101 Things to do in Northern Arizona
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21. Stand in 4 states at the same time
Four Corners is a pretty unique place as it is the only area in the country where you can stand in 4 states at the same time. Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah all meet at 37° north latitude with 109° 03′ west longitude. You can literally put your hands and feet in all 4 states at the same time for all sorts of crazy photos, although the line is often very long to do so.
This one is not necessarily worth going out of your way for, however, it’s a good place to stretch your legs on any roadtrip out this way, say on the way to Monument Valley or Southwestern Colorado. Lots of Native American vendors are on-site selling all sorts of authentic homemade crafts like jewelry, sculptures, dream catchers, and pottery pieces. On a side note, it can get really hot here during the summer!
22. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Peaks Via Slate Mountain*
The underrated and underused Slate Mountain trail is the must-do hike if you are seeking the grandest mountain views in all of Arizona. Without question, this trail offers the most magnificent views of the San Francisco Peaks. This hike is a bit challenging although nowhere near as difficult as the super intense high altitude Humphrey’s Peak hike.
This trail, in comparison, is still pretty intense at an ending elevation of 9000 ft (compared to Humphrey’s 12,000), although the gradual switchbacks (about an 800 ft elevation gain over 2.4 miles) make it feel a whole lot easier. This amazing trail is located just 30 minutes outside of Flagstaff, and well worth the drive for the amazing scenery and solitary journey into uninterrupted nature. I loved how quite this trail was: Mike and I basically had the entire path to ourselves. I was even pretty scared of running into a bear due to the isolation.
23. Spend the night at one of America’s most haunted hotels
The Jerome Grand Hotel, formerly a hospital in the 1920’s, is the most haunted place in the city of Jerome, a city already known for its’ many spooky paranormal sightings. Jerome is known to be one of the most haunted towns in America and at one point even published a special paranormal newspaper called the Jerome Ghost Post. The town’s nickname, “the largest ghost town in America,” comes from the fact that the population of the former copper mining town almost dwindled down to nothing at one point.
Today, the town resembles anything but a ghost town with restaurants, art galleries, shops, museums, and ongoing events popping up throughout the year. Despite the surge in popularity, the spooky ghost stories remain and guests continue to report the same eerie sightings from decades ago. At the Mile High Inn, the ghostly vision of a cat roams the halls and rubs against the feet of guests. Sign up for a guided ghost tour at the Jerome Grand Hotel (complete with real ghost hunting equipment like EVPs) or dare to spend the night in Room 35!
24. Stroll around the grounds of Little America at Christmas
The many pine trees at Flagstaff’s favorite hotel shine brightly with over a million colorful lights each year, beginning about a week or so before Thanksgiving. Add chilly temperatures and a high likelihood of snow all throughout the holiday season and you have the perfect wintry wonderland setting. Grab a hot chocolate, bundle up, and enjoy one of the best light shows in Arizona. Best of all, it is completely free! While you can find light shows all around Southern Arizona, the chance of snow and traditional cold weather make the experience more festive. Because I lived so close, I attended this event on a weekly basis just to enjoy the lights and a nice walk outside the house!
25. Enjoy colorful red rock views minus the crowds at Red Rock State Park
Red Rock State Park is a fabulous destination for hiking, nature strolls, bird watching, and photography. It’s one of the least crowded places in Sedona and also one of the most beautiful. The rangers lead a number of fun guided programs throughout the year including guided bird walks and stargazing night walks. With low light pollution and clear nights most of the year, Sedona is an awesome place for stargazing. The hiking trails are all pretty easy and short here, while still affording magnificent views. This is one of my top picks for vacationers looking to take it easy without sacrificing the views.
26. Take a bike ride along one of the only remaining rail trails in Arizona
Rail trails are former railroads which have been transformed into multi purpose recreational paths. There are lot of these on the East coast, yet few in the Western states. Formerly a resident of New England, I was used to riding these great paths nearly every weekend and I was glad to find one in Arizona! The Peavine National Recreational trail in Prescott is one of the few remaining in the state, and fortunately, it’s a pretty scenic place for any type of exercise. This easy 5 mile trek takes you past gorgeous Watson Lake and the Granite Dells rock formations. It’s nice to see some water in Arizona especially while getting in a nice run, bike ride, or walk!
27. Stroll through groves of golden aspens on the Aspen Nature Loop*
Flagstaff’s short and sweet Aspen Nature Loop at Snowbowl is bursting with fall color around the 2nd or 3rd week of October. Really, the leaf peeping along the high altitude Flagstaff trails rivals the best of New England. I was shocked after moving here as I hadn’t heard anything in the media about the incredible leaf peeping (I am proud to be one of the first to spotlight this amazing time of year). I love Flagstaff all year-round, but fall holds a special place in my heart. You can’t beat the brisk temps, the colorful forests, and in general, the great vibe in the air.
And, the gorgeous mountains in the background make this hike even more picture-perfect. At just 1.5 miles round-trip, the Aspen Loop is the perfect stroll for hikers of all levels. While the elevation is quite high at 8000+ feet, the trail itself is quite flat. Be sure to drink lots of water and get accustomed to the high elevation for a few days before embarking on any hike in the area.
28. Have lunch at the El Tovar Lodge
El Tovar is the premier lodging option at the Grand Canyon South Rim. Unfortunately, it often books out months in advance. The hotel was declared a National Historic landmark in 1987. Due to its’ location directly on the rim, it is often booked out months in advance. Movie buffs will notice that the lobby was used in the filming of the 80’s classic Vacation with Chevy Chase.
Even if you cannot get a room, you must plan for lunch in the El Tovar restaurant which features massive windows looking out unto the canyon. Feasting on delicious Southwestern cuisine while surrounded by world-class views of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders is the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Northern Arizona.
29. Explore the ruins of a Christmas themed ghost town
Santa Claus, Arizona, now one of the many ghost towns found along once booming Rt 66, was at one point home to a thriving Santa themed amusement park. Walking around the ruins today you would never guess that this place was once a cheerful Christmas themed amusement park. All that remains are a few crumpled down graffiti covered buildings and the now abandoned Christmas tree Inn.
History buffs or anyone else who loves seeking out weird places should plan for a stop. It’s kind of crazy to see how much a place can change over time, imagining a happy little Christmas amusement park where now stands nothing but barren desert land! I stopped here on the way to Vegas just to have a quick look around. Not really worth going out of your way for but a nice break on a roadtrip.
30. Shop for Southwestern themed souvenirs in Uptown Sedona
Uptown Sedona is a relatively new addition to Sedona’s shopping and dining scene. This huge complex greets you as soon as you enter via the Oak Creek Canyon scenic drive. There are so many things to do here when you are done hiking the trails. It’s basically the touristy center of everything.
There’s a number of Southwestern themed restaurants, lots of art galleries, and boutique shops selling every cacti themed souvenir you can imagine. I love this little local ice cream cafe called The Black Cow (try the prickly pear flavor!). And of course, the best part of all, is that you are still immersed in the gorgeous red rock scenery. For lunch with a great view, check out Wildflower Bread, a regional chain similar to Panera Bread. This local gem serves homemade soups and sandwiches, only with the added benefit of a patio overlooking the magnificent scenery!
