DiscoverDiscover Flagstaff,AZFlagstaff,AZ Spring Travel Guide Explore. stay. shop. Dine. Play. learn. COUNTRY HOST RESTAURANT t! Where the locals hang ou BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER COME SEE WHY WE’VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1979! 2285 E. BUTLER AVE. 928-774-1000 WWW.COUNTRYHOSTRESTAURANT.COM A SPORTS BAR LIKE US ON FOR ALL SEASONS 28 ICE COLD TAPS TO CHOOSE FROM ALL BOXING AND UFC EVENTS SHOWN HERE! HAPPY HOUR DAILY 3PM-7PM Historic Downtown E. Buttler Ave. S. Milton Rd. 2285 E.Butler Ave. Flagstaff, AZ Mon-Thurs:11am-12am Fri-Sun: 6am-2am 928-774-1011 www.Porkys-Pub.com contents. 5 Play. 8 Dine. Flagstaff has all kinds of great ways Few towns its size can boast the to get out and enjoy live music, wide array of great haute cuisine and events and a little adventure. So plot down-home-but-gourmet food. We a course north for one of the great even have some of the best pizza, small cities in the Southwest. burgers and fries out there. 6 Stay. 9 Explore. With accommodations for every Flagstaff is an adventure lovers’ paradise. taste and style, Flagstaff is And, in the spring, we have great hikes, brimming with unique and mountain bike trails and—with a short wonderful lodging that’s sure jaunt and change in altitude, skiing, make any visit extra special. snowboarding and snowshoeing can be added into the mix. 7 Shop. Visitors who take the time to 10 Learn. visit local boutiques and art galleries As the town where Pluto was discovered, will find rare gifts and much in Flagstaff is a place eager to teach people the way of the unexpected— about science and discovery. And a visit including Native American and to such places as Lowell Observatory can contemporary art. enrich the experience. Discover. AN AMAZING, DIFFERENT KIND OF PLACE JUST TWO HOURS FROM PHOENIX a celebrated natural wonder that has year-round hiking and Arizona is not the state exploring. Oh, and did we mention that Flagstaff is a gateway community to the Grand Canyon? That natural wonder is only 81 most people think it is. miles to the north. FLAGSTAFF SPRING TRAVEL GUIDE A two-hour drive can deliver people from the lowland deserts of Arizona’s ultimate mountain town once remained a well-kept the greater Phoenix metro area into a high-plateau wonderland secret. But that secret is starting to get out. It has made several of 12,000-foot snow-capped mountains, lush, verdant red-rock “best small town” lists and “best college town” lists, as it is home to canyons, expansive landscapes, the venerated Navajo and Hopi Northern Arizona University. For a small city, it’s culturally rich, cultures, pioneer history, Route 66 and more. with live music every week, a celebrated symphony orchestra, a In the spring, visitors to the Flagstaff area enjoy some of beloved community theater and some of the best places you’ll ever the best skiing in the lower Southwest—whether by alpine skis, eat or shop. snowboard, cross-country skis, snowshoes or even a rented snow So, consider a trip to Flagstaff. The adventure and the wonder bike. A short jaunt south brings visitors to Oak Creek Canyon, are waiting … For travel and publication information contact The Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau at 928.213.2951 or visit flagstaffarizona.org Content and editing provided by the staff at Northern Arizona's Mountain LIving Magazine 3 4 FLAGSTAFF SPRING TRAVEL GUIDE 888.788.3524 |928.213.2951 play. BOTH DAYTIME & NIGHTTIME FUN IN THIS MOUNTAIN TOWN FLAGSTAFF EXTREME Other venues such as The Green Room, Mia’s Lounge, Firecreek Coffee Company, Charly’s at Hotel Weatherford, Monte Vista Lounge and more offer a long list of other listening and dancing opportunities. During the day, Flagstaff features all kinds of fun places to explore and play. Most notably is Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course, a treetop obstacle course complete with cargo nets, challenging obstacles and ziplines for a day of fun for all ages. Flagstaff also boasts three indoor climbing gyms, Flagstaff Climbing Center, Main Street MICHAEL FRANTI AT THE ORPHEUM THEATER Boulders and Beta Bouldering Gym, as great places to learn climbing skills before taking FLAGSTAFF SPRING TRAVEL GUIDE that skill set outdoors. Looking for something music keep a steady stream of great acts coming completely different? Head a thousand feet up in Willie Nelson. to our mountain community. So, it becomes a elevation to the Flagstaff Nordic Center. great way to have fun. One of the cornerstones The Nordic Center features snow mountain of the downtown music scene is the Orpheum bikes for rent. Hearty types can take a ride on Arlo Guthrie. Theater. It has packed the house with shows by the designated