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By: Paul S Cilwa |
Posted: 7/12/2006 |
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Page Views: 2,428 |
| Hashtags: #Arizona #Sedona |
| When friends ask what there is to do if they come to Arizona for a week's vacation, this is what I tell them. |
| Estimated reading time: 14 minute(s) (3269 words) |
While Phoenix is in the "center" of the state, Sedona is actually an ideal
base for an Arizona vacation—especially in the summer, where Phoenix's
blistering heat can discourage the bravest vacationer. Sedona is about 2000 feet
higher in elevation than Phoenix, which makes a difference of about 20°
Fahrenheit.
In Sedona
Sedona has so many natural wonders of its own, one could easily spend a week touring them without even leaving town.
Red Rock Crossing
This is my single favorite attraction in the Sedona area. It's the place
where Oak Creek passes over a rocky, shallow spot and was once one
of the few places for horses to cross. Now it's a terrific place for
picnicking
and swimming. Be aware: the rocks where the
water passes are very slippery if you don't have hooves. True
Tevas (rather than knockoffs) or tennis shoes are recommended. Even
better would be football cleats. I usually cross on my hands and
knees.
The best feature of Red Rock Crossing is its perfect framing of Cathedral
Rock, one of the most spectacular rock formations in the area and location of
one of Sedona's three most powerful
vortexes.
To get there: Drive west from Sedona on US 89A. Just outside town,
turn south on FR 216 (Upper Red Rock Loop Road). Drive about 1.5 miles and
follow the signs to Red Rock Crossing. All roads except the short segment
leading from Red Rock Crossing Road to the picnic area are paved. There's a $7
parking fee per vehicle.
Vortex Tour
There are several companies offering Jeep tours of the
area, and generally the tours go from vortex to vortex, allowing the
passengers to get out and make very short hikes from where you park
to the vortex itself. The views are spectacular, so bring your
camera!
Some people are disappointed because they expect major special effects when
standing in the energy field of a vortex. While such have occasionally been
reported, in general people merely experience the vortex as a feeling of mild
euphoria. Still, any of the vortexes are ideal places for meditation if you are
into that sort of thing; and, if not, they are all in exquisitely beautiful
places which would be worth visiting even if there were no vortexes at all.
On my first visit to Sedona, Michael and I went with the
Pink Jeep Tours.
Our tour guide was named Stephen, and was very
knowledgeable regarding local legends and the ways the Native Americans made use
of the vortexes before the Europeans arrived.
To get there: The various jeep tours all depart from the touristy
T-Shirt Alley just North of the intersection of State Road 89 and State Road
179. Rates vary depending on the type of tour you wish to take. Pink Jeeps hold
6-7 passengers.
Airport Mesa Vortex
Probably the most healing vortex is located at
Airport Mesa. It's also fun to climb, even if you aren't the world's
most experienced rock climber. Even my ex-wife managed to climb it,
and she's very nervous when it comes to heights. The view from the
top is awesome, and it's a great place to rest and relax before
climbing down.
But even if you stay in your car, there can be benefits. The day after our
wedding, Michael and I escorted some of our out-of-town guests there. One of
them was Donny, Michael's nephew, who had broken his foot badly in a motorcycle
accident the year before. It still wasn't healing properly, and the doctors had
warned Donny that they might have to amputate his foot. Obviously, he didn't try
to climb the butte—he could barely walk with crutches—but Michael and I did
laying-of-hands in the energy field right in our rental van. Three months
later, Donny was walking without crutches.
To get there: Head west from the SR89/SR179 intersection and keep an
eye out for Airport Road on your left—it isn't far. Turn up Airport Road and
park in the little dirt lot on the left. You don't have to climb any more than
you're comfortable with to get great views. You can also hike Southward on a
level trail with awesome views of Oak Creek Canyon all the way. You'll need a
Red Rock Parking Pass at this and all other natural wonders in Sedona. You can buy them
almost everywhere.
The last time I bought one, it was $5 a day but you can
also get a one-week pass and an annual pass.
