THE ELEGANT MOUNTAIN LIFE
Sophisticated mountain living comes with abundant amenities at Pine Canyon, a private community. Designed to be a place where one can escape the cares of the city to relax and enjoy the benefits of the outdoors, the mountain retreat provides an atmosphere that is luxurious and elegant but also casual. The exclusive clubhouse includes refined yet comfortable dining, a private spa featuring body products created by Body Bliss of Sedona, a fitness center and a golf shop. Leisure activities change with the seasons from an outdoor skating rink to the 19-hole championship golf course to Trout Creek Park, the community’s family-recreation area where you can catch and release rainbow trout. Call 928-779-5700 or visit pinecanyon.net.
SUMPTUOUS DINING
When you step over the stoop of La Vetta Ristorante Italiano, you leave downtown Flagstaff and enter another world of luxury and dining splendor. The restaurant’s imaginative design reflects the Italian perspective of la dolce vita and inspires an escape into a place where you can eat, drink and celebrate life as Italians do. Curved booths, blue mood lighting and midcentury modern motifs reflect the sleek lounge feel of the Rat Pack era. Exceptional cuisine includes osso bucco, T-bone Fiorentina and fresh, hand-stuffed lobster ravioli. The brainchild of longtime Flagstaff restaurateurs Steve Alvin and brothers Kunal and Karan Patel, the restaurant delivers something a bit more upscale than what diners expect to find in Flagstaff. Call 928-440-5280 or visit lavettaitaliano.com.
LUXE LODGING
Those seeking an over-the-top stay will find the presidential suite at Little America Hotel to be the most lavish accommodations in all of Flagstaff. Appointed with wool carpets, live-edged maple furniture and original art, the apartment-style suite features two floors of living space. On the main level, the textures and colors in the living room reflect what you see outside the windows that frame the gas fireplace. A fully equipped kitchen, large dining table and full bath are also on the first floor, which is decorated with a Christmas tree during the holiday season. On the second floor, you’ll find the bedroom with its sitting area, vaulted ceilings and marble fireplace. There’s also a full bath that showcases the grandest bathtub in the hotel, a walk-in shower and a sauna. Call 928-779-7900 or visit flagstaff.littleamerica.com.
FLAGSTAFF BLING
When it comes to jewelry, there’s nothing like the understated status symbol of the “Flagstaff tennis bracelet.” The delicate, classy, silver creations of Jay McCormick Jewelry earned the nickname years ago, and Flagstaff trendsetters have been sporting the mini conchas ever since. The inveterate Flagstaff jeweler does design work for renowned Hysteric Glamour, a Japanese designer label with stores in Tokyo, London and Paris. Visit jaymccormickjewelry.com. If gold is your precious metal of choice, then check out Gold Wolff Jewelers, a full-service jewelry shop where Peter Wolff fashions fine jewelry inspired by animals and nature. Call 928-526-8660 or visit goldwolff.com.
SELF-LOVE
What makes Flagstaff Face and Body distinctive is that the medical spa provides exclusive body, skin and anti-aging therapies available only through certified specialists or physicians. The medi spa’s full menu of luxurious treatments includes massage and body work, facials and advanced, medical skin care. Call 928-226-9355 or visit facebodyspa.com.
THIS MONTH IN FLAGSTAFF
Nov. 18: Museum of Northern Arizona; Out of the Vault: Treasures Old and New; musnaz.org/gallery-talks
Nov. 24: Riordan Mansion State Historic Park; Holiday Tours at Riordan Mansion; azstateparks.com/riordan-mansion/events/holiday-tours
Nov. 30: Audrey Auditorium; Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra: The Nutcracker; flagstaffsymphony.org/event/special-the-nutcracker
Stacey Wittig is an award-winning travel writer and author located in Flagstaff, Arizona. For more travel & world-wide adventures visit Stacey’s website at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.
