Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
Flagstaff Attractions
Heading into Flagstaff from the south, I-17 becomes Milton Rd., which leads past Northern Arizona University. Eventually it merges with Historic Route 66, hangs a right, and then runs parallel to the railroad tracks through downtown, where it intersects with San Francisco St., downtown’s main street. Humphreys St. leads north out of town toward the San Francisco Peaks and the Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
Downtown Flag, as the residents abbreviate the town’s name, is the city’s historic district, an eclectic mix of bistros, breweries, bookstores, bars, and boutiques, to say nothing of outdoor sports shops and New Age stores, all speaking to the various constituencies that make the town their home. Its old brick buildings now hold shops selling Native American crafts, works by local artists, Route 66 souvenirs, and various other Arizona mementos such as rocks, minerals, and crystals. Puchteca Indian Goods, 20 N. San Francisco St. (tel. 928/774-2414) has some really interesting Native American jewelry and pottery; across the street, the Artists Gallery, 17 N. San Francisco St. (www.flagstaffartistsgallery.com; tel. 928/773-0958) is full of art by local artists. Bibliophiles should check out Starrlight Books, 15 N. Leroux St. (tel. 928/774-6813), which sells first editions and other hard-bound books as well as contemporary work, including plenty of books about the region. If you need any outdoor gear, Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfitters, 12 E. Aspen Ave. (www.babbittsbackcountry.com; tel. 928/774-4775) has an extensive inventory of equipment for just about any outdoor pursuit.
Desert Sunset Panorama
For an unforgettable sunset view, head south of town to what people hereabouts call the Edge of the World: an overlook at the head of Ariz. 89A as it climbs out of the Verde Valley over the towering Mogollon Rim. There you’ll see the red rocks of Sedona spread out far below, colored even more vividly by the setting sun.
8 Results
- Museum
Arizona Historical Society Pioneer Museum
Housed in a stone building constructed in 1908 as a hospital for the indigent (in other words, a poor farm), this small historical museum contains a historical collection from northern Arizona’s pioneer days. Barbed wire, livestock brands, saddles, and trapping and timber displays…Around Town
- Observatory
Lowell Observatory
Located atop aptly named Mars Hill, this is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the Southwest, founded in 1894 by Percival Lowell. Over the years the observatory has played important roles in contemporary astronomy—among the work carried out here were Lowell’s study of…Around Town - Museum
Museum of Northern Arizona
Small but surprisingly thorough, this museum is an ideal first stop on an exploration of northern Arizona. The recently renovated ethnography exhibit is a model of interpretation, with tribal stories told in the voices of the people themselves. You’ll learn, through state-of-the-art…Around Town - Historic Site
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Built in 1904 for local timber barons Michael and Timothy Riordan, this 13,000-square-foot, 40-room mansion—Arizona’s finest example of an Arts and Crafts–era building—is actually two houses connected by a large central hall. Each brother and his family occupied half of the house…Around Town - Natural Attraction
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Dotting the landscape northeast of Flagstaff are more than 400 volcanic craters, of which Sunset Crater Volcano is the youngest. Taking its name from the colors of the cinders near its summit, Sunset Crater Volcano stands 1,000 feet tall and began forming around 1040. Over a period…Around Town - Gardens
The Arboretum at Flagstaff
Covering 200 acres, this arboretum, the highest-elevation research garden in the U.S., focuses on plants of the high desert, coniferous forests, and alpine tundra, all of which environments are found in the Flagstaff vicinity. On the grounds you can visit a butterfly garden, an herb…Around Town - Historic Site
Walnut Canyon National Monument
In this 400-foot-deep wooded canyon east of Flagstaff, the remains of 300 small 13th-century Sinagua cliff dwellings can be seen in the undercut layers of limestone. These cliff dwellings, though not as impressive as the ruins at Montezuma Castle National Monument or nearby Wupatki…Around Town - Historic Site
Wupatki National Monument
The landscape northeast of Flagstaff is a desolate, sparsely populated region carpeted with volcanic ash deposited in the 11th century. The area also contains hundreds of archaeological sites, the most impressive being the pueblo ruins left by the Sinagua (“wupatki” means “without…Around Town
Flagstaff Nightlife
For events taking place during your visit, check Flagstaff Live (www.flaglive.com), a free weekly newspaper available at shops and restaurants downtown. The university has many musical and theatrical groups that perform throughout most of the year, and several clubs around town book a variety of live acts.
Downtown’s Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen St. (www.orpheumflagstaff.com; tel. 928/556-1580) gets the best of touring rock, folk, and country acts, so be sure to check the schedule while you’re in town. On the first Friday of the month in summer, also check out Downtown Friday Nights (www.heritagesquaretrust.org; tel. 928/853-4292), when the whole city, it seems, turns out on Heritage Square to enjoy each other’s company and listen to live music. During the warmer months, regular outdoor concerts are performed at the Pepsi Amphitheater, Fort Tuthill County Park (www.pepsiamphitheater.com; tel. 928/774-0899), located at exit 337 off I-17 south of Flagstaff.
Flagstaff has no end of good brewpubs—well, a dozen, anyway. Among them are the Beaver Street Brewery, which also operates the Lumberyard Brewing Company Taproom and Grille, 5 S. San Francisco St. (www.lumberyardbrewingcompany.com; tel. 928/779-2739). Also try Mother Road, 7 S. Mikes Pike (www.motherroadbeer.com; tel. 928/774-0492), which whips up some remarkable brews and is a fun place to hang out. Climb the stairs to the FLG Terroir, 17 N. San Francisco St. (www.flgterroir.com; tel. 928/773-9463), a wine bar located above the Artists Gallery in downtown Flagstaff with an extensive wine (more than 500 labels) and beer list and an inventive menu of light dishes. Also check out Cuveé 928, 6 E. Aspen Ave. (www.cuvee928winebar.com; tel. 928/214-9463), a watering hole right on Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff with an extensive list of wines from all over the world, as well as a number of bespoke cocktails.
For a lively scene, check out the Museum Club, 3404 E. Rte. 66 (tel. 928/526-9434), a Flagstaff institution and one of America’s classic roadhouses. Built in the early 1900s and often called the Zoo, this cavernous log saloon is filled with deer antlers, stuffed animals, and trophy heads. There’s live music (mostly country) on weekends. The Club reopened under new management in 2018 after briefly closing for the first time in more than 80 years, and it’s back to its rambunctious self.
Other places around town with live music include Charly’s Pub, 23 N. Leroux St. (www.weatherfordhotel.com; tel. 928/779-1919), inside the historic Weatherford Hotel. This place has long been a popular student hangout featuring live blues and rock, and it serves some of the best Navajo tacos in town. For a mellower scene, see what’s on the schedule at the Campus Coffee Bean, 1800 S. Milton Rd. (www.campuscoffeebean.com; tel. 928/556-0660).
