The Best of Sedona, Arizona

The majestic red rocks and evergreen vegetation are two reasons for the unique energy of Sedona. Sedona is known for its spiritual vortexes and transformational energy at Vortex sites throughout the area. Here are the best things to do and see in Sedona, Arizona.

Enjoy the Views.

Sedona, Arizona is one of the most majestic places in the US, and many visitors are drawn to Sedona for the incredible views of the red rocks. Sedona is an popular destination, especially for landscape photographers. The gorgeous landscape of red rocks is both unique and impressive. The red rocks are a classic icon of the American southwest, and Sedona is one of the best places to catch these views.

There are so many interesting and breath-taking places in Sedona to experience these views. Our top recommendation is to get out an explore. Take your time and find the views that are most inspiring to you.

Several popular places are :

Schnebly Hill Road
Red Rock State Park
Cathedral Rock
Airport Mesa
Chimney Rock Loop Hike
Sugarloaf/Thunder Mountain Trail
Courthouse Butte Loop Trail
Devil’s Bridge
Oak Creek Canyon
Birthing Cave

Each of these offer unique views depending on your ability to hike and depending on the vehicle you have available.

Airport Mesa

We chose to visit Airport Mesa, twice actually. We started with a visit to the Airport Mesa scenic overlook. There is plenty of parking. We went late afternoon and got some beautiful views. This is pretty close to town and very easy if anyone in your party has limited mobility. I was traveling with my mom, so I was careful to select locations she would feel comfortable. The views from here were spectacular.

We enjoyed Airport Mesa so much we decided to go back the next day for Sunrise. We scoped out the location the day before and identified parking locations, as Airport Mesa is one of the most popular destinations for sunrise and sunset viewing of Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Courthouse Butte. Sunset is usually the most crowded, so we decided to get up very early for sunrise. Sunrise is more serene with only a handful of people climbing the small knoll for the best viewing. Mom waited at the base of the knoll and took pictures, while I climbed to the top of the small knoll and was able to meditate while I waited for the most glorious sunrise.

Sacred Energy & Vortexes

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. Sedona has long been regarded as a place both sacred and powerful.

Although all of Sedona is considered to be a vortex, there are specific sites where the energy crackles most intensely. The four best known Sedona vortexes are found at Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon—each radiating its own particular energy. Some are thought to produce energy flowing upward while at others the energy spirals downward, entering the earth.

This special energy is known to cause trees to grow in a twisted manner and for spots of energy to show up in quite a few photographs. Get in touch with the sacred space inside you and seek out these vortexes.

Route 66

Route 66 is iconic, a symbol of a changing America. Known as “America’s Highway” during its heyday. Route 66 is a two-lane road, running 2,448 miles, connecting Chicago to Los Angeles. It was the path to Western promise for “Okies” escaping the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, the road under the soles of American nomads like Jack Kerouac. The legend of many songs, Route 66 is nostalgic, like traveling down memory lane. As Nelson Riddle so eloquently put it, “Get your kicks on Route sixty six“. We decided to explore the scenic drive through Flagstaff down to Williams, AZ on the historic Route 66.

Grand Canyon Train

Having never visited the Grand Canyon, we decided we were too close to pass up this opportunity. We set aside one of our days for a Day Trip to the Grand Canyon. We are huge fans of trains, so we selected to purchase the Grand Canyon Railway Adventure Package for a day trip, train ride and tour of the Grand Canyon South Rim.
The Grand Canyon Railway is a heritage railroad which carries passengers between Williams, Arizona, and the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The 64-mile railroad, built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, has been running since 1901 and delivers you inside the Grand Canyon National Park.

We had lunch and they provided great photo opportunities and entertainment on the journey. They also had the best photographer on board. She took pictures, lots of pictures, to make sure she got a great shot of everyone on board. She took her time and posed people and got everyone to laugh and smile. I don’t usually buy photos like this but these were some of the best I’ve ever seen.

Lara and Pat (Mom)

Grand Canyon

Once we arrived at the national park, we went on a 2 hour guided tour along the south rim by motor coach. We got to stop and take lots of pictures, and the guide was very knowledgeable in explaining all about the landscape, the terrain, and the wildlife in the area. The enormity of this canyon is difficult to describe and nearly impossible to even capture in photos. The Grand Canyon should be on every travelers “to-do” list.

