After spending a few days in Phoenix baking in 100 degree temperatures, it was time to head up north to Flagstaff. On the way, we stopped at a National Park and detoured through one of the prettiest towns in the US. We decided…Read More

After spending a few days in Phoenix baking in 100 degree temperatures, it was time to head up north to Flagstaff. On the way, we stopped at a National Park and detoured through one of the prettiest towns in the US. We decided to take the easy way up to Flagstaff by using Interstate 17. However, if you have time and prefer a more scenic route, use State Route 89. A mostly mountainous road takes you through Prescott, Arizona’s former territorial capital, and many small defunct mining towns such as Congress and Yarnell. One of my favorite small towns, Jerome, lies on State Route 89, a mile high on the side of Mingus Mountain. Literally, you round a mountain curve and there is Jerome. It is no longer a mining town, but its history is still preserved through museums and its designation as a National Historic District. Since my wife doesn’t like driving on mountainous roads and next to steep cliffs and since I had already taken that route in the past, we opted for the Interstate.

Interstate 17 is mainly an uphill climb in elevation. Phoenix is about 1500 feet and by the time you reach Flagstaff, the elevation is close to 7000 feet. Roadside signs warn motorists to turn off the A/C to prevent overheating. Our first stop took us to the Montezuma Castle National Monument. Located a few miles off of Interstate 17, we were greeted with the Cliff Castle Casino. This area is owned by the Yavapai-Apache Nation Indian Tribe and the casino seemed to be the first sign of life and recreation since leaving Phoenix. We headed down a service road that took us to the visitor center.

The Montezuma Castle National Monument preserves the cliff dwellings of the Sinagua people dating back to 700 AD. The five story, twenty room dwelling was carved out of the Verde Valley Cliff. Standing at the base and gazing up I began to think what these people had to do to build this house. It was hard to fathom how these people climbed that high to carve a house out of a cliff. It made you think how these early people overcame and adapted to their surroundings.

After spending an hour at the park and taking a nice break out of the car, it was now time to head up to one of the prettiest towns in the US, Sedona, also known as the Red Rock Country. We turned onto State Route 179 or otherwise known as the Red Rock Scenic Byway. After a few miles, you can begin to see the large red rock buttes and mesas on the horizon. The landscape just seems to change in an instant to these massive rock formations with its beautiful colors of red and orange. We made a quick stop at the Coconino National Forest visitor center. Besides getting information on the area, it offers great picture opportunities of the beginnings of the Red Rock District.

We passed through the small town of Oak Creek Village, which is a small bedroom community for the much larger town of Sedona. A few miles later, we entered the city limits of Sedona. The scenery around the city is something to behold and because of this, it has become a tourist destination. The town itself is very artsy and very wealthy. Shopping is one of the tourist draws, but beware the prices can be very expensive and most of the items can be found cheaper elsewhere.

We grabbed lunch at an overpriced Mexican restaurant in town. After perusing the shopping scene for a while, we headed out of town toward our final destination. Leading out of town are numerous scenic stops for picture taking. A short distance outside of town, we entered Oak Creek Canyon. It’s referred to as a smaller cousin to the Grand Canyon and is the second most visited tourist site in the state after its larger counterpart. We began the drive for about thirteen miles beside the Canyon and after a series of hairpin turns around the mountain, we eventually met back up with Interstate 17. State parks and overlooks are interspersed throughout and many people can be seeing fishing or just taking a swim in the creek.

Since it is only a two hour drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff, it makes all the more sense to visit Sedona and the Red Rock Country. By not visiting this area, you will be missing out on nature’s beauty that can only be witnessed here.

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It's an odd tip to make about a place, but if you blink, you might miss the heart of Sedona. Part of this is probably due to the road works which have made a real mess of the place and most of your concentration…Read More

It's an odd tip to make about a place, but if you blink, you might miss the heart of Sedona. Part of this is probably due to the road works which have made a real mess of the place and most of your concentration does seem to be devoted to the fact that you're trying to see exactly where on the road you should go.
And quite obviously, any attention that is left will almost certainly be focused on the red rock hills surrounding you.

