Take your kids sledding in AZ! Photo credit: Tony the Misfist on Flickr.com / Creative Commons

Got a great question on our Facebook page today, but thought I’d post the reply here for everyone to read. If you still have questions, or have any other recommendations to add, please feel free to comment here.

Dear Arizona Travel: Where do we take the kids sledding on a day trip from Phoenix?
Maria – Phoenix

Hi, Maria! Try these:

Flagstaff Nordic Center

• The Flagstaff Nordic Center offers snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowman building and pull-behind sledding and night play on Fridays when conditions allow. Downhill sledding is available at Crowley Pit, just 1 mile past the Flagstaff Nordic Center. The center is open daily and had 20 of its 40 kilometers of trails.
• Getting there: The center is about 15 miles northwest of downtown Flagstaff and 160 miles from central Phoenix. Head north on Interstate 17, which leads into Milton Road in Flagstaff. Follow Milton Road downtown to U.S. 180 north. The parking lot is along the highway at mile marker 232.
• Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily and 6-9 p.m. Fridays if conditions allow.
• Skiing: Reservations for equipment rentals must be made by 3 p.m. three days before your visit. Skis and rental packages range from $10 – $20/day, and trail passes are priced at $10 – $18/day.
• Snowshoeing: The center has about 9 miles of marked snowshoe trails, and dogs are allowed if kept under control. Reservations are suggested to ensure equipment availability. Trail passes and snowshoe rentals are $10 – 18 per day each.
• Sledding: A sledding area is near U.S. 180 at Crowley Pit, about 1 mile past the Nordic Center. The pit’s parking area is not maintained, but portable toilets and a garbage can are available. Several hills with various grades and lengths are available. Learn more about Crowley Pit, a Forest Service site, at flagstaffnordiccenter.com/snowplay.php
• Details: 928-220-0550 or flagstaffnordiccenter.com

Wing Mountain Snow Play area

This area offers small sledding hills and moguls for tots, as well as areas for skiing, snowshoeing and other snow play. Food and hot drinks are available.

• Getting there: It’s about 150 miles from central Phoenix. Take I-17 north to Milton Road into downtown Flagstaff, then U.S. 180 north. At mile marker 226, 2.8 miles past Snowbowl Road, turn left onto Forest Road 222B.
• Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
• Admission: $12 per vehicle. Sleds are available for purchase.
• Details: 928-226-0493 or snowplayaz.com.

Sunrise Park Resort

Known for its downhill ski runs, Sunrise also offers tubing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

• Getting there: It’s about 220 miles from central Phoenix. Take Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway) north to Payson, then Arizona 260 east through Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside to Arizona 273, on the Fort Apache Reservation. Turn right (south) on Arizona 273. Sunrise Park Lodge is about 4 miles south, and the Sunrise Ski Area is about 3 miles past the lodge.
• Tubing: It’s like sledding, only you fly down the hill on an enormous inner tube. A tubing hill is behind Lake Ono, off the main entrance. Tube rentals are $8 a day, or you can bring your own tube.
• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing: More than 13 miles of groomed trails are available. Trail passes cost $7 for adults and $4 for juniors. Equipment rentals are $10 a day.
• Sleigh rides: $22 per person for a 30-minute ride, and $30 for a 60-minute ride.
• Details: 928-735-7669 or sunriseskipark.com

Elk Ridge Ski and Recreation Area

Named for the ridge line south of the ski area, this site once was known as the Williams Ski Area. Tubing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding are available. The lodge has been renovated and is under new management. Check their website for schedules and holiday closures.

• Getting there: It’s about 180 miles from central Phoenix. Take Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff and Interstate 40 west to Williams. Go south on Fourth Street, which turns into Perkinsville Road, then Ski Run Road to Elk Ridge.
• Hours: 10a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
• Prices: $13 Adults ages 13+; $10 Kids ages 4-12; $35 Family (2 adults, 2 children under 13); Free for children younger than 4 with an Adult.
• Details: 928-814-5038 or elkridgeski.com

Enjoy the snow! Let us know how it goes and feel free to share pictures through email and/or on our Arizona Travel Facebook page!

