When people think of Arizona, they usually imagine a view of a saguaro cactus against a blazing sunset, or think about an absurdly hot summer. But here in Flagstaff, we're a mountain town at 7,000 feet above sea level. We enjoy 4 seasons and our summers are beautiful. We have views of Ponderosa Pines against a background of the San Francisco Peaks. We are where many people from the Phoenix area go to get away from the sweltering heat between April-October every year. And we're where people come to enjoy snow!
There is SO much to love about Flagstaff, Arizona - so much so that we used to do a podcast called "Experience Flagstaff - Learn to Love it Like the Locals Do!"
Since Flagstaff is the most prominent town in Arizona that enjoys a true four season climate, I thought I'd let you know what I love most about this amazing mountain town in each of those seasons. Keep in mind, in all 4 seasons, we do get A LOT of sunshine (over 300 days of sun shining on us each year...even in the snowy months!)
1. Winter in Flagstaff, AZ.
Each winter we get snow. Some winters more than others, and about every 4-5 years we get a "Snowmageddon" season (which we are in the middle of here in 2023.) And when that happens, you get LOTS of opportunities to play in the snow. There's something for everyone - downhill skiing at the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort, snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing, and just having fun and playing in the snow!
My husband and I did a recent video on the "Top 8 Things to Do in Flagstaff When it Snows." In this video, we highlight 8 reasons to LOVE Flagstaff in the Winter months.
2. Spring in Flagstaff, AZ.
As much as there is to enjoy in Winter in Flagstaff, there's a lot to be said for seeing the snow melt away and the spring roll in. We get beautiful spring flowers, trees budding and blooming, and the fun of no longer needing to get all wrapped up in winter gear.
The thing I love most about Spring in Flagstaff is heading to our historic downtown area. This is the heart of our mountain town. With 77,000 full time residents, plus university students and vacation home owners, our downtown area seems to be the place where we all gather when the weather starts to get warm enough to do so. You'll find delicious food in many of our local restaurants, small shops to enjoy, events in Heritage Square, and so much more!
If you want to know more about our Downtown area, here's a walking tour video:
3. Summer in Flagstaff, AZ.
OK, I can't lie to you. This is my FAVORITE time in Flagstaff! The weather is perfect, we have so many community events, and we celebrate the 4th of July with one of the best-ever small town parades.
There are so many outdoor activities to enjoy - hiking, cycling, mountain biking - you name it. Since we're at 7,000 feet with so much sun, we get a lot of elite athletes that train in Flagstaff in the summers. My favorite thing to do in the summer is hiking through the woods. We have SO many hiking trails to enjoy, you'll never get bored of them.
4. Autum in Flagstaff, AZ.
Pumpkin spice lattes aren't the only thing to look forward to in autumn if you're in Flagstaff! The changing of the leaves is a gorgeous work of nature's art that brings people from all over the state to enjoy. In fact, if you take 89A from Flagstaff and drive South, you'll hit the twisties and then you'll be in Oak Creek Canyon. This is an incredibly popular drive to enjoy the fall colors.
But if the lattes are your thing, you'll LOVE all the coffee shops in Flagstaff. We have so many local shops, many of which roast their own beans. This is one of my favorite things to do in Flagstaff year-round, but especially in the Autumn months. The weather is still beautiful enough to enjoy the outdoor patios. My favorite thing about our local coffee shops is that they make ideal places for business meetings, joining up with my friends, or taking a little day-date with my hubby.
Here's a video of 6 of my favorites - but I really need to make a Part 2 to this video! We have so many places to enjoy that this video only begins to show off the local Flagstaff coffee scene.
So now it's your turn - if you live here or visit here let me know what YOU love most about Flagstaff, Arizona! If you've never been to Flagstaff, let me know your favorite season and what you love most about it. Can't wait to hear from you!
PS - by the way, I'm never to busy for your referrals! If you or a loved one are looking for a place in Flagstaff, I'm here for you.
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