Visit Grand Canyon National Park for free

Flagstaff is located close to lots of national parks. Day trips to Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Tuzigoot National Monument are easy.

Of course, even closer are the three Flagstaff Area National Monuments, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monuments.

This summer, the difficult question is which parks to visit. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will offer three fee-free weekends this summer to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit these national treasures. The 147 National Park Service sites across the country that charge fees, ranging from $3 to $25 for entry, will waive these entrance fees during the weekends of:

• June 20-21 (Father's Day!)
• July 18-19
• August 15-16, 2009

The waiver does not include other fees collected in advance or by contractors—such as fees charged for camping, reservations, tours and use of concessions. However, many park partners including tour operators, hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and other vendors will offer additional discounts and special promotions on those dates.

Be sure to check out my National Parks Travel Examiner articles about visiting national parks this summer.

Flagstaff Makes Kiplinger's 2009 Best Cities List

This year Kiplinger says it's all about jobs when choosing the 10 Best Cities. They were looking for safe havens during the current recession. University and government jobs are a part of that environment.

Here's the list of top 10:

1. Huntsville, Alabama
2. Albuquerque, New Mexico
3. Washington D.C.
4. Charlottsville, Virginia
5. Athens, Georgia
6. Olympia, Washington
7. Madison, Wisconsin
8. Austin, Texas
9. Flagstaff, Arizona
10. Raleigh, North Carolina

Looks like quite a diverse line-up, across the country. Read more about the picks and their methodology at Kiplinger 2009 Best Cities.

A Christmas Carol at Grand Canyon Railway Depot

After its send-off in Los Angeles, the Grand Canyon Railway Depot in Williams, Arizona, will be the first stop for the cross-country train tour promoting “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” new 3-D film from Robert Zemeckis, starring Jim Carey.

A sneak peek preview of the movie in Disney Digital 3-D will be featured in an inflatable theater, but don't expect to get a peek at Jim Carey. Unfortunately, he won't be along for the train ride.

"Featuring four custom-designed vintage rail cars full of behind-the-scenes attractions, entertaining demonstrations, and fun activities, the tour will have its inaugural stop at Los Angeles’ Union Station over Memorial Day Weekend, from May 22nd through May 25th. During the next 24 weeks, the train will make 40 stops in 36 states, as it travels its way across more than 16,000 miles of track. The tour will finish at New York’s Grand Central Terminal over the weekend of October 30th through November 1st."

--Disney Train Tour

The three-day event is free and there is still time to make last minute plans to head to the Grand Canyon Railway Depot to be among the first to get a preview of Disney's latest holiday movie, A Christmas Carol.

For more info: Grand Canyon Railway

Flagstaff: National Train Day

National Train Day is May 9, 2009. Marking 140 years of connecting travelers from coast to coast, National Train Day commemorates the day the first transcontinental railroad was created.

Read about the final spike ceremony on May 10, 1869, at Golden Spike National Historic Site and 140th anniversary--Golden Spike and Transcontinetal Railroad at Promontory Summit.

"Train travel is deeply rooted in American culture and it shows great promise to become a growing part of our country's transportation future," said Emmett Fremaux, vice president marketing and product management, Amtrak. "National Train Day gives the public a glimpse into how the train shaped the country and how it will continue to do so by showcasing how train travel provides greener travel options with clean technology and greater efficiency through high-speed rail travel."

Amtrak services Flagstaff twice daily on the Southwest Chief line, stopping at the Historic Train Depot on the original Route 66. According to the company's 2008 fiscal year report, it was the busiest Amtrak station in Arizona. The historic train station is also the city's official Visitor Center making it the perfect stop for anyone looking for directions, planning travel, details about area attractions, dining suggestions or local history.

For more information about National Train Day. For more information about Flagstaff visit Flagstaff CVB.

Ranger Lecture: Science on the Edge

As a part of the Ranger Lecture Series in Flagstaff, called Conversations on the Edge, the Grand Canyon Association and Cline Library at Northern Arizona University will host Science on the Edge: Preserving Grand Canyon National Park’s Natural and Cultural Resources. Martha Hahn, Chief of Science and Resource Management, Grand Canyon National Park, will highlight some of park's current projects, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the role the Division of Science and Resource Management plays in preserving and protecting Grand Canyon.

Hahn has been Chief of Science and Resource Management at Grand Canyon National Park since May 2007. She previously worked at Grand Canyon in the mid-1980s. She oversaw the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Studies and Colorado River resource management and planning, and served as the management assistant to the Superintendent.

When:

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
7:00 p.m.

Where:

Cline Library
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

Cost:

Free and no reservations are required.

