Spend Time Not Money in Flagstaff, Arizona
Posted November 5, 2009 by Kate Hamman
Most people visit Flagstaff as a stop on their way to the Grand Canyon. However, if you make it your prime destination, you'll find a city filled with a vibrant history and a hip atmosphere. You can spend the day exploring an ancient civilization's way of life at a nearby pueblo, and then quench your thirst on local brews. And at the end of the day, rest your head in a historical hotel where criminals and starlets once slept.
Play
Wupatki National Monument: Walk in the footsteps of an ancient tribe at the Wupatki Pueblo, which is the largest pueblo within the park and was once home to nearly 100 people in the 1200s. Hike the self-guided half-mile trail to witness the achievement of a determined tribe who thrived in an area without abundant food or water. Entrance to the park costs $5 per person, and is good for seven days at both Wupatki National Monument and the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Download the Wupatki trail guide for a history of the pueblo and things to look for along the path before setting out.
Drink
Beaver Street Brewery: Brewing beers since 2001, Beaver Street Brewery is the place to go in Flagstaff for a cold one. The bar offers two seasonal beers alongside its four traditional drafts throughout the year. Enjoy a Rail Head Red ale, the local favorite, while sitting at the bar or outside in the beer garden beneath the San Francisco Peaks. Happy hour specials are available everyday from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the brewery's Brews and Cues pub next door.
Stay
Hotel Monte Vista: Located just one block from Route 66, the Hotel Monte Vista has served as an oasis for weary road warriors. Bank robbers and major Hollywood hitters have graced these halls, rubbing shoulders with the everyday traveler since it opened in 1926. With the downtown shops, restaurants, and attractions right at the front door, the hotel is an ideal jumping-off point for a Flagstaff vacation. Stay in one of the rooms named for the celebrity guests who spent the night, such as the Clark Gable or Humphrey Bogart. Rooms with a private bath start at $70 per night.
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(Photo: iStockphoto/Garrett Dauphars)
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