Helicopter Tour
I took Mom on one of these, and she absolutely loved it. It's the only
way to view some of the more remote rock formations.
To get there:
If you've just visited Airport Mesa Vortex you're practically there. Continue
up Airport Road to the shack with the sign "Helicopter Tours." Prices range from
$58 upwards. For a hefty sum, you can also take a helicopter all the way to
Grand Canyon (but there are less expensive helicopter tours of the Canyon
leaving from nearer the Rim, if you don't mind driving to the vicinity).
Bell Rock
This formation is so distinctive, it's become the logo for Sedona.
You can park adjacent to it (with a Red Rock Parking Permit—see
above) and take a level stroll around it, or climb as far as you
dare. I've made it maybe halfway, myself. This is the third of
Sedona's Big Three vortexes.
To get there: Take SR179 almost all the way to the town of Oak Creek.
You can't possibly miss Bell Rock unless you drive with your eyes closed. It'll
be on your left. If you haven't already purchased your Red Rock Parking Permit,
there's a dispensing machine in the area.
T-Shirt Shopping
Just North of the intersection of SR89 and SR179 is the tourist trap section
of town. Every other store sells T-shirts, but you can also buy all manner of
curios, Indian goods, and so on. Because Sedona is a New Age kind of town, there
are lots of books stores with unusual, metaphysically-oriented books that can be
difficult to obtain anywhere else.
Especially fun to shop is the Sedona Kid Company, a toy store with
particularly unusual toys and games located at 333 N Hwy 89A Ste 8. Another
favorite of ours, located on SR179 just before Oak Creek, is the self-proclaimed
Center for the New Age at 341 Hwy 179.
We pretty much always stop there for
our metaphysical book and crystal needs, as well as New Age music CDs. They also
offer aura readings and Kirilian photos. Be sure to take a few minutes to stroll
down to Oak Creek; there are benches for meditation or quiet reflection. Across
the street is the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts
Village, a town-within-a-town filled with art galleries, curio shops, and
coffee shops.
To get there: It's just north of the SR89/SR179 intersection on SR89,
and for the half-mile or so of SR179 before you get to Oak Creek.
Near Sedona
Oak Creek Canyon
To get there: If you stay on SR89 past the T-shirt shops, you'll
find yourself on one of the prettiest drives anywhere. Recent fires
have burnt a lot of the trees, but try to look past the devastation
to the miracle of a forest renewed and recovering from the fire.
And, of course, every tree gone just allows a more open view of the
incredible rock formations.
All the way at the top of the canyon you'll find a rest area that overlooks
it. Be sure and stop there, and visit the Navajo jewelers displaying their
wares. Before Europeans invaded their country, Navajos traded peacefully with
their neighbors and were known everywhere for their intricate
silver-and-turquoise necklaces and bracelets. The best part is that, without
middle-men, the jewelry is very affordable—it's not hard to find three
full-sized necklaces, adorned with all manner of semiprecious minerals, for $20.
You do not need a Red Rock Parking Permit to park at the rest area.
Slide Rock State Park
On your way up SR89, you'll have passed
Slide Rock State Park.
If it's a summer weekend, you'll also have passed a
long line of cars waiting to get in. That's why I've never been there, but it's
definitely on my list of places to go. Life Magazine included it in its
list as one of America's ten most beautiful swimming holes.
The park was once an apple farm, but it's named after a stretch of creek that
passes over a slippery chute you can ride. There's also wading, sunning, and a
picturesque nature trail.
To get there:
Drive north from Sedona on SR89 and watch for the sign.
Go early, as the park fills up quickly. There's a $10 fee per car.
Tuzigoot
The Tuzigoot ruins of a
Sinaguan Native American village are about 1000 years old, yet are
remarkably preserved in the dry, desert air. There are two
quarter-mile trails through the ruins, plus an interpretive museum.
To get there: From Sedona, follow SR89 south all the way to
Cottonwood. In Cottonwood take Main Street north towards Clarkdale and watch for
the sign. The entrance fee is $5 per person, unless you have an annual National
Parks or Golden Eagle pass, in which case it's free for everyone in your car.