However - in all this distraction, it can be surprisingly easy to miss the best bits of Sedona, if you've never been there before.

Driving in on Interstate 17 from Phoenix, you will drive through some beautiful areas, stucco housing and roadside vendors selling super hot sauces, local vegetables and even old fashioned Sasparilla. (Don't be surprised if you end up chatting a while with one of these vendors, they have a lot they like to tell you about the area...)
Just beyond this heading in towards Sedona begins the road works, and you will have to juggle with this some to get to some of the first local jewelery stores and art galleries that are positioned right on the road. Some of these are excellent, so it's a good idea to park your car at one and sprint across when there is no traffic to the others - finding your way into each one can be a nightmare. (This is based on the condition of the roads from early 2009 - hopefully by the time you're trip is planned it will have been largely cleaned up.)

Yet - after this - it can be very easy to make the turn onto the 89A and head out of town altogether and never spot the best bits. To be perfectly honest, on our first tour around the town we spent a good bit of the day driving around the bigger, more built up areas of Sedona before we doubled back and happened upon the bit we had been looking for all along.

And though most of Sedona is pretty nice to look at, it would be a crying shame to visit the city and not see it's most incredible area. So be sure (if you've not already mapped out your path) to stop in at a local shop, tourist center, or speak to one of the vendors on the road side about how to get to the old town art and gallery area of town.

Once you're there - you won't want to leave. Having not allowed enough time for my own Sedona visit, I highly recommend you allow no less than two full days of exploring. Pass through it if that's all you can have time for - but I guarantee you'll wish you had more time and vow you'll have to come back for another separate visit.

I would suggest you allow no less than one full day of walking around the town center enjoying the shops, art galleries, amazing restaurants and cafes - and one full day of sight seeing the desert and natural vistas around you. (Not counting for time to get to and from)

If you are particularly interested in one area over another - allow even more time. You'll be surprised at how very much there is to see and do in this little corner of Arizona - and it's a pretty easy drive to other nearby attractions as well, on the very unlikely chance you do all you want there and still have time to spare.

The town center itself was one of my favorite parts. Decorated for Christmas in a way you'll only experience in the south west - you could spend days and days wandering about the stucco buildings and little alcoves, all filled with stunning and unique galleries, shops, eateries and cafes. To date it's one of my favorite little towns, and I highly recommend you spend a bit of time indulging in it while in Arizona.
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One thing you can be sure of at the Grand Canyon. That is that you can find plenty of places to spend you vacation dollars. There are about a dozen gift shops located within the park. Here they offer things from under a dollar to…Read More

One thing you can be sure of at the Grand Canyon. That is that you can find plenty of places to spend you vacation dollars. There are about a dozen gift shops located within the park. Here they offer things from under a dollar to several thousands of dollars. They have everything from request souvenirs including post cards, T-Shirts, food stuffs, and toys. They offer up plenty of Native American crafts. There are books, DVD’s, and CD’s. And of course plenty of supplies such as sunscreens, batteries, memory cards, and disposable cameras.

Below are my favorite stores:

Bright Angel gift shop . This was the only place I found that has the squished penny machine in the whole park. They have plenty of supplies for the mule treck and hiking. They have the Fred Harvey history room. Here I picked up a bag of rocks for my nephew. You know the kind where they have the big bin of rocks and you squeeze as many as you can in the bag? Well my nephew loves ‘em so Aunt Sue obliges. I also picked up batteries and post cards. It is small but well worth stopping in.

Kolb Studio . This shop has been around since 1904. The shop is located right at the edge of the rim. It began life as the home, lab, and photography studio of Emery and Ellsworth Kolb. You can still see many of their photographs. Upstairs is a book store and downstairs is a gallery with changing exhibits.

