How to spend spring break in northern Arizona
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — It’s spring break for many students across the state this week and many will head up to the High Country to cool off and to see some snow.
Flagstaff is home to hundreds of hiking trails and unlimited outdoor activities, including skiing, that draw people for spring break.
“Flagstaff’s a great place for spring break because now we’ve got snow,” Ryan Randazzo with Discover Flagstaff said. “So our ski resort has a deeper base than some of the southern Colorado resorts.”
He said 5 million people visit Flagstaff every year, and 8,000 people work in the local tourism industry. “Tourism is really the foundation for the economy up here,” Randazzo said.
Flagstaff is a short drive from a number of national parks and monuments like Walnut Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and, of course, the Grand Canyon.
“We have nine national parks and monuments, and a great local tip is now is a perfect time to visit Grand Canyon; there are no crowds,” Randazzo said. “If you show up before 10 a.m., you’re not going to be waiting in line.”
The Day family is visiting Flagstaff for the first time from Houston, Texas. They took a trip to the canyon over the weekend.
“So we went to Grand Canyon, and we did some mule riding and some hiking and watched the sunset,” Iliana Day said. “I didn’t really expect it to be snowing because it’s kind of like a desert.”
However, for people who want to stay inside, away from the cold, there’s Lowell Observatory, Route 66 history, and plenty to eat and drink.
“We’ve got more than 200 restaurants and bars,” Randazzo said. “Eight award-winning breweries.”
As for the Day family, they’ve already made lasting memories in northern Arizona. “I liked taking pictures and watching the sunset, and the view over the canyon was like sitting together,” Iliana Day said.
You can find more suggestions of where to visit and what to eat in Flagstaff by clicking/tapping here.
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