Downtown Flag
Located in the heart of Flagstaff, downtown Flag’ showcases a number of historical architectural buildings, shopping boutiques, tour companies, restaurants, breweries, and nightlife venues. Whether you’re looking to grab a bite to eat at one of Arizona’s top rated restaurants like Pizzicletta Wood Fired Pizza, you want to catch a live performance at the Orpheum Theater, you want to snuggle up in Heritage Square for Movies on the Square, grab some gear for the next big adventure at Aspen Sports, grab a delicious IPA from the long standing Flagstaff Brewing Company (who also has the largest whisky and scotch collection in AZ), or take the family on a tour with Arizona Segway and Pedal Tours, downtown Flag’s the spot to be! And don’t forget about all of downtown Flagstaff’s city parks, which are the perfect places to picnic with your family!
Northern Arizona
Things To Do
Flagstaff is a beautiful mix of pristine meadows and Ponderosa pine forests. According to the famous hiking app AllTrails, we have 82 trails to discover that are on the beaten path, and thousands more to discover that are a hop, skip, and a jump away from our front doors. Located in the heart of Flagstaff, Buffalo Park is a favorite of both daily hikers and photographers. Although Flagstaff is only 66 square miles in size, it boasts breathtaking views and endless outdoor activities. But Flagstaff isn’t just the perfect place to play in nature, we are also home to some of the southwest’s finest restaurants, breweries, galleries, and boutiques. Whether you’re wondering through the Flagstaff observatory that discovered Pluto (Lowell Observatory), climbing Mt Humphreys (the highest peak in Arizona), taking the stand up paddle board out to Lake Mary, or sledding in Flagstaff out at Fort Tuthill, every friend, child, and crazy uncle will find the fun in Flagstaff. Using our community as the jumping off point, we’ve listed some of our favorite spots to visit here for you to explore, hike, climb, ski, ride, run, zip, eat, drink, gaze, and experience, from one local to another.
Sedona
One of the most visited places, not just in Arizona, but in the United States, is the beloved red rock lined town of Sedona. Just under 20 miles from our front gates to Oak Creek Canyon and another scenic creekside 4 miles to downtown, Sedona offers unmatched landscapes and picturesque bluffs and buttes. The drive through Oak Creek Canyon has quaint little restaurants like Indian Gardens and camping available if you’d like to spend the night next to the creek and day use areas perfect for a quick swim or nature walk with the pups. Downtown Sedona or ‘Uptown’ as the locals call it, has a variety of shopping options ranging from crystal and rocks stores, to various tour offerings, to ice cream shops and pizza parlors. It is a great place to park and meander, learning about the geological formations through streetside info stations while checking out new mountain bikes and red rock t-shirts (made with real red rock). If you are slightly more adventurous, you can stop by the tour booths and sign up for a jeep tour, rent some mountain bikes, or accompany a guide that will take you to one of the many vortexes for a spiritual experience. Whether you’re a retiree looking for a quiet day by the creek, a visitor who loves shopping, or an adrenaline junky looking for a day out in nature, Sedona is a real treat to have right around the corner.
Grand Canyon
What you might hear some of our members refer to as the world’s largest water hazard, oh AND also one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is literally right here in our own backyard. A little more than 80 miles from Flagstaff to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, you can zip up to one of the most beautiful places in the world for a stroll along the rim, amazing photo ops, take a helicopter tour, have lunch at the El Tovar, or a hike down to the river that, although strenuous, puts you inside the wonder itself. Remember that the canyon is not the only thing that will take your breath away! The park is located at a 7000’ elevation, so walk slowly and enjoy!
Antelope Canyon
Ok, although the name of this particular Arizona gem is not as widely known, it’s pictures have been seen (Instagrammed) all over the world. Located approximately 140 miles north of us, just outside the City of Page, hiking the Antelope Canyon slot canyons are a once in a lifetime, spiritual experience that you will not soon forget. The 2 ½ hour drive goes through the scenic cliff faces of the Navajo reservation, alongside the favorite overlook of Horseshoe Bend, and right next door to Lake Powell (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area). Most of the tours into Antelope Canyon need to be booked months in advance, but every once in a while there are same day tours that pop up if you call the offices directly. All of the tour companies are locally owned and each of the tours is led by local Navajo tour guides who share with you the history, the geology, the culture, and the many images that can be seen along the tour. While you and your family are up in Page, be sure to stop by the Glen Canyon Dam to grab some pics of the dam which separates Lake Powell from the Colorado river. And if you want to make it into a longer trip, Lake Powell resorts and tour guides offer rentals on houseboats, stand up paddle boards, kayaks, and other fun water toys.
Snowbowl
If you ask random people around the country what they think of when someone mentions Arizona, most would respond with cactus and dry heat. Very few would even believe you if you told them that there was snow, let alone skiing in the desert. Well, Flagstaff is home to the San Francisco Peaks topping out at over 12,000 ft in height and delivering some of the southwest’s premier skiing and snowboarding at the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort. As one of two Arizona full service ski resorts, Snowbowl offers 77 skiable acres, 55 runs, and 8 lifts. Located approximately 21 miles from our front gates, it typically takes around 45 minutes to get to the slopes, but be prepared for it to take a bit longer on fresh powder days, weekends, and around the holidays. The resort typically opens around Thanksgiving, and depending on the Spring snow, can stay open as late as mid April. If snowshoeing and cross country skiing (skate ski or classic) are more your pace, Arizona Nordic Village offers lessons for a family of novices or hundreds of acres of groomed trails for the seasoned expert. And a little secret about ANV, they are open in the summer with yurt and cabin rentals that are perfect for a quiet and secluded couple getaway or a family getaway.
