10 healthful ways to kick off the New Year in Flagstaff

Where and how can you begin the New Year with an emphasis on better health?  Flagstaff offers the ideal destination to linger, breath deeply and reconnect with nature and yourself. Why rush it? Give yourself and your travel companions the gift of time with an overnight visit that allows enough time to explore this unique corner of the world and truly unwind.

Here are 10 healthful ways to get the most out of this mountain getaway.

1. Go stargazing under the famously dark skies. Flagstaff is the world’s first and largest International Dark Sky City. The clean, clear air and minimal outdoor lighting offers the rare opportunity to see the Milky Way even from downtown. And breaking away after dinner for an evening stroll at Buffalo Park or along the nearly 60 miles of the Flagstaff Urban Trails System will give you a chance to reconnect with the cosmos.

“Always look up after dinner in Flagstaff. The city’s dark-sky designation means there is a great chance of catching a shooting star or identifying a planet with your naked eyes. And even novice sky watchers who wander into a dark park or open space can easily recognize constellations and features of the night sky,” said  Ryan Randazzo of Discover Flagstaff.  

Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930, sits on a hill overlooking the town, and offers telescope viewing and a large outdoor campus for the chance to take an even closer look at the stars.

2. Find forest solitude on a lesser-known trail. Check the Digital Trail Passport for a curated list of some of the trails less traveled around Flagstaff, where you can get a quiet hike or snowy stroll without crowds. Even a short walk outdoors at this altitude can be restorative. And consider “tree bathing,” a Japanese term for unwinding in the forest. Take a moment during your walk to turn off the phone, breathe deeply and welcome the coming year.

3. Explore 99 works of public art. Flagstaff is rich with murals, sculptures and other exhibitions of artistic expression. So many in fact it can be hard to locate them all without assistance. That’s why the city offers a Public Art Map to help locate some of the many artistic treasures across the town.

“One of my favorite public art installations in Flagstaff is the Grand Canyon Strata installation in Heritage Square, because it blends science and art and can easily go unnoticed unless you’re paying close attention to details,” says Ryan Randazzo of Discover Flagstaff.

4. Walk a trail in a national monument. Flagstaff has three national monuments right at its front door — Wupatki, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Walnut Canyon. These special places can be overshadowed by the larger Grand Canyon National Park, but shouldn’t be overlooked. And many people who visit the monuments stop at the visitor centers and main attractions, while passing by the walking and hiking trails. Start the new year with a short outing in one of these places and see what many visitors miss. Take the time to explore towering lava flows frozen in time at Sunset Crater Volcano. Pack a picnic lunch during a trip to Wupatki and enjoy it at the Doney Picnic Site, where a guided nature trail offers a new perspective on the landscape, history and culture of the region. Walk the Rim Trail at Walnut Canyon for a chance to see wild turkey, coatis and other wildlife in addition to an ancient pit house.

5. Learn about Route 66 history in Flagstaff. The historic highway often called the Mother Road celebrates its centennial in 2026, yet many visitors and even Arizona residents might not be aware of how the road developed in Flagstaff. For a great primer on this history to get up to speed for the centennial, try the free, self-guided Walk this Talk tour that starts at the Flagstaff Visitor Center at 1. E. Route 66. The approximately 1-mile walk will introduce you to 10 historic spots throughout the Southside neighborhood, including a building used by N.A.S.A. for astrogeology research and a former laundry now home to the brewery making Arizona’s highest rated India pale ale — Mother Road Brewing Company.

“The Walk This Talk tour is a great introduction to Route 66 and how it helped shape Flagstaff. The tour shows how the highway and its different alignments still influence Flagstaff today, including the underpass built in 1934 that nearly every resident and visitor uses to avoid waiting for trains,” said Ryan Randazzo of Discover Flagstaff.

6. Sip a creative alcohol-free mocktail. Wellness doesn’t mean skipping the fun. Several craft cocktail lounges around the city offer alcohol-free treats mixed with just as much imagination and care as their boozy offerings. Plus, sipping these  means you can stay fresh for the adventures on the next day’s itinerary. For a list of options visit https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/dining-nightlife/mocktails/

7. Soak in warmth of a heated pool, hot tub or Nordic spa. The newly refurbished and ultra-hip Americana Motor Hotel offers a heated swimming pool where guests can kick back and relax in the cool air while staying toasty. Across town and also on Route 66, the High Country Motor Lodge offers a Nordic spa experience with heated saunas and an unheated swimming pool perfect for taking a refreshing “cold plunge.” Several other properties including Little America, Doubletree and Embassy Suites by Hilton and more offer hot tubs for a relaxing kick off to the year.

8. Take in the view from the top of Arizona Snowbowl. Skiers and snowboarders don’t need to be reminded winter is here and it’s time to hit the slopes. But the resort also offers a scenic reprieve for those who want to get outdoors but not necessarily swoosh down the slopes. The Arizona Gondola offers an enclosed ride taking approximately 25 minutes round-trip to the top elevation of 11,500 feet. Enjoy watching the skiers and snowboarders below while quietly passing through the trees. Extend the day by relaxing on the outdoor patio listening to live music if the weather is nice.

9. Ice skate indoors at Jay Lively Activity Center. There’s just something relaxing about gliding across the ice that helps filter out stress and allow a person to be in the moment. And for those who haven’t discovered this meditative exercise, the Jay Lively Activity Center city-owned facility offers lessons with skate rentals on Wednesdays in addition to its various public skating hours.

10. Find a way to give back. For those looking to add more meaning in the new year, Flagstaff prides itself on offering a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the community. Some of these opportunities are a great way to get outdoors, like keeping trails and avenues clean through the Community Stewards Program, or working at a community garden. The activities are diverse, and include creating rain barrels for the Water Services department to reduce outdoor water use to offering repair services at one of the city’s Fix-It Clinics. Those who are interested can even sign up for alerts to learn about opportunities as they are announced. Make a pledge today to lend a hand in the new year.