Sedona

Sedona begs to be seen up-close and personally. Its beauty is ethereal. Just driving through on the way to Phoenix or the Grand Canyon is not enough. You will want to hike the many trials (from easy to challenging) around and up Sedona's famous red-rock formations. Nice overlooks perfect for photography are as follows: Chapel of the Holy Cross on Chapel Road, right off Highway 179. Be sure to note the home being built just below with an Observatory. The airport (really!) on Airport Road off 89A. The airport is located on a mesa and offers commanding views of Sedona.

Quick Tips:

A pass is needed to hike/park in most all areas leading to the red rock formations. Be sure to stop at the National Forest Headquarters, known as the South Gateway Visitors Center, at the intersection of Highway 179 and Verede Valley School Road, to get your pass. Passes can be purchased for one day () or up to a week (). Other locations are Uptown Gateway (Highway 89A & Forest Rd.) and North Gateway (89A North & OakCreek Vista Overlook).

Best Way To Get Around:

The closest major airport is Phoenix, 125 miles to the south. We rented a car and proceeded up to Sedona. A jeep (with a roof) would have been nice, since some of the back roads can be a bit tough. We bounced around a bit in our rented Taurus. For the hikes, use sturdy sneakers, or better yet, hiking boots. Be sure to take plenty of water, as most trails have none, and the dry climate will make you thirsty.

The Yavapai is located on the grounds of the Enchantment Resort in Boyton Canyon. Our lunch here ranked as one of the ten most memorable I have ever had for the following reasons:
1) The ethereal beauty of the view - The dining room boasts a 180-degree view of Boyton Canyon. The day of our visit, the weather was cool, dry, and sunny, so we sat outside. We could see swallows and hawks soaring around the red rocks, and with our binoculars, pick out hikers climbing the rocks.
2) The excellent meal - Although the kitchen was a tad slow, we didn't mind with the view. Order a Prickly Pear Margarita. The delicious pink concoction is served with a garnish of the candied fruit of the prickly pear cactus (tastes like strawberry). My NY sirloin sandwich was tasty, and our mutual dessert, a Strawberry Phyorra, to die for. Service, despite the slow kitchen, was prompt, friendly, and courteous. Reservations are a must, and if you are not staying at the Enchantment (like us), you will be given a pass as you enter. Nevertheless, you will have the opportunity to walk the grounds after your meal and take in the beauty of the site.

We only had time to do part of the hike. Although it’s classified as "beginner," you will need the proper foot attire and water. The red rocks break and slide, so take care when crossing them. The trail starts off with flatish grasslands of juniper and changes into oak woodland closer to the creek. This is as far as we had time to go (1.5 hours).We saw mountain bikers on the path, but parts were so treacherous, they had to port their bikes. Follow the rock cairns sheathed in chicken wire to stay on the path.