Known for its towering ponderosa pines and cool mountain air, Flagstaff, Arizona, may seem an unlikely place to find deep connections to space exploration. But beneath its serene surface lies a rich history of astronomical discovery and lunar preparation—making Flagstaff not only a haven for outdoor lovers but also a hidden hub for scientists, astronauts, and star-gazers alike. 

From Apollo 11 through Apollo 17, all twelve astronauts who eventually set foot on the lunar surface underwent geological and surface operations training in the Flagstaff area. Flagstaff’s USGS Astrogeology Science Center coordinated much of this training. Surrounding volcanic sites—like Sunset Crater, Merriam Crater, and especially the Cinder Lake Crater Field (a man-made replica of a lunar surface)—offered realistic terrain for practicing the kinds of exploration they would do on the Moon.

From Pine Forests to Planet Discovery

Flagstaff’s journey into space science began in 1894 with the establishment of Lowell Observatory by astronomer Percival Lowell. Set on Mars Hill, this historic site played a pivotal role in planetary studies, culminating in the 1930 discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh. To this day, the observatory remains an active research center and a popular destination for those hoping to glimpse distant worlds through its telescopes.

A Training Ground for the Moon

In the 1960s, Flagstaff’s landscape became an essential training ground for the Apollo Moon missions. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center, still headquartered in the city, worked with NASA to create lunar-like terrain in areas such as Sunset Crater and Cinder Lake Crater Field. Using explosives, engineers crafted realistic craters where astronauts—including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin—practiced collecting samples, navigating the terrain, and operating lunar equipment.

One of the most significant relics from that era is "Grover," a geological-lunar rover trainer built in Flagstaff in 1970. Used to prepare astronauts for the challenges of driving on the Moon, Grover is now proudly displayed in the lobby of the USGS Astrogeology Center, serving as a tangible link to the city's role in lunar exploration. 

Where Earth and Space Connect

Today, Flagstaff continues to support NASA missions through planetary mapping, remote sensing, and public science outreach. Visitors can tour Lowell Observatory, hike through volcanic landscapes where astronauts once trained, and see Grover—the lunar rover trainer that helped carry humans to the Moon.

Flagstaff is more than just a picturesque mountain town. It’s where the natural world and the cosmos come together, offering a rare blend of history, geology, and space science. Whether you’re staring up at the stars or walking the same ground as Apollo astronauts, you’ll find yourself in a place where Earth meets the universe.

While looking up, don't forget to keep your feet on the ground, and maybe put down roots in northern Arizona. To learn more about the area and the local housing market, come by the office or call to speak to one of our on-site, and knowledgeable Realtors®!

With its sweeping pine forests, dramatic lava flows, and proximity to some of the Southwest’s most iconic landscapes, Flagstaff, Arizona has quietly become a favorite filming location for a variety of movies. Though not as widely recognized as Hollywood or even Sedona, Flagstaff’s diverse terrain and Old West charm have brought film crews to the area for nearly a century.

A Scenic Backdrop with Cinematic Versatility

Flagstaff offers filmmakers a rare combination of alpine forests, volcanic landscapes, and historic towns, all within a short drive of more arid, desert scenes. This geographic versatility has allowed it to stand in for everything from the American frontier to alien planets.

Notable Films Shot in the Flagstaff Region

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)  

One of the most iconic road trip comedies of all time, Vacation featured scenes filmed near Flagstaff and along nearby highways. The northern Arizona roads helped depict the Griswold family's chaotic journey to the fictional Walley World.

 Forrest Gump (1994)

 Although not filmed directly in Flagstaff, one of the most   memorable scenes—Forrest running through the West with a   crowd following him—was filmed just east of Flagstaff   on Highway 163 in the Monument Valley area. While technically   outside city limits, this region is often associated with Flagstaff’s   cinematic surroundings.

Fire in the Sky (1993)  

This film, based on the real-life UFO abduction claims of Travis Walton in nearby Snowflake, Arizona, used the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff for many of its eerie, atmospheric woodland scenes.

 Midnight Run (1988)

 Starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, this action-comedy   road movie included scenes shot around Flagstaff’s forested   areas and train routes, taking advantage of the city's rugged   high-country charm.

 Easy Rider (1969)  

 While most of this cult classic road film was shot across various   parts of the West, Northern Arizona, including locations near   Flagstaff and Winslow, was featured during the iconic motorcycle journey.

A Filmmaker’s Playground

Flagstaff’s proximity to other cinematic landmarks—like the Grand Canyon, Sedona’s red rocks, and Monument Valley—has also made it a strategic home base for movie production teams. Its elevation offers cooler weather, and its local infrastructure supports both independent filmmakers and larger studio crews.