There are some very interesting books here. Everything from books on the Grand Canyon to books on the Native tribes. There is a very nice selection on children’s books. You can also pick up post cards here as well as a few supplies. If you have the NPS passport book, they have both a rubber stamp to memorialize your stay in your NPS book as well as a postage type stamp. I got 2. One for my NPS book and one for my scrapbook. You can also pick up information on adoption the wildlife that resides here.

Yavapai Lodge . This gift shop is located at of course, Yavapai Lodge. This place is huge. They have everything you can think of from beautiful local made crafts to any kind of souvenir you want. They of course have the Grand Canyon on just about kitschy collectible you can think of from thimbles, spoons, shot glasses, playing cards, pen, pins, pencils, and more. I loaded up here with several seed packets, pins and magnets for my own kitschy collection, a T shirt for my hunny, a bottle of hot sauce for my brother, post cards, and an awesome scrapbooking kit.

Lookout Studio we stopped at thus gift shop at first for the views. This one is located over a lookout and there is a telescope to get an even better view of the canyon. You can get some awesome views from here. But they also have a very nice gift shop. We picked up some water and I picked up more batteries, post card, stickers, and I got yet another scrap booking kit as well.

No matter what your vacation souvenir desires, I am sure you can find plenty here to tempt you.

Website

www.nps.gov/grca.
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If you are going to the Grand Canyon, then you will most certainly want to spend at least the night here. And there are several hotels within the Canyon so you can end your night here and then be ready for thing in the morning…Read More

If you are going to the Grand Canyon, then you will most certainly want to spend at least the night here. And there are several hotels within the Canyon so you can end your night here and then be ready for thing in the morning for sunrise. And before leaving out we got to do sight inspections here. Talk about some comfy places to lay your head. This is for the South Rim.

The El Tovar

This is the hotel for the well heeled enjoying the Grand Canyon. It is also an amazing place to stop by and look around. So even if you’re not staying here, stop in for a while.

This beauty is also a historical gem. It has been receiving guests since 1905. In 2005 it went through a major overhaul to restore the hotel to its former glory. The hotel is a National Registered Landmark. It has played to hosts to such guests as Albert Einstein, Teddy Roosevelt, and Sir Paul McCartney. In fact while there he was playing the hotel’s piano when a guest was complaining. Some poor hotel employee had to go tell Sir Paul he was disturbing guests. Imagine the stories this guy got to tell!

We are to meet at the hotel lobby. Pam and I arrive at the resort. Our group isn’t all here so we have about 10 minutes to roam around. We go back outside and admire the Hopi House on display. Then we come back in and enjoy the chic yet rustic lobby. This place is gorgeous. There is rich wood all over the place. We sink into the divine oversized leather chairs that surround a massive fireplace.

Once we are all together we are given a tour of this place. The rooms here are to die for. One suite in particular, the Fred Harvey suite, is magnificent. It has a separate living room, a bedroom this is just heavenly, and then you walk out on the patio and wow!!!! There is plenty of space to lounge around and then views! OMG! I am sure Sir Paul stayed here. There are beautiful paintings, massive chandeliers, beautiful antiques, and Native American touches thought the resort.

The hotel has a very nice gift shop and a restaurant. The 78 rooms tend to get filled up very quickly from spring until fall, so advanced reservations are highly suggested. They are an AAA 4 diamond property. They are just a few steps from the canyon.

Maswick Lodge AAA‘s 3 diamond property from the rim the resort is ¼ of a mile away. See my first journal on my hotel stays for a full description.


Bright Angel Lodge/Thunderbird Lodge/Yavapai Lodge/Kachina Lodge

These are the rustic and economical options for those wishing to stay at the canyon. Yet it doesn’t mean you give up comforts by staying here.

The Bright Angel Lodge , designed by architect, Mary E.J. Colter, has been opening its door to canyon guests since 1935 and is a Registered National Historic Landmark.

There are both lodges and cabins. The lodges do not have TV and some have shared bathrooms. Cabins have TV’s and private bathrooms. Most have only one bed. There are view rooms, but can not be guaranteed. Some cabins have fireplaces. There are rim rooms and some in the historical cabins.

