space day A in

Look no further than Flagstaff for your cosmos-themed day trip

Vastanddustylandscapes;deepandintimidating craters; geologic histories that span eons. If you didn’t know any better, it might have seemed like we were describing Mars or the moon, but since you have a copy of “99 Things to do in Northern Arizona” in your hands, you know better. While we agree that a summer vacation on Mars would be thrilling, if not terrifying, northern Arizona has a plethora of cosmic-themed attractions that will satisfy the little space cadet that lives in us all.So,whether you have a passing interest in the historyof space travel orare a full-blown simp for the universe, here is an itinerary for a space day in the world’s first International Dark Sky Place: Flagstaff, AZ

Explorer geophysics test at Cinder Lake Crater Field, Arizona in December 1968; John Hendricks (in suit) along with (L to R), Dick Wiser, Bill Tinnin and Putty Mills standing by Explorer vehicle.

Though the real show begins after the sun goes down, we recommend getting an early start on your day, so if you’re one of our friends in southern Arizona, treat yourself to a sunrise drive. Coming up I-17, you will be able to witness the splendor of the sun on the plains near Arcosanti and the warm glow of the Sedona red rocks. It’s an earthly experience that will ground you before blasting o into the vast reaches of outer space.

Once you’re in Flagsta , fuel up with some delicious co ee at Macy’s European Co ee House . It has a wide variety of co ee options and an ambiance that is hip, cozy and always buzzing with loyal clientele. If you’re hungry, you can order food from its breakfast-to-dinner veggie menu with vegan and gluten-free options; however, if you’re less interested in the co ee and more interested in the food, eat at MartAnne’s Burrito Palace . Its hearty menu o ers guests loads of options, but no matter what you choose, the kitchen will serve up a lot of it. For us, there are few better ways to start a day than with a plateful of Mexican food.

Dab the corners of your mouth and stretch out those legs because our first activity for the day is Meteor Crater. Located just 45 minutes outside of Flagsta , this natural landmark is the best-preserved meteorite impact site in the world and is home to a ton of attractions that tell tales from the history of NASA. Situated on the crater’s rim, the Barringer Space Museum o ers visitors the opportunity to learn more about space exploration and the history of asteroid and meteor impacts on earth. Their hands-on exhibits are fun for the whole family, and the view from the observation deck on

Moon Mountain is stunning. One of our favorite things to do at the museum is visit the COLLISION! 4D Theater and the Meteor Crater impact simulation. Both attractions breathe a lot of life into the already engaging and beautiful landmark and are perfect for kids.

After you’ve been certifiably blown away by the grandeur of Meteor Crater, we recommend that you head back to Flagsta for some lunch before your next activity, but to make sure that you don’t stray too far from your next stop, grab some lunch at Fat Olives . This iconic Flagsta eatery o ers some of the best Italian food in northern Arizona, but if you’re going to get anything, you’ve got to get one of their pizzas. They are a Vera Pizza Napoletana restaurant, so they cook all of their pizzas traditionally, using only the finest imported ingredients, and if you weren’t already interested, this is a frequent stop

ABOVE: A woman sits waiting for her co ee in the reflection of a Macy’s co ee house window. RACHEL GIBBONS, ARIZONA DAILY SUN

LEFT: Fat Olives margherita pizza

JOHN CONLEY