Flagstaff is a really great day-trip destination for Tucsonans. Those who have their ish together could probably wake up, hit the road, have a great day in Flagstaff and head home without having to rent anything over night. It's not something Dylan and I are likely to do, but it is entirely possible.
We headed up on Thursday, we got a late start and ran into some traffic so we weren't in town until around later, but we did get to our home-away-from-home before dark. We were staying at the Big R Lodge, it was magnificent. Just look at this thing! Tell me that's not a majestic behemoth right there.
Okay, I didn't take *this photo* I stole this one from the internet.
That house is amazing. It has 5 stories! The staircases made me feel like I was in some kind of whimsical story, and it even has a loft way, way up at the top. There was an air mattress set up in there and a friend of ours made that his room. Personally, I couldn't make it up the steep latter to take photos. So I took this picture: (stop making fun of me.)
(Hey, what did I say? I told you to stop making fun of me!)
This place has two kitchens! While we mostly congregated in the one on the main floor, the other one was super handy because of that 2nd fridge. I also *cough* neglected to take a photo of the other one.
To make up for my lack of photo re: the 2nd kitchen, I give you this gem. See the sink in the photo above? It has a bay window, so there's a bunch of space between the back of the sink and the actual window - here's what the owner's of the property did with that space:
It's a gnome wonderland! They even put down little gnome astroturf! It's the best!!! I'll admit, most of our party was afraid of this setup, it was deemed "creepy." Not to me though, I'm the kind of weirdo who loves this stuff!
By sundown on Thursday almost all of our party had arrived to the Big R Lodge (3 wouldn't arrive until Friday.) We teamed up with a few of our friends who are Flagstaff locals and had some delicious pizza, then we all got together in this amazing common area and played some card games:
*Also, totally not my photo.
You'll never guess what we did Friday morning, but if you said Disc Golf - pat yourself on the back. It was quite lovely and the hikes through the mountain terrains were good for some calorie burning. Which is key, because there's so much eating and beer drinking to be done in Flagstaff!
Check out the coolest disc player this side of the uh ... ... Grand Canyon? (It's Dylan!)
Ah, the scary terrain a disc has to make it through in Flagstaff, AZ.
This one I just thought was nice scenery:
After a disc golf park or two, I think it was two - we stopped at one of the haunts our NAU pals remembered: Crystal Creek Sandwich Co. The subs were delish, but I took no photos. After our bellies were full however, we went over to McGaughs which was really fun! Flagstaff and beer go together like peanut butter & jelly. It's a wonderland, really. I mean, if you like beer.
Not only did we score some fantastic varieties like 10 Barrel's Cucumber Sour and Koffee Kolsch but we found this gem!
Okay, we didn't actually purchase it. I know, we should have. But we were pretty darn excited to learn it even exists and we will buy one - soon. I swear! (If we can find it again ...)
That night, the rest of our party had arrived in Flagstaff safe & sound. We all went out to the country club for dinner. Yeah! We country club dinnered! Anyone can there, it's not exclusive to members but still - we were fancy. That night was more card games, more chilling on the patio, more drinking of fabulous beers, and more living in a house full of your favorite people. What more is there to ask for?
The next day, some discers went on a discing, and some of us non-discers split off to prepare for a BBQ that night. A few of us made a trip to a "Fine meat" butcher for steaks, and a few others of us got sides etc. at the grocery store. In the afternoon I partnered with another couple to get some lunch at a Mexican Food joint they always try to make it to when they're in Flagstaff. From there, we split further. The fella of said Mexican food journey party went to finish a round of discs with the rest of the guys. Myself and the female party went to Historic for more sweet, sweet beer. Oh beer. I love you beer.
In all of my days as a beer drinker and all of my trips to various breweries thus far, I have to say that Historic is my #1 favorite. Their ability to create a sour beer is out of this world delicious. They have lots of other kinds of amazing beers as well, but sours are my favorite and their sours are fantastic. Wouldn't you know it, I had the How Now Brown Sour and over on the right my girlfriend enjoyed a nitro Piehole Porter.
Just as we were settled in, I was standing looking at the games, my friend was seated at the bar. We were considering Cards Against Humanity and whether or not that is a game you can really play with only two - when *BOOM CRACK* a thunder rolled in with the power of friggin' Zeus behind it! I was so startled I levitated. There were inches between my feet and the ground I had jumped so high with fear. My girlfriend could not stop laughing, as she had witnessed the power of fear picking me up off the ground. Then a fantastic storm, with more frightening thunder, rolled on in!
I don't know what the science is behind it, higher elevation? Thinner air? But mylanta is thunder in Flagstaff INSANELY LOUD. 0_0
(Here's a video, if you hear any thunder, it's not proving my point, I'm not that much of a wuss, I just wanted to get some video of the storm from the lovely vantage point we had on our way back to the Big R Lodge.)
We had one more pit stop on our journey back to the lodge - it was this amazing dragon sculpture in the neighborhood we just happened to pass by. I noted it, as we drove past it, then almost in unison I said "turn around" just as my friend said "I'm turning around!" Check it out!
There are not adequate words to describe how epic that thing is. Kudos to you, homeowner, kudos.
Upon arrival back to the Big R Lodge, BBQ preparations were in place. A few of us decided to venture downtown, over to a couple other of our "how can you go to Flagstaff and not stop here?" breweries. First up Wonderlust. There were dogs everywhere, which was fantastic and a live band, what else do you need? Beer, music, dogs - it's paradise.
(I took a photo of their gear because I really love their logo and designs, okay?)
Next up: Dark Sky Brewing. This place is so fun to look at, but I managed to only snap one photo. This photo. Of Bender and Homer enjoying some fantastic brews.
Since I really did only capture one image here, I admit, I'm happy this is the one.
The steaks from the fine meat butcher were out of this world. The company filling the Big R Lodge was even more spectacular and Emily didn't take one photo. Guess we'll just have to rely on our brains for the sweet, juicy, tender memories - wait but I just used steak descriptions. Oh well, we'll remember the steak, too!
Sunday was check out, another fantastic trip to Flagstaff was coming to an end. Not before brunch, however. We headed to one of the 2 Toasted Owls in town, this was the East one. Gotta love that decor!
Before we hit the road back home, Dylan and I went back downtown to squeeze in a little shopping. There we met a cat, on a leash, in an outdoor shop with her people. Yup. A cat!
Flagstaff.
We found the strangest little coffee house that was also a cell service provider.
Flagstaff.
We took in these gorgeous monsoon views:
This is the moment where I realized something, Flagstaff not only enjoys all 4 seasons, what with the "changing of the leaves" and the snow and all of that - but they get a bonus 5th Season. They get Monsoon Season, too! Not fair, Flagstaff, not fair.
On our way out of town we had to note the temperature:
68 at 2pm on a Sunday in July.
By the time we arrived in Phoenix the temp was 112
We had dinner in Tucson that evening and it was 109.
Yeah.
Tucson did give us a pretty spectacular homecoming. We devoured a beyond delicious Mexican dinner with everyone from the Big R lodge that had made it back to Tucson (that was really fun.) Then Tucson gave us this glorious sunset:
Don't worry T-town, you're still my favorite ^_^
