Cave Creek, Arizona is a seriously underrated hometown

If you live in Cave Creek, Arizona like me, you may have the interesting experience of going to high school with a gang of cowboys. Even though my former high school sits in a Scottsdale zip code, crossing the street takes you into Cave Creek territory – a mix of horse ranches and million-dollar homes. Quirky is undoubtedly the best word to describe this small town.

A sunset this beautiful is common in Cave Creek.

Sure, one time our high school went into lockdown because a kid accidentally left their hunting rifles in the trunk of their car, but not every student is a wannabe cowboy. Because Cave Creek sits so close to Scottsdale, the city hosts many aspiring actresses, singers and salon-frequenters as well. Giant mud-covered trucks and BMWs sit right next to each other in the high school parking lot, and the dirt roads mixed with chic boutiques contribute to the diverse southwest-meets-Scottsdale character.

If you drive down Cave Creek road, you’ll start feeling the town’s vibes right after you pass an enormous bronze horse statue and cross Carefree Highway. The roadsides are filled with well-manicured dirt and cacti, and if you continue down the road, you’ll notice Big Earl’s Greasy Eats neon signs drawing attention to the out-of-place diner-style stop. If you’re looking for a milkshake, Big Earl’s is a fun place for locals to feel like they’re trying something new and for tourists to get some good pictures.

Big Earls’ big sign makes it hard to miss the stop on your drive in

However, if you want to see the heart of Cave Creek, you’ll have to follow the motorcyclists. The sound of their engines will take you to a swarm of hundreds more bikes parked around places like The Horny Toad or Hideaway Grill. If you’re looking for a little more upscale environment, you can wander into Le Sans Souci (our local French restaurant) or Binkley’s Cafe, where you won’t necessarily feel like you’re eating in Cave Creek, but you will feel fancy.

Besides the food, you’ll see Indian-inspired turquoise jewelry and feel a hint of Sedona when you wander through the art studios which feature every style of art you could imagine. When you wander into Frontier Town (yes, that’s a real place) you’ll spot a store that specializes in goat milk soaps and lotions and another store run out of a teepee tent. If you’re still not convinced of Cave Creek’s quirkiness, our giant sundial at the center of the downtown shopping center may change your mind. This isn’t just a “big” sundial – it’s like two stories tall.

The sundial – just in case your watch isn’t handy

This sundial shopping and eating area features our local courthouse in addition to one of my favorite places, The English Rose Tea Room. This gorgeous little restaurant is decked out in British everything – pictures, kettles and trinkets galore. In the corner there is even a chest full of big floppy, flower-adorned hats just in case you forgot to dress for the occasion. Stopping for tea and crumpets here is probably the cutest thing you’ll ever do.

If you aren’t a foodie or the artsy type but are more of an outdoorsy and athletic person, you can climb Black Mountain or hike Spur Cross. Although Black Mountain is only a two-mile round trip, the elevation gain is about 1,100 feet so you’ll want to remember to bring water and go when the weather is nice. For a tamer hike, Spur Cross takes you across mostly flat ground and if you’re lucky, recent rains may fill up the creek and give you a place to cool off.

The hike up is pretty rough, but the way down makes up for it

Even though it may sound like I know the highlights of Cave Creek, I must admit that I’m not a native. My family moved many times, and I ended up in Cave Creek just in time to start high school. In just the few years before I left for college, the diverse environment and people allowed me to make some of the best friends I’ve ever made. Although I’m a fan of traveling, Cave Creek is a great place to go home to. If you’re ever in the area, grab a burger or a crepe, hike a mountain or take home some new turquoise earrings – whatever your hobby or interest is, we have it.

Cave Creek offers beautiful sunsets