Suggestions for Flagstaff, Arizona?

[catbyte]

Hi guys,

I'm going to Flagstaff on December 1 and flying back on the 6th. We're going mainly for some sort of Star Wars art show that my friend is dying to see. This will take up one day, but neither one of us has been there before so I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions about what to do while we're there. We're flying into Phoenix on Sunday, 12/1 and staying there overnight then driving to Flagstaff on Monday. We're staying in Flagstaff until Thursday, then driving back to Phoenix for our return flight on Friday the 6th.

If any of you have any "must-see" suggestions for either Phoenix or Flagstaff, please let me know. Thanks so much!

[Major Nikon]

1. There's numerous cinder cone volcanoes around Flagstaff

They are well preserved thanks to the dry climate. Meteor Crater is also near there.

I’ve been to Flagstaff many times, but haven’t spent much time in Flagstaff. I have my own plane and I like to fly around that area as there’s lots of things to see from the air. I’ve never seen those things from the ground, so I couldn’t say how they look from that perspective.

[Kali]

6. oh yeah, Sunset Crater and Wupatki drive is a nice day trip too.

the Lava trails around Sunset Crater are nice. we may be having our first winter storm this weekend but should be ok by the first unless another one rolls in.

[Major Nikon]

10. This is my pictures of Meteor Crater and Sunset Crater

The lava flows are interesting from the air, although not nearly as much as the ones around Kīlauea which are far more recent.

[Kali]

11. nice!

way to burn the jerks at Meteor Crater, surprised they don't claim airspace and block access. LOL

[Major Nikon]

12. If they can put a ticket booth up there, have at it

Somewhere I've got a picture I took of it at 7000' above the ground.

There's only a few landmarks that have restricted airspace at low level. The Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore come to mind. In the case of the Grand Canyon, commercial operators are granted special access which kinda pisses me off. The whole reason for restricting access is because the commercial operators were running into each other. It doesn't really matter because the actual canyon spans more than 200 miles and only a small area is restricted. Lake Powell is actually better to fly over.

[Polly Hennessey]

2. You are eighty miles from the Grand Canyon.

Several national parks and monuments are in the area. Don’t know how far Sedona is. I think it is on historic Route 66. Might be some museums regarding the route. Last time I was there, we ate at a great Indian restaurant. Can’t remember the name. I think Whole Foods Market got its start there. It is a beautiful place.

[Kali]

7. Sedona is on the way up to Flag from Phx (if you take the detour) - also Jerome

and Flag is the city on Rt 66 (highest elevation of the route)

[ChazInAz]

9. See those

I was just there last week, and made a point of visiting Jerome, Sedona, Red Rocks State Park and Montezuma's Castle National Park. That last is closer to Phoenix, so you might want to visit on your way to or from Flagstaff.

[Stuart G]

13. If neither has seen the Grand Canyon, it is worth the 80 miles there and back.

[Polly Hennessey]

3. Oops, I was wrong. Whole Foods started

in Austin, Texas. 🙁

[snort]

4. Go to Lees Ferry.

You'll be glad you did.

[Kali]

8. Good scenery going up there too.

[Kali]

5. Museum of Northern Arizona, Lowell Observatory,

day trips to Hopi, Homolovi, Winslow (if you are a Rt 66 or Jackson Brown fan, but also Petrified Forest), of course the Grand Canyon

If you have a lot of spare money you can go see the rip-off that is Meteor Crater.

[dawg day]

15. In Winslow, there is a PARK for the Eagles song--

"Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see."

[Kali]

16. ...

(that is my Kia in the background )

[dawg day]

14. On the way from Phoenix, stop at Sedona for a hike by Bell Rock (easy hike)

There's a parking lot right there, but it fills up quick, so aim for 9 am or so.
I drive through this area every couple years, and I've stayed at the Holiday Inn Express right across the road the night before, and they let us park there the next morning while we hiked. These "rocks" are like nothing you've ever seen.

To get there, you'll be driving up I-17 from Phoenix. Halfway there, take the Hwy 179 exit north, and drive about 15 miles towards Sedona. Oak Creek Village is the town with the Bell Rock Park.
Then Sedona's just north of there, and is a great place for lunch. It's a very scenic town, surrounded by the huge red rock mountains - Hippie/visionary town, lots of crafts and restaurants.
Sedona is actually worth a day or two stop. Lovely town, surrounded by hiking trails into these crazy red rock mountains. And there are dozens of restaurants. It's about 4K feet, and usually not too cold and snowy. (Flagstaff is over 7K feet, so dress accordingly.)

From Sedona, if you don't mind mountain driving, and there's not much snow, keep going north on SR 89 to Flagstaff. (It is not an easy road-- several sets of switchbacks-- and the snow can come early and hard, so you might prefer to go back to the Interstate from Sedona to get back on the road to Flagstaff.)
The Oak Creek Vista on 89A is spectacular. (Again, this is not easy driving without an SUV and experienced driver.) It's about 20 miles south of Flagstaff. IT's a really spectacular (but difficult in winter) drive.

Watch for winter weather. Phoenix will be nice and warm and sunny, but Flagstaff has super-winter weather. Snow is normal all winter long, and blizzards aren't unusual. They'll come up suddenly too, especially high in the mountains.

Prescott's another neat town-- has a beautiful town square with Wild=West=era buildings. Again, though, in the winter, this might be more hazardous driving than you want.
(Interstate 17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff is usually fine in my experience.)

Have fun! Do think about stopping in Sedona if there isn't a weather issue. That Bell Rock hike is great if you're into easy hikes (as I am .


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[EX500rider]

17. Snow skiing at the Snowbowl in Flagstaff. Used to drive there from Phoenix for that. nt