Beyond the Big Screen

Flagstaff has also become a favorite for television commercials, documentaries, and even science fiction recreations due to its Mars-like volcanic terrain near Sunset Crater and its clear night skies. Its authenticity, lack of urban sprawl, and close-knit community give it an appeal that filmmakers value.

From classic westerns to sci-fi thrillers, Flagstaff, Arizona, has quietly left its mark on American cinema. Its landscapes don’t just provide a backdrop—they help tell the story. Whether you're hiking in a forest that doubled as an alien landing site or driving a highway made famous by film, you’re likely walking (or rolling) through a piece of movie history.

And if you want to learn more about the out-of-this-world housing opportunities in northern Arizona, please come by our office or call to speak with an on-site Realtor®!

   With both a wild-west past and an outdoor spirit, Williams, Arizona, is rich in opportunities for exploration and adventure. The historic downtown is home to diverse shops, including jewelry galleries and unique hand-made goods. Visitors can find a range of gear, gifts, books and specialty items too.

   Route 66 is notable for its unique boutiques, hotels, cafes and art galleries featuring locally crafted items. Natural attractions include mountain views, wide canyons, serene lakes and over 100 miles of hiking trails, perfect for off-road exploration.

   Visitors can spend time in the picturesque mountain air, surrounded by ponderosa pines near clear lakes. The area offers activities like horseback riding ,camping, hiking and fishing in the scenic Kaibab National Forest.

1. Canyon Coaster Park    

   Canyon Coaster Adventure Park is the newest addition ot the bustling town of Williams. It offers year-round fun for the entire family with attractions that include a coaster, winter and summer tubing hill, a base lodge with grab and go grill, along with a snow play area.

   Take a break and hang out by the fire on the outdoor patio. The lodge features an outdoor deck that has seating and views of all the activities and four big screen onitors ewhere customers can review and purchase videos and photographs of the rides.

2.  Bearizona   

   Bearizona Wildlife Park is an Arizona one-of-a-kind destination that calls Williams home. The park houses a variety of animals, including bears, worlves, bighorn sheep and bison. Visitors can explore the walk-thru park or drive-thru in the comfort of their own vehicle to see animals up close in their natural habitat.

   After years of requests for "behind the scenes" experiences, Bearizona has announced a new VIP program, where you can go backstage and meet the wildfife park's animal ambassadors and their friendly keepers. This up-close experience will fill our camera roll as well as your heart.

3.  Grand Canyon Railway   

   The historic Grand Canyon Railway departs daily from Williams to the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. Enhance your Grand Canyon experience with an entertaining train ride featuring western musicians and cowboy characters on vintage rail cars.

   Out your window, the terrain changes from high desert to prairie, prairie to pine. It's a view that's ever-changing until you come across a view so brilliant, it could very well change you.

   See more package options, make reservations and learn all about the popular Polar Express at TheTrain.com.

Williams is a Northern Arizona gem, offering a mix of history and adventure for all to enjoy.

For more information, go to GrandCanyonTourGuide.com.

And when you are in Flagstaff, come by or give our office a call to learn more about the real estate market in Northern Arizona!

New app aims to ease bike route guidance in Flagstaff

SAM MCLAUGHLIN Sun Staff Reporter, Arizona Daily Sun

Sep 3, 2025

Sam Noble stands in downtown flagstaff at the train station with his Bike Streets app on his phone. The app helps cyclists find low-stress and low-traffic routes to use through cities and towns.

Jake Bacon, Arizona Daily Sun

Looking for a better way to get around Flagstaff by bike? Now there’s an app for that.

Bike Streets, first launched in Denver, will be available for Flagstaff users beginning Sept. 3. The app’s core feature is its “low-stress” bike map, created and verified by local riders. That map allows the app to suggest routing options based on safety and rider comfort, rather than just the shortest travel time.

“I think a lot of people, when they think of bike routes to and from point A to point B, your brain is immediately going to go to the route that you take via car,” said Sam Noble, who’s been helping build out the Flagstaff map. “And that is not always going to be the best route -- and most often it’s not the best route to go -- if you’re on a bike.”

The low-stress bike map prioritizes quieter roads with less traffic, pathways like the Flagstaff Urban Trail System or protected bike lanes (where available). The goal, according to Noble, is to make the experience of commuting or traveling by bike less intimidating for people who don’t feel comfortable riding in or alongside heavy car traffic and to demonstrate that safe options exist.

 A screenshot from the Bike Streets app shows how it prioritizes lower-traffic, lower-stress routing options for cyclists -- in this case, suggesting Leroux Street and the Flagstaff Urban Trail System instead of San Francisco Street and Cedar Avenue. 

