Story by Joe Yogerst | Video by Alexandra Guilwit and Gabe Ramirez
(CNN) — For many years, Flagstaff was a place you passed through on the way to the Grand Canyon or along Route 66 to the California coast, and there was little reason to stop there unless you needed gas or a quick meal.
But slowly but surely, this northern Arizona city has been transforming into a vacation destination in its own right. Flagstaff remains the gateway to the Grand Canyon and other natural wonders, but since the turn of the century, the city has become much more than just a rest stop.
Today, there are plenty of reasons to linger in the city, which is surrounded by the world's largest ponderosa pine forest at the foot of the snow-capped San Francisco Peaks.
In stark contrast to the desert cities of Southern Arizona, Flagstaff offers cool temperatures, fresh mountain air, and a growing reputation for outdoor recreation, from skiing in the winter to hiking, biking and trail running in the summer.
Downtown Renaissance Flagstaff The old brick building has been given new life in the form of a stylish new place to eat, drink and stay.
Spearheaded by the Lowell Observatory, the city has become a hub for scientific research and was designated the world's first official “International Dark Sky City” in 2001.
Meanwhile, Northern Arizona University has stepped up its game in both sports and academics, drawing more attention and visitors to a place that for decades had been considered backwater.
With a population of about 76,000, Flagstaff is no longer a small town, but its atmosphere is anything but big. The first thing you'll notice is the laid-back pace, the scent of the forest, and the star-filled skies — characteristics rarely found in larger cities.
Beautiful sky
Local ceramicist Robin Kadazin came to town for college, but she was quickly drawn to Flagstaff's open spaces, active lifestyle and vibrant creative community.
“A lot of people move here because of the scenery, the natural beauty, the access to the trails, the mountains and the Grand Canyon,” said Kadazin, who grew up in Maine.
“We have over 300 days of sunshine a year. It's a great place to raise a family, especially if you love spending time outdoors with your kids. I love tree time!” she says, smiling. (The sunny days may overlap a little.) Less than 300However, the difference is not that big.
The mention of Kadagin Lowell Observatory She often returns with her two children for science-themed summer camps and one-off astronomy programs for locals and visitors from far and wide.
In addition to tours, exhibits, stargazing and opportunities to look through historic telescopes, the observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930, will open the new Murray Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center (ADC) this fall.
One of the most advanced astronomy centers on the planet, the ADC will feature a state-of-the-art theater with a wraparound screen and a children's Curiosity Zone, as well as the world's first top-floor Dark Sky Planetarium, an open-air viewing area with theater-style seating where visitors can look straight up into the sky while astronomers explain what they are seeing.
But that's not Flagstaff's only connection to space. Meteor Crater It shows the impact of a meteorite hitting the earth's surface east of the town about 50,000 years ago.
10 days Flagstaff Science Festival The September event frequently features speakers connected to the city's lunar heritage, such as scientists from the USGS Space Geology Science Center who designed lunar rovers and helped map the surfaces of the Moon and planets in the solar system.
Buffalo Park, on the mesa behind the Astrogeological Science Center, is one of the best places in the city for stargazing. Star Party Sponsored by the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition.
Despite its heavenly reputation, Flagstaff Emergence as a genuine travel destination.
The revival of downtown Flagstaff
Downtown Flagstaff was once lined with restaurants and bars catering mainly to local timber and ranching folk, not students or tourists. By the 1990s, even the cowboys and lumberjacks had stopped coming.
Fortunately, many of the old red brick buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which meant they couldn't be demolished and were poised to be transformed into the shops, restaurants and entertainment venues they are today.
New red brick sidewalks and old-fashioned street signs and lampposts were installed to mimic the historic buildings.
A former vacant lot in the middle of downtown Heritage Squareis a “community living room” that hosts events in a 1,200-seat amphitheater and features exhibits on the city's history, biology, geology and anthropology. The square hosts numerous events throughout the year, from outdoor movies and concerts in the summer to the Northern Arizona Book Festival in the spring and the Flagstaff Music Festival in the fall.
Another hub in Flagstaff's vibrant downtown Orpheum TheatreOpened in 1916, this stage and cinema fell into disrepair like many of its neighbours but managed to escape demolition and was revived in the early 21st century, hosting a wide range of films and live performances.
Another heirloom building, it features its original pressed tin ceilings and sandstone façade dating from 1888. Babbitts Backcountry OutfittersAnyone who enjoys the great outdoors around Flagstaff can buy or rent gear here.