– Christina

Okay, your turn folks… any other questions or suggestions to add?

This has been one of the best snow seasons for Arizona in many years. It would be a sin for me not to test out the fresh layers of powder snow blessing the sacred mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona. Sometimes living in Arizona, especially The Valley (Metro Phoenix), can feel a bit monotonous and even look monochromatic without the apparent changes of seasons. But really, Arizona’s best characteristic is its outdoor adventure potential.

A few weeks ago, I was posting the Flagstaff snow report on this blog and noticed that we were expecting another 4-7 inches of fresh snow. All right, for you Utah and Colorado ski elitists, that is nothing. But for us Zonie snowboarders, it means packing up the snowboard and heading up to the mountains immediately. I would have gone that night, except every place I called was completely booked already! When you only live less than a couple of hours away (again, the beauty of Arizona is being only a short road trip away from everything like beaches in Mexico, Las Vegas, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World – Grand Canyon) everyone gets a move on real quick.

A couple of my roommates and I stayed in that Friday night and rested up for the early drive to Flagstaff Saturday morning. The drive was a sight to see; the rain had brought the desert to life with blooming cacti, wild flowers and grass lining the highway. It was strange to see so much color across the horizon leading into the now green hills of the desert. I do love the aromas that come with desert rain. If you are visiting Arizona and happen to be here when it’s raining, don’t curse because your golf game was ruined. Consider yourself lucky to be experiencing something uncommon for the area and enjoy the rare scent the desert exudes just after the rain stops. It truly is unlike any other.

After climbing into the hills on I-17, we reached the scenic stretch that descends into the Cottonwood area, only to find the whole town hidden by a low, ocean of clouds.

Snowboarding at Snowbowl

To be honest, I had a great time snowboarding at Snowbowl. This place gets a lot of mixed reviews, but here are a few things to keep in mind so you know what to expect.

1) Snowbowl is great for families.Big Bear borders will not find the same “hell yeah” music being blasted from the lodge, nor Red Bulls being passed out like nudie fliers in Vegas. There is a college-age population though, being that Northern Arizona University is right there. But for the most part, this place is good family fun.

2)Black slopes are more like blue slopes & blue slopes are short. There are a few really great runs. This is a very good place to take yourself to the next level if you are still learning to snowboard. If you are experienced, you will find yourself at the top portion of the mountain the whole day with not a ton of options. But as snowboarders, I bet you can find a way to entertain yourself.

3) Ski lifts could be better. The green ski lift is a 2-person ride, so the line is slower if you go on a busy weekend. If you can handle it, go to the blue ski lifts. Those are 3-person and they haul ass. If you are going to the black slopes, you have to get off the blue lift and catch a black lift, which means you have to wait in another line. There is no express lift to the top. My suggestion, bring a flask, turn up your i-pod and relax. The sooner you accept the lift issues, the better your experience will be.

4) Training Park is good for beginners. In other words, it’s a pretty sad set up for boarders who have the slightest idea of what they are doing. There are a couple of boxes, no rails if I remember correctly, and maybe a couple of other obstacles. My suggestion, bring a flask and turn up your i-pod.

5) Book your hotel and rent your snowboards right away if there is new snow. Great snowboarding seasons can be rare. So if you hear that there is going to be new snow in Flagstaff, the chances are that everyone else in Arizona has heard the same. Book your Flagstaff hotel right away.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Grand Canyon Country. A storm system will move into Arizona on Sunday (Jan 27) with heavy rainfall possible. The Backcountry Information Center strongly recommends hikers watch the development of this storm closely. Most folks are unaware that historically the “biggest” Grand Canyon floods tend to occur in the winter.
The Grand Canyon Weather Conditions page (www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-condition.htm) has:
• links to current weather and forecast information for the South Rim, North Rim, and Phantom Ranch
• NOAA Live Audio Forecast for Grand Canyon (weather radio)
• phone numbers for recorded messages on road conditions and links to state highway websites

View article on Grand Canyon weather and road closures…

Nice post over on the Arizona Snowbowl blog today about the first snow falling on Flagstaff.  David Smith describes the 14″ to 27″ snowfall at different parts of the mountain and gives an estimate of mid-December for opening of the ski resort.  We’ll keep you updated with the Snow Report.

