Visiting Flagstaff AZ 2011

After our fantastic trip to Pittsburgh just a couple of weeks ago the Grouch family decided we needed a vacation!  So the Missus, young son, and I set off in the hybrid Escape sans dogs for a trip to Flagstaff AZ to see the sights.  We only had 3 days to see what needed to be seen so we wasted no time.  Young daughter was to meet us in Flagstaff as she was driving by herself. 

We set off for AZ via I40.  The highway in California was in horrible shape and the rest stops were all closed for repair.   We didn't see any repairs going on and it almost made for some desperate times but eventually we made it to AZ and the road improved almost immediately and the rest stops were open!   The Escape climbed a steady grade going up to Flagstaff eventually besting 5,000 ft.  We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express and even though staying there did not make us an instant expert on an important subject we did enjoy the great breakfast and comfortable beds.  The Grouch was interested to see the number of foreign guests at the hotel outnumbering U.S. citizens by a goodly number.  We decided that we had the following goals:

1. Meteor crater
2. Winslow and the corner where the flat bed Ford slowed down

3. Montezuma's Castle

4. Sunrise crater

5. Downtown Flagstaff

6. Native American building ruins
7. souvenirs

We did the meteor crater and an impressive sight it was.  It was very hard to grasp the scale of what we were seeing it was so enormous.  After that a quick run to Winslow to see the corner and the route 66 sign and on the way back we passed an exit that seemed perfect for the Grouch.  Down to Montezuma's castle which are impressive cliff dwellings that we realized we had seen in 1995 when we stayed in Sedona, but they were worth a second look.  Up to Montezuma's well.  Over to Sunset crater and the lava flow and then on to see more Indian ruins.  Back to old downtown Flagstaff.  More Indian ruins.  Then, in the Escape for a 8 hour drive back home.  It rained every day, sometimes fire hose quantity rain.  It was a good thing we had umbrellas and a rain coat!  It was a great time and we will be back.

http://www.meteorcrater.com/  meteor crater

http://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm  Montezuma's castle

http://www.arizona-leisure.com/sunset-crater-volcano.html  Sunrise crater

http://www.arizona-leisure.com/wupatki-ruins.html Wupatki ruins

http://www.winslowarizona.org/  Winslow

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/az-twoguns.html  Two Guns ghost town

Click on the pics for a larger view!

We reach AZ, land of sunshine and smooth highways

Hot, dry, and dusty

Climbing up the mountains towards Flagstaff

The meteor crater, over 500 ft deep!  But it used to be over 700 ft deep when it was first created 50,000 years ago

The Grouches minus the Missus who is taking the picture, as we touch a meteor for luck

Young son standing on the corner hoping a girl in a flat bed Ford will slow down to take a look at him

Young daughter smack in the middle of route 66

Two guns ghost town that away

Two Guns - at least part of it

Even the graffiti in AZ is historic

The Grouches exploring an Indian ruin

The ruin

Traversing the lava field at Sunset Crater (an extinct - for now- volcano)

Glad the lava has cooled off!

For once the Missus is in the picture!

The citadel ruin and Young Daughter tries to keep her footing as the wind and rain comes

Yep, another ruin!



Montezuma's castle.  Montezuma had nothing to do with building it but the name stuck