The City of Flagstaff has been awarded the prestigious Dark Sky Place of the Year award from DarkSky International. This recognition follows more than six decades of intentional stewardship of the city’s night skies, beginning when Flagstaff created the world’s first outdoor lighting ordinance in 1958. Following a proposal from the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition to create the program, Flagstaff was designated the world’s first International Dark Sky City on Oct. 24, 2001. Today, Flagstaff … [Read more...] about Flagstaff Wins Dark Sky Place of the Year Award
Tourism
Nutcracker Snowglobe Experience Returns to Inspire Joy and Hope
Born from pandemic ingenuity, the Nutcracker Snowglobe Experience is returning to Prescott for the sixth year, 6-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19 and 20, at Lessons by Lexe Dance Studio in the Pine Ridge Marketplace. A Pivot and a Pop Up When COVID-19 caused much of the world to shut down in 2020, holiday magic seemed to disappear with it. For dance instructor and studio owner Alexes “Lexe” Hudson, whose Lessons by Lexe Dance Studio traditionally filled December with parades, senior-home … [Read more...] about Nutcracker Snowglobe Experience Returns to Inspire Joy and Hope
Chef Andrew Raab Brings Big-City Experience to Camp Verde’s Bullpen Grill
After serving as vice president of culinary operations at the Urth Caffé in Los Angeles, Chef Andrew Raab moved his family to Sedona, seeking a slower pace. “We had four Urth Caffés to start and ended up with 10 locations,” he said, noting the business is now international. Born in Maryland, Raab ran three successful restaurants for 10 years before moving to the West. Upon landing in Sedona, he served as chef at René at Tlaquepaque for two years. “Andy did me a big favor coming to work … [Read more...] about Chef Andrew Raab Brings Big-City Experience to Camp Verde’s Bullpen Grill
Where Chocolate Comes to Life
Since its roots in ancient Mesoamerica, chocolate arguably has been the queen of decadent desserts. And now, Shari Flam, owner of Living Chocolate in Sedona, is exposing cacao, the natural form of chocolate, as a vital nutrient. “Cacao in its natural state is a superfood and new studies have shown it can prevent dementia, stimulate stem cell growth and, combined with vitamin D3 and K2, can move calcium out of the arteries and build up bones,” she said. Flam explained the importance of keeping … [Read more...] about Where Chocolate Comes to Life
North Rim Recovery Opens Options for New Lodge
A section of the fire-ravaged North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reopened last month as park officials move to recover from the destructive Dragon Bravo Fire. Public access will continue for daylight hours through Nov. 30 or earlier if a major snowfall hits. The National Park Service opened the roads to Point Imperial and Cape Royal on Oct. 1. “Reopening portions of the North Rim allows visitors to once again experience some of the park’s most scenic areas while we continue to assess … [Read more...] about North Rim Recovery Opens Options for New Lodge
A Must-Stop on Route 66: Gateway Sandwich Co. Draws Hungry Travelers to Williams
Launching their business with the goal of creating the most delicious and satisfying sandwiches, Gateway Sandwich Co. did even better by gulping up a spot on Yelp’s list of the Top 100 sandwich shops in the nation. The Williams family-run business opened its doors in 2020 with the simple idea of making the best fresh sandwiches using the finest locally sourced produce, with quality ingredients being key. “We had no idea of our rating until a customer came in and told us,” said Greg … [Read more...] about A Must-Stop on Route 66: Gateway Sandwich Co. Draws Hungry Travelers to Williams
PinDrop Travel Trailers Partners with State Parks to Support Family Campout Program
Arizona State Parks and Trails and PinDrop Travel Trailers are collaborating to encourage more families to enjoy the outdoors. From October through May 2026, PinDrop will donate 10% of proceeds from its PinDrop rental program directly to the Arizona State Parks and Trails Family Campout Program, helping to introduce children and parents to the joys of camping together. The Family Campout Program is designed to make outdoor adventures accessible for families who may be new to camping. Led by … [Read more...] about PinDrop Travel Trailers Partners with State Parks to Support Family Campout Program
Lowell Observatory Sharpens its Focus on Cosmic Hazards and Earth-Like Planets
Lowell Observatory representatives have announced they are streamlining their research objectives while maintaining their public education mission in an effort to navigate the uncertain space of federal research funding and declining grant opportunities. This comes as the family trust fund struggles to keep up with the rocketing cost of exploring new frontiers. The new framework orbits around two defining pursuits: Planetary Defense, safeguarding the world from cosmic hazards like asteroids on … [Read more...] about Lowell Observatory Sharpens its Focus on Cosmic Hazards and Earth-Like Planets
Holbrook RV Campground Scheduled to Welcome Route 66 Travelers in 2026
As Route 66 businesses celebrate the Mother Road’s centennial anniversary next year, Shari McLaws expects her Old Trails RV Campground near Holbrook will be one of them. Her business concept reveals 75 RV spaces in the first phase of her three-phase buildout on 150 acres of land she owns, a vision she believes will bring tourism and economic development to the area. McLaws, a real estate investor, shared her idea in the Moonshot Rural Arizona Pitch Competition earlier this year. She won the … [Read more...] about Holbrook RV Campground Scheduled to Welcome Route 66 Travelers in 2026
Author Highlights Connections Among Indigenous Cultures in New Novel
Fighting poachers, drug-runners, kidnappers and others who threaten the way of life of the Wantu people is the mission at the heart of a group of strangers who each travel to Africa seeking its beauty and grandeur. What begins as a journey to experience the land and wildlife soon becomes a confrontation with the devastating realities of wildlife poaching. Such is the adventure at the center of author Stan Bindell’s new novel, “Falling into Congo: Fighting Off the Poachers.” Often missing from … [Read more...] about Author Highlights Connections Among Indigenous Cultures in New Novel
