Flagstaff?
 

I am still a member of PSUP since there doesn't seem to be much in my field in So Cal, it gets crazier here every week, I have started thinking about escaping. A good friend of mine has offered a position in Flagstaff Az. I have never been a big fan of temperatures less than 70, especially if it involves snow. I was wondering if I could get some unbiased info here rather than the Flagstaff website and my friend, both of them seem to want company there. Some questions:
1. How often does it snow / rain how long does it last?
2. What kinds of legal activities are there for teenage kids? Hobby shops?
3 Are the schools any good?
4. My wife likes to shop, are there any malls or such with Macys, Crate and Barrel , the list goes on..?
5. Is the surrounding area nice, any bad areas?
6. Cost of housing?
Thank you in advance,
Sandy

This is where you want to look.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/arizona/

Flagstaff housing is very expensive by AZ standards, but probably not by CA's. It's a college town, so there's lots to do for young folks. It's gorgeous country up there, lots of snow in the winter. It's really not a big city and I don't think there's much around it either. Williams is very nice, but touristy, Grand Canyon is another 60-90 minutes from there. Most of what's east of Flagstaff is Navajo Naitons. I-40 is closed down for snow or wind almost regularly. Last time I was there was in late April and it was almost too windy to ride on the hwy. Still snow on the peaks then too.

great place

lots of outdoors stuff to do - no sea kayaking is the drawback

fairly cool b/c of the elevation

not much cement block store shopping - a BIG benefit!

low crime (drunk frat boys) & good schools due to NAU being there

NAU is a lot better re faculty than one would expect b/c of the env'l amenities - I tried to get a biol. prof. job there but they never had any openings - guess why...

if you like smaller college towns, it is a top notch one