A Weekend Away: Flagstaff
Last month my boyfriend, Tyler, and I went to Flagstaff, AZ for his 26th birthday. (He is now closer to 30 then he is 20 which is wild to me). Tyler’s dream in life is to live at the bottom of a ski mountain, ski every day and probably be a lift operator to get a free ski pass. So for his birthday, we tried to create that dream for him, even if it was just for a weekend. Tyler and I have been to Flagstaff once before but, it was during the summer so we could escape the heat in the valley. During AZ’s hot summers, it is only 85 in the mountains so it’s wonderful to cool off. It also reminds us of our old stomping grounds in Colorado, which is nice to have a place to give us a taste of the Rocky Mountains without being there.
I personally had never been skiing in Arizona before so I was skeptical. After being spoiled for 9 years with fresh Colorado snow and fun skiing conditions, it’s hard not to be a little judgmental of small mountains in a state that’s known for its summers. Therefore, I am here to officially state, on the record, that Snowbowl resort in Flagstaff Arizona is a pretty good mountain! We did hit it after a snowstorm that dropped 54 inches in 48 hours, but the runs were fun and long, along with good trails and tree runs. Tyler was blessed with a great day of skiing, making a wonderful birthday for him.
My only piece of advice if you go up on a bluebird day after they’ve been pounded with snow, is to go around the barrier they set in the parking lot and drive to the resort. This will make more sense when you are there, because the ski resort itself has parking but Snowbowl employees close that road claiming there is none forcing you to stay at the bottom to park. Then, there is the 2.5+ hour shuttle line…absolutely not. They aren’t monitoring who is coming down and the available spaces, so I recommend pushing your luck and simply driving around the barrier. The attendants can’t stop you… ;)
After a day of skiing and frolicking through the snow, we went to dinner at ‘Famous Pizza & Beer’. It was a quiet pizza shop with a huge menu of beers on tap and different pizza selections. It was really good, and super satisfying after being on the mountain for a good majority of our day. We then got ice cream from the classic, Baskin Robbins, and fell asleep to Indiana Jones at our hotel. (which is so typical us, it’s not even funny.) The next day, we took it slow and had a relaxed breakfast a local spot, that was like eating in your grandmas kitchen. It was called ‘Mike & Rhonda’s, The Place’ and it served comforting breakfast and lunch options.
I want to spend more time in Flagstaff, because it is a super cute mountain town, with a bustling downtown that has a homey and historic feel. It has a mix of modern restaurants and family owned favorites, and then a more “hippie” side of town with yoga studios and crystal shops. (Which reminds me even more of Colorado). I have listed below a guide based on what Tyler that is a combination of both of our visits and some online research.
Sweater @ Zara - no longer available so similar linked here
Undershirt @ Mango - linked here
Leather Leggings @ Mango - no longer available similar linked here
Beanie @ Urban Outfitters - linked here
Boots @ Freebird
Bag @ Zadig & Voltaire
List of To Do’s
-Downtown
- Restaurants / Breweries
Pizzicletta: http://www.pizzicletta.com/
Beaver Street Brewery: http://beaverstreetbrewery.com/
Crown Railroad Cafe: http://www.thecrownrailroadcafes.com/
Lumberyard Brewing Company: http://www.lumberyardbrewingcompany.com/
Historic Barrel + Bottle House: https://historicbarrelandbottle.com/
The Place: http://theplacearizona.com/
-Vintage Stores
Incahoots Vintage: https://www.facebook.com/VINTAGEINCAHOOTS/
Basement Marketplace: In the Old Town Shops, 120 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Decent price, good views of the mountains and super quick drive to downtown (3-5 minutes)
-Candy Shops
Sweet Shoppe Candy Store: http://sweetshoppecandy.com/
Flagstaff Chocolate Co.: https://mixflagstaff.com/
There is no hotel right at the base of the mountain, other than the snowbowl cabins which appear to fill up quickly. Which is why we stayed in Flagstaff, it’s a short drive through a small pass which took about 30-45 minutes total.
