How to spend 3 days In & Around Flagstaff

Just on a Sunday evening as we were lazy on our sofa looking at Hawaii vacation pics, we started perusing for the next destination. After an hour long discussion on google maps, we stopped on Flagstaff, AZ being a fan of switching the diversity of landscapes in my trips. We stayed at an airbnb in Flagstaff for a total of 6 days and here is my 3 day itinerary :

Day 1

Have breakfast at Mike & Ronda's The Place

If you are in flagstaff and want to go indulge into one breakfast place, I would definitely recommend Mike and Ronda's , it's family owned with huge portions. Irrespective of the time, the place is full. We went right within 15 minutes of its opening time and it was already 3/4th full. Ordered the spinach omelette and loaded ourselves with lots of coffee for the day ahead.

Visit the Sunset Crater Volcanic National Monument

You can do all sorts of activity here , camping hiking or strolling. We went for the lava flow trail which is paved path, good for an evening walk. Then we joined the lava's edge trail to go to a bit off beaten path. The view of the San Francisco peaks(Humprey's peak) on the opposite side is both beautiful and rewarding. This 3.6 miles hike is moderate and quite scenic. From there we drove away from the city on 395 towards the Painted Vista View, the canyon view from a pine forest is breathtaking.

Have lunch at Eat n Run Route 66

You will definitely crave for a sandwich after that heat and Eat n Run Route 66 cafe with fresh bread and full of flavor.

Visit the Arizona Snowbowl and take a hike.

Arizona Snowbowl is a destination for skiing in the winters and it has a awesome air lift , scenic gondola rides that you shouldn't miss. We went in early May and thats the only time of rest for the Snowbowl after a busy winter and before a fun filled summer. Amidst our timing , we made the most by taking the Aspen Nature Loop trail. A trail that is easy , you can see a lot of bird life and aspen trees all around. This is a must do hike in fall , where the aspen tress are lit with golden leaves. Visit this place right before sunset if you want incredible views of the peaks.

Return to the city for a sunset at Buffalo Park.

Time to return to the city to the famous and relaxing Buffalo Park. The sunset colors here are just out of the world. Mt Elden on one side and pine trees on the other, make the best background for the orange and red hues on the clear skies.

Have dinner at an authentic Mexican food truck.

We are suckers for authentic Mexican tacos and Tres Amigos Cuisine hit the right spot for us. We ordered twice the food in the same meal and the Shrimp tacos were the best. Use caution with diablo sauce because it packs a punch.

Day 2

Start your day overlooking a Meteor strike.

After a day in cooling pine trees, now is the time to take on some beautiful arid vistas. So we drove to Meteor Crater National Park. It's a tourist attraction and for a reason. My take is if you are in the area , do visit this for the view and the information. Also we learned that the next meteor strike is scheduled for 2023! Watch for it.

Dive deep into the petrified woods.

Our next stop was the Petrified National forest. This national park is definitely underrated due to its proximity to the Canyons. The petrified wood along with its history is a wonder to gaze at. We started with Giant Logs trail followed by Crystal forest trail. The best one was the Blue Mesa Trail.

Have Dinner at Cornish Pastry.

After all that hiking , time to have scrumptious dinner at downtown flagstaff. We had a dinner date at Cornish Pastry Co. The traditional pastry is must try along with their flavorful cocktails. The chicken tandoori wings were also a win win. The creamy potato cheese appetizer is the most comforting food here.

Day 3

Visit the Grand Canyon National Park.

We stayed in Flagstaff due to its proximity to this well renowned National park. The key to visit Grand canyon is to drive as early as possible if you want to avoid crowds. The parking gets full more faster than you would imagine. When we went in May 2021 , the north rim was closed . Do not forget to check the bus schedules and operations. Plan ahead of time for the trails that you want to explore. We did the South Kaibab trail to Ooh Aah Point by taking the Orange line. It was a fun activity and I am speechless of the grand vista. If you are adventurous and have time, go ahead on this trail until the Cedar ridge or the skeleton Point.

Drive the desert view.

If you visit the grand canyon, I highly recommend you to take the Desert View Dr (Highway 64) and stop at the scenic overlook points along the way till you reach Cameron. Dont forget to stop and buy some Navajo Nation jewelry and artisanal products at your scenic lookouts(Make sure you carry some cash).

Have lunch in a Navajo town.

After all the stops and hikes along the way, head to Tuba city to refill your stomach.There arent many options, but this is the closest you can get to food before you make your way to Page,AZ.

Overlook the Glen Canyon and take a glimpse of Lake Powell.

If you have heard of Page, AZ, you would have definitely heard of the Antelope Canyons and their tours. The canyon tours were closed due to the pandemic for us, bit we were able to stop at the glen canyon dam overlook. This overlook is definitely underrated. Also if you have a day in hand , you can take hikes in this canyon region or spend your time on the beach of Lake Powell.

Experience the sunset at the Horseshoe Bend

A grand start needs a grand ending as well , so head on to a 1 mile hike to the Horseshoe bend overlook at sunset. The green and blue water with the red and orange hues is the most picturesque site to behold. I personally felt that pictures dont do justice at this lookout