Sam Noble, courtesy

“This allows us to use what’s currently on the ground and get people who might be timid or don’t know the routes, to get them out of the house and out of the car,” Noble said.

Avi Stopper, one of the founders and developers of Bike Streets, said he’s come to believe that almost every city possesses “a high-comfort bike network hiding in plain sight.”

“We aren’t suggesting that the infrastructure that exists is perfect, by any stretch of the imagination,” Stopper said.

But by tapping into local “folk knowledge” about which roads are safest, or which trails and paths can provide overlooked connections, he believes the low-stress bike maps can convince more people to make more trips by bike without waiting for a perfect network of dedicated infrastructure to be built.

And in the process, he hopes the app will expand the cycling constituency and generate support for eventual improvements.

“We’re trying to build a movement of people who are already riding, who are pressing local leaders to make the investments to improve the facilities,” Stopper said.

One of the biggest obstacles to making trips by bike easier, he noted, is that cities and towns tend to focus on individual projects rather than thinking about the broader picture of connectivity.

“That is one of the things that has really bedeviled bike infrastructure for decades -- we build isolated bike lanes,” he said.

Noble, similarly, said he’d like to see Flagstaff continue to improve its cycling infrastructure through incremental upgrades, and improve connectivity between different zones of the city.

“The FUTS [Flagstaff Urban Trail System] network in Flagstaff is fantastic, but there are missing gaps in it,” Noble said. “So I’d love to see those filled out a little more.”

The Flagstaff bike map is a collaboration between Bike Streets’ developers and the group Flagstaff Strong Towns, a local chapter of a nonprofit organization that is critical of suburban development patterns in the U.S. and advocates for “a shift on local streets from automobile throughput to safety and wealth creation.”

Zak Skelton, an organizer with Flagstaff Strong Towns, said the map can be a useful tool for identifying areas where a little bit of investment could go a long way.

“Working with Bike Streets and mapping and finding those gaps in service, we can start finding those lynchpin pieces where we can make small changes ... to increase the quality of service for everyone in the community,” Skelton said.

As one example, he cited the sidewalk along Route 66 where the road dives beneath the BNSF railway bridge.

“I see people bike all the time in both directions on that very small sidewalk that’s on the west side of that underpass. That, I would call a gap in service,” Skelton explained.

Skelton is also hopeful that the app could facilitate a different kind of experience for Flagstaff's numerous out-of-town visitors.

“I hear all the time: ‘Well, the tourists come, and they bring their cars, and therefore we need to provide car parking or we need to provide car infrastructure for the tourists.’ And I think Bike Streets would be a great opportunity for someone coming up from Phoenix,” he said.

“Sure, they’ll stay in a hotel or they’ll stay in their Airbnb, but once they get here, maybe they leave their car behind -- wherever that is -- and they can bike downtown to use a local restaurant,” he added. “They can bike onto campus to see a musical. … They can really experience the city at a human scale instead of on a car-based scale.”

The Flagstaff team has also developed a low-stress bike map for the Grand Canyon village at the South Rim in an attempt to encourage visitors there to explore outside of their car. 

 The Bike Streets app also includes an "Explorer's Map" and "Heat Map" (shown in a screenshot), which together show users sections of the city they've visited most. The team hopes the app will encourage riders to visit areas and points of interest around the city. 

Zak Skelton, courtesy

Like many other navigation apps, Bike Streets offers routing and turn-by-turn directions. It also includes an “Explorer’s Map,” which shows what sections of the city a user has or hasn’t visited, and a heat map, which shows a user’s most frequently visited areas. The bike map will also highlight points of interest.

Taken together, Noble and Skelton hope these features will encourage riders to visit new zones and become more familiar with their city.

“I’m riding around on the beta [version] currently, and it has gotten me to take different routes than I would normally take,” Noble said. “So I’ve experienced my city in a different way than I typically would.”

And they recognize that, to keep the map as up-to-date and accurate as possible, user feedback will be important.

“Once we are live, and it’s open to the public, there will be opportunities to submit suggestions or recommendations or issues with the app,” Noble said. “That way it can constantly be evolving.”

The Denver low-stress bike map has gone through thousands of incremental revisions, Stopper said, as more and more users contribute their insights.

“There’s this magic that happens when you have a lot of people riding bikes on the same streets,” Stopped added. “And that magic is sort of a feeling of strength in numbers. You can feel the joy just flowing around.

Stopped added: What we are trying to create is a community-organizing tool, in its essence, that gets people on the same page and riding on the same streets.”

Sam Noble stands in downtown Flagstaff at the train station with his Bike Streets app on his phone. 

Jake Bacon, Arizona Daily Sun

Bike Streets is available for download through the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. More information is available at bikestreets.com.