Flagstaff *does* have an airport (Flagstaff Pulliam Airport) with daily flights to and from Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth. Otherwise, it’s typically easiest to fly into Phoenix (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport) and either take a shuttle (Groome Transportation) or rent a car to drive up to Flagstaff.

If you’re coming from the Los Angeles area, or you have time to travel by train, we often take Amtrak’s Southwest Chief. Though the eastbound train arrives painfully early in the morning, you will disembark at a quaint station in the middle of downtown. If you’re coming from the Tucson area, Sam is a frequent FlixBus passenger. The weekend buses are clean, modern, and typically filled with students with headphones in who avoid making eye contact with you. Otherwise, you’re probably going to spend some time on I-17 or I-40 before you manage to get your kicks on Route 66. Ask Jon about that option; Sam doesn’t drive.

There is an abundance of hotels and motels, both historic and modern, in or near downtown Flagstaff. We have compiled a more detailed list of accommodation options (organized by distance from the wedding venue) here. Like every tourist town, Flagstaff does not lack in short-term vacation rentals, either, if AirBnB is more your speed. We haven’t listed those out, but you can find them!

Flagstaff is an extremely casual place, but Sam and her family famously love to dress up, and everyone’s seen Jon rock retro plaid pants. For the wedding itself, we hope you’ll wear something that makes you feel your most glamorous. If you want to coordinate your ‘fit with us, our wedding “colors” are metals: copper, silver, and gold, plus turquoise for a Southwestern vibe. Keep in mind that this is an outdoor event in June, so the daytime weather will be warm but you may need a jacket later. We also recommend comfortable shoes for treading on pine needles, walking in the parade, and dancing up a storm. See the FAQs for more information, or feel free to ask us about your look if you’d like to!

Flagstaff is high desert. Be prepared for the infamous Arizona dry heat during the day and cooler evenings! Typically, June is warm, with an average daytime high of 80° F and nighttime low of 43° F. In more recent years, Flagstaff has experienced June temperatures in the low-to-mid 90s due to climate change. Thanks to the 6,821 feet of elevation, the sun is very intense. (We swear that both Jon and Sam burn more easily on the Colorado Plateau than in the Sonoran Desert.) And don’t forget that high altitude causes faster dehydration and may lead to dizziness, headache, and nausea. Put on sunscreen, drink lots of water, and munch on salty snacks.

Carpool to events if you can! Likewise, if it’s accessible to you, we encourage you to walk, bike, or take the bus as much as possible while in Flagstaff. (Okay, this encouragement is mostly from Sam.) Mountain Line’s newly-opened Downtown Connection Center (DCC) is a gorgeous low-carbon building made with mass timber where you can catch a bus from any line. Pedestrians and cyclists should check out the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) map to see routes around town—though, as a warning for wedding-goers, Cherry Hill is very steep. Flagstaff has multiple downtown bike shops that rent bikes (Absolute Bikes, Flagstaff Bicycle Revolution). The downtown e-bike rental place closed recently, but there appear to be other options (Smitty’s E-Bike Rentals).

As a brief rundown: “Welcome to Flagstaff” drinks on Friday, June 5 will take place at Hops on Birch (22 E. Birch Ave #2) ; the wedding convenes on Saturday, June 6 in Sam’s parents’ backyard (address to be shared privately); and we will gather for a “Farewell to Flagstaff” brunch on Sunday, June 7 at a local park (location to be shared once confirmed). Please see the schedule for more information.

More info to come about parking options (bike, e-device, and vehicle) at each location. Don’t worry; there will be ample parking at the wedding venue via the Mormon church parking lot down the street. Still, carpool if you can!

The greatest gift you can give us is to participate in our wedding. If you want to mark this occasion monetarily, we encourage you to donate to a non-profit organization that we support, listed here.

Consider packing the following items:

• Sunscreen (high SPF) to avoid a burn
• Sunglasses for the intense Southwestern sun
• Comfortable shoes or sandals to wear to the wedding and around town; if you want to look like a real Flagstaffian, may we suggest Chacos or Tevas? (Relatedly, did you know that Teva’s founder was a former river runner who used to live in Flagstaff?)
• Bug spray in case there are backyard mosquitoes
• Light jacket/shawl/wrap for the evening of the wedding; high desert means big temperature swings between day and night
• Reusable water bottle (bring it to wedding events, if you like) or Camelbak for all the hiking opportunities
• If you’re traveling locally, your favorite mode of non-motorized transportation (skateboard, bike, roller skates) for the parade

Don’t forget to bring the vibes.

We’ve assembled a detailed list of favorite restaurants, regional attractions, and outdoor recreation opportunities to share with you here. Feel free to ask if there’s anything else you want to know about Sam’s hometown and its woodsy charms!