Day 9 (Sunday, June 24th). Flagstaff turned out to be one of our favorite stops. A small, funky town with a nicely restored downtown area with a lot of decent dining and eclectic shopping. We stayed in the 
DuBeau Hostel (see picture below, left). The hostel has a 50's-60's, Route 66 theme and feel, and we 
found it quite charming and it was conviently located within short walking distance to town. Like other hostels we've stayed at there were cosy common rooms to sit and read and a game room with pool table and foosball table for the kids. And there were an odd, but nice collection of peo
ple who evidently were the caretakers around the premises. The only downside with the DuBeau Hostel was the proximity to the train station (see picture above) and the blare of trains (picture at right) as they passed through the town seemingly every 15 minutes, night and day. Although everyone complains about the trains, they do give the area a certain, although suspect, charm.
DuBeau Hostel (see picture below, left). The hostel has a 50's-60's, Route 66 theme and feel, and we 
found it quite charming and it was conviently located within short walking distance to town. Like other hostels we've stayed at there were cosy common rooms to sit and read and a game room with pool table and foosball table for the kids. And there were an odd, but nice collection of peo
ple who evidently were the caretakers around the premises. The only downside with the DuBeau Hostel was the proximity to the train station (see picture above) and the blare of trains (picture at right) as they passed through the town seemingly every 15 minutes, night and day. Although everyone complains about the trains, they do give the area a certain, although suspect, charm.The Hostel offers earplugs for 25 cents to muffle the sound of the train horns at night, but we did not use them and although we did hear the trains during the night, they really weren't that bad--I'd stay at the hostel again if staying in Flagstaff, but I could understand that it wouldn't be for everyone.
On the last full day of our vacation we had planned to drive through scenic Oak Creek Canyon to famed Sedona, AZ and take a short hike in Red Rock State Park. I was dissapointed with both the scenic drive in 
Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona. Because Oak Creek Canyon was very forested, there were no great views; maybe the drive would have been more scenic in the Fall when the leaves have turned color. Sedona was very touristy and we didn't stay long--I can't fathom what Sedona offers that attracts tourists. Anyway, we did stop at a nearby arts and crafts village called Tlaquepaque. Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) meaning the "best of everything" was designed to replicate a traditional Mexican village. Tlaquepaque turned out to be a nice place, very picturesque (see pictures at right and below) and we picked-up a few momentos there.
Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona. Because Oak Creek Canyon was very forested, there were no great views; maybe the drive would have been more scenic in the Fall when the leaves have turned color. Sedona was very touristy and we didn't stay long--I can't fathom what Sedona offers that attracts tourists. Anyway, we did stop at a nearby arts and crafts village called Tlaquepaque. Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) meaning the "best of everything" was designed to replicate a traditional Mexican village. Tlaquepaque turned out to be a nice place, very picturesque (see pictures at right and below) and we picked-up a few momentos there. 
We did a little hiking in a portion of the Red Rock State Park, but after the parks we had just seen in Utah, I wasn't that impressed. Actually, the hike probably would have been very nice, but we were all tired of hiking by this point and we just didn't have enough willpower to continue. Jane and kids did a short upstream hike in the Oak Creek while I took this lovely picture of Cathedral Rock (see below right). The trip to Sedona pretty much took up our whole day. Back in Flagstaff, we were pretty tired and just hung-out in the hostel and later in the evening walked into town where a musical festival was taking place and had ice
cream. Of course, we did play a lot of pool and foosball. Yesterday evening Elroy and Judy even got into a foosball contest with a couple of older hostel patrons. Jane and I had fun just watching them play against older more experienced foosball players. Tomorrow we were to drive back to Las Vegas for a flight back home that wasn't going to leave until 1 am the next morning......I wasn't looking forward to the next 24 hours. And as we would find out there wasn't a whole lot to do on the drive back to Las Vegas.
cream. Of course, we did play a lot of pool and foosball. Yesterday evening Elroy and Judy even got into a foosball contest with a couple of older hostel patrons. Jane and I had fun just watching them play against older more experienced foosball players. Tomorrow we were to drive back to Las Vegas for a flight back home that wasn't going to leave until 1 am the next morning......I wasn't looking forward to the next 24 hours. And as we would find out there wasn't a whole lot to do on the drive back to Las Vegas. 
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