I did that one a few years ago. Very lonely up that way. My wife asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday and I said lets take a drive. We started at Chino Valley and then drove the grade to Jerome. I posted a few shots here a while back. In Jerome we stopped to eat at the Haunted Hamburger and then checked out the shops. Not too bad for a family trip. I got to do a little NG exploring and the rest of the family got a meal and some shopping.
Have you ever checked out any of the old route of the ATSF down to Prescott? I have been mapping that but have never been up there.
Another interesting place is Swansea over by Bouse. You have the rail that ran from Bouse to Swansea and then a cool ghost town. I need to get back out there it has been a number of years. I still remember the huge brick structure that was part of the smelter. I posted an aerial map for that line on my site.