They do have a restaurant, lounge, history room, activity desk, gift shop, and this is where the famous mule trips depart from.

Kachina-Thunderbird Lodges

These rooms have views of the canyon and partial views. The rooms have a king or 2 queens, which is great for families. The rooms have fridge, TV, and full baths. They also have ADA rooms.

They do not have either a restaurant or a gift shop. But you can dine at the restaurants at the El Tavor and Bright Angel or any many other restaurants with the area. Ditto on the gift shop. Trust me, when I tell you. There is no shortage of places to spend your vacation $$$ at this place

Yavapai Lodge .

This hotel is ½ mile from the rim. But it is the largest facility. There are 198 rooms offering AC and another 160 rooms that do not have AC, but do have valuated ceilings and ceiling fans. Both include fridges and TV. Most rooms have queen beds and some have king beds.

They do have a restaurant and gift shop on the premises. And a very nice large lobby and coin laundry nearby. They are located at the market plaza so there is a Post Office, bank, shops, and a visitor’s center nearby. There is also an activities desk at the in the resort lobby.

There is bus transportation that picks up in the plaza and takes you to the canyon and other resorts and restaurants.

There is also the Phantom Lodge and Trailer Village .

These are AAA 2 diamond prosperities. But at some point I hope to return with John. And if I do then I plan on staying at with Angel Bright Lodge given its proximity to the rim.

It is a very good idea from spring to fall to make reservations well in advanced.

Website

For more information go to:

www.grandcanyonlodges.com
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After hitting Montezuma’s Castle, we were headed to Williams to take the train to the Grand Canyon. Before our last stop of the day, we took a detour into Sedona to take a ride with the Pink Jeep Tour Company. The drive in here is…Read More

After hitting Montezuma’s Castle, we were headed to Williams to take the train to the Grand Canyon. Before our last stop of the day, we took a detour into Sedona to take a ride with the Pink Jeep Tour Company.

The drive in here is nothing less than spectacular. This is red rock country. These sandstones come in brilliant colors from reds, to rust, to orange. These ranges have names such as Snoopy, Cathedral Rock, Cow Pies, and Rabbit Ears. There are about 11,000 people that call this charming city home. It is located in the Upper Sonora Dessert in Northern Arizonian. These formations began around about the Permian period.

Our bus pulls up and since there are 51 one of us and 4 group leaders, we are divided into 2 groups. One group gets to shop and walk around while the other takes the jeep tours, and then vise versa. The group Pam and I are in are going to be enjoying this city first.

We are dropped off in the center of town in a very cute little shopping area. Pam and I gingerly just window shop. We pass by boutiques full of local made crafts and clothing. One widow in particular catches my attention. It is full of pottery colored with these amazing and brilliant colors. We pass by a number of restaurants, trying to decide on what we will be having for lunch. This place is full of stunning statues including a collection of Javelinos on Parade. This cute creatures that look like little piggies and like many cities, there are statues all over the place. The whole time here, it is hard to take you eyes off the red rocks that surround this place. The views are candy for the eyes.

After wondering and wowing, we make our decisions on eating and shopping before heading to the Pink Jeep Tour offices. We had dinner at the Open Range Grill which fixes up some mighty good grub and the views; they are just an added delight. Afterwards we stopped by the 3 Dog Bakery and The Original Dirt Shirt Company for gifts for family back home. Then we met up with others from our group and headed to the tour office. Along the way we ogle the scenery, snap up photo after photo, stop to pet a horsie, and do more window shopping. Then we end up at our final destination, The Pink Jeep Tour office. And soon enough we were loaded up in our pink jeep and Tomas takes us out for one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I will have a separate review on that in another journal.

This place is not to be missed. Should you find your self in the area, stop and stay a while. This place is a destination it’s self. It is truly a place to just stop and relaxing a spend time before heading out. It is a place for shoppers, artist, and outdoor enthusiasts. Or for those who want to just sit, relax, and take in the views. Your eyes will thank you.