FYI: Six to twelve inches of new snow  – and more expected this week – was reported on the website for Sunrise Park Resort, located in Arizona’s White Mountains near Greer.  We’ll keep you apprised of their snow report as well.

A classic Christmas story comes to life on the Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express. Here, we’ve collected information about the Polar Express into a handy fact sheet. (Information source: www.thetrain.com)

What is The Polar Express?

Experience the magic of The Polar Express™, the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. The Polar Express comes to life when the train departs the Williams Depot for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness for a special visit to the “North Pole.” Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while listening to the magical story. Watch the joy on the children’s faces when the train arrives at the North Pole, where Santa Claus and his reindeer are waiting! Santa will board The Polar Express and hand each child their own special gift.

2007 Polar Express Schedule:

The Polar Express runs twice per evening – at 6:30pm and 8:00pm – on these 2007-2008 season dates:

November: 2, 3, 8 – 12, 14 – 19, 25, 26, 28 – 30
December: 1 – 3, 5 – 10, 12 – 22
January 2008: 4 – 6, 11, 12

Tickets – Pricing, Availability and How to Purchase

Pricing
Individual Tickets*
Adults: $26 Children (2 – 16): $14

*Individual tickets are available only after packages sell out for the requested evening. Please call 1-800-THE-TRAIN to check the status of packages and individual ticket sales. Please have multiple travel dates in mind, in case your first choice is not available.

Polar Express Package – Starting at $289 for two adults and two children includes:

• Polar Express train trip from Williams, Arizona to the North Pole
• One night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams next to the train depot
• Dinner and breakfast for each person at the Railway’s Max & Thelma’s Restaurant
• $10 retail certificate per adult (maximum $20 per package) for use in Railway Gift Shops

The package is $309 for two adults and two children on Fridays and Saturdays in November and December and from December 15 – 22.
Price is based on adult double occupancy and does not include tax. Options available for all family sizes!

Grand Canyon Railway Daily Ride Combination Package Discounts
Grand Canyon Railway is offering Polar Express package customers 50% off Coach Class or 50% off the cost to upgrade any class of service. This special offer is valid for travel December through February, excluding 2/15 and 16.

Availabilty – Tickets are still available for selected 2007 dates. Tickets sell out very quickly. TIP: Weekends closest to Christmas are the most popular dates. Weeknight and January dates are a good bet. Please call 1-800-THE-TRAIN to check availability. Please have multiple travel dates in mind, in case your first choice is not available.
2008-2009 Availability – Can’t get your desired 2007 dates? Advance reservations for the 2008 Polar Express season if paid in full. Click here for the 2008-2009 Polar Express schedule.

How to Purchase Tickets
Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-THE-TRAIN.

Where Does The Polar Express Start?

The Polar Express departs from the Grand Canyon Railway Depot in Williams, Arizona. Williams is located 32 miles west of Flagstaff off of Interstate 40. Take Exit 163 and drive south 1/2 mile to the Train Depot.

Where Does The Polar Express End?

Closely following The Polar Express book, this nighttime trip from Williams through the starlit wilderness to the “North Pole” features a special reading of The Polar Express while passengers enjoy hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. After arriving at the “North Pole” – a Christmas light village featuring an Aurora Borealis – Santa Claus and his reindeer welcome passengers before boarding the Polar Express for the return trip to Williams. Santa then boards the train and makes his way through the historic Pullman passenger cars, greeting every child and presenting each one with a special gift – a jingle bell signifying their belief in Santa Claus. The round trip journey is a little more than an hour in length.

What Should We Wear?
Why, warm, snuggly pajamas and bathrobes, of course! TIP: Dress warmly for Grand Canyon winter weather, as the evening low temperatures are often in the 20s.

Anything Else We Should Know?
You can help the Grand Canyon Railway give back to the community and make the holidays special for a less-fortunate child.

[Bring] a new, unwrapped toy to the Grand Canyon Railway Depot when you come to ride The Polar Express. All items collected are donated to Northern Arizona Law Enforcement.

More Information
is available at www.thetrain.com