A Day Trip to Flagstaff, Arizona

Aloha Everyone,

This morning we took a day trip to Flagstaff. It is a 60 miles round trip between Williams and Flagstaff. Both share similar climates with elevations close to 7,000 feet.

Flagstaff's estimated population in 2013 was 68,667. Early economy was based on railroads, ranching and lumber. Today the city serves as distribution hubs for Walgreens, Nestlé and Purina PetCare. Flagstaff is also known for the Lowell Observatory and Northern Arizona University, as well as  a center for medical device manufacturing.

Like Williams, Flagstaff has a strong tourism industry due to its proximity to Grand Canyon National Park and historic Route 66, but the city is more spread out and less touristic and definitely more residential.

The main objective of our day trip to Flagstaff was to look for an excellent seafood restaurant where we could have grilled salmon. Unfortunately, most restaurants we saw today were Mexican, Chinese or fast food chains.  We decided to have a picnic lunch consisting of healthy baby spinach with garbanzo beans salad, sliced cucumber, cheese and roast turkey on a Kaiser roll.

This afternoon, I enjoyed reading Start Where You Are, A Guide to Compassionate Living by Pema Chodron. I have read this book so many times but as any great writing, you learn something new. Pema Chodron is a notable American figure in Tibetan Buddhism, an ordained nun, author of numerous books and teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage   Along with my meditation teachers I studied under, Pema Chödrön's teachings on meditation and how they apply to everyday life in her down-to-earth interpretation is one source I come back to again and again.

Tonight we will be enjoying the steak J.J. is grilling outside. This RV park has gas grills for their guests.

Aloha -- Cathi