Sedona, Arizona

Most people have heard of Sedona, a town in northern Arizona. The area is full of world-famous red rock spires, cliffs, mesas, and other formations. Sedona lies at the lower end of Oak Creek Canyon, another beautiful spot full of trees. The town is about 30 miles SW of Flagstaff.

The community is characterized by its many artists and shops. Accommodations there are expensive, but in nearby Cottonwood, they are reasonable. There are also interesting restaurants in Sedona.

There are legends about energy vortexes (vortices) in the mountains and among the rocks, which are supposed to have spiritual power. I don't put much stock in those things, but they do draw tourists. Just a short word about these: this is a New Age belief, and may be based in Native legends, though I don't know for sure. However, as a Christian, I don't sense such things, and I don't mind. I'd rather be with God in heaven than experience a momentary pleasure. Your mileage may vary.

I had the opportunity to drive the entire length of Schnebly Road before the weather finally made it impassible for all but 4-wheel drives. I made numerous photographs there, as well as in many other locations. All photos are mine.

This is the famous Chapel of the Holy Cross. It is a fullblown Catholic church, complete with rows of candles. There is a gift shop downstairs. You can see this building from quite a distance, if you know where to look and what to look for. I got some of my best scenic shots from the grounds.

Marguerite Brunswig Staude built the chapel to glorify God and thank Him for the many blessings in her life. She chose the location for its beauty, and had to get special permission to build there.

The spectacular red rocks of Sedona draw visitors from around the world. While red is a common color of rocks throughout much of the American southwest, these rocks are VERY red, and there are spires, and mesas, and many other lovely forms, many of which are unique.

There are tours that travel along Schnebly Hill Road. I drove it in my own car, because I didn't want to spend the money on a tour. I am glad I did. The road is probably impassible now, because the last time I went up there, I could only go so far. At one point, on the first trip, I was stopped looking at the scene, and one of the tour vehicles stopped next to me. These are open air vehicles with a cloth roof on top, to shield the passengers from the sun. There are also plane flights available, to see the scenery.

A colorful place

Just driving around the streets of Sedona is a lot of fun. There are so many unique sights. The town is full of neat sculptures, and the houses are beautiful.

Available on Amazon:

Sedona: Treasure of the Southwest

by Kathleen Bryant

Said to be a good coffee table book, I ordered one.

Sedona: More Than Meets the Eye

by Diane Moody, Mike Moody

Only available for Kindle, but if you have one, you might like this.

A Window on Sedona, Living in the Land of the Red Rocks

by Dottie Webster, Pamela Morris, Carol Haralson

I ordered this one, too. It sounds intriguing, and like it captured the flavor of the place (in part, literally)

The best of everything

The name of this little shopping complex is derived from the Aztec language. It means "the best of everything". The architecture is patterned after a small town in Mexico.

This is one of my favorite places to go. It has everything I could want for an enjoyable afternoon, just wandering around. There are several restaurants, art galleries, sculptures everywhere, beautiful rose bushes, and a quiet patio where I can just sit and relax out of the heat.

Sedona is indeed an unusual and special place. I hope to visit again soon.