Flagstaff: seven thousand feet of pine and pavement

Summer is the big draw (cool pine air while the desert bakes), and fall brings golden aspens. Winter is for skiers and snow play at Snowbowl; spring is quiet and mild.

Yes. The South Rim sits north of town, and the drive up through the pines makes an easy day trip, which is why so many visitors use Flagstaff as their basecamp. Head up early, spend the day on the rim, and come back to a town with restaurants and shops still open in the evening.

Yes. At 7,000 feet Flagstaff gets real winter snow, with skiing and snowboarding at nearby Arizona Snowbowl from roughly December through March.

Two or three days covers the essentials: a day downtown and at Lowell Observatory, a day in the pines or out at Walnut Canyon, and a day for the Grand Canyon. Stretch it to four or five if you are skiing in winter or want unhurried time on the trails.

For most trips, yes. Downtown is walkable and the town has local bus service, but Lowell Observatory, Snowbowl, Walnut Canyon, and the Grand Canyon all call for a vehicle. In winter, check road conditions before you drive, allow extra time after a storm, and expect snow tires or chains to be required on the road up to Snowbowl.