flg

is where my love of the southwest began. when i moved to flg from the midwest i expected cacti and 110deg summers and 80deg winters. i didn’t expect mountains. i didn’t expect charm. i didn’t expect to fall in love with this city. flg has everything a gal could ask for, it has hiking trails, and indigenous culture, and food to die for. flg is nestled in northern arizona in the foothills of the san franciscan peaks. the town has a quaint downtown full of restaurants that is marked by bnsf’s transcontinental railroad the roars through the downtown. the town is home to the lumberjacks of northern arizona and will make you wish you knew nau existed when you were in college so you could have lived there for four whole years. you could stay in flg for the weekend or the week you will never get bored. here are some of my faves.

eat

tinderbox: do you want the best meal of your life? look no further. everything on the menu is perfection and you can’t go wrong with any of options but i love the duck breast or the filet mignon (i found my partner to go with so i can taste even more dishes). my partner loved the amuse bouche we were served between meals almost more than his duck (okay, okay thats a stretch but still). best for: dinner, price: $$$$

shift: its not quite tinderbox. but only by an infinitesimally small amount. but the cocktails: chef’s kiss. the apps: another chef’s kiss. the main course: im dead just thinking about it. you can’t go wrong here. do yourself a favor and get that resi. best for: dinner, price: $$$$

tourist home: it should be not surprise that i love tourist home, since they are owned by the same people who gave us tinderbox. this place is the best for breakfast or lunch. and also a great place to grab coffee. enjoy a lovely meal on their patio and your stomach will thank you. beast for: breakfast/lunch, price: $$

pizzicletta: if you like a stellar neapolitan pizza this is your spot, arguably one of the best pizza places in the great state of arizona. best for: lunch/dinner, price: $$

frattelli pizza: if you like a heartier pizza, frattelli’s. flg sure does have a lot of pizza joints (in case you were wondering). best for: lunch/dinner, price: $$

mother road brewing company: best beer in town. and best spot since its right next to pizzicletta so you can get your hipster beer and pizza at the same time. best for: lunch/dinner, price: $$

fire creek coffee: best coffee spot in town. they roast their own coffee and have a great space to relax and enjoy each others company. best for: breakfast, price: $

stay

high country motor lodge: the best spot on flg. this boutique hotel has plenty of charm with the vibes of an upscale route 66 motel. this is the spot to stay. bar, fire pits, pool, did i say bar? this is the best. price: $$ (varies by time of year)

residence inn: if you just have to stay at a chain hotel this is the marriott for you. i get it, im a points snob to and where i would stay when my previous company was paying the tab. it does have the best location. price: $$$ (varies by time of year)

do

red mountain - short hike, and ends in a beautiful red crater. the crater is fun to explore and great place for lunch.

sunset crater - a wonderful national monument where the black lava flows make the blue skies and green mountains pop, hikes vary in length, talk to a park ranger for recomendations

fisher point - a bit of a longer hike, but winds through a scenic canyon. hikers can choose to summit fisher point for extra views or keep it simple

humphrey’s peak - the highest point in all of arizona. a hard hike, very hard, but worth it for the views and to know that you can do it

wuptaki national monument - a hidden gem of the national park service (along with walnut canyon). this monument protects ruins of the indigenous people of arizona. learn about how they live and meander through the ruins

walnut canyon - another national monument where a short trail leads to a handful of cliff dwellings. meander through the canyon and learn about how people used to live in northern arizona

snowbowl - if you make it up in winter, grab some skis from ski haus and then head up the hill where you can find a steal of a deal for a life ticket (unless its winter break with a freash 6in of powder)