trails. Or, as mentioned in our such celebrated artists as Ani DiFranco, Gillian Explore section, strap on a pair of snowshoes and Sheryl Crow. Welch, Wilco, Lucinda Williams and Son Volt. have some fun in the forest. Yet another way to Melissa Etheridge. The Beach Boys. Jerry ThePepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill explore. And the list goes on. Seinfeld. Any names ring a bell? These are just a County Park brings major shows and festivals For some different kinds of adventure play, few of the acts that have performed in Flagstaff to its pavilion. Also, Northern Arizona consider the Flagstaff Ale Trail, a mapped out through the years. And some of them have even University’s Ardrey Auditorium is a recently trek to participating taverns with craft beers. come back for return engagements. renovated, state-of-the-art theater that brings Or ride to the bars on Alpine Pedaler, a multi- Although only a small city, the beauty of in nationally renowned acts and is home to the person party bike that brings its own kind of pub the town and the passion the locals have for live Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. crawl experience. 5 BREAKFAST SERVED INstay. THE HEART OF NORTHERN AZ, SPECIALTY INNS AND LODGES ARE ALWAYS INVITING. While Flagstaff has more than five dozen hotels and lodges to choose from, it’s important to note that, among them, are some wondrous gems that offer one-of-a-kind overnight experiences for anyone who wants to stay an extra day, few days or a week. Notably, the greater Flagstaff area boasts more than a dozen bed and breakfast inns. Each one is as unique and fun as the owners who run them. Among the ones in historic downtown are the England House and The Inn at 410. These places not far from the vibrant town center offer a great chance for a quick trip out for a dinner and a live show or stroll downtown. Farther out from the city center are places such as Starlight Pines, THE ENGLAND HOUSE Fall Inn to Nature and Abineau Lodge. With only a short jaunt out of town, these establishments offer both serenity and a chance to still be fairly close to convenience. Some of the bed and breakfasts carry a special kind of theme, such as A Shooting Star Inn. Located 20 miles north of Flagstaff, this B&B is known for having A SHOOTING STAR INN high-end telescopes for night viewing. The classic bed-and- with a View.” These historic residences in the Zane Grey. The Monte Vista was built in the breakfast setups are joined by other homey forest are available for rent. Some of them are late 1920s and was built by fundraising in the options. Comfi Cottages features historic located within a short distance of Flagstaff or Flagstaff community. Today, the hotel has been homes and bungalows that are set up with all of even the Grand Canyon. For reasonable rates, lovingly restored and includes two great bars: the conveniences of home. Arizona Mountain visitors can rent them for fun retreats or family the upscale Rendezvous Martini Bar and the Inn is also famous for its cabins. Another getaways. hip, fun Monte Vista Lounge. interesting option is the Motel DuBeau, a Along with these, Flagstaff has two historic Also in town is a newly established Route 66 original landmark lovingly restored downtown hotels—the Hotel Weatherford and DoubleTree Hotel and the expanding Little with bohemian village ambience. the Hotel Monte Vista. The former was built America Hotel. With these options and more, FLAGSTAFF SPRING TRAVEL GUIDE The Coconino and Kaibab national in the early 1900s and includes a restaurant Flagstaff invites visitors to stay and spend some 6 forests are also well-known for their “Cabins and two favorite local taverns—Charly’s and time—with a getaway to fit any taste or style. BREAKFAST SERVED As the center of commerce shop. FLAGSTAFF IS A PLACE WHERE THE BOUTIQUES ARE UNIQUE for northern Arizona, Flagstaff’s historic downtown and varied commercial areas are a bustle of activity. We share in this guide the great restaurants, cultural and scientific Gardner, who has made a name for herself institutions and more. But we cannot forget with her creative take on Mexican folk about the amazing shopping. art traditions. For starters, Flagstaff’s downtown and The galleries also mingle with a number nearby Southside boast a number of great art of places known to carry Native American galleries. Along San Francisco Street shoppers jewelry, art and craftwork. Flagstaff’s will find Arizona Handmade, The Artists’ downtown has a handful of shops that carry Gallery and West of the Moon. On Aspen Hopi and Navajo works. The Museum of Avenue, don’t miss Gallery 113, Vhay Gallery Northern Arizona also boasts a dazzling gift and the Shane Knight Gallery.