Sedona, AZ Part 1

Sedona is such a beautiful area. The first view of the red rocks is awe-inspiring. We started a 6-day stay by driving from Phoenix and then checking in at the resort (time share). Our plan was to save money this trip on dining, so we did some grocery shopping - that way we could use the savings on excursions. We ordered some pizza from a local restaurant called Hideaway House. We did carryout but it looked like it would be a cute place to eat with nice views of the mountains. The pizza was actually quite decent.  

Day 2 started out with a trip to the tourist information center. There are many kiosks around the town where you can save money on tours if you sit through different timeshare/resort presentations. We got talked into a presentation in order to save over $250 on our excursions. The representative helped us also set up our excursions. Unfortunately I don’t qualify for these spiels because I don’t make enough so I explored downtown Sedona while my parents went to the talk. The downtown area is very touristy with many shops specializing in works from local artisans, including especially artwork and jewelry. There are also the usual souvenir shops with t-shirts and tchotchkes. Since I prefer not to buy souvenirs the first day of a trip I got a little bored and found a place to sit and just enjoyed the great view.  

To end the day we decided to explore a vortex. According to VisitSedona.com: What is a vortex? Sedona vortexes (the proper grammatical form ‘vortices’ is rarely used) are thought to be swirling centers of energy that are conducive to healing, meditation and self-exploration. These are places where the earth seems especially alive with energy. Many people feel inspired, recharged or uplifted after visiting a vortex. There are 8 reported vortexes in and around Sedona and there are tours where you can explore some of them. The easiest vortex to get to is near the small local airport. Unfortunately we didn’t realize there was an easy way to get to it and a more strenuous route. If you park at the small lot at the base of the hill it’s a straight shot up but we had to park at the top lot.

This is a ¾ mile walk to the vortex on some rocky terrain so wear good shoes. This trail also leads into a 3 mile circle trail (which we didn’t take). We had some great views of the city on our hike. We made it to the vortex/summit and enjoyed the great views but, unfortunately, we didn’t feel the energy. Maybe because we didn’t stay long enough to sit and meditate - or maybe it was because we weren’t true believers - but it sure was a beautiful spot.

The summit and a viewing area near the parking lot are also popular spots to watch the sunset.