Grand Canyon National Park: One of the most spectacular of arid land erosion in the world. The park encompasses 1,904 square miles, including 277 miles of the Colorado River. South Rim facilities are open all year. North Rim facilities are open mid-May through mid-October. Call 1-800-892-8687 for more information.
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon & Wupatiki National Monument: Situated in the rain shadow of the San Francisco Peaks, the area we now call Wupatiki National Monument was once home to the farmers and traders of the Anasazi and Sinagua people, or Hisatsinom, as their Hopi descendants call them. The area is characterized by freestanding masonry pueblos by walking short trails that allow you a window into the past. Largest of the pueblos with approximately 85 rooms. Located behind the Wupatiki Visitor Center. Open year-round.
Walnut Canyon National Monument: A Tranquil, pristine, stream-cut gorge, seven miles east of Flagstaff on I-40. Hike down the paved trails that reveal the ancient cliff dwellings etched in the steep canyon walls where the Sinagua Indians lived. See displays of pottery and artifacts.
Montezuma Castle National Monument: Come visit Montezuma Castle which is a five-story, 20-room dwelling that stands in a cliff recess a hundred feet above the valley.
Sunset Crater National Monument: Numerous trails and viewpoints allow visitors a close look at the brittle lava flows that occurred 900 years ago. Immediately east of the flows, you’ll see the impressive and well-formed Sunset Crater Volcano, named by John Wesley Powell for the permanent red-orange hue near its peak.
Tuzigoot National Monument: The remnant of a Sinagua Village built between A.D. 1125 and 1400. It crowns the summit of a long ridge that rises 120 feet above the Verde Valley.
Jerome State Historic Park: An eye-catching landmark in Jerome since 1916. This museum, devoted the history of Jerome and the Douglas family, features exhibits of photographs, artifacts and minerals, in addition to a video presentation and a 3-D model of the town with its underground mines. Additional outdoor displays, with a picnic area, offer a beautiful panoramic view of the Verde Valley.
Museum of Northern Arizona: An ideal introduction to the geology, anthropology, biology and fine art of the Colorado Plateau region. The Branigar/Chase Discovery Center offers a daily sound and light show, “Sacred Lands of the Southwest.” Nature trail available for outdoor exploration. Look for special exhibits, especially in the summer, of Native American arts and crafts.
Pioneer Museum: Housed in the old County Hospital, presents the diverse history of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona from cowboys and lumberjacks to railroaders and astronomers. Exhibits include medical equipment, saddles, household and livestock items, a 1929 Baldwin locomotive and much more. The annual exhibit, “Playthings of the Past,” at Christmas time is a favorite show for the entire family.
Meteor Crater: Picture a giant meteor, weighing several hundred thousand tons, zipping toward earth at nearly 40,000 mph! View the results of this gaping chasm: 570 feet deep and over 4,000 feet in diameter. Enjoy the Museum of Astronomy with its exhibits, movies and lectures which vividly show and tell about this impact and others and the awesome results. See where the astronauts trained and see the spectacular beauty of Meteor Crater from the guided rim tours.
Miles of Flagstaff Trail System Arizona Snowbowl. Located high in the vast Coconino National Forest, and under the shadow of the 12,356 ft. Agassiz Peak. With more than 30 runs, four chair lifts, two lodges and a vertical drop of 2,300 feet, it’s the perfect place to enjoy great skiing in Arizona, and the West. Open daily mid-December though mid-April with an annual average snowfall of 260 inches.
Grand Canyon Deer Farm: Experience a hands-on adventure where you don’t just look at the animals, you walk among them and let them eat right from your hand. Open daily, year-round, weather permitting.
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