Arizona is famous around the world for a few things. The Grand Canyon. The Sonoran desert and its beautiful and unique saguaro cacti. But more than anything else, Arizona is known for its incredibly hot, dry heat. In the summer, the southern half of our state will reach temperatures most Americans can only imagine.
What the rest of the world may not realize is that not all of Arizona shares this sometimes intense heat. Flagstaff, a historic mountain community just about two hours north of our capital city of Phoenix, is a forested retreat. At an elevation similar to Denver, Colorado, our high desert landscape offers mild summers and lush mountain scenery not widely associated with our state.
Whether you’re a local from down south in Phoenix or Tucson who needs to cool down or an out-of-towner who has yet to experience our unique mountain town, we’ve got five reasons you should start planning your summer escape to Flagstaff today.
1) Summer Shouldn’t Be Spent Indoors: Keep It Cool in Flagstaff
When the summer temperatures soar to record heights, the great indoors can become your only place for refuge. As a high desert with an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, Flagstaff enjoys mild summer heat. Which sets the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures, whatever your ideal summer day looks like.
At Little America, you can lounge beside our outdoor pool, surrounded by acres of ponderosa pine forest. Take a stroll on our private Nature Walk loop. Dine on the secluded patio at Silver Pine Restaurant. Or enjoy the quick connection to the surrounding miles of hiking trails in and around central Flagstaff.
2) Bucket List Summers: From the Grand Canyon to the Red Rocks of Sedona
Not only does Flagstaff offer summers spent in the great outdoors, but our city is also the gateway to several of the most iconic landmarks in the Southwest.
When you stay in Flagstaff, you can enjoy elevated dining, events, shopping, and nightlife while only being a short drive from the life-changing Grand Canyon National Park and other natural wonders, including Walnut Canyon Nation Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano, and the Wupatki Nation Monument. You can also head south to Sedona, another Northern Arizona gem, in just 20 minutes.
3) Outdoor Exploration with a Side of City Living: Discover Flagstaff’s Nightlife
While Flagstaff is famous for its certified Dark Skies—the first dark sky city in the world—and its breathtaking nature, we also know a thing or two about memorable nights on the town.
Known best for our extended community of local breweries, Flagstaff also has our fair share of dance halls, dive bars, and classic cocktail joints.
And when you stay at Little America, you stay with one of Flagstaff’s best bars right on-site. Silver Pine Bar offers a great atmosphere and stellar service. Whether you’re looking for hand-crafted cocktails (like our famous Prickly Pear Margarita) or a local beer on draught, Silver Pine is a local hot spot and a traveler’s toast of Flagstaff.
4) For the History Buff: Spend Summer on Historic Route 66
Nothing says summer like a classic American road trip. And there’s no more classic road trip than cruising along historic Route 66.
When you stay in Flagstaff, you can experience many of the Route’s milestone markers. Whether you head further out of town or stay close by to experience many of the mom-and-pop stops along the way, this piece of iconic Americana always makes for unforgettable summer memories.
5) Stay Together: There’s Room for Everyone at Little America
The most important part of a summer escape is the people you bring along on the journey. Most hotel rooms don’t offer the space required for families and friend groups to stay all in one place.
Little America Hotel has offered the largest hotel rooms in town for more than 50 years. While our standard guest rooms offer nearly 500 square feet of living space, families and friends who want to stay all together can also enjoy the extra space in our family-friendly suites.
From the multi-room Apartment Suites to the multi-level Govenor’s Suite, our high-end amenities and comfortable accommodations can be enjoyed family-style. Extended stays are even easier with a full-sized kitchen offered in the Presidential Suite.
No matter the length of your stay, Little America Hotel is Flagstaff’s premier place to rest and connect—with the cooling and calming natural world but also with the ones who matter most. Make little memories together in Flagstaff this summer.