Flagpole

This weekend, I chilled in Flagsaff, AZ. A small city! A place of coffee shops, hip bars, book stores, outdoorsy stores, art galleries, diners, farmers' markets, co-ops, and of course, some of the most amazing hiking/biking/camping/climbing in the country at its doorstep. This town is perfect for left-leaning hip-kids with a penchant for being out in the wilderness.

While preparing and eating some delicious food at a pot-luck dinner with some new acquaintances, I listened to conversations about the best trails in the Grand Canyon, the best places to camp, mountain biking adventures, and why I should start climbing. The group I'd stumbled upon consisted of a guide on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, an ornothologist and competitive mountain biker, several post-grad students and climbers, and an archeologist preparing to go on a dig in Niger, Africa.

I also loved drinking coffee at Macy's, an artsy coffeeshop with a comfortable vibe; eating bagels from Biff's (NY style and still warm on Saturday morning); sipping wheat beer at Flagstaff Brewing Company; and smelling the aroma of and diving into fairly priced used books at Bookmans.

I think I may need to venture there a few times a year to get a dose of city life (small, clean city) now and again.