Flagstaff
Flagstaff is our neighbor to the North, rich in history, cultural diversity, and beauty, as well as education. It's a college town, and visitors get to enjoy all of the perks of being in a college town - wonderful little coffee shops, cutting-edge art events, writing workshops and book fairs, and college-sponsored educational programs.
Unlike the Valley, Flagstaff enjoys four distinct seasons, and an average snowfall of 99.5 inches. If you start to get a little bit misty this time of year about missing the snow you grew up with, a two hour drive north will satisfy even the harshest case of homesickness.
Head up to Flagstaff a little bit early for a long weekend away from Superbowl festivities. Friday night is "First Friday Artwalk" in downtown Flagstaff. If you've never been to "First Friday" in Flagstaff, it's a real treat. Galleries and coffee shops are abundant near Heritage Square and they all stay open for late night visitors.
Superbowl weekend just happens to be the weekend of the Cross Country Ski Race, Classic at Flagstaff Nordic Center. This is a 10km diagonal-stride ski race on gorgeous groomed trails. Price per person is $35 and includes an all-day trail pass.
Flagstaff's mainstay, the Arizona Snowbowl, one of the nation's oldest continually-run ski areas offers skiing and snowboarding for families, whether beginner or advanced.
If you're considering a ski weekend for your family, there are some great deal in Flagstaff right now. At press time, Embassy Suites offers a rate of $139 per night, breakfast included. After a fantastic day on the slopes, bring your family to Altitudes Bar & Grill, a ski-themed restaurant with live music and entertainment. For something a bit more elegant, make reservations at Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar for all-organic, vegan, and vegetarian gourmet choices. They offer a wonderful wine selection also! Condé Nast Traveler rated this restaurant one of the 95 best new restaurants in the world for 2007 .definitely make it a priority during your weekend stay!
Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 44 minutes; Distance: 117 miles
Arizona Snowbowl: www.arizonasnowbowl.com; 928.779.1951
Flagstaff Nordic Center: www.flagstaffnordiccenter.com; 928.220.0550
Altitudes Bar & Grill: 928-214-8218; 2 S. Beaver Street, Flagstaff
Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar: 928.213.1021; 413 N. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff; www.brixflagstaff.com
Estes Park, Colorado
Are you a horror fan who is looking for a vacation that has got absolutely everything you would ever want? Visit The Stanley Hotel and Conference Center in Estes Park, Colorado for an utterly "chilling" experience.
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The Stanley Hotel (otherwise known as "Overlook Hotel" in Steven King's novel, The Shining) sits amid the breathtaking Colorado Rockies and provides real ghosts as well as a taste of literary history. Built in the early 1900s, the hotel housed many famous celebrities, including Stephen King. King resided at The Stanley for five months while writing his classic horror novel, The Shining. The hotel served as King's inspiration for the setting and story.
But the hauntings and apparitions are not all fiction. Bus staff and cooks report hearing music from the ballroom that stops when they enter the room. Bartenders have seen the ghost of F.O. Stanley, co-inventor of the Stanley automobile and the original owner of the hotel, stroll through the kitchen, then disappear when they go to cut him off at the kitchen. Tour guides tell the story of the ghost of a small child seen by many of the staff, and reportedly by King himself, calling out to his nanny on the second floor near the famed room made famous by the novel and the movie. |
Even on its own merits, The Stanley Hotel is a grand resort getaway less than two hours northwest of Denver. It has 135 guest rooms, with fabulous views of the surrounding Rockies, luxury amenities, and fine dining and entertainment. Rocky Mountain National Park is less than six miles away from the hotel grounds.
Estimated travel times: 13 hours, 37 minutes; Distance 842 miles.
Utah
Utah prides itself on being a "paradise for outdoor enthusiasts," offering everything from hiking, to biking, to skiing and snowboarding. Moab, Utah offers unbelievable sightseeing as it is home to Arches National Park, the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches. An artist or photographer will delight in the opportunity to capture some of the magic to take home on paper.
If snowmobiling is your bag, head up to Utah for the Utah Avalanche Center's Second Annual Snowmobile Event. The entire weekend will be full of snow, fun, and camaraderie, and the best thing is, it's all for a good cause. The event includes a sponsor tradeshow, an organized snowmobile ride through some of Utah's best terrain, full gourmet dinner featuring special guest speakers, and a live auction. All of this will benefit the Utah Avalanche Center, which offers dozens of free avalanche awareness presentations throughout the season to educate the public on avalanche basics and techniques on how to avoid triggering avalanches.
Wasatch- Cache National Forest
Estimated travel time: 11 hours, 31 minutes; Distance: 688 miles
Info> Utah Avalanche Center: www.avalanche.org; 801.524.5304
Arches National Park: http://www.nps.gov/arch/
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is an artist's paradise, and a shopper's dream. Condé Nast Traveler recently named this quiet little city the #4 travel destination in the United States. This is a destination where it is tempting to just roam their downtown are, stopping into little galleries and shops along the way, soaking up the rich culture. However, not surprisingly, there are a few "must sees" in Santa Fe.
The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum is a definite "do." This gallery features many of her exquisite paintings and prints, with a wonderful gift shop offering books on her life, greeting cards and prints for sale. The Gallery happens to be hosting a "Marsden Hartley and the West" exhibit until May. Hartley was one of America's great Modernist painters who spent time painting in New Mexico during her lifetime (1877-1943.) The exhibit features nearly fifty of those paintings that were created between 1918 and 1924.
The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is hosting an exhibit, "Native Couture: A History of Santa Fe Style" from until September 1 st . This exhibit explores the history of Santa Fe style showcasing jewelry and clothing from the 1880s to today.
Estimated travel time: 6 hours, 59 minutes; Distance: 499 miles.
Info> Museum of Indian Arts and Culture: 710 Camino Lejo on Museum Hill; 505.476.1250
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: 217 Johnson Street; 505.946.1000; www.okeeffemuseum.org |
