Flagstaff Vs Sedona (Tucson: movie theaters, schools, college)

[crtyrdjester]

Hello there,
Which town is better for families?
Flagstaff or Sedona?
Is Sedona hotter then Flagstaff typically?
More outdoor activities in Flagstaff?
How are schools in either?

Which do you prefer and why?

[rational1]

I have no idea about families. Flagstaff leans college students, Sedona retirees.

> Is Sedona hotter then Flagstaff typically?

Not typically, always. Figure 10 degrees at least hotter.

[crtyrdjester]

Great thanks!!

[rich67]

Which town is better for families?
Based on my time I have spent in both places, I would lean toward Flagstaff. There are more places to eat, movie theaters, and younger person activities. Sedona is geared toward older (read: mid twenties and up)people and there are not many kid-friendly activities, unless your kids love to hike, mountain bike, or Jeep. Flag has all that too, but the snowfall may keep them on the slopes instead of doing much of anything else during winter.

Is Sedona hotter then Flagstaff typically?
Yes, Flag is higher elevation and gets a lot cooler quicker and stays pretty darn cold...lots of snow.

More outdoor activities in Flagstaff?
I'd say this is about even, with the exception of Snowbowl.

How are schools in either?
Can't comment.

[Westerntraveler]

Sedona has a climate that is warmer than Flagstaff.
-WT

[keninaz]

Sedona is more or less a tourist town.
As others stated Flagstaff is more towards the college kids that attend U of A there with much more to do.
Flagstaff gets more wind and cold WX and more snow (heavy every 7-10 years or so) too.
For a family I would have to pick Flagstaff but you would have to watch the kids as you would with any typical college town.

[adventuregurl]

Flagstaff has cold snowy winters and it at 7000'+ elevation, versus Sedona's 4500', something to consider for sure.

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by keninaz

Sedona is more or less a tourist town.
As others stated Flagstaff is more towards the college kids that attend U of A there with much more to do.
Flagstaff gets more wind and cold WX and more snow (heavy every 7-10 years or so) too.
For a family I would have to pick Flagstaff but you would have to watch the kids as you would with any typical college town.

NAU is in Flagstaff. U of A is in Tucson. ASU is in tempe.

I like both but Flagstaff is a better town, plus you can always drive to Sedona when you want to. Flagstaff has a mall amongst other things which makes it more livable, IMO.

[Dreamweaver's girl]

Short answer: Flagstaff, hands down.

[infocyde]

Another thing, Flagstaff seems to have better medical services than any of the Northern AZ towns (at least my experience so far). I see young people out and about, some with kids and strollers in Flagstaff. Not so much in other Northern AZ retiree towns like Sedona (sure there are some but as a rule mostly absent). Though there are a few decent restaurants in Sedona but Flagstaff has better and more choices. Flagstaff has some traffic problems but Sedona during the weekends during tourist times is a nightmare. Both areas are really expensive though if you get out of the city by about 20 minutes prices come down a bit. Outdoor activities seem to be great in both areas for hiking and bike riding. Flagstaff skiing as well. If you live in either area you in within quick driving range to the other and all sorts of other cool places to camp/hike/visit within an hour or two drive.