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The image of Arizona which springs to mind for most considering travel to the great American Southwest is, probably, of a hot, dry desert filled with sand, cactus, and cattle skulls. That image is an accurate one for much of the state, of course, but the area at 7,000 feet altitude around Flagstaff in northern Arizona is one filled with cool, crisp air; Ponderosa pines; ski slopes; and more things to fill one's days and nights than one can experience!

Flagstaff, now a bustling town of 57,000, was founded at the base of the 12,600 feet San Francisco Peaks in 1876, a way station on the route further west. The railroad soon arrived, drawing miners, ranchers, lumberjacks, and railroad workers to this high country and these tough men and women placed their stamp on the land. Their presence often blended and, unfortunately, frequently clashed with the native American culture already on the land. The early 20th Century brought the nation's most famous highway through its heartland, 'Route 66', too, as another wave of Americans moved west in the 1930s.

There is so much to do in and around Flagstaff and my wife and I found the Visitor Center in the old train station in downtown was the best place to start for advice, maps, and brochures. For example, the Lowell Observatory offers daily, year round tours and the chance to view the skies through massive telescopes. One can see the observatory's original telescope from 1896 and the telescope which discovered the planet Pluto in 1930! The Riordan Mansion was completed in 1904 and has 13,000 square feet of living space in more than 40 rooms filled with many original artifacts and possessions of the Riordan family. The mansion is open for guided tours and self-guided tours of the grounds are allowed. Pack a lunch for the grounds!

The Arboretum at Flagstaff contains one of the world's largest collections of high country wildflowers. The 200 acre botanical garden and nature preserve also contain a peaceful mile long trail through a portion of the world's largest and most majestic Ponderosa pine preserves. A place of great peace!

Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff is as it has been for more than a hundred years - the city's meeting place. The square is filled with music on almost every day of the week in the summer and free movies are often shown on Fridays in the summer. The historic 'Railroad District' of several square blocks is filled with shops, boutiques, and restaurants, offering items to attract cowboys, native Americans,

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