Top Things to Do in Flagstaff

There are things to do in Flagstaff and certainly some epic things to do just outside of Flagstaff like visiting Grand Canyon National Park. Depending on what you like to do, the season, and the amount of time you have to spend here, there are many fantastic things to do and experience here. But let's just do a quick Top 5 Essential Things to Do in Flagstaff summary before we dive into all the other wonderful possibilities! All of these are family-friendly and most are dog-friendly as well.

Downtown Flagstaff
Get coffee at Macy's, Rendezvous, or Late for the Train, enjoy a beer at one of the many microbreweries, eat some fantastic food, listen to music (either on a corner or in an establishment), or join in whatever festivities are happening in Heritage Square.
Drive-up Snowbowl Road
If it's summer, take the scenic chair lift ride at Arizona Snowbowl or go on a short hike from Aspen Corner. If it's fall, enjoy walking among the aspens changing colors. If it's winter, consider skiing or snowboarding at Snowbowl! No matter when you come, it will be beautiful and tresFlagstaff
Lowell Observatory
This place should not be missed. Pluto was discovered here and that's just the beginning of how amazing this place is. There is a new observation deck that just opened in the summer of 2019, and that's in addition to the telescope, workshops, talks, and awesome exhibits they already had at the facility. Go explore space up close and personal.
Museum of Northern Arizona
Native American culture is a very big part of Flagstaff. The Museum of Northern Arizona offers exhibits that are educational, historical, and often discussion-oriented in hopes of sparking and continuing the conversation of how to keep the ways of Native Americans alive and respected in modern society.
Buffalo Park
Take a little time out of your day to walk a loop at the park. It's a great place to see what Flagstaff is really about. You'll often see deer hanging out while people take their dogs for a walk or a run. You'll get great views of the San Francisco Peaks, and Mount Elden, and it's also a great place to get some mellow exercise while in nature.

Flagstaff Tours

Flagstaff Tours and guided experiences are a bit different when it comes to visiting an adventure mountain town. We define tours as things people can attend or can experience mostly as a spectator or student. For example, activities like helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon, jeep rides, ranger talks at national monuments and rides through wildlife parks are all considered tours. Flagstaff tours often provide a great deal of knowledge in a shorter amount of time than if you were to visit on your own. Flagstaff Tours are highly recommended if you enjoy an expert sharing his or her extensive knowledge of the place you are visiting. Flagstaff has a few tours in town, but many of these tours depart from or near Flagstaff and take you on a journey to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and other geologically magnificent locations.

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Guided Adventures

Guided experiences and adventures are different from a tour in that you will actively participate in the activity with the guidance of a professional. As you may have already noticed, Flagstaff has a thriving outdoor adventure culture and it could be considered contagious to anyone who stays here long enough. If you have the interest in going on an outdoor adventure but are not familiar with either the activity/sport or the area, hire a professional guide. People in Flagstaff are excited to share their passion for the outdoors with others, and it's always a good idea to adventure with the local professionals. From learning how to snowboard or go rock climbing in Flagstaff to white water rafting down the Grand Canyon, you'll find that guided recreation is the best way to experience new, exciting adventures in a safe and enjoyable way.

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Flagstaff is a town surrounded by dozens of amazing natural attractions. The greatest of them being one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon. But there are many other attractions that are exceptional in their own right and are definitely worth visiting. As the first International Dark Sky City, Flagstaff is home to the Lowell Observatory, known for the discovery Pluto. Some of the best star-gazing in the country takes place in Flagstaff and the observatory is just the place to do it. Just outside of Flagstaff are the Lava Tube Caves, Meteor Crater, and Walnut Canyon. Other attractions in the town include the Museum of Arizona, the Pioneer Museum, Riordan Mansion and as well as cultural events, festivals and art exhibitions. Check out our nearby attractions and explore beautiful Northern Arizona.

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Where does one begin with this? Well, you could go on one of the most epic hikes of your life down into the chasm of the Grand Canyon. There's the San Francisco Peaks to explore with dozens of mountain biking and hiking trails some of which are historical trails or pet-friendly trails.; multiple rock climbing crags; Arizona Snowbowl ski and snowboard resort. There's camping, fishing, kayaking and paddle-boarding; farmers markets, mushroom forging and blackberry picking; music, beer, film and cultural festivals going on most spring and summer weekends; marathons and bike races; winter races by snowshoe, skis or foot; and lots of bluegrass music and IPA beer drinking. Those are just a few ideas. Check out our list of things to do outdoors, as well our Calendar of Events.

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Flagstaff is one of those places where what you do with your day can greatly depend on the weather outside. For much of the country, this is common sense, but many Flagstaff visitors come from the Phoenix area where people are used to sunny and warm weather 300 days a year. With 161 sunny days a year here, it is safe to say that people visiting Flagstaff generally expect to spend a good amount of time outdoors. Whether you're in Flagstaff to cool off in the summer, while sitting on a patio drinking a beer, or you're here to go skiing, snowboarding, camping and exploring nature with family and friends, embracing being outdoors is usually part of the plan. During the later summer months, hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities are sometimes cut short or canceled due to afternoon monsoon downpours, and in the winter, this mountain town gets over 100 inches of snow, which can drive the non-skiers and snow sports enthusiasts inside. For this reason, we've decided to separate Things to Do in Flagstaff by Indoor Recreation and Outdoor Recreation.

These indoor activities will come in handy for those days when it's too rainy, snowy or cold for you to go do something outside. Or perhaps you're just not the outdoorsy type. There are several things to do indoors that can keep you entertained, dry, warm and protected from the elements.

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RECOMMENDED THINGS TO DO WHEN VISITING FLAGSTAFF

Predator Zip Lines - Camp Verde, AZ

Experience the wind ripping through your hair on a thrill ride over nature's wildest predators. Enjoy the adventure of a lifetime on a world-class zip line over Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde Arizona! We are conveniently located less than 20 miles from Sedona, in the heart of Northern Arizona's wine country, just minutes from tasting rooms and vineyards. From the top of the towers, you can see majestic red rocks, the San Francisco peaks, and the whole breathtaking Verde Valley including Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Jerome. Come join us for a Zip Line adventure that you'll never forget! Ride the most exciting zip line ever devised, over Out of Africa and soar over Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Hyenas, Bears, Jaguars and other natural predators!

Top Things to Do in Flagstaff

Flagstaff Tours

Guided Adventures

RECOMMENDED THINGS TO DO WHEN VISITING FLAGSTAFF

In the Spotlight

RELATED TRIP IDEAS

NEARBY TOURS & ATTRACTIONS

MORE COOL THINGS TO DO IN FLAGSTAFF

Peer Into the Universe at Lowell Observatory

Explore Lava Tube Cave

Play Outside!

Guided Adventures: Featuring Flagstaff Climbing