Location: Flagstaff
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10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Flagstaff That You Shouldn't Miss
Astounding natural wonders, invigorating outdoor recreation and fascinating cultural attractions make Flagstaff the perfect getaway to rejuvenate the body and replenish the mind. Set at the base of the beautiful San Francisco Peaks, and surrounded by lush national forests, the city provides ample opportunity for fresh air fun. Spring, summer and fall bring hikers, campers and mountain bikers, while winter draws skiers and ice skaters. But don't let a focus on the "good old outdoors" fool you. Fostered by the local university, Flagstaff is also chock-full of educational and cultural attractions. Be sure to see the award-winning permanent exhibit "Native Peoples of the Colorado Plateau" at the Museum of Northern Arizona. The Pioneer Museum offers a glimpse of what life was like for the early settlers of the region and includes a 1929 Baldwin locomotive in its collection. The city also has an arboretum and a planetarium. The entire area is a living anthropology and geology lesson, with ancient Native American ruins and stunning scenery at the Wupatki and Walnut Canyon National Monuments, just waiting to be explored.
Restaurants in Flagstaff
1. Flagstaff Extreme
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 495 reviews
Our Tree Top Adventure course is an elevated obstacle course set in the tall Ponderosa Pines and securely suspended between the trees at 15 to 50 feet off the ground.Some of the features of course include suspended bridges, swings, slides, nets, ziplines and even an aerial surf board.Come on your own, bring a group, or have a party or an event. Take a journey and explore the outdoors like you never have before.
Reviewed By leebA5940RL
We did both the adventure course and the zip line course in the same day and highly recommend if you have to do the same due to time constraints - to them in that order. We ran the adventure course with Rachel who was superb! It was challenging but tons of fun. I liked that the staff teaches you all of the safety procedures and then lets you go through the courses in a self guided way. They are also proactive and responsive if they sense you're having trouble even before you know you're in trouble! It's clear that all of the staff have undergone great training, and are there climbing your tree in a moments notice to help novices get past the barriers We did the zipline course with Sabrina and she was most excellent! A super fun attitude, was with us and encouraging us from the ground without being in the way. It was a great way to unwind and relax after doing the adventure course
2. Fort Tuthill Military Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 88 reviews
A Military History Museum in Northern Arizona located within the historic Ft. Tuthill county park. Our exhibits trace the history of the 158th Infantry Regiment from it's organization in 1865 as the 1st Regiment Arizona Volunteers to present day Afghanistan deployment of 1st Battalion 158th Infantry. Features include military artifacts from 1865, site tour of historic Ft. Tuthill, the 158th Infantry Regiment, "Bushmasters " story and Arizona's National Guard.
Reviewed By travelwriter52 - Clinton, United States
It is worth going just to see the buildings of an old base. The museum is contained in two small buildings run by only 4 volunteers. Lots of historical artifacts. Hidden in a county park that also has a adventure course, snow play area (in season), an arena where a rodeo is held. Most of the donations came from an 80 year old man.
3. Canyon Country Tours - Grand Canyon Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 91 reviews
Canyon Country Grand Canyon Tours offers private and small group sight seeing and photography tours to the Grand Canyon as well as other nearby locations. Canyon Country Grand Canyon Tours are conducted at a pace that allows our guests to enjoy their visit. Our tours allow you to see the best locations at the optimal times of day with time. Our Photography Tours are a workshop experience at a day tour price and are conducted for all experience levels. We visit some locations that are not on standard tour maps allowing our guests to have an "away from the crowd" experience. We use late model vans and limit our day tours to 8 people and our photo tours to 6. Tour pickup is from Flagstaff and Tusayan including Grand Canyon Hotels. Our day ends near Desert View allowing you the best view for sunset photography. Please visit our website for more information.
4. Lowell Observatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,931 reviews
We are now in our first phase of reopening! This means you can get limited time, premium access to the Giovale Open Deck Observatory (GODO) These will be private experiences with one group of up to ten cohabitating or co-traveling people. Not only is GODO Premium Access extremely low-risk, it also allows you to experience all the GODO has to offer with virtually no wait times. Stay tuned for more telescopes, in our next phase we will be adding the Clark and Dyer telescopes to the Premium Access experience! Click the link below to learn more about this unique opportunity. We can't wait to see you—welcome back to the home of Pluto! https://lowell.edu/welcomeback
Reviewed By 634lisas - Surprise, United States
We got tickets for $11 on Groupon and it was well worth it even though we were only there in the evening. We arrived just before 8 and saw a presentation on Saturn on the omniglobe. They had 3 telescopes set up for night viewing and we could see Jupiter and all its stripes, Saturn and it's rings and moons and a star cluster that was 222,000 light years away!! We stayed for a constellation tour at 9 which was great - full of interesting info and myths about some of the visible constellations. Next time we will plan to spend the day there as there are talks and presentations running all day long. Perfect for anyone interested in the stars, space or mythology. Highly recommend, even for teens (my daughter is 13) :)
5. Museum of Northern Arizona
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 590 reviews
One of the great regional museums of our world, surrounded by tremendous geological, biological, and cultural resources in one of Earth's most spectacular landscapes. With a long and illustrious history, MNA evokes the very spirit of the Colorado Plateau and serves as a gateway to understanding this unique region. Whatever your time frame, this museum will enhance your experience of the richly diverse cultures, landscapes, and ecology of the Plateau. Nine permanent and changing exhibit galleries present Native cultures, tribal lifeways, natural sciences, and fine arts. Ventures and custom tours explore the Four Corners Region of the American Southwest. Award-winning Museum Shop & Bookstore onsite. Self-guided Rio de Flag Nature Trail. Tickets are for a specific entry time starting at 10:00 am, with the last booking at 2:00pm.
