good-times-rollin: Brandy's Cafe

Flagstaff KOA

Flagstaff, AZ

June 6 -13,2026

Arizona Poppies at the KOA

On Saturday June 6th we headed north for a cool getaway. Jamie, Andra and Ozzie joined us for a fun 1 week getaway in Flagstaff. We reserved a nice site with a patio, large gas grill, table and chairs, and a fire pit with adirondack chairs. It was a first time MH travel day for Jamie,Andra, and Ozzie and their first visit to Flagstaff.

Joe and I were excited to share our home on wheels with them, and some fun adventures and yummy places to eat.

Sunday:

Sunday was a "getting settled in" kind of day and a trip to Safeway. Jamie and Andra had a list...they wanted to do all the cooking. Jamie packed his grilling "tools" and spices/seasonings from home. We had brats with all the fixings and fresh corn cooked in the husks for Sunday dinner. When the sun went down we had a nice fire and made s'mores...messy, lots of laughs, and yep...burnt marshmallows.

Monday:

The kiddos chose to explore Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monuments Monday morning. Both are places Joe and I visited in August 2025. If you want to read about them visit the post found in the side bar.

Our first stop was the Sunset Crater...

Sunset Crater Volcano...erupted in 1085 and created a 1,000 ft cinder cone, widespread ash and cinders, and extensive lava flow still visible today.

Ponderosa Pine with new growth.

Ipomopsis (phlox family) Arizonica found in northern AZ at 4921 - 10,171 feet elevation in rocky desert places.

The 35 mile loop road that connects the two National Monuments is a scenic drive that takes you from the high-elevation Ponderosa Pines down into the desert with views of the painted desert and the San Francisco Peaks.

Our next stop was the Visitor Center at Wupatki.

Wupatki Pueblo...began as a home and grew to 104 rooms with 85-100 people living there. The surrounding area had up to 2,000 inhabitants within a days walk. The Pueblo not only had farming, but also was a trade and craft center, and a ceremonial site.

Our last stop for the day was a late lunch at Lumberyard Brewery. We ordered a Backcountry Blonde draft which hit the spot! My lunch (a pulled pork BBQ sandwich with slaw and onion rings) was yummy. Jamie says the Lumberyard Mac was the best mac-and-cheese he had ever had...next time for me ! And for desert we all had the Dessert Jar of the Moment...a Banana Pudding jar with vanilla pudding, bananas, vanilla wafers and a mound of whip cream.

The mound of whip cream was twice the size as shown in the photo...I forgot to take a picture when I first got it.

Tuesday:

Our BIG adventure for the week was a visit to the Grand Canyon. Not a first visit for us, but Jamie and Andra had never been. Such a stunning view...no words to describe it so we stood there in silence for a few minutes just taking it all in.

The three sites I chose for us to visit were new to Joe and I too. We entered the Park from the eastern-most developed area on the South Rim.

The Desert View Watchtower was built in 1932. Mary Colter designed the round tower with influences from the ancient Ancestral Puebloan people. She directed the placement of each rock and architectural accent. The tower was purposely built as a rest area, viewing observatory, and a gift shop.

Using local rocks and used timber, Colter wanted the tower to become part of it's surrounding area. She insisted the rocks not be cut or worked so they would not lose the weathered surface so essential to blend in with the canyon walls. It literally sits on the edge of the canyon which I find truly amazing.

The tower rises four floors above ground that are connected to the one-story circular room called the Kiva Room. At its base, the 70-foot structure features 85 interior stairs that spiral up to the viewing room. The four level design is celebrated for its open shaft design where circular balconies wrap around the walls and are covered in historic Hopi murals and prehistoric petroglyphs.

The staircase is divided evenly between the four levels with 20 - 22 steps per level.

Viewing windows on the top level...

Standing in the Kiva Room looking up...

The chairs pictured were crafted by Edwin Wayne Cummings and in place at the opening of the Watchtower in 1933. Mr. Cummings was a Forest Ranger and trail guide for 31 years. The interior paintings were done by three notable artists commissioned by Mary Colter in the 1930s.

