Posts Tagged ‘Flagstaff hotels’

Celebrating July 4th in Flagstaff, AZ

June 28th
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
U.S. West destinations events and festivals family

Things start to get hot, hot, hot in the Valley of the Sun this time of year, which explains while Northern Arizona, with its higher elevations and cooler temperatures, is a particularly popular Arizona vacations spot during the summer. The majesty of the Grand Canyon, the pine-scented air of Flagstaff, and the historic trains of Williams hold special appeal from June through August. Flagstaff hotels are booked not only by families on tours of the America West, but also by folks from Phoenix who just can’t take another day of 100-plus temperatures.

The 4th of July is an especially popular time in this area as people take advantage of the day off work to enjoy the festivities in the northern reaches of the state. Flagstaff has particularly full agenda of activities this weekend, so take your pick and enjoy:

Friday, July 2

Movies on the Square
This summer tradition in Flagstaff is especially popular July 4th weekend. Every Friday a family-friendly movie is shown in the heart of downtown Flagstaff in historic Heritage Square. Musical entertainment starts at 6pm and then movies are shown at sundown. Bring a low chair or a sleeping bag to enjoy this week’s show – Cloudy with a Change of Meatballs.

First Friday Artwalk
This monthly street party takes place the first Friday of each month. Business and galleries in downtown Flagstaff will present special art exhibits, performances, and live music this Friday from 6-9pm. This event is enjoyed by both locals and tourists, and will be especially hopping this Friday.
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Ski and Yoga Retreats

February 1st
2010
by Becky Youman
posted in:
U.S. West activities destinations outdoor adventure

After a weekend ski vacation spent riding the slopes at Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, I woke up stiff and sore this morning. An evening yoga class is definitely on my agenda today. That got me thinking of how pleasant it would be to combine a ski weekend with a yoga retreat. Instead of heading back to my Flagstaff hotel and hitting the sheets after a day of skiing, I could unwind with an evening session of downward dog and namaste.

Well, it turns out that I am not the only one with that idea. There are a number of outfitters that have created ski and yoga retreats in some of the West’s most scenic spots. Here are a couple of groups to check out if carving and chaturanga sound like an appealing combination:

Big Sky Yoga Retreats:  Montana’s expansive Big Sky Country is the perfect place to immerse yourself in a combination of outdoor fitness and yoga. Big Sky Yoga Retreats, proposing to put a little “yeehaw” in your Namaste, offers a variety of packages throughout the season to help you discover the peace that comes from practicing yoga and being connected to nature. As they put it, there is a lot of space in Montana – space for your body to strengthen and relax, for your mind to free itself of harried urban mindsets, and for your creativity to blossom. (more…)

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Flagstaff Snow Play

December 9th
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
U.S. West activities destinations outdoor adventure

nordic centerWinter arrived to northern Arizona with a wallop on Monday. It was the state’s first official blizzard in over ten years. (Most of us desert-dwellers in Phoenix didn’t know that for a snowstorm to qualify as a blizzard there must be three hours or more of three conditions — continuous heavy snow, sustained winds of 35 mph or greater, and visibility of less than 440 yards.) Flagstaff had all that and more, with some areas receiving over two feet of snow by yesterday morning.

All that wintery weather means that people will be booking Flagstaff hotels so they can play in the snow this weekend. While Arizona Snowbowl, the local ski mountain, won’t be open yet, there are plenty of other opportunities for alpine fun.

Cross Country Skiing

Flagstaff Nordic Center: Flagstaff’s Nordic Center, one of the premier cross-country skiing sites in the West, will be opening for the season at 9am tomorrow. Their staff has been busy at work clearing and packing the trails since the storm passed through. The paths of the Nordic Center wind through beautiful stands of aspen and ponderosa pine. Don’t worry if you don’t have your own equipment, visitors can rent either cross-country skis or snowshoes on site. There is also a concessions area in the lodge so that you can warm up with a hot chocolate or a warm meal after your outing. (more…)

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Flagstaff’s Fall Foliage

October 10th
2009
by Becky Youman
posted in:
U.S. West activities destinations events and festivals family

aspensFall colors are a hot topic right now, whether you are in Vermont, the Cascades, or the Midwest. What about in Arizona? Surprisingly to many who think of Arizona as pure desert, fall in the high country around Flagstaff is as dazzling and colorful as many other marquee destinations. Flagstaff hotels are filled every weekend in October with visitors hoping to catch the aspen at their golden peak.

Aspen tend to grow best at an altitude of about 8,000 to 9,000 feet, a forest sector known as the Fir-Aspen Life Zone.  Luckily for visitors on Flagstaff vacations, there are plenty of accessible roads and trails in that zone right around Flagstaff.

Hikes

Aspen Nature Loop (at the Snowbowl parking lot) – This two-and-a-half-mile loop is perfect for families and those wanting to get out and see the colors without having to exert themselves too much. The trail wanders through thick stands of aspen as it circles the prairie found below the beginner ski lifts at Flagstaff’s Snowbowl. (more…)

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