Reviewed By 1lacrosse - Yarmouth, United States
We were very impressed by the breadth of this museum. Great staff, carefully designed displays, and excellent presentation of archeology, anthropology, geology, indigenous peoples, ethnography and Native American artwork. Two hours minimum required to do the museum justice. Docents are very helpful to get context for the displays, although individual learning is well facilitated by the descriptions provided. Don’t miss this museum if your travels take you through Flagstaff!
6. Walnut Canyon National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,639 reviews
See millions of years of history unraveled in the geology of the rocks at this popular scenic and historic hiking area, once populated by the Sinagua Indians.
Reviewed By potatofisher - Rapid City, United States
I debated actually stopping here, as we had had a long day of travels already, but I'm so glad we did. The canyon dwellings are amazing. The museum is closed, but the gift shop is open, and you can get your passport stamp there. There are 2 trails: the rim trail, which is paved and flat and follows the canyon rim, and the island trail, which goes down and then back up 180 steps into the canyon to get you up close to the cliff dwellings. If you can manage it, I highly recommend the Island Trail. The steps are almost all at the beginning/end (it's a loop trail), and the entire middle is a really nice stroll right along the ledge where the dwellings are. Many of the dwellings are open for you to enter as well! It's like walking through another world. Please note: since the park closes at 4:30, they will not allow you to start the Island Trail after 3:30pm, so make sure to arrive before then if you want to do it.
7. Wupatki National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,009 reviews
Explore this fascinating ancient pueblo, located near the San Francisco Peaks, which once housed almost 100 members of the Anasazi and Sinagua tribes.
Reviewed By kevingW5482NQ
Come in from the Sunset Crater side and stop at the first set of ruins. Perched atop a gigantic boulder, you’ll be able to get breathtaking views of the painted desert, the mountains, plains... stop next at the visitor center and walk down to the ruins there for more amazing scenery. There are other ruins on the way out toward the Grand Canyon, and they are all worth the stop and hike as well. This is amazing, American history and you won’t regret taking the time to contrast this monument with Sunset Crater, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Walnut Canyon... every place we stopped, my wife said, “I didn’t think anything could compete with the last place we were...”
8. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,092 reviews
Located north of Flagstaff, this crater was created by a volcanic eruption 900 years ago.
Reviewed By NotNow99 - Salem, United States
At one end of this National Park is Sunset Crater, with it's unworldly lava flows & cruncy lava beds, beautiful views & paths. At the other is the beautiful Wupatki Ruins, all for one fee (or Parks Pass). The volcanic eruption can be seen on a lot of the local mountains which are gorgeous, and helped shape the settlements of the Native Peoples here & in other areas..
9. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 543 reviews
Built in 1904 for two Riordan families, Riordan Mansion is an impressive reminder of gracious living in a small, territorial logging town. The historic building is an Arizona treasure — a remarkable example of Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches, and hand-split wooden shingles. The expansive home has forty rooms, over 13,000 square-feet of living area, and servants' quarters. The Riordan residence was designed by the creator of Grand Canyon's El Tovar Hotel, Charles Whittlesey.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
The Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is a historic five-acre site located in the Kinlichi Knoll neighborhood of Flagstaff, Arizona, bordering the campus of Northern Arizona University. The park includes two almost identical homes built in 1904 by Michael and Timothy Riordan, two brothers who were members of a prominent Arizona family that played a significant role in the development of Flagstaff and northern Arizona and were involved in lumber, railroads, cattle, banking and politics. With 13,000 square feet of floor space, the two homes are connected by a rendezvous or game room. The architect was Charles Whittlesey, who also designed the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon. Some of the similarities of the two grand structures include massive stone arches at porch corners and rustic exterior consisting of log planks, wood shingles and native stone. The park was opened to the public in 1983 but only for the Timothy Riordan (east) side of the building. The Michael Riordan (west) side was opened for self-guided tours in 2002. The Riordans were lumber barons and the mansion is an impressive reminder of gracious and opulent living in a small, territorial logging town. It is a remarkable example of Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches and hand-split wooden shingles. It has 40 rooms, including servants' quarters. Interestingly, it was built 115 years ago with indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water, central heat and electric lights, reflecting the most modern technology and design of the time. One of the most interesting features of the house are two unique sets of windows located in the central rendezvous room. Each window consists of seven black and white photographs with a translucent frosted glass background, depicting Southwest scenic landscapes and portraits of Native Americans with a diffused lighting background. The author of the spectacular photographs was John K. Hillers, a prominent photographer who accompanied John Wesley Powell on his second expedition to the Grand Canyon in 1879. Hillers met the Riordan brothers during archaeological excavations at Walnut Canyon in 1885 and was later commissioned by the Riordans to produce the windows for the adjoining family room of their twin mansion in Flagstaff.
10. Lava River Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 451 reviews
Reviewed By 931tracyt
Bring a head lamp or flashlight. Tennis shoes are fine unless there has been a heavy rain or snow. It is a very short, flat hike from the parking area. At first the hike into the cave is rocky but the further in you get the easier the walking. In two places the ceiling drops down enough I had the bend down quite a bit but then rises again. I walked upright most of the way to the end. There are no offshoots, you really can't get lost.
