Sedona, Arizona: May a force be with you in New Age hot spot
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The red rocks of Sedona, Ariz., look like a prehistoric form of modern art. -
Sedona's jagged red rock formations, like these in Boynton Canyon, have mesmerized tourists for decades. More than 3 million visitors travel each year to the region to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding through its rugged canyons. -
Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village in Sedona is reminiscent of a century-old Mexican village. It boasts more than 40 shops, galleries and restaurants. -
Jeep tours offer tourists a unique way to experience Sedona's pristine canyons, vortex sites and ancient ruins. -
A wooden Indian along the street in downtown Sedona, Arizona. -
McDonald?s on Route 89A in Sedona is the only one in the world to wear turquoise arches; officials thought the traditional yellow would clash with the surrounding red rocks. -
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SEDONA, Ariz. -- You needn't be a desert rat to fall instantly in love with the rugged, red-rock monoliths that define this enchanting city of artists in northern Arizona's Upper Sonoran Desert. Nor do you have to be a New Ager, although if you believe in the mystical power of vortexes -- there are 15 of these swirling centers of energy within 10 miles of downtown -- you'll fit right into this hot spot for every imaginable spiritual and metaphysical activity.
Thankfully, you don't even need good weather for a visit you'll never forget. Even in a freezing rain, with its famous peaks obscured by gray storm clouds and with normally bustling streets void of people, Sedona is a stunner.
We would have preferred the brilliant sunshine and azure skies one associates with the desert. Especially since neither my husband nor I had thought to pack winter coats or warm shoes for our quick trip to Phoenix. (To a Pittsburgher, at least dumb ones like me, Arizona in January = balmy temperatures = another round of margaritas by the pool.)
Even the most fervent prayers, though, can't change the weather or extend a vacation. If we wanted to see this geological wonder, it was now or never. Grabbing our sweaters, we got into our cheap rental Chevy and made the 120-mile drive north to the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon.
Getting there: Sedona is about 120 miles north of Phoenix, or an easy two-hour drive through some of Arizona's most beautiful scenery. Both USAirways and Southwest offer daily direct flights between Pittsburgh and Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport; with enough advance booking, a round-trip ticket costs about $300. If you'd rather arrive by air, there's a daily shuttle between Phoenix and Sedona, but be forewarned: It takes 21/2 hours and includes several stops. Cost is $85 round trip or $45 one way, and reservations are required. Info: 1-928-282-2066 or www.sedona-phoenix-shuttle.com.
Where to stay: We did a day trip from Phoenix, but overnighters have plenty of lodging options in Sedona. Accommodations run the gamut from inexpensive chain hotels, such as Days Inn (starting at $69) to luxurious, ultra-private four-diamond properties like Enchantment Resort in the heart of Boynton Canyon, where we ate fried cactus and sipped prickly pear margaritas at Tii Gavo. Sedona also boasts a variety of time-share resorts, condos, campsites and more than 20 bed-and-breakfasts (http://bbsedona.net or 1-800-915-4442).
First Published January 31, 2010 12:00 am
