Sedona - beautiful and mysterious

Sedona, a relatively small town of some 18,000, is one of Arizona's top tourist destinations. Why? Well, that is because nature has blessed it with some of the most amazing red sandstone cliffs on the planet. Millions of years of erosion has formed the cliffs into semi-recognizable shapes, such as Snoopy Rock, Bell Rock and Teapot Rock.

Sedona itself has little to detain visitors, apart from some nice shopping. There however are plenty of tour operators more than willing to take you sightseeing. If you have a car, be sure to get out there and explore the surrounding Red Rock landscape. Make sure to get the Red Rock Pass so you can park legally! It costs $5 a day, alternatively $15 for a week or $20 for a year.

New Age followers flock to Sedona because they believe in the healing powers of the vortexes in the area. These are concentrations of strong spiritual energy coming from the red rocks. If you are curious to see what the fuzz is all about, just pick up a map from the tourist information center, the vortexes are clearly marked! If you can't get enough vortex stuff, there are dozens of vortex related tours and shops in Sedona.

For the more mainstream believers out there, and for those who appreciate fine architecture, the stunning Chapel of the Holy Cross is a must-see. The chapel, built into the rock, was voted to be one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona in 2007.


How to get to Sedona:

Sedona is 120 miles north of Phoenix and 28 miles south of Flagstaff on Highway 89A. By bus, the Sedona-Phoenix Shuttle is a good option (928/282-2066).

Pictures of Sedona:

Above: Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona.

Above: View of Sedona.