Flagstaff

Lively yet laidback, Flagstaff typifies Wild West charm while simultaneously offering an exceptional range of year-round activities. If you want to get outside and explore, there are ample hiking and biking opportunities with miles upon miles of beautiful trails to traverse, and come winter, you can ski and snowboard too. But for those who want to recharge, there is plenty of occasion at the city’s festivals, restaurants, live music clubs and excellent breweries.

Located along the famous Route 66 just 80 miles from the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff sits at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks and is surrounded by both lush ponderosa pine forests and desert. Home to the world-renowned Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff is the world’s first international dark sky community, making it an ideal place for exploring the night sky. Other incredible institutions include the Museum of Northern Arizona which delves into the cultures of the Native Peoples of the region, and the Pioneer Museum which offers a glimpse of what life was like for early settlers.

Just outside of the centre even more wonders can be explored. See the astonishing sight that is Sunset Crater and discover the cliff dwellings and ancient pueblos of the nearby Wupatki and Walnut Canyon National Monuments.