Flagstaff makes ecotourism easy

DAVIS

Traveling has always had an unexplainable appeal. Whether you’re a really adventurous person, you want to see new places or you want to live life to the fullest, traveling is something millions of people do each year. Flagstaff welcomes nearly 6 million tourists each year, and it’s no surprise due to our convenient location from places like the Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano, Wupatki National Monument and many other sights to see. The outdoors is one of Flagstaff’s central appeals so it should be no surprise that our little mountain town makes traveling in a green way not as much of a challenge as one might think.

Ecotourism may appear daunting at first glance, as are most things when people discuss the negative effects we may have on the environment. In a lot of cities, ecotourism can be a challenge, from trying to find other methods of traveling, to finding eco-friendly hotels or even eco-friendly activities. But in Flagstaff, a majority of business revolves around the outdoors and you can hardly go anywhere in town without seeing, hearing or reading something about Arizona’s most famous wonder, the Grand Canyon. The great thing about Flagstaff is it makes ecotourism a breeze.

Probably one of the most important aspects of traveling somewhere is figuring out how you are going to get there and for many, that means traveling by car. It is the easiest means of travel especially if you’re coming from out of state. While electric cars are hot in the news right now, they are not the only way to travel in an eco-friendly way, especially if you are looking for affordability. If you are traveling in a group, a simple way to reduce your emissions is to carpool. If your group can minimize the number of cars you are taking then your emissions will be minimized, too.

However, this isn’t the only way to travel if you are coming from out of state or cross-country. Flagstaff has the luxury of having its very own Amtrak Station, conveniently located near downtown. Many people seem to forget about Amtrak when discussing green travel, and while many of the routes may take longer than simply driving or flying, you are reducing your carbon footprint the environment. In an annual report, Amtrak reported railways actually use

83% fewer emissions than cars do and roughly 73% less than airplanes. If you do want to travel in a more green or eco-friendly way, there are 500 Amtrak stations across the country that could get you where you need to go.

However, traveling by train might not be appealing as it typically will take more time and can be expensive, depending on the stations. Thankfully, Flagstaff offers more ways to be eco-friendly. Three hotels serving the Flagstaff area — The Drury Inn & Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites and Hampton Inn — are not only eco-friendly, but sustainable too. Depending on the time of year you travel to Flagstaff, the affordability of rooms will vary, but their service and commitment to ecotourism stay the same. The Drury Inn & Suites is the first LEED certified hotel in Arizona and received an award in 2021 for sustainability. Fairfield is another hotel that is making strides to be more sustainable following the establishment of a Sustainability Committee

Hotels and travel certainly aren’t the only ways Flagstaff offers visitors to be ecofriendly. Quite a few businesses in the downtown area adhere to ecotourism and Flagstaff’s central focus is its outdoorsy environment. Being mindful of cleaning up after yourself while visiting parks is an easy way to be eco-friendly. Contrary to popular belief, ecotourism isn’t all that expensive or hard to do. It certainly is easy to do in Flagstaff when we are conveniently located near so many natural wonders.

There are also many shops around town that sell products made from recycled materials. One of my personal favorites is Earthbound Trading Co. From clothes, to journals, mugs or home decor, all of their products are made from reusable materials. Of course, there are other shops that provide a wide range of cute souvenirs and gifts that are eco-friendly and most are locally owned. So, not only are you helping out a little with the Flagstaff is a special place, not just because of all of the natural wonders, or having an array of outdoor activities one can do, but because unlike many other towns or cities, it makes ecotourism easy to do. With just a little adjusting, visitors can travel in an eco-friendly way that preserves the beauty of our little mountain town.

Flagstaff’s charm comes from its unique preservation of that small-town America, Main Street U.S.A. feeling. But another idea of Flagstaff exists: One of a grimy, smoggy city filled with fast food and gas station signs, only frequented by truck drivers carrying large loads through town. To escape that grim fate, Flagstaff needs to lean into its retro charm, and there’s no better way than by refreshing the road that made it famous in the first place.

Route 66 in its current state is a symbol of Flagstaff’s failure to modernize. The city is growing, having nearly tripled in population since 1969. Demoting a long stretch of historic, famous road to a simple tourist trap is an ignorant action, or lack thereof. The opportunity for growth stemming from Route 66 is enormous; though it’s no longer the easiest way to move through the west, it’s still a major road in Flagstaff itself.

Flagstaff locals deserve a city that stands tall next to the growing metropolises of the

U.S. like Los Angeles and New York. Small towns are dying out fast in favor of suburbs and larger cities, but their appeal can save them. Allowing Route 66 to serve that appeal rather than fall into a fruitless, touristy hell with no room for expansion could bring massive prosperity to Flagstaff.

The charm of downtown Flagstaff should be carried through to Route 66. Instead of empty parking lots and warehouses, Route 66 could be lined with bookstores, coffee shops and restaurants. Charging stations could be installed in those old lots, allowing for more electric vehicles in Flagstaff. Yesteryear could be alive and well again on Route 66 instead of overwhelmingly dead.

Route 66 is not just a relic of the past, but it’s not doing anything for the future, either. Revitalizing Route 66 is essential for Flagstaff’s growth. Having such an important road waste away like a sad, old carnival will do nothing for the city but drive newcomers away. Route 66 is a treasure trove of opportunity, and right now, Flagstaff is missing it.