Flagstaff visit (October 8-10, 2011)

After breakfast at Macy's (10/10)

[Reminder, per new "Lightbox" feature, clicking any photo will bring up all photos for review in enlarged fashion (though without captions) in an overlay (as explained here).]

As discussed at greater length here (and also here), we've long enjoyed going up to the Flagstaff area about this time of year.  Typically to visit Lockett's Meadow and take a look at the aspens changing color.  But a 2010 fire led to flooding that closed the road up to the Meadow.  So this year we had to improvise a bit.

Inside Macy's . . . folks in line, always.

Lots of waiting for the train when walking around downtown Flagstaff.

I'm a huge fan of Flagstaff.  It still seems amazing that one can get in the car here in the Sonoran Desert, and alight up in pine trees in just two hours.  And the town now has plenty of fine restaurants; the old downtown is a pleasure to wander around; the university and hippie communities create a certain flavor; etc.

Kachina Trail (10/9)

PJ among the aspens, Kachina Trail (10/9)

A cold front had swept through the area a couple days before we arrived, and was just clearing out as we hit town on Saturday morning.  Snow had fallen down to about the 8000 foot level (meaning nothing in town).  So the weather was great - no precipitation, the storm had cleared the air so that visibility and clarity were optimal, cool but not uncomfortably so.

nearing trailhead (Kachina Trail (10/9))

from hotel parking lot (Humphrey's Peak)

When we hit town on Saturday, we were looking for lunch (after an early check-in at a thoroughly serviceable Quality Inn (same one we used with the kids several times years ago)).  Ended up at Criollo Latin Kitchen - really enjoyed the place.  Enough to where - out of six possible lunches and dinners on our trip - we ate there four times.  Favorites included the pork belly tacos; patacon (beef over fried plantains); pork dinner entree; not to mention Dale's Pale Ale.  Nice atmosphere in the place, thoroughly reasonable pricing, the kind of flavors we really appreciate, top quality all around.

Had delightful breakfast both mornings at Macy's European Coffee House - it lived up to rave reviews.  Still trying to figure out how they did the egg-on-croissant treat.  Wonderful coffee, great little place.

Also had dinner at Josephine's (more of a fine dining experience, good but we weren't moved) and a Sunday lunch at Lumberyard brewery (solely to squeeze a bit more suffering out of the Cardinals' wretched loss to a wretched Viking team, ugh).

Criollo Latin Kitchen (10/10)

Walked the downtown area a few different times and enjoyed going through the shops.

Pork belly tacos (Criollo Latin Kitchen)

Criollo Latin Kitchen

Hiking:  decided the Kachina Trail (trailhead up near Snow Bowl) was the right mix of moderate exercise and fine views.  It was just delightful up there - plenty warm, plenty of snow on the ground for great visuals, plenty of sunshine, an interesting trail with more big boulders and overlooks than I recalled.

Patacon (Criollo Latin Kitchen) . . . so good . . .

Walnut Canyon on a gorgeous late afternoon (10/10)

Things being so fine, we decided to stick around all day Monday (10/10); I went to the beautiful public library to do some work, then we had lunch (at Criollo).  Took a bit of a road trip out to Walnut Canyon - we've visited numerous times but don't get tired of this.  Had never taken the short rim trail before - very beautiful as we were approaching sunset.  Final dinner (at Criollo) and back home.

Rim Trail (Walnut Canyon) (10/10)

Rim Trail (Walnut Canyon) (10/10)

From Rim Trail (Walnut Canyon) (10/10)