Montezuma's Castle
Montezuma's Castle National Monument
includes one of the best-preserved
cliff dwellings in North America. The Sinaguan Indians lived here
some 600 years ago. However, it's not a castle and Montezuma, famed
king of the Aztecs, was never here.
To get there: From Sedona, follow SR179 all the way to I-17 (maybe 15
miles), then dogleg on the highway South one exit. Follow the signs to
Montezuma's Castle. The entrance fee is $5 per person, unless you have an annual
National Parks or Golden Eagle pass, in which case it's free for everyone in
your car.
East of Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona lies just a few miles north of
the Oak Creek Canyon Rest Area. If it was hot in Sedona, it'll be
20° cooler in Flagstaff.
Flagstaff itself is an interesting town, home to Northern Arizona University
and Percival Lowell's astronomical observatory (he discovered Pluto there). In
the winter, the Snow Bowl of the San Francisco Peaks is a world-class ski
resort. But I'm going to recommend visits to a couple of natural wonders nearby.
Sunset Crater National Monument
A little northeast of Flagstaff is Sunset
Crater National Monument. This is a volcano, extinct now but a whopper when
it was active. It last erupted 900 years ago, and the piles of ash and lava
flows remain, barely cracked by the pine forests that have grown up in the
fertile material. Although you can't go into the caldera itself, there are
plenty of nature trails and easy hikes in the area, as well as spectacular
views.
To get there: From Flagstaff, take US89 north about two miles—there
will be a brown sign for Sunset Crater on the right. There's a $5 fee per
individual, unless you have an annual National Parks or Golden Eagle pass, in
which case it's free for everyone in your car.
Walnut Canyon
Walnut Canyon National Monument,
less than ten miles east of Flagstaff, is at
once an archaeological wonder and a beautiful nature walk. However,
be warned: The way into the canyon is via a very long flight
of stairs. There are landings and benches, but if you aren't in
fairly good shape plan on taking plenty of time to climb back up
when your visit is over.
This was once the home of the Sinaguan Indian culture, so-named because they
lived without free-running water. (The canyon has been dry for hundreds of
thousands of years.) The Sinaguans were contemporaneous with the Anasazi who
lived in Grand Canyon; in my opinion they were actually the same culture. They
built homes among the cliffs and lived happily here for hundreds of years.
To get there: From Flagstaff, take I-40 east about five miles to the
US 180 exit—there will be a brown sign for Walnut Canyon. Go south a mile or so
till you get to the Visitor's Center. There's a $5 fee per individual, unless
you have an annual National Parks or Golden Eagle pass, in which case it's free
for everyone in your car.
Meteor Crater
35 miles east of Flagstaff is Meteor Crater,
the first proven and best-preserved meteorite
crater on Earth. 50,000 years old, the impact created a firestorm
that turned the Southwest into the desert it remains today.
The crater itself is visually interesting for, at most, five minutes. But the
interpretive museum and movie are fascinating and allow even kids and
science-challenged adults to appreciate the magnitude of one of the forces that
has shaped our world.
To get there: Meteor Crater is located off I-40 at exit 233. Admission
for adults is $15, which includes a guided tour of the crater rim that lasted
around an hour, a film shown in the theater explaining the crater, and access to
the museum on site. There is also, of course, a gift shop.
Petrified Forest National Park
If you continue further east on I-40 you'll come to the town of Holbrook,
about 3.5 hours' drive from Flagstaff. South of Holbrook is the
Petrified Forest,
a vast tract of scenic desert on which abound
the petrified remains of giant forests that grew here some 225
million years ago, in the Late Triassic period.
Though the park is 218,533 acres with a good
road and many parking areas to enjoy the sere desert views, you'll
want to stop at the Visitor's Center. In addition to an excellent
interpretive museum and movie, there's an easy-walking nature trail
that allows close-up inspection of some of the most spectacular
pieces of fossil timber anywhere.
To get there: From Flagstaff, ride I-40 east to
exit at Holbrook and travel on Highway 180 South to the park's south entrance.