Website

www.visitsedona.com.
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Overview. I arrived in Phoenix 2 days ahead of my travel agent trip, to enjoy this amazing city. While there I was fortunate enough to stay at the grand and luxurious Arizonian Biltmore . I even got Ron and Nancy’s room when they were…Read More

Overview.

I arrived in Phoenix 2 days ahead of my travel agent trip, to enjoy this amazing city. While there I was fortunate enough to stay at the grand and luxurious Arizonian Biltmore . I even got Ron and Nancy’s room when they were visiting!

Before I even check in, I checked out the Desert Botanical Gardens . Listed as one of The 1001 Gardens Before You Die . 5 minutes here and you will know why.

On this trip, I got to check 3 things off my bucket list. The first was a hot air balloon ride. I took a ride with Hot Air Expeditions . This was simply an amazing and surreal experience that everyone should try at least once in their life.

Item #2 of my list was visiting Taliesin West . This was the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright and his last wife, Olga. Frank was without a doubt the most brilliant architect in the world. This isn’t a home he designed; this was where he actually lived. I took both the daytime and evening tours. On my way in for the airport, I stopped by to take a look at the Grand Gammage Auditorium which is on the ASU Tempe campus and designed by Wright.

I scooted around the fashionable and gorgeous old town area of Scottsdale with James from ContempoRide Segway .

While here, I dined pretty good and hit my favorite chains. Where there is a Hard Rock , you can be certain you will find me. And since Phoenix has one, yep I was there. I also checked out rocker and local, Alice Cooper’s restaurant, Cooper’s Town for some rockin’ ribs. As always, Guy Ferrari is right on the money. I checked out some Mexican delights at Los Taquitos .

After all this I had to start the "hard work" part of my trip, my travel agent FAM (familiarization trip). We stayed in style in luxury while on this trip. The Best Western Sundial Inn was our first taste of luxury. Then we are on to the hip and swanky Hotel Valley Ho . In the Grand Canyon area we bunked down at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and The Maswick Lodge at the Canyon.

On our way to the Grand Canyon, we stopped and visited Montezuma’s Castle National Park . The ancient dwelling has survived almost 1000 years to show us how the first people here lived.

Before heading out to Williams, we took a scenic and awe inspiring drive into Sedona . Our group divided up and Pam and I would first grab a bite to eat at the Open Range Grill which offered up some might good food and views that will stop you in your tracks. I stopped by the 3 Dog Bakery , which gave me a funny story when I returned home. I picked up John a T-Shirt at the Red Dirt Shirt Company . Then we enjoyed walking around this sensational city with the most amazing views everywhere you go. Our last stop was with Pink Jeep Tours . Talk about an adrenalin rush. We took off through the back roads of the red rocks. We went up and down deep inclines and back up again. Woooo weee. I was grinning from ear to ear. And we took the time out to stop and enjoy the amazing beauty that surrounded us. Then on to Williams.

The next morning after doing a site inspection, we took off for our 2 hour leisurely ride from Williams to the Grand Canyon via the Grand Canyon Railway . What a way to arrive. Once here, we split up again and filled up several buses. Our guide, Tony, gave us a fascinating look at the history of this wonder. We made several stops that looked out over the canyon. But at the first look at the Grand Canyon all you could hear is a collective gasp. I will never forget that as long as I live.

After our tour we grabbed some lunch and check into our room. Then we headed out to explore the Grand Canyon. One of nature’s wonders, and once you hear you simply say "no wonder". We caught the sunset at the Grand Canyon and it will leave you speechless.

The next morning we woke before the crack of dawn to get to experience sunrise at the Grand Canyon. I still get tears in my eyes from the experience. It humbles you to see something that will take your breath away.

