Flagstaff announces “City of Seven Wonders” tour
Flagstaff, Arizona offers awe-inspiring discoveries of heritage and history at every turn, endless trails to explore, and is only 80 miles from Grand Canyon National Park.
Adventurous travellers could do well to make Flagstaff their basecamp with the “City of Seven Wonders” tour: Grand Canyon National Park, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Oak Creek Canyon, the San Francisco Peaks, and Coconino National Forest.
Visitors can Trek the Lava Flow Trail at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument to learn about history and geology while viewing the impacts of a volcanic eruption 900 years ago. Did you know that this area was the training site for Apollo astronauts in preparation for the 1969 moon landing? Wupatki National Monument features 800-year-old pueblos that dot the desert landscape and represent cultural crossroads. One can hike the Island Trail at Walnut Canyon National Monument to gaze upon curved canyon walls and venture into cliff dwellings from ancient Sinagua inhabitants. A somewhat easier route, the spectacular Rim Trail gives a bird’s eye view. Flagstaff is the world’s top dark sky city, showcasing magnificent, clear-sky stargazing opportunities. It is also home to Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered more than 70 years ago.
Flagstaff’s storied history and culture on uncrowded trails provide solitude, easy social distancing, and outstanding views.
Photo: Wupatki National Monument with San Francisco Peaks in background near Flagstaff, Arizona.