FLAGSTAFF

Settled at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff is a popular getaway any time of year. It sits at 7,000 feet, with welcome heat relief in the summer and snow-based recreation in the winter.

The town boasts a quaint, dogfriendly downtown with an atmosphere reflecting its laid-back residents. Shops and restaurants line the narrow streets that form a pedestrian-friendly grid. Visitors mix easily with college students from Northern Arizona University, its tranquil campus just south of the central core.

A great day: A morning meal at Mart-Anne’s Breakfast Palace is mandatory for in-the-know tourists. Choose the breakfast burrito or the chilaquiles, a house specialty featuring tortilla chips scrambled with eggs, green onions and your choice of sauce. Cross Historic Route 66 and the railroad tracks to explore Flagstaff ’s south side, a once-ignored area that’s gaining businesses and attention. After a beer at Mother Road Brewery, head back downtown and enjoy a bite at Diablo Burger, where you can build your own from dozens of add-ons. As the sun sets, nurse a cocktail on the balcony of the historic Hotel Weatherford and watch the shadows engulf downtown.

Claim to fame: In 2001, Flagstaff was designated the first International Dark Sky Space by the International Dark Sky Association. Civic leaders continue to keep an eye on light pollution, restricting billboards, signs, streetlights and more that could obscure the night view. The city also is home to the Lowell Observatory where, in 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered the formerly-known-asa-planet Pluto. Easy day trip from: Phoenix, two hours away. Details: www.flagstaffarizona.org.