We did some more exploring, shopping, and grabbed a bite to eat. Then we did some more site inspections and headed back on the train to Williams. Where we would spend another night and ended the evening with a fun BBQ. The sadly we were up early the next morning and headed back to Phoenix and back home.

Oh and #3 off my bucket list, like many others..visiting the Grand Canyon.

Suggestions

Here are some websites you might find helpful:

www.arizonaguide.com
www.visitphoenix.com
www.visitsedona.com
www.thetrain.com
www.nps.gov/GRCA

Go green and just take the train from Williams. It saves gas and it is a fun way to get into the canyon.

If you are staying at the Grand Canyon between the spring and fall, you will need to make your reservations well in advanced.

Make sure you bring plenty of camera batteries and memory cards. They are expensive at the gift shops. And you will take many pictures, trust me. I took 1800 alone.

Getting around

There are many ways to get to the Grand Canyon. The two most popular are either arriving into Phoenix International (PHX) and renting a car or arriving first into Las Vegas (Las) and driving in. You can also take excursions from Vegas into here. Oh and despite what the Phoenix airport brags bout, they are far from the friendliest airport. In fact it was one of the worst.

If you are flying in, you will need to rent a vehicle to get to the Grand Canyon. It is about 3 hours from Phoenix and about 5 from Vegas.

There are a lot of companies that offer escorted tours of the Grand Canyon and the surrounding areas.

Once again, step back in time, and enjoy the views along the way, by taking the train with the Grand Canyon Railway.

*General disclaimer: unless it is a for media or print requests, please do not contact me in regards to using any part of my journal or photos. The reviews and photos are my own creation. I do not allow any part to be used without contacting me first. This applies to all of 5 of the journals Close

For anyone who has never been to Arizona before, you are in for a spectacular treat. Often thought of as a 'tourist' destination because of the The Grand Canyon and other landmarks - the state is also often disregarded as an excellent stop off…Read More

For anyone who has never been to Arizona before, you are in for a spectacular treat. Often thought of as a 'tourist' destination because of the The Grand Canyon and other landmarks - the state is also often disregarded as an excellent stop off for travellers.

However, this state turned (and surprisingly my first visit to it) turned out to be one of the highest points in a round the world trip we took that lasted almost two years and covered some of the most highly visited places in the world. And even after all of that, we arrived in Arizona (like most, I feel - expecting to see a few sights and move on) so in awe that we made a point of coming back for another two weeks before we left the US entirely.

There is far too much in this picturesque state to see if one go, even if you allow plenty of time. The total of our time in Arizona came to almost a month - and even though there was a lot of time there spent catching up with old friends and enjoying the superbowl (which to our delight turned out to include the Arizona Cardinals that year) still we did not get to a fraction of the sights and things there are to do and see, even just in our corner of the state.

So unless you are planning to spend months there - getting a good idea of the top things to see on your visit is a very good idea. I do recommend you research it well (I wish I had spent a little less time planning California and Fiji, and a little more planning AZ) but one thing I have to insist you put high up the list is the red rock country of Sedona.

If you've not already been told this, the locals will very quickly clue you in when you arrive - that Sedona is a place that you must see. After driving 5 hours through the Arizona desert from Las Vegas to go to our stopping place just north of Phoenix, I honestly wasn't expecting that huge a difference in scenery when we returned north for the day to see Sedona.

But I simply could not have been more wrong.
This is an amazing place - and if you can get accommodation in the town or nearby I recommend it, because it is hard to see and enjoy it all in one day. The scenery is mind blowing - when they say 'Red Rocks' they really, really mean it. I spent the entire time we were there with my mouth hung open in amazement, and I don't know if I ever shut my camera off once.

But that is not all it has to offer. With an incredible selection of restaurants and a huge local art culture - you can easily amble around the little town centre for a full day, popping in and out of local art and jewelery shops, checking out the amazing smelling restaurants, and gazing at the red rocks surrounding you and the unspeakable blue sky above. And you won't have even done any hikes or seen some of the local ancient stonework.

