Flagstaff is a friendly city with a population of about 62,000 located about 140 miles north of Phoenix at the intersection of Interstates 17 and 40. Nestled at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks and surrounded by the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest, Flagstaff is surrounded by the natural beauty and cultural riches of the Colorado Plateau, from the Grand Canyon to Lowell Observatory, Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater, and Arizona Snowbowl.

With its elevation of 7,000 feet and four-season climate, Flagstaff is ideal for year-round outdoor activities, from hiking and skiing to river rafting. October brings yellowing aspen leaves, warm days and cool nights to northern Arizona, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s. Bring a sweater for the evenings, but don’t neglect sunscreen and a hat for the daytime!

Use this map to help find your way around.

Accommodations

NOTE: September 7- Due to the popularity of the conference, we have added a third hotel option, listed below, at the Fairfield Inn. The Drury and Embassy suites are close to capacity. Reserve your room and register early before space fills.

ScienceWriters2011 will be taking place at High Country Conference Center and on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona . A limited number of discount rooms have been secured at two hotels below. Both the Drury Inn and the Embassy Suites are next door to the conference center and campus. The Drury Inn is connected to the Conference Center by an enclosed pedestrian bridge.
Participants are responsible for contacting the hotel directly to make reservations. Follow the directions below to make your reservations. Other hotels are available in the Flagstaff area if you choose to stay elsewhere.

Fairfield Inn

(Located within 1 walkable mile of the conference center; easy parking is also available at the conference center.)
2005 South Milton Road / Flagstaff/ AZ/ 86001
Phone: 928-773-1300
Rate: $81.00 per night plus tax
To secure your discounted rate call 928-773-1300 and ask for the "Science Writers 2011 Conference" rate
Rate Expires: October 1, 2011

Drury Inn and Suites

300 S Milton Road I Flagstaff I AZ I 86001
Phone: (928) 773-4900 I Fax: (888) 773-2606
Rate: $109.95 per night plus tax
To secure your discounted rate, visit Druryhotels.com, select Book it Fast, and enter group number 2113921
If you use Book it Fast, there is a tiny line just under "When +Wear" that prompts you to click and enter a group #. You can also select Group Reservations from the Reservations drop down.
Rate Expires: September 28, 2011

Embassy Suites Flagstaff

706 S Milton Road I Flagstaff I AZ I 86001
Phone: (928) 774-4333 I Fax: (928) 774-0216
Rate: $119 per night plus tax
To secure your discounted rate, please visit this personalized link
Group Name: The Science Writers 2011 Conference
Group Code: SWC
Rate Expires: September 14, 2011

Getting to Flagstaff

By Car

Flagstaff is situated at a major crossroads, easily accessible from the east, west and south. Interstates 40 and 17 provide direct access from the West’s major metro areas, including Albuquerque, El Paso, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego and, of course, Phoenix and Tucson. Highway 89 provides access from states to the north, and Highway 180 links Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, just 81 miles to the northwest.

By Air

Limited air service into Flagstaff’s Pulliam Airport is available via US Airways (www.usairways.com; 800-235-9292). Pulliam Airport is located five miles south of the High Country Conference Center, just off 1-17.
Or fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, about 150 miles south of Flagstaff. From Sky Harbor, take a rental car (it's a straight shot to Flagstaff on I-17), or reserve a seat in one of the frequent (and very reasonably priced!) shuttles operated by Arizona Shuttle (www.arizonashuttle.com or 800-888-2749).
Be sure to make a reservation early, as the shuttle can fill up on popular travel days.

By Rail

Amtrak offers daily train service to Flagstaff on the Southwest Chief line, with direct service to Los Angeles, Albuquerque, and points east (www.amtrak.com or 800-872-7245). The historic downtown train station is located about a quarter mile from the High Country Conference Center.

By Bus

Greyhound provides regular service to Flagstaff from many destinations (www.greyhound.com; 800-231-2222). The bus station is about two hundred yards from the High Country Conference Center.

Getting Around Flagstaff

The central downtown area, with restaurants, music venues, and shopping, is an easy walk from the High Country Conference Center.
The Mountain Line provides public bus transportation in and around Flagstaff. The Downtown Transfer Center is located 0.3 miles from the High Country Conference Center on Phoenix Avenue. See www.mountainline.az.gov for routes, times, and pricing.

For additional information on Flagstaff, visit www.flagstaff.az.us. For travel information, see www.flagstaffarizona.org.

Further Afield

Flagstaff can serve as a great jumping off point for your visit to the Grand Canyon or any number of other sites in the area. See what else the region has to offer.