Science on the Edge: Preserving Grand Canyon National Park's Natural and Cultural Resources is part of the 2009 Ranger Lecture Series in Flagstaff, called Conversations on the Edge. The lectures feature specialists from Grand Canyon National Park's Division of Science and Resource Management speaking about the National Park Service's work to monitor, manage and preserve Grand Canyon's natural and cultural resources for present and future generations.

Conversations on the Edge lectures are sponsored by the Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon National Park and Cline Library.

If you can't attend the lecture, you'll be able to see the video on the new GCA YouTube Video Channel.


For more info: GCA Community Lecture Series

Northern Arizona Book Festival 2009

Northern Arizona Book Festival
April 24-26, 2009

My personal pick of Festival events is:

Indefatigable Influence: An Exploration of the Grand Canyons' Influence on the Visual and Literary Artists and Writers Past & Present on Saturday, at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., April 25, 2009.

Regionalist, Rod Parnell will moderate a discussion panel examining the ways in which environment (specifically the Grand Canyon and Mogollon Rim) have influenced artists from the Ancient inhabitants of the region to present. The panel will consist of an array of painters, photographers, poets, essayist, and historians, including Bruce Aiken, Wayne Ranney, Steve and Lois Hirst.

Orpheum Theater
Flagstaff, Ariz.

Admission: Free – Event sponsored by the Arizona Humanities Council.

Learm more at Northern Arizona Book Festival.

Note: The Orpheum Theater will be closing on April 26, 2009, after the showing of Film: "The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?".

Williams, Arizona--Small Town 4th of July

Just in from Arizona Travel News:

Residents and tourists will celebrate one hundred years of 4th of July parades this July 4 in Williams, Arizona. A vintage photo shot from the second floor of the historic Grand Canyon Hotel, serving guests since 1891, captured the Main Street parade in 1909 and the community will reenact that same setting this year complete with vintage clothing and horse drawn wagons. The reenactment will occur at high noon as locals and visitors alike are invited to dress in period clothing from 1909 to recreate this historical photo. The reenactment photo will be published in the Williams Grand Canyon News, which celebrates 120 years of publishing this year.

Yesterday’s Main Street became the Mother Road of Route 66 fame and continues to be the focal point of historic downtown Williams. The “Old time 4th of July” events spill out into the community and include a local Rotary BBQ, a traditional ice cream social at the Methodist Church, free Family Swim at the beautiful indoor Williams Aquatic Center, and many more family activities. The 4th of July celebration continues with one of the biggest parades in Northern Arizona starting at 6 pm right down historic Route 66! “Celebrating Small Town Traditions” is the theme for this year’s regionally favorite parade which will feature a special antique war bird fly-over as a kick off for evening Main Street activities.

Spend your 4th of July in the cool pines of Northern Arizona and enjoy the hometown feel of the Small Town 4th of July in Williams Arizona. For more information and a full schedule of 4th of July weekend events visit www.williamschamber.com or call 1-800-863-0546.

Lowell Observatory & Economic Impact of DCT

"Since breaking ground on the Discovery Channel Telescope in 2003, construction of DCT has pumped over $14 million in direct spending into the state of Arizona; about 72% of this in Flagstaff. Arizona’s DCT contractors have provided highly skilled workers and technical services including design and construction of the DCT facility and dome, fabrication of structural components, primary mirror figuring, and mirror support design."

Read the rest of the story on the Lowell Observatory Blog Economic Impact of DCT.

Grand Canyon National Park Announces Parking & Road Construction

Visitors to the Grand Canyon South Rim this summer may see a few traffic delays, but in the end, we'll all benefit from more parking and easier movement around the park.

"The National Park Service (NPS) will begin implementing the first phase of the South Rim Visitor Transportation Plan at Grand Canyon National Park this spring. Parking and roadway improvements will occur adjacent to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center (Visitor Center) at Canyon View Information Plaza (CVIP). Phase I of the construction project is expected to begin in April and be completed by the end of November 2009.

The NPS will implement an array of transportation strategies to promote alternative travel modes to the park and better integrate connections between parking, transit, wayfinding and trip planning.

The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park hosts almost 4 million visitors a year, yet visitor needs and experiences are considerably underserved by significant parking shortages, resource degradation and safety risks at and around Mather Point due to pedestrian/vehicular conflicts; and by difficulty accessing the Visitor Center." Read more ...

Grand Canyon National Park to Run Shuttle from Tusayan Again

The free shuttle service to and from Tusayan and the Canyon View Information Plaza will be offered again this year. This relieves a bit of the traffic congestion at the Park Entrance and within the South Rim area.

"The National Park Service (NPS) will offer a pilot shuttle bus program between Grand Canyon National Park and the neighboring town of Tusayan again this year. The service will be available from May 16 through September 13 and will run at 15 minute intervals between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.

