Could this be the prettiest small town in all al the USA? Maybe! All I can say is, on our recent sojourn to the Grand Canyon, we had a two-day stopover in Sedona prior to moving on to Utah and Zion National Park. This town is simply enchanting!
During the past 20 years or so, Colin & I have travelled to many memorable places. We have always delighted in the “surprises” – you know, those places that were not the main destination of a trip but proved to be special. Sedona is one of those surprises.
The first thing you’ll notice driving into the town is that everything is pink. Coral pink – a soft pinky-orange, I guess. The buildings, the sidewalks, the cliffs, even the lamp standards.
The town is located in a bit of a valley and surrounded on 3 sides by the reddy-orange sandstone peaks of the Schnebly Hill Formation – apparently unique to the Sedona area. During sunrise and sunset, the colours of the rock formations intensify, making for many Kodak moments! I would say that Ayer’s Rock in Australia has nothing on Sedona.
We stayed in a charming boutique hotel called CASA SEDONA, which is just on the outskirts of town. It was fabulously charming with a gorgeous courtyard in the back of the property. While the zen music plays, there is so much to enjoy – summer tanagers, goldfinches, beautiful trees and landscaping and fragrant flowers everywhere. We delighted in having a breakfast outside on the terrace while taking in all the sights and sounds of Sedona.
Sedona has a population of around 10,000 residents but attracts millions of visitors annually who come to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and jeep tours through its numerous trails and scenic landscapes. We signed up for a small group ATV experience with Pink Jeep Tours. Their “broken arrow tour” is a lot of fun with its 2000 ft ascension along the Mongolian Rim. These jeeps climb over the rugged terrain with ease. The views at the top are worth the price of admission. Popular lookout spots include Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross – views which will have the photographer’s salivating!
In addition to its natural beauty, Sedona boasts a thriving arts scene with numerous galleries, festivals, and cultural events. The Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village, modelled after a traditional Mexican village, is a popular destination for art lovers and shoppers alike. We spent a morning strolling through the shops and sampling tasty treats.
Sedona’s main street is all abuzz with its colourful buildings, numerous art galleries and trendy restaurants. You’ll find sculpture everywhere and a fair number of bars and coffee shops.
Fun fact: Sedona is home to a unique McDonald’s with a turquoise or blue arch instead of the traditional golden arches. This distinctive sign was the result of city ordinances and aesthetic guidelines aimed at preserving the natural beauty and unique character of Sedona. The city’s regulations limit the use of bright, garish colours to ensure that commercial establishments blend more harmoniously with the surrounding red rock landscape. So when McDonald’s opened in Sedona (1993), they had to adapt their iconic sign to comply with these rules, resulting in the only blue McDonald’s sign in the world. This unique feature has become a point of interest for visitors, adding to Sedona’s charm and distinctiveness. We made a special stop to get a photo of the famous blue arch!
So if you happen to be heading to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, you might want to fly into Phoenix and then pick up a car to drive the 2 hour, scenic drive to Sedona. It’s a great place to spend a few days and chill!
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