Sedona – Arizona
Sedona is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona. Sedona’s main attraction is its array of red sandstone formations. The formations appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The red rocks form a popular backdrop for many activities, ranging from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails.
Sedona was in my bucket list for 1-2 year and finally I had a chance to visit the city. We drove from Orange county to Sedona which is 7 hours drive without a traffic. The first thing we did after reaching the Sedona was hiking the famous Devil’s bridge trail.
Devil’s Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area. From a trail head elevation of 4,600 feet, there’s a mere 600 foot climb in altitude during this moderately difficult, 5-mile round trip trek. The journey to reach the top won’t leave you breathless, but we would never say the same about the views you will witness when you finally get there.
Try to be there during a sunrise and you don’t find lots of crowd at that early time. After the hike, we visited the peace park called Amitabha Stupa – a must visit place for the spiritual seekers. A short trek up winding trails brings you to the 36 foot Amitabha Stupa and the smaller Tara Stupa for prayer, meditation, healing, and the experience of peace in a sacred place.
If you want to see the full panoramic view of Sedona, then you must visit the Airport Mesa scenic lookout. There is no other hike in the Sedona area that offers such awe-inspiring views as the Sedona Airport Mesa Loop Trail. It offers hikers a 360-degree panorama with views of almost every major red-rock landmark along the perimeter at an elevation of 4,500 feet.
After this, we visited the famous “The chapel of the holy cross” – is a Roman Catholic Chapel built into the buttes of Sedona. The chapel’s most prominent feature is a cross that seems to have been wedged into the rock by some devout pilgrim, who later built a chapel around it. It is an unforgettable sight from all angles.
Inside, the chapel is intimate and unadorned. On the periphery, benches hug the angular walls. In the center, two rows of pews–seven on each side–provide a place to pray or rest. The feeling in the chapel is uplifting. Wherever one sits, the eye is drawn to the cross in the center and to the floor-to-ceiling windows behind it, which provide a magnificent backdrop.
View of Cathedral rock from the church.
Your unforgettable Sedona experience must include spending time at internationally renowned Tlaquepaque, Sedona Arizona’s Arts & Crafts Village, on of the best things to do in Sedona. Nestled beneath the shade of the sycamores on the banks of beautiful Oak Creek in Sedona, Tlaquepaque is the most distinctive Sedona shopping experience to be found in the Southwest. Authentically fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, Tlaquepaque, meaning the “best of everything,” has been a Sedona landmark since the 1970’s.
Sedona’s visit would not complete without hiking the famous Cathedral Rock. Cathedral Rock is a short hike that offers beautiful views of the naturally occurring red rock formations in the heart of red rock country. This is a favorite hike in the Sedona area.
We had our dinner after the long day, went to bed and woke up next day at around 7 for another long day. The first thing we did was visiting the Red Rock Crossing. Red Rock Crossing is one of the best places to view Sedona’s beautiful red rocks. It is also the location where photographers go to get the iconic photos of the red rocks with the stream in the photo.
After spending an hour at Red Rock Crossing, we headed to Pink Jeep tour. Such a fun and exciting way to see the red rocks around Sedona. The Pink Jeep tour is famous and infamous, and a must do tour. The guides are educated about the area and well-trained to take you on a thrilling ride.
The uptown sedona is a nice place to hangout for the food, drink and shopping. You can enjoy your food while watching the red rocks in a short distance.
Overall, Sedona fulfilled my high expectation. There are lots of hiking trails which I missed on exploring in this 2 day trip. Probably, I’ll visit sedona one more time just for the hiking. But other than that, it’s a must visit town for those who seek some adventurous and also for a family trip. The weather is best during spring and fall.