The first bus will leave Tusayan at 8:00 a.m. and at Canyon View Information Plaza at 8:40 a.m. The last buses will leave Tusayan and Canyon View Information Plaza at 9:30 p.m."

Read more . . .

Celebrate Wildlife Day at Grand Canyon National Park

On May 2, 2009, you'll want to take the family up to Grand Canyon National Park for the second annual Celebrate Wildlife Day Shrine of the Age on the South Rim. Activities will run from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., do you'll be able to choose what you want to do and leave when you're ready.

See the announcement for what's on the agenda.

Grand Canyon National Park North Rim Opening

Alot of hikers have been waiting for this announcement from the National Park Service:

"The Arizona Department of Transportation will open Highway 67 to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Friday, May 15 by 7:00 a.m. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, a Forever Resorts property and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will also commence their season operations on May 15, continuing through noon on October 16, 2009. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations include lodging, camper services, food services, groceries and a service station. All concessions facilities will open at 10:00 a.m. with the exception of the dining room which will open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch. Lodge check-in will commence at 4:00 p.m."

Read more . . .

San Francisco Peaks

The views of the San Francisco Peaks when coming to Flagstaff from the Grand Canyon via Hwy 180 are beautiful any time of year, but last week they were spectacular.

The Arizona SnowBowl is still going strong, though they've just announced that "unseasonably warm temperatures have forced the closure of the Hart Prairie beginner area, located at the lowest elevation of the ski area."

Photos: © Marilyn Crain

Grand Canyon National Park Archeology Day

It's a beautiful time of year at the Grand Canyon. Maybe it's time to take a little day trip before summer gets into full gear. March 28 sounds like a good day to visit, especially if you're interested in archaeology.

From Grand Canyon National Park news release:

On Saturday, March 28, 2009, Grand Canyon National Park will host Archeology Day in honor of “Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month”.

“Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month” was created 26 years ago by the State Historical Preservation Office and the Governor’s Ad Hoc Archeology Advisory Group (now the Governor’s Archeology Advisory Commission) to inform the public about archeology in the state of Arizona. In Grand Canyon National Park alone, over 4300 archeological sites have been recorded to date, and archeologists estimate that the park may have as many as 50,000 – 60,000 sites. Some of the artifacts found in the park date back almost 12,000 years, testimony to the vast extent of the human history of the area. That human history lives on as descendents of these ancient peoples continue to utilize the area today.

Archeology Day, much like “Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month”, is intended to help park visitors learn more about the people who lived here long ago and to gain a greater understanding of the work that archeologists do and what can be learned from their research.

All of the park’s Archeology Day activities and programs are being offered free of charge on the South Rim. All activities are family friendly and, with the exception of the evening program, will be offered at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, located at the Canyon View Information Plaza, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

For more info: Archaeology Day

Riordan Mansion Brown Bag Lunch Lectures

2009 Brown Bag Lunch Lectures at Riordan Mansion are set. Brown Bag Lunches scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month at 12:15 pm, on the front veranda of the historic 1904 Riordan Mansion. Stop by with lunch for a different presentation each Tuesday.

• Mar 10: En Vogue: 90 Years of Riordan Women’s Fashion
• Apr 14: Browsing the Bookshelves at Riordan Mansion: Topics and Titles from the Early Years
• May 12: Arizona’s Amazing Women
• Jun 9: Victorian Fashions in Arizona Territory
• Aug 11: Call of the Canyon
• Sep 8: Jerome in the News
• Oct 13: Arizona Mines and Minerals
• Nov 10: “Mark Twain in the American West”
• Dec 8: Christmas Music during the Riordan Years

Contact the Park:

(928) 779-4395

Riordan Mansion SHP
409 West Riordan Rd
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Riordan Mansion Evening Slide Presentation Series

2009 Evening Slide Presentation Series at Riordan Mansion

• Mar 7: Protecting Historic Sites during Wildland Fires
• Mar 28: Protecting the Archaeology and Petroglyphs of Picture Canyon
• Apr 18: Stone Landmarks: Flagstaff’s Historic Buildings and Geologic Landscapes
• May 2: Arizona's War Town: Flagstaff and World War II
• Jun 20: "Louis Akin's Lost Bride: The Photos, Poems and Adventures of Mai Richie Reed"
• Jul 11: Two Guns and Route 66
• Aug 29: “Ain’t it Purty”: Tourist Impressions of Grand Canyon

All presentations held at 7 p.m.

Riordan Mansion SHP
409 West Riordan Rd
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Programs are free but reservations are recommended due to limited availability. Please call (928) 779-4395.

Arizona Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Month

March 2009 is Arizona Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Month. There are events scheduled in state parks across Arizona.

The calendar and all the details are available at Arizona State Parks.

Flagstaff Area--Sunset Volcano and Prehistory

If you're interested in Sunset Volcano and its effects on the peoples of the Flagstaff area and haven't watched this video, you'll want to. In the Shadow of the Volcano: Prehistoric Life in Northern Arizona is about the U.S. 89 Archaeological Project: Sunset Crater and the History of a Volcanic Landscape.

In the winter of 2003, the Center for Desert Archaeology published an issue of Archaeology Southwest Highlights--In the Shadow of the Volcano: Recent Research at Sunset Crater about the findings of the project.

It's really interesting information about the archaeological findings from the time of the eruption of Sunset Volcano. And I think, a must-read before a visit to Wupatki National Monumant, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument.

GCA Community Lecture Series

The Grand Canyon Association Community Lecture Series continues February 18, 2009, with Wendell Duffield. He's a northern Arizona geologist who will speak about the San Francisco Volcanic Field that runs from Williams to Sunset Crater.

Cline Library
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff
7:00 p.m.

You can learn about Duffield's book at Volcanoes of Northern Arizona: Sleeping Giants of the Grand Canyon Region. Also, the Grand Canyon Association Bookstore should be set up to sell the book at the lecture.

I highly recommend the book and I'm really looking forward to the lecture.

Pluto Anniversary at Lowell Observatory

It's going to be a busy week at Lowell Observatory, here in Flagstaff, Arizona. Tonight, February 15, 2009, Lowell will host a Winterfest Star Fest, from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Tomorrow, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., since students will be out of school, all the activities at the Observatory are free for kids, with adult supervision.

Wednesday, it's Pluto Night at Lowell. On February 18, 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto. This celebration will include a presentation at 7 p.m. by Will Grundy and Kevin Schindler about that discovery and the exciting work that is being done at Lowell Observatory today.

For details of these events, call 928-774-3358 or go to Lowell Observatory Outreach.

Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Verde

If the weather permits, you can take a day trip and join the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde on February 14-15, 2009. You'll get to see:

• Living History Presentations and Military Encampments
• Riding Demonstrations
• 1870s Period Equipment and Uniforms

For times and more details see Fort Verde State Historic Park.

What a Wonderful Morning

Here's what Flagstaff awoke to this morning:

There's joy at the Snow Bowl today. It's going to be a great week for skiing. And a perfect time to stay indoors and look out the window on this winter wonderland.

Winterfest Flagstaff

February is for Winterfest in Flagstaff! The Chamber of Commerce is the driving force behind this month-long series of events in Flagstaff.

Sports, art, music, film and food--they're all part of the fun throughout the month of February.

Get all the details and a calendar of events at Winterfest Flagstaff.

The Last Wagon Train at Riordan Mansion

Just a reminder that Riordan Mansion State Park is hosting another free Evening Slide Presentation Series event, The Last Wagon Train: The Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition. It's a presentation by Stewart Aitchison of the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Call 928-779-4395 for more information.

Explore Arizona OIC Maps

Need maps of Arizona? Explore Arizona! Outdoor Information Center is operated by the Arizona Geological Survey, in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. If you're taking a trip to Phoenix, you might want to check out this store or lots of maps and information about Arizona. Some of the info is free--135 maps, fliers and brochures.

Location:

North Central Avenue, Suite 120
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602.417.9300
info@explorearizona.org

Flagstaff Recycled Glass

Where does your glass go? That's a question asked in the winter edition of Cityscape published by the City of Flagstaff. What's the answer?

The glass that Flagstaff residents drop off for recycling is handled right here because it's too costly to ship it to the closest recycling facilities in California. It's ground into glass sand and can be used for many landscaping projects. The sand is free to the public, at the Materials Recovery Facility on Butler Ave.

According to Cityscape, "However, the majority of the glass sand is used at the City's Cinder Lake Landfill to reduce environmental impacts, extend the life of the landfill, and save money. State and Federal regulations require that the working area of the landfill be covered each day. An Alternative Daily Cover is made from a mixture of glass sand, paper sludge and wood mulch. This cover replaces the need for soil to be trucked in from other areas at a substantial cost. By using the glass sand mixture the City saves nearly $3,000 per day on the purchase and hauling of soil. More than 14,000 gallons of diesel fuel are saved and approximately 39 metric tons of green house gas emissions are avoided annually. Thousand of cubic yards of landfill space are also saved each year by the use of glass sand for Alternative Daily Cover."

I think this is such an interesting way of approaching the dual dilemma of what to do with our glass and the need to take care of our landfills.

Kudos to the City of Flagstaff!

Hawk Walks at the Arboretum

During the winter, January through March, visitors to the Arboretum can reserve a spot on a guided workshop to learn about birds of prey. With the help of licensed falconers, you can get up close to these amazing birds.

Get all the details at Winter Hawk Walks.