Every year before Christmas I take a trip to Flagstaff. This trip has happened so often it has turned into a tradition for me, so this year was no exception. However, this was the first time I ended up venturing into town rather than just staying in the snow on the outskirts of Flagstaff. My visit definitely left an impression on me.
Walking through Flagstaff is a breath of fresh air — and not just in the literal sense. Flagstaff’s quaint, small-town feel, friendly inhabitants and specialty shops are a refreshing change from the Phoenix city setting. There is also another major difference between Phoenix and Flagstaff — at an elevation of 7,000 feet, Flagstaff receives an abundant amount of snow during the winter months, adding to the charm of this beautiful town.
I arrived in the early afternoon. After taking a stroll around the town, admiring the breathtaking view of the snow-capped mountains and chuckling over the witty shop names (Late for the Train Coffee Roastery and Granny’s Closet Bar and Restaurant just to name a few), my boyfriend and I decided to stop somewhere for some hot chocolate.
We came across The Sweet Shoppe and Nut House located on 15 E. Aspen Avenue, which offers a variety of homemade fudge; their flavors range from apple fudge and peanut butter fudge, to the indulgent Reese’s Pieces fudge. They also offer other sugary confections, many of them hard to find and sure to make you experience a blast from the past.
With our sweet tooth satisfied, we continued to browse the shops in Flagstaff. To my delight we came across a bookstore selling used books. Starrlight Books offers a large selection of both old classics and newer fiction titles. These books are priced at around half their retail price and are in excellent condition. The dark wood bookshelves and cozy reading corners make this the perfect setting for any bookworm. Also, make sure not to miss the amazing case of rare books containing a signed copy of a Virginia Woolf book.
As the trip came to a close I noticed a large marquee counting down to the new year and a large metal pinecone beside it. Flagstaff’s annual Pinecone drop is held on the last night of the year; it’s Flagstaff’s version of New York’s Time Square Ball Drop. Although I didn’t get the chance to attend this event I’m sure it’s just as memorable as everything else that makes Flagstaff such a wonderful place to visit.
For more information about the Flagstaff businesses mentioned in this blog, visit the following websites:
