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Flagstaf Is So Easy to Love

Flagstaff

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Is So Easy to Love

By Heather Raulerson

Hiking through the evergreen and pine trees with the mist rising and morning dew on the plants reminds me of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s my first time visiting Flagstaff, and I fell in love in less than a week. So much so that I would consider moving here. The dichotomy of a bustling college town surrounded by no less than seven natural wonders makes this an unbelievable town to explore and one of my new favorite places in the U.S.

Visit National Monuments

Being only an hour and a half away from the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff makes the ideal jumping-off point to travel to the majestic National Park. However, there are several other natural wonders less than 80 miles from Flagstaff that you can’t miss. Check out the diverse landscape of Arizona by visiting three National Monuments in one day. First up is Walnut Creek National Monument, where you can meander down 240 steps to see how the Native Americans lived in cliff dwellings next to stunning canyons. The staircases are steep, but the views are impressively worth the shortness of breath to get to the dwellings. Next, head over to Sunset Crater National Monument to experience what it is like to walk on the moon and among lava rocks like the Apollo Mission astronauts did when they trained here. I couldn’t stop the smile and my giddiness pretending I was an astronaut while pretending to make one giant leap for mankind. The last National Monument to visit this day is practically right next door, and the landscape changes almost immediately from volcano to desert. The Wupatki National Monument houses what remains of the dwellings of families that farmed here in the hot, dry, windy climate. But that isn’t all. Make sure to take a Gondola ride up the Arizona Snowbowl for

spectacular views of Arizona high above the golden Aspens and wildlife living on the mountain. Flagstaff is a spectacular city to see at every height!

View the Dark Sky

In 1958, Flagstaff enacted a light pollution control ordinance that allows you pristine views of the stars overhead, helping Flagstaff become the first official dark sky city in the world. If you love star gazing as much as I do, you will love this town at night. And if you decide you want a closer look at the stars, head up to the Lowell Observatory and see the telescope that discovered Pluto. Is it a Planet or not? That is still a topic of debate, but I’ll always believe it to be one.

Enjoy Tastes Around the World

Flagstaff is becoming a travel destination for food alone. There are over 200 superb eateries for you to choose the culinary journey that will take you around the world. With local ingredients and international flavors, you will never go hungry while visiting any fine establishments around town. My favorites are Tinderbox Kitchen, Josephine’s, Pato Thai Cuisine, and Pizzicletta. However, you can’t go wrong eating anywhere in Flagstaff. And don’t forget the drinks. Flagstaff is Arizona’s leading craft beer city, with eight local craft breweries and more to come in the next year.

Explore Downtown Flagstaff

There are so many things to do in Flagstaff that you can easily spend a week in this fabulous town and still not see everything! There are exhilarating Segway tours where you can ride through downtown and the Northern Arizona University campus, go on a self-guided history tour, hunt for street murals, or just walk around the town browsing through the unique boutiques and art galleries. I even spent a little time having my Tarot cards read. Very enlightening! And while you are exploring, don’t forget to keep your ears open to hear about the multiple ghost encounters in several downtown historical buildings. With all of these activities, it is no wonder that Flagstaff is so easy to fall in love with!

Photos: Opposite page: Morning Hike through Forest ©Heather Raulerson; This page, clockwise from top left: The Gondola at the Arizona Snowbowl ©Heather Raulerson; Wupatki National Monument ©Heather Raulerson; Hotel Monte Vista ©Heather Raulerson; Lowell Observatory ©Heather Raulerson; Walnut Creek National Monument ©Heather Raulerson; Piano Room Mural ©Heather Raulerson

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