Looking up...the Watchtower was registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

Looking down...the 360 degree views stretch for over 100 miles on a clear day.

The Colorado River began carving the gorge 5 to 6 million years ago.

Next, we drove the 25 mile drive along the south rim to Kolb Studio.

Built in 1906, the original home of Ellsworth and Emery Kolb which they referred to as the Kolb Studio, was one of the earliest tourist destinations on the South Rim. They were given permission to build a small wooden house on the edge of the canyon at the Bright Angel Trailhead. They were required to take a toll from folks who wanted to traverse Bright Angel and give the proceeds to the property owner Ralph Cameron. Beginning with photographs of the mule riders on the trail, they established themselves as both photographers and adventurers. We can all thank the Kolb Brothers for a motion picture film and images of sights that no one had seen for opening the eyes of a nation to this wonder of the world.

From humble beginnings, Kolb Studio grew and changed with the family who called it home. Today this 5-story home with 23 rooms that was built as a cliff-edge studio and home, is now a museum, art gallery, books store, and information center.

Using wooden skiffs constructed by The Pouliot Boat Company in Detroit, the brothers became famous for a motion-picture film of a 101 day excursion down the Green and Colorado Rivers in 1911-12. These were some of the first motion pictures ever taken of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.

During their expedition, the brothers wore basic, primitive life jackets made of cork stitched into strips of canvas. These were standard personal flotation devices for early river runners.

Motion Picture Camera, Circa 1920
Emery's camera during WW1 when he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. The camera was heavy but durable and after the war, the brothers used this camera on most of their expeditions in the 1920s.

The original inside parlor and fireplace were often used as a space to entertain visitors and where folks could relax after a long day of exploring the canyon. Today this charming space is the gift shop and information center.

Our view from the balcony. The balcony is an extension of the original parlor and shown in the google photo below.

And for a last stop of the day, we enjoyed lunch at the Bright Angel Lodge. Designed by Mary Colter, the lodge is a complex of cabins around a central lodge building directly on the edge of the canyon.

Mary Colter was commissioned by the Santa Fe Railroad to give the original lodge a "fresh look" in 1935. It is registered as a National Historic Landmark. She designed the "geologic" fireplace in the History Room which features all the rock layers of the Grand Canyon...from river cobbles to to the youngest stone strata on the rim.

Included in Colter's new design were a couple of historically significant buildings that would have been demolished without her intervention. The Buckley O'neill Cabin (built in 1890) was originally home to one of Roosevelt's Rough Riders and the Red Horse Station (originally a stagecoach stop built in the 1890 and considered to be the oldest structure on the South Rim) which served as the post office for 20 years. Both are available as overnight stays. We enjoyed a yummy lunch at the Harvey House Cafe with views of the canyon through the transom windows that Mary Colter used in her designs...notably in the Harvey House Cafe at Bright Angel Lodge. It was a rather long wait for our meal, but worth is. I would definitely order the Southwest Ceasars Salad with a delicious Southwest Ceasar Dressing again. Unfortunately...all the photos from this stop at the Lodge have disappeared from my camera.

Wednesday:

Wednesday we took the drive to Arizona Snowbowl for a gondola ride and lunch at Aggassiz Loddge Cafe. The lodge sits at 9,200 feet, the gondola lift goes to 11,500 feet just 856 feet below the Agassiz Peak at 12,356 feet. This is the second highest summit in the San Francisco Mountains.

The 7 mile drive up and back down the mountain offers panoramic vistas, curvy switchbacks, and this time of year lush green landscapes.

There is something so special about clapping aspens and ferns...

... and the crisp smell of evergreens!

Back at Belle, Jamie and Andra made steak fajitas with all the fixings. Joe, Lucy and I kept them company!

Thursday :

After a lazy start to the morning, the four of us headed to Flagstaff. It's full of history, charm, all set against a backdrop of historic architecture and local culture.