The new downtown spot Planetary Sciencehas entered the city's space tourism scene with merchandise like meteorite fragments, NASA merchandise, and spaceship models. Vintage clothing stores, fashion boutiques, and Western art galleries have also popped up in the revitalized downtown.
Changes in cuisine
The local food culture has also changed dramatically.
Dara Wong, chef-owner of Shift Kitchen & Bar and Oeno Wine Lounge (an NAU alumna), said that when Shift opened about a decade ago, dining in downtown Flagstaff “was centered around steak and potatoes. I thought it was time to offer something a little more upscale, with small plates and unique flavor combinations using locally sourced ingredients.”
Was the local eatery prepared for such a drastic change? “Like any new business, it took a little time,” Wong says, “but we quickly built a great clientele and were definitely on trend.”
This trend has brought a variety of dining options to downtown and across the tracks in the South Side neighborhood, with modern American restaurants generating the most buzz. Atria, FLG Terroir: Wine Bar & Bistro and Beaver Street Brewery & Whistle Stop CafeThe latter is, Flagstaff Brewery Trail This event showcases the city's top craft beer makers.
Outdoor Scene
The city is located in the heart of Coconino National Forest and at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks, offering outdoor adventure opportunities in all seasons and for all fitness levels.
“With its high altitude and easy access to a variety of terrain, it's not uncommon for professional runners to come here to train,” says local photographer and trail runner Austin Corbett.
But you don't have to be a professional or competitive athlete to ride the many trails that extend from Flagstaff.
Continue to expand Flagstaff Urban Trail System The Flagstaff Loop Trail (FUTS) is a 56-mile (90-kilometer) trail that winds through forests, fields, and valleys. Many sections of the Flagstaff Loop Trail encircle the town, and hiking takes only 1-2 hours.
Parts of the long-distance Arizona Trail snake through the city center on its way from the Mexican border to the Grand Canyon and beyond. The three sections around Flagstaff are long (the hike takes about five hours on average) but not particularly difficult.
Humphreys Peak is the winter sports hub of Flagstaff. Arizona Snowbowl It is located in Coconino National Forest on the west side of the mountain.
The ski area has 55 runs, three terrain parks, and eight lifts, including an indoor gondola. At an elevation of 11,500 feet (3,500 meters), the resort recorded 23 feet (7 meters) of snow for the 2023-2024 season.
“Living in Heaven”
Mount Humphreys, just north of Flagstaff, is the highest of several peaks that make up the San Francisco Peaks. In addition to its scenic and recreational uses, the mountain is revered by Native American groups of northern Arizona, including the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and Apache.
“Growing up in this area, the San Francisco Peaks are Dookuʼoʼoff “This mountain, or 'Holy Mountain' in Navajo, is one of four sacred mountains to the Navajo people, and to be at the base of this mountain in this area is literally heaven,” says Darrell R. Marks, a community activist, educator and Native American leader at two Flagstaff high schools.
Marks, the 2021 recipient of the JFK Profiles in Courage Award, worked with his teenage sons to petition the state government to rename Agassiz Peak. OomaukiMarks has changed the name to , a Hopi name, but the change was approved by Arizona officials last year. As a member of the city's Native American Commission, Marks has advocated for the development of a cultural center that would host “public events that celebrate Native culture, identity, voice and presence and share stories of how important this area is to us.”
For now, he says the best way to connect with local Native American culture is to attend Flagstaff High School's powwow in May, which features more than 250 dancers and drummers, or to browse the city's many Native American exhibits. Museum of Northern Arizona.
“Before the museum designs and organizes the exhibits, they consult with the tribes and invite them into the space to help organize what should be on display. They do a really great job,” Marks said.
Just outside Flagstaff are two important Ancestral Puebloan sites.Number-13Number Century Cliff Dwelling Walnut Canyon National Monument And 12Number Pueblo of the Century Wupatki National Monument.
“There's a lot to celebrate in this space,” Marks says of his hometown.
“The variety is one of the things that amazes me. It can be snowing on one side of town and sunny on the other. You can go from forest to Painted Desert to prairie with pronghorn antelope to Oak Creek Canyon within a short drive. It's amazing how the landscape changes in just a few miles.”
Next town: Macon, Georgia is No. 7
This southern The town has transformed from a “ghost town” to a “bustling” tourist destination.
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