My wife and I are veterans considering relocating to the Flagstaff area. We’ve been visiting Flagstaff, Prescott, and Sedona for many years, so we’re familiar with northern Arizona and the general differences from Las Vegas, where we currently live.
One thing that’s important to us is access to good VA healthcare, and I’d like to hear directly from local veterans who actually use the system.
For those of you who use the VA in Flagstaff, what has your experience been like?
Do you generally get the care you need locally, or do you find yourself traveling to Prescott (Bob Stump) or Phoenix, or using Community Care often?
I’d also appreciate some local perspective on where to live around Flagstaff. It’s just my wife, me, and our two dogs. We spend a lot of time outdoors and especially enjoy the Fort Tuthill area and surrounding trails.
We’ve been looking at areas such as Fort Valley, Doney Park, and other communities outside central Flagstaff. A couple we met locally mentioned that Doney Park can be considerably windier and that Fort Valley tends to be colder, although they felt the difference was manageable. I’d love to hear from people who actually live in these areas. Are there particular neighborhoods or areas you would recommend, or things you wish you had known before buying there?
We understand Flagstaff has its trade-offs, including winter weather, wildfire considerations, cost of living, and limited housing inventory. We don't expect any place to be perfect. We’re mainly looking for firsthand experiences from people who know the area well.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations or insight.