to learn more about the town's western heritage.

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Diann Bayes/Flickr

Exhibits include Western art, quilts, artifacts, and some very cool replicas of Western settings, like the general store depicted below.

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TJfrom AZ/Flickr

Vulture City and its gold mine are just a short drive away. A quick stop here on Saturdays will give you more insight into the area's mining origins.

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Wickenburg is known as the "Dude Ranch Capital of the World," so make sure you book an overnight stay at one to complete your visit to the town.

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Dagny Gromer / Flickr

This is truly a spectacular town!

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Gabriel Radley/Flickr

Wickenburg, Arizona is a delightful town that lets us catch a glimpse of the 1800s. What are some of your favorite things to do in Wickenburg, AZ? If you are looking for a beautiful romantic getaway in Wickenburg, check out the Casa Agave. It will sweep you off your feet.

Want to experience more of the Old West? You can get some incredible ideas for places to visit after you read about these cool Old West towns in Arizona.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arizona/az-old-west-experiences/

Another of our favorite small towns in Arizona is Sedona. Check it out in this quick video:

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