Arizona’s High Desert Oasis
Flagstaff, AZ, known “Flag” by the locals, is an alluring city in the northern portion of Arizona near the San Francisco Peaks mountains. Its close proximity to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and Grand Canyon Village make it a perfect starting point to visit Arizona’s biggest attraction. While Arizona is known for its hot summer weather, Flagstaff is at almost 7,000 feet, so the temperatures are far cooler throughout the year. Flagstaff is a relaxed and friendly city with a historic and charming downtown is, with a style that is uniquely Southwestern. While Flagstaff is often a stop along Route 66 and for those visiting the Grand Canyon, it has grown into a destination worthy of a lot more than simply stopping through. With so much in the way of shopping, nightlife, sights and the arts, visitors will find a delightfully surprising destination. And it’s not all in downtown Flagstaff where all the action is. With world-class mountain biking, hiking and one of Arizona’s three ski resorts, outdoor enthusiasts will also find endless action in Flagstaff.
In town, there are wonderful museums such as Museum of Northern Arizona and The Arboretum of Flagstaff. At the Lowell Observatory, guests can take daytime or nighttime tours where they can view the sky through small and large telescopes, including the same telescope that discovered Pluto. Those seeking out winter fun will love Arizona Snowbowl, which is, in fact, one of the very first ski areas in the U.S. During the warmer months, Mount Elden offers rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking. Being only about an hour away, the Grand Canyon is also an obvious choice for some top day trips. Just about 30 miles to the south is the artists enclave of Sedona. With its unique shops, galleries and restaurants, Sedona a perfect place to explore for a day. And with so much activity, visitors will definitely appreciate the wide variety of B&B’s, inns and cabin rentals for a much-needed rest. Flagstaff, with its unique style, friendly populace and stunning landscape will have you both satisfied and wanting more at the same time.
Flagstaff is served by two great airports, one being in town and one in to the south in Sedona. Closest to town is Flagstaff Pulliam Airport – FLG - which is set just about 15 miles from town and with a 20-minute drive. FLG serves airlines so it can also comfortably accommodate business jets of every class and size. It is right next to Interstates 40 and 17, which gives guests easy access to all of the national parks and outdoor adventures in central Arizona. Guests also visiting Sedona and points to the south of Flagstaff including Phoenix will find Sedona Airport – SEZ – perfectly serves their needs. It’s about 30 miles south of Flagstaff, though the drive can take about an hour due to the mountainous terrain on the way there. While SEZ airport can handle most aircraft year-round, during the summer those visiting in heavy jets should use Flagstaff Pulliman Airport, due to its longer runways.