Brunch at Brandy's Cafe was our first stop. I was so happy to find Brandy's last August and this visit it was first on the list of things I wanted to do again. There is something special about eating where the locals eat. Inside and outside options for seating make it cozy and spacious, the service is top-notch.

The house-made bread, locally-roasted coffees, and variety of specialty egg dishes are all winners. My favorite is the omelet with a huge variety of "add-ons" and topped with home made hollandaise sauce served with your choice of bread and a side.

The Historic Railroad District is a couple of blocks down the street and our first stop on a very pleasant walk.

Flagstaff's explosive growth and it's historic character were shaped by the transcontinental railroad, a seemingly endless ocean of Ponderosa pine, and an insatiable demand for timber.

Today, the historic district and Route 66 run parallel to the tracks and up to 80 freight trains barrell thru the city everyday. Perusing the district offers a variety of boutiques and specialty shops housed in charming, historic buildings.

Handcrafted jewelry, pottery and art along with locally crafted clothing and accessories and coffee shops and bakeries make for a unique shopping experience and finding things you will not find anywhere else.

Jamie was looking for a backpack so one of the stores we meandered thru was Evolved.

As we entered the store there was a seamstress busy at work. We were drawn to the different items we saw...all of which had been made on sight. We also met and talked with Robert Sherwood. He is one of the key gear developers and go-to creators. He engaged us all in a conversation that explained his hand-on role in product development, prototyping, and constructing their specialized ultralight backpacking equipment.

It's not just backpacks (which can be made to order), but apparel with over 3,000 miles of test wear and lots of accessories like water bottle pockets and hip belt pockets. Designed in the USA, tested around the world, Evolved Supply Co. is Adventure Developed. Thanks for your time Robert!

Our last stop before heading back to Belle was Mozelle's Downtown Bakery.

Movelle's is a made from scratch bakery. Entering this quaint little parlor was quite the sensory sensation. The cases were lined with pastries, cookies, cakes/cupcakes, sticky buns, brownies, pies, and the very last case was dedicated to ice cream and gelato. Oh the yumminess! Joe and I had cherry ice cream with chocolate bits and pieces of cherries.

Back at Belle, Jamie and Andra made smash burgers for dinner.

Friday:

Friday was our last day. Joe and I woke up to the smell of bacon! My favorite of the meals Jamie and Andra prepared...crispy fried bacon, fried eggs, and hashbrowns hit the spot! The rest of the day was spent packing a few things and resting. Our last outing was to Pizzicletta for early dinner. Local brews, cheese imported from Italy, made-in house breads, and wood-fired pizzas, made-in house gelato make this a must stop in Flagstaff.

To start, Jamie ordered us a Quiet Life Hazy Pale Ale...a draft with bright, fruity, and juicy flavors to sip on with a charcuterie of flat bread, garlic oil, fontina (a semi-soft cow's milk cheese with a buttery flavor) , pecorino (a family of traditional Italian hard cheeses made from sheep's milk) and oregano. The cheeses were yummy!

Pizzas served here are the best ever ! Dough is naturally-leavened and fermented for three (or more) days. We shared two pizzas...both margherita with one topped with pepperoni and the other with soppressata (Italian salami).

And for dessert, both couples had flights of house made gelato. I did a blog last August about how the inspiration for this great date night restaurant came to be and was founded by a geologist. Quite a story!

Flagstaff KOA:

Joe and I have stayed at the KOA in Flagstaff many times for it's location, walking/hiking trails, and it is doggie friendly. This visit was especially nice because we had a patio with the grill, table with an umbrella and chairs, a firepit and shade which the four of us and the two pups enjoyed. The weather was perfect with lows in the mid 40s and highs in the mid 80s.

So that's a wrap on our cool getaway. It was great fun with adventures, new sites to see, yummy food, wonderful weather, and love and laughter!

We are all settled back in at home. Monsoon season is off to a good start and we have enjoyed some nice storms...especially the rain! The skies take on a whole new look and color this time of year.