As if sculpted in crimson stone, the city of Sedona and its red rock towers stand tall against pine green hillsides and a cerulean sky. Getting there from Flagstaff is half the fun; Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon takes you past monoliths and refreshing swimming holes in the creek itself.
Sedona’s special appeal goes beyond the surface. The Yavapai Apache tribe considers this area to be sacred, and seven supposed energy vortexes in the vicinity draw spiritualists and would-be shamans for their healing and cleansing properties. Author Zane Grey used it as the attention-stealing backdrop of his 1924 classic The Call of the Canyon, and Hollywood made the local scenery famous in dozens of Western films. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore over 100 day-hiking trails by foot, or mountain bike on hundreds of miles of dirt roads and single track. Other options include hot-air ballooning and tours in distinctive pink jeeps, while the summer heat (moderated only somewhat by the city’s 4,500-foot altitude) drives many towards the inv
As if sculpted in crimson stone, the city of Sedona and its red rock towers stand tall against pine green hillsides and a cerulean sky. Getting there from Flagstaff is half the fun; Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon takes you past monoliths and refreshing swimming holes in the creek itself.
Sedona’s special appeal goes beyond the surface. The Yavapai Apache tribe considers this area to be sacred, and seven supposed energy vortexes in the vicinity draw spiritualists and would-be shamans for their healing and cleansing properties. Author Zane Grey used it as the attention-stealing backdrop of his 1924 classic The Call of the Canyon, and Hollywood made the local scenery famous in dozens of Western films. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore over 100 day-hiking trails by foot, or mountain bike on hundreds of miles of dirt roads and single track. Other options include hot-air ballooning and tours in distinctive pink jeeps, while the summer heat (moderated only somewhat by the city’s 4,500-foot altitude) drives many towards the inviting swimming in Slide Rock Canyon State Park, right in town.
Others choose to explore the high-end shops and galleries, over 40 of which are in the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, a re-created Mexican village complete with leafy trees, a plaza and restaurants with outdoor seating. (It’s across the street from the Center for the New Age, offering guided vortex tours and psychic readings.) The contemporary Chapel of the Holy Cross, another spiritual must-see, was built into the living rock 200 feet above the valley, with great views from the front, which forms a huge cross.
Sedona is also known for some of Arizona’s most luxurious lodgings, starting with the world-famous Enchantment Resort, but a host of less-pricey options make Sedona a place begging you to stay far beyond the typical weekend. The Lodge at Sedona is an intimate, dog-friendly B&B with three acres of gardens and an outdoor meditative labyrinth built of local river stones. Garland’s Lodge is a comfy 1930s hotel known for its food. Lush gardens and orchards surround the 16 phone- and TV-free cabins, some with fireplaces. Zen minimalism blends well with the surroundings at the Amara Creekside Resort, where guests can avail themselves of spa treatments or just enjoy the red rock views from poolside. The Casa Sedona is yet another charming selection, an award-winning B&B with rose-tinted walls and 16 rooms decorated with the work of local artists.
[ + 展开]
