Top 10 Labor Day Weekend Things to Do in Flagstaff

Summer’s not over yet! From Arizona’s highest peak to the deepest canyon, plan an adventure this Labor Day holiday in Flagstaff. Flagstaff’s scenic mountain vistas and cool alpine breezes are ready for you with the top 10 things to do, see and taste whether it’s an amazing event, scenic gondola ride, national park visit or patio dining.

1. Grand Canyon National Park

Start with a grand celebration with a visit to Grand Canyon National Park located only 80 miles from Flagstaff. Explore nature’s beauty with a hike on a south rim trail, discover the Hopi House or rent a bike from Bright Angel Bicycles. 

Next travel to Flagstaff with more than 200 restaurants to choose from with options for all foodie lovers and hungry palettes. Here are a few of the many options: 

• Diablo Burger for the best burger in Arizona
• Black Bart's Steakhouse for a cowboy sized steak
• Authentic wood-fired pizza at Fat Olives
• Lotus Lounge for upscale sushi 
• Brix for fine dining

Top off the evening in historic downtown with the town’s lively nightlife scene.

2. Arizona Snowbowl

Experience Arizona Snowbowl’s awe inspiring views and a glimpse of the Grand Canyon while zooming to the top of Arizona’s highest peak on the scenic gondola. Take a hike, play disc golf or grab a beer and a bite on the deck at Arizona Snowbowl. Enjoy all the fun family activities that are perfect for kids from treasure panning to a bungee trampoline and there’s even summer tubing!

3. Coconino County Fair

Don’t miss the Coconino County Fair featuring carnival rides, games, live music, exhibits, livestock shows and auction, and of course food, food and more food! This family-friendly environment showcases agriculture, horticulture, farm animals, entertainment, household arts and diverse traditions. Visit their website for tickets and information. 

4. The Arboretum at Flagstaff

The Arboretum At Flagstaff is home to 750 species of plants in greenhouses, gardens and natural habitats located on 200 acres in Coconino National Forest. Garden tours offer an opportunity to explore the beautiful Arboretum grounds and gardens with a trained docent to learn about the Colorado Plateau and discover native plants. Meander down the main path to capture an engaging collection of over 32 pieces of outdoor artwork on display by the Botanical Blacksmiths and Friends.

5. Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

Schedule an exhilarating outdoor adventure at Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course on more than 30 zip lines to pump up the adrenaline. Flagstaff Extreme or FLG X is the activity of choice for hours of tree-to-tree thrills through Coconino National Forest – the world’s largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest! If an obstacle course is more your style to test your limits, book the adventure course with suspended bridges, scramble nets, swinging logs and much more plus there is a kids adventure course option.

6. Bikes & Brews

Hike or bike the outdoors on the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) then trek on the Flagstaff Brewery Trail. Nature lovers can enjoy more than 56 miles of urban trails and hundreds of beautiful trails in Coconino County National Forest. When it’s time to call it a day, grab a brew on the Flagstaff Brewery Trail. Flagstaff is Arizona's leading craft beer city with award-winning ales at:

• Beaver Street Brewery
• Lumberyard Brewing Company
• Flagstaff Brewing Company
• Historic Brewing Company
• Wanderlust Brewing Company
• Dark Sky Brewing Company
• Grand Canyon Brewing & Distillery
• Mother Road Brewing Company.  

Download a free Brewery Trail Passport here or just ask for it at any Flagstaff brewery. Bring the completed passport to the Flagstaff Visitor Center (1 E. Rt. 66) and be rewarded with a Flagstaff special-edition commemorative craft beer city pint glass.

7. Museum of Northern Arizona

Visit the Museum of Northern Arizona to learn about Native cultures, tribal lifeways, natural sciences and arts from the Colorado Plateau region. Experience the museum’s special exhibits and discover the world's only indigenous robot - HopiR2! Exhibits now on display feature beautiful Southwestern jewelry, histories in clay, footprints of the past, archeology, geology, and native peoples of the Colorado plateau. Flagstaff’s premier museum offers more than five million artifacts in the museum’s anthropology, biology, fine art and geology collections.

8. Flagstaff National Monuments

Discover Flagstaff’s National Monuments at Wupatki, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Walnut Canyon. Together, these national monuments protect more than 40,000 acres and 3,000 archeological sites, in a landscape of expansive high deserts, canyons, mountains, mesas, and volcanic features. Look up at Sunset Crater’s cinder cone, down into Walnut Canyon, and out across the Wupatki grasslands to the Painted Desert.

9. Flagstaff's Lunar Legacy

Take a giant leap out of this world exploring Flagstaff’s Lunar Legacy. Every astronaut that walked on the moon trained in Flagstaff, scientists created lunar maps and researchers developed lunar equipment. Start your Flagstaff Lunar Legacy with the lunar landmark passport available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center (One East Route 66) to guide you to northern Arizona’s astronaut training locations such as Lowell Observatory and Meteor Crater.

10. Take a Ride on Route 66

Cruise Route 66 for a look back in time at the nostalgia of Americana. The Historic Route 66, created in 1926, is a 2,448 mile journey through the heart of America and the highest point of the route with more than 14 miles of the famous Route 66 runs directly through Flagstaff. Arizona’s segment of Route 66 is designated as an Arizona Historic Road, a National Scenic Byway and attained the highest national designation possible with All-American Road status.

Learn Route 66 history on the free self-guided Walk This Talk audio tour that commemorates Flagstaff’s original alignment of Route 66 on Phoenix Avenue and Mikes Pike. The tour begins at the Flagstaff Visitor Center (One East Route 66) and is introduced by Hollywood actor and Flagstaff’s own, Ted Danson, with tour stops voiced by local writer, Rose Houk. And be sure to check-out the classic honky tonk Route 66 roadhouse at the Museum Club (3404 E. Route 66) that offers country music and dime beer nights along with a few ghost stories.