Drive north through the park to return to Interstate 40. The entrance fee
is $10 per vehicle, unless you have an annual National Parks or Golden Eagle
pass, in which case it's free for everyone in your car.
The Painted Desert
Anyone who drives through the Petrified Forest also visits the
Painted Desert,
which is across the highway from the North
entrance. A ten-mile paved road runs throughout the park, providing
quite a few pull off points with plaques explaining the geology and
coloration within the park. Be aware that the place looks its most
wondrous in early morning or late afternoon when the light comes
from a low Sun.
To get there: From the Petrified Forest, simply continue from the
park's North entrance past I-40. The road loops through the Painted Desert and
returns to I-40. There's a nice museum/gift shop just before you get back on the
highway. There is no additional fee for visiting.
Grand Canyon
You can easily spend a day in Grand Canyon…or a year.
But as a casual tourist based in Sedona, you'll be aiming at the
South Rim. That puts you west of Flagstaff, and there are a few
things on that side worth seeing.
Grand Canyon Caverns
Another place I haven't seen but want to,
Grand Canyon Caverns is located in Peach Springs, AZ, on Route
66 about 102 miles west of Flagstaff. In addition to the Caverns,
there's a motel.
To get there: From Flagstaff, take I-40 west to Seligman, then US 66
west to Peach Springs. Grand Canyon Caverns pretty much is Peach Springs,
so you can't miss it. The regular tour costs $12.95 per person, but an
"Explorer" tour is available that allows you to visit additional rooms for
$44.95.
Grand Canyon IMAX
The last stop on the road to Grand Canyon's South
Rim is the town of Tusayan. There you'll find a Pizza Hut, a
McDonald's, more expensive restaurants, motels—and an IMAX theatre
that only shows the Grand Canyon IMAX Movie.
This is an exquisitely done film that, in 35 minutes, will make you feel like you've been all the way
down to the river.
To get there: From Flagstaff, take US 180 past the Snow Bowl to
Tusayan. Ticket prices for adults are $10.65.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Rides
Tusayan is also the best place to catch
a Grand Canyon helicopter ride.
The full retail price is $135 per person, but you can get steep discounts
online
if you make reservations in advance.
Grand Canyon South Rim
Following US180 past Tusayan, in just a few minutes you'll be at
Grand Canyon National Park.
While I've been known to go on and on about the splendor of the Canyon below the Rim, let's not
forget that it is the view from the Rim that most people
see—and that gave the Canyon its reputation for extreme natural beauty.
A couple miles past the entrance kiosk, you'll come to a T intersection with
Rim Road. Turn left to head for Grand Canyon Village. Along the way are a number
of parking areas and viewpoints. Be aware that there's a lot of traffic,
especially in the summer; it's not unusual to have to wait for parking.
Once you get to Grand Canyon village, there are large parking lots and a free
shuttle bus system that will take you wherever you want to go. On the Rim you'll
find a cluster of century-old buildings, including a couple of hotels and
several restaurants, as well as a spacious walkway from which you can view the
Canyon. There's also an art gallery and a place where you can see the first
movies taken in the Canyon, shortly after the invention of the motion picture
camera.
If you follow the walkway to the left, you'll find yourself at the beginning
of Bright Angel Trail, which leads all the way down into the Canyon. I do
recommend following it a short way just to experience the Canyon below the
Rim—but don't try to hike too deep without plenty of water and time. It's nine
miles all the way down, and the same back up—a steep nine miles—and few
people can actually make it both ways in one day. The park rangers rescue about
250 people a year who thought they could.
To get there: From Flagstaff, take US 180 past the Snow Bowl to
Tusayan. Continue to the Grand Canyon National Park entrance. Entrance fee is
$25 per vehicle and all its occupants, unless you have an annual National Parks
or Golden Eagle pass, in which case it's free for everyone in your car.
Parting Thoughts
Reading through this list, it's clear that a current
National Parks pass or, if you're eligible, a Golden Eagle Pass will
save more money than it costs if you're planning to visit more than
one or two of these parks and monuments. You can purchase it at the
first park you visit, and it will be good for the next year.
Have a great visit!
Further Reading