Hike Humphreys

5. Sample Local Breweries & Cuisine.

For a small city, Flagstaff boasts a huge variety on the food and beer scene. From Southwest fusion to innovative sushi, Middle Eastern fare to homegrown hamburgers, Flagstaff’s local restaurants have it all. And the beer scene has only grown by leaps and bounds during recent years. Included in the downtown core are Beaver Street Brewery, Flagstaff Brewing Co., Lumberyard Brewing Co., Historic Brewing, Mother Road Brewery and Dark Sky Brewing Company.

6. Lowell Observatory.

Currently in a phased reopening, Lowell Observatory remains an ever-popular place for tourists and locals alike to visit and learn more about the universe. Visitors can gaze through telescopes and get an up-close view of notable celestial bodies in the same place Pluto was first discovered. Guided tours must be reserved in advance and masks are required at all times. Visit www.lowell.edu.

7. Route 66.

Flagstaff’s designated Route 66 segment is one of the largest municipal stretches of the remains of the highway. It ribbons east-west through the town. Hop in the car and cruise to see some of the historic stops in Flagstaff such as The Museum Club, Grand Canyon Café (now the home of Proper Meats + Provisions, although the historic sign remains for posterity) and straight into the heart of downtown. Galaxy Diner on West Route 66 also keeps the spirit alive.

8. Buffalo Park.

For anyone visiting for a night or a few days in Flagstaff, take time to visit Flagstaff’s most beloved green space. Buffalo Park is an open meadow on the top of McMillan Mesa, the rise in the center of town. It features a two-mile loop trail, the bisecting Arizona Trail and up-close views of Mount Elden and the nearby Dry Lake Hills. Take San Francisco Street north and make a right on Forest Avenue. Head up the hill and make a left on Gemini Road.

Take a trip back in time by exploring Flagstaff’s historically preserved hotels, the Hotel Weatherford and the Hotel Monte Vista. Quaint, European-style rooms are available for overnight guests, or just stop by either hotel to enjoy their restaurants and bars. You don’t have to stay the night to stop on by for a drink or meal. www.weatherfordhotel.com or www. hotelmontevista.com.

10. Museum of Northern Arizona.

The Museum of Northern Arizona boasts an amazing collection of the artifacts and artwork that shaped the land and culture of the Colorado Plateau. Admission is currently by reservation to keep capacity low for socially distancing, and the surrounding grounds also offer a number of educational opportunities. July will also offer four weekends of Indigenous heritage festivals. To learn more, visit www. musnaz.org.

11. Coconino Center for the Arts.

Located off of Fort Valley Road behind the Pioneer Museum, the Coconino Center for the Arts is a beautiful, spacious gallery serving as a hub for the arts in Flagstaff. After a year of largely being closed to the public, CCA will again welcome art enthusiasts in with its 10x10 Exhibition & Art Sale from June 5-July 10. To learn more, visit www.ccaflagstaff.org.

12. Arizona Snowbowl.

During the summer, Arizona Snowbowl opens its ski lift for sky rides to the top of Humphreys Peak. The 15- to 20-minute ride is followed by breathtaking views that extend to the north and the edges of the Grand Canyon on a clear day. Contact Arizona Snowbowl for more info at (928) 779-1951 or www.snowbowl.ski.

13. Hike Humphreys.

If a challenging adventure is more the name of the game when visiting the San Francisco Peaks, explore Humphreys Peak by foot. The highest point in Arizona at 12,663 feet, any avid hiker will find the hike a fun and refreshing alpine climb at nine miles round trip. Please note that the nearly 10 miles of alpine hiking at elevation make it a challenge for people of many skill levels. Learn more at www. fs.fed.us/r3/coconino or by calling (928) 526-0866. The trailhead is located at the top of Snowbowl Road.

14. The Arizona Trail.

Perfect for either a short jaunt or an expansive adventure, the Arizona Trail has been many years in the making and stretches 817 miles from Utah to Mexico, with several miles of trail bisecting northern Arizona. A great section of it lies just to the east of Flagstaff and drops into a side drainage of Walnut Canyon. Visit www.aztrail.org to learn more.

15. The Inner Basin.

Surrounded by aspen and fir trees, tall grasses and wildflowers, Lockett Meadow may very well be one of the most beautiful campsites in the state, but it is also the starting point for the popular Inner Basin Trail, which leads up to the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks mountain range. Note that the three-mile unpaved road can be rough on lower-clearance vehicles and visitors may be turned away during peak times in the fall. Call the Flagstaff Ranger Station to learn more at (928) 526-0866.

16. Kendrick Watchable Wildlife Trail.

The loop at Kendrick Watchable Wildlife Park is a family-friendly feature for its ease of access and use. With views of Kendrick Peak, this scenic area’s paved quarter-mile trail is great for strollers and wheelchairs. Another, more rustic, trail triples the length of the walk.

17. Chapel of the Holy Dove.

A unique landmark along North Highway 180 just past Kendrick Watchable Wildlife Trail, the Chapel of the Holy Dove was built in 1962 by physician Watson M. Lacy, MD, with help from his sons and hired hands. Ponderosa pine logs, local volcanic rock and petrified wood form the A-shaped structure. All are welcome to enter for a brief respite, and the chapel can be reserved for wedding ceremonies. A large window behind the pulpit opens out to majestic forest views.