My time in Sedona turned out to be brief - far, far too brief for such a place. Allow yourself a couple of days at least, and enjoy it at your leisure! Close

A Red Rock Pass is necessary to park or "recreate" in various popular spots in Red Rock Country. This was their way of ensuring that they have funds to maintain and preserve the various scenic landscapes and popular spots of Sedona. Every vehicle…Read More

A Red Rock Pass is necessary to park or "recreate" in various popular spots in Red Rock Country. This was their way of ensuring that they have funds to maintain and preserve the various scenic landscapes and popular spots of Sedona. Every vehicle is required to display the pass prominently in the windshield, a violation thereof would receive a citation. We were told that "incidental stopping" for a quick picture is allowed without a pass, but they were not very clear on what this means. Some descriptions say, "15 min or less" but it was difficult to gauge how our stay is being timed. Nevertheless, if you are planning to visit several popular sites in Sedona, it would be wise to buy Red Rock Pass. There are 3 options which include the Daily Pass ($5), the Weekly Pass ($15) , the Annual Pass ($20) and the Grand Annual Pass ($40). They are widely available and can be bought from ranger offices, visitor center and other commercial stores, gas stations, etc, as well as online and some self-service machines in various locations (including Bell Rock pathway). But its important to remember to read the considerations carefully because some of the passes may not be allowed in certain areas such as Crescent Moon, Grasshopper point, Slide Rock or other organized swimming/picnic area or campground.

One happy note is that the national inter-agency pass, America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass ($80), or its equivalent is accepted in lieu of the Red Rock Pass. So if you are planning to visit several National parks or monuments in northern Arizona (including the Grand Canyon, etc), or other popular parks all over the country, it may be practical to invest in this inter-agency pass. But like the Red Rock Pass, it is also important to remember to read the accompanying paperwork because some organized campgrounds and recreational areas do not accept this and may still charge entrance fees. A prominent example of this exception is Slide Rock State Park.
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Driving about 2 hours north of Phoenix on AZ 179 off I-17, the desert brown landscape gives way to the distinct reddish tinged scenery letting you know that you are arriving in Red Rock Country, in beautiful Sedona. The amazing attractions are the fabulous red…Read More

Driving about 2 hours north of Phoenix on AZ 179 off I-17, the desert brown landscape gives way to the distinct reddish tinged scenery letting you know that you are arriving in Red Rock Country, in beautiful Sedona. The amazing attractions are the fabulous red rock sandstone formations that are instantly recognizable – Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Cathedral Rock, even Snoopy Rock, named after the famous Peanuts character. But even more astounding is how the attractions, the grounds, and surroundings look like they have been painted a reddish hue. Ok, , maybe more like red, pink, burgundy, rust, orange and every shade in between, depending on what day it is and the angle of the sun.

So why are the Red Rocks red?

This is a popular question that came out of every visitor’s mouth at one time or another. There are about 300 millions of years of explanation as to why the beautiful shades of red characterize this awe-inspiring retreat. It can be a geologist’s dream exploring the answer to that question – something about millions of years of accumulation of deposits and layers of creation as Sedona evolved from being underwater, a coastal area, a swamp, a desert and how it is now. But the simple explanation? Iron. Specifically iron oxide (rust), which remained in the highly porous sandstone giving it its distinct color. But who can really concentrate on technical explanations when you are surrounded by such beauty? I believe its enough to bask in the beauty of Sedona and the mystery that it inspires.

Sedona has also designed their community to complement the spectacular landscape all around. There are mostly red-rock territorial style buildings in subdued natural tones and mostly none of the flashy building colors that could clash with the view. Case in point, you will not see the famous McDonald’s golden arches here because Sedona has decided that it does not go with the scenery. Oh there is a McDonald’s, but they traded their famous trademark golden arches with turquoise-colored ones. Yes, Sedona is the only place in the world where McDonald’s has turquoise arches.

