Sometimes, I think Flagstaff, Arizona, has shot itself in the foot with all the “gateway to the Grand Canyon” hype. At 75 miles away, it is close to that epic hole in the ground. But Flagstaff is a fun and cute city with plenty to do, and it deserves travelers’ attention as a destination, not just a place to drive through.
The city of 77,000 rests 7,000 feet above sea level — the sweet spot for ponderosa pines, which grow at 6,000 to 9,000 feet. Tree huggers will love visiting the world’s largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest surrounding Flagstaff. Since the 1960s, international athletes have used Flagstaff as a high-altitude training site. So pack your hiking boots and sporty layers, because it’s time to get outside.