Ah, Sedona is a perfect place to just sit back and appreciate the wonder and splendor of mother nature’s creations

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Hopefully you have read (and enjoyed) my review of our Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour in Sedona. It was a highlight of our eight day vacation in Northern Arizona. If you don’t have the time or inclination to tour Sedona by jeep, you…Read More

Hopefully you have read (and enjoyed) my review of our Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour in Sedona. It was a highlight of our eight day vacation in Northern Arizona. If you don’t have the time or inclination to tour Sedona by jeep, you can still get out and enjoy the sights that make this area of the country so unique.

The drive over from Flagstaff is about an hour, give or take. As you head out of Flagstaff on Hwy. 89A you will enter the Coconino National Forest and soon reach the Oak Creek Canyon overlook where you can get out and stretch your legs with a walk to the lookout point at the end of the paved sidewalk. If you arrive in the area in the morning, you will find that the sun is in an absolutely terrible place for photos. We ended up coming back later in the day, mid to late afternoon, for our photos. The canyon below is beautiful as you look out across the switchback two lane highway below you.

I should also mention that this lookout area is part of the Arizona State Parks system. They have a partnership with local Native American vendors, permitting them to sell their arts and crafts along the sidewalk near the visitors’ center. Their silver and turquoise jewelry, pottery and woven goods are really beautiful and from what I could tell, prices were very reasonable.

As you continue your drive from Oak Creek Canyon, you will twist and wind along the Oak Creek which includes a lot of campgrounds and small lodges. The views are outstanding; tranquil and peaceful. I can see someone coming here to commune with nature to escape the rush of city life. Just before reaching Sedona is Slide Rock State Park, a year round opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Most however, come here to enjoy swimming and "shooting the slippery rock chute" during the warmer months. There are picnic areas and a gift shop with snacks along with bathrooms, etc. More information may be found on their web site: http://www.azparks.gov/Parks/SLRO/index.html.

From Slide Rock State Park you will fast be approaching Sedona. Before you arrive at the city’s welcome sign, you will see the world famous red rock formations. They are spectacular and when we came upon them, they somewhat took me by surprise. Entering the uptown area of Sedona is somewhat of a letdown other than the fact that you can see the gorgeous red rock formations all around you. Town itself, for me, has a bit of a feel of a typical tourist trap . . . but that is me. For those who love little quaint shops and restaurants, you will love this place.

Driving on through town on Hwy. 89A you will approach a couple of round-abouts. The first will take you on out Hwy. 179 which will eventually take you by some famous formations including Bell Rock and Cathedral Tower. The second round-about will take you take you out of town on Hwy. 89A towards Airport Road and eventually out to Cottonwood, AZ and beyond.

I mention Airport Road specifically because this is where we stayed (Sky Ranch Lodge) but perhaps more importantly; this is the location of a vortex. Vortexes are believed to be energy centers and the source of what many believe is the spiritual draw to Sedona. While we didn’t go to this particular vortex, we did enjoy our hike at Bell Rock where the presence of the vortex was very evident in the trees. You see, with the spiraling winds, the trunks and limbs of the junipers are twisted and contorted to make some very strange mutations. Admittedly, I didn’t seem to feel the vibe, it was interesting to see how the vortex affects the growth of plant life in the area.

Airport Road is also one of the best lookout areas at sunset. With the sun drawing down to your left, the lighting on the red rock formations on your right is fantastic. The parking lot at the lookout was jammed about 20 minutes before the predicted time of sunset. Fortunately, we were able to scout a perfect viewing point on the Sky Ranch Lodge property where we took a lot of photos.

If you plan a trip to or even through Sedona, I hope you will enjoy your drive and take some time to get out and explore. There are a number of hiking trails of varying degrees of challenge. Even an asthmatic like me could get out and enjoy it, but be sure to be aware of your personal limitations. The air is a bit thinner than you may be accustomed to and if the air is chilly that too could affect your breathing capacity. Here is a link to a really good map of the area highlighting the red rock formations and hiking trails in the area: http://www.redrockcountry.org/maps/big-map.shtml.
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