Tlaquepaque Village

While I’m not one to usually write much about shopping, this little shopping village was charming. Tlaquepaque (pronounced Talah-keh-pah-keh), is an arts and crafts village uniquely situated in an authentically-fashioned traditional Mexican village. Adorned with statues, fountains, and cobble-stone streets, this village will capture your heart as well as offer you a view into the most captivating arts and crafts.

https://www.facebook.com/lcoffer/videos/10154120523783515/

Unique metal wind chimes in motion.

Rachel’s Knoll in Seven Canyons

By far, my most favorite attraction in Sedona was Rachel’s Knoll. Rachel’s Knoll is a spiritual, scenic overlook in Seven Canyons Resort with a rich, and deep history. The story began with a woman named Rachel who bought property west of Sedona in Long Canyon. This land was most sacred to the Native Americans in the area and was used by them for centuries for their ceremonies and inspiration. The beautiful outcropping of rocks makes available some of the most incredible views of the canyon. Rachel recognized and honored the spiritual energy of the land, and made the land available to the public. It was important to Rachel to ensure that all people could partake in the beauty and heritage of the land. In Rachel’s own words: “When I stepped onto the knoll, the vibrations took my breath away – and my strength, too. The view was spectacular. I felt I was looking into forever. The thought and feeling came: This magnificent view, this inspiration, should never belong to any one person; it should belong to everyone.” Rachel continued to buy the surrounding land throughout her life. When all was done, she owned 28 lots comprising about 13 ½ acres.

After Rachel’s death in 2001, the land was sold to Seven Canyon Resort with the caveat that Rachel’s Knoll must always be made available to the public. Not long after the sale, the resort put up gates and began blocking access. Rachel’s family took the matter to court to forever preserve Rachel’s legacy. To this day, the country club must provide access to anyone who requests.

To get to Rachel’s Knoll, from the junction of Highway 179 and 89A in Sedona, drive 3.2 miles west on 89A and turn right on Dry Creek Rd. Go north on Dry Creek Road 2.9 miles to a “T” intersection. Turn right and continue about a half mile to the entrance gate to Seven Canyons. Click here for a map of the Seven canyons area which includes Rachel’s Knoll. If you go to visit Rachel’s Knoll, a guard at the entrance gate will ask you to sign an agreement to comply with the regulations. You can now drive right up to the top of the Knoll. Click here to read more about Rachel’s story.

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Chapel of the Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel built into the buttes of Sedona, Arizona. The chapel is definitely nothing like any chapel you have seen before. It looks as if this Chapel is wedged into the rocks as if it just naturally grew there, rising up out of the red rocks.

The chapel was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who had been inspired in 1932 by the newly constructed Empire State Building to build such a church. One small glitch though, the land Staude wanted to build the church on is part of a National Forest. Staude pulled strings with Senator Barry Goldwater to get the required permission to build on national forest land.

There is a Taize Prayer Service held every Monday of the year at 5:00 p.m. Whether in formal prayer during the Taize service or in silent reflection, thousands of visitors each year are comforted and affirmed in the Chapel of the Holy Cross and awed by its design and beauty. As the sign on the door proclaims, the chapel is a shrine that offers “peace to all who enter.”

Who wouldn’t want to worship here?

The Birthing Cave

This one is not on any trailhead maps, so you will have to pay close attention to the directions. The Birthing Cave is pretty spectacular but when we asked several locals about it, they had never heard of it.

What to bring:

Plenty of water
Wide-angle lens/camera
Good Directions (you cannot count on having a signal)

Here is an aerial map. Start at Long Canyon Trail Head.

Since this trail is not marked on any trailhead signs, you need to know where you are going before you start and don’t expect to have cell signal to guide you. Follow the Long Canyon Trail inward for about .3 miles. You will come to the first point (Point #1 on map). Take a HARD left and keep following the trail.

You will walk down this trail for about another .3 miles, coming fairly close to the golf course, and you will come up to second point (Point #2) on the map. Take another hard left and cross over the tree branches.

Hard Left here, follow trail. You will start coming towards a cliff.

We found several cairns marking the path up to the cave. Hikers use these symbols to let other hikers know they are on the right trail. Follow the cairns and go up into the cave entrance. This is the only part of the hike that is steep and you need to climb.

At first, we thought we were in the wrong cave, because it is wide and broad. You don’t really notice the shape of the entrance until you climb all the way to the back of the cave (near the “belly button”). Then you notice the shape of the cave entrance. You will need a wide-angle lens to capture this. I used a Samsung Galaxy S10+ with the three lens and it worked perfectly. My friend had an older phone and it would not capture the cave edges.

We stayed in the cave a while getting lots of great shots as the sun was setting and capturing the “golden hour” as they say. We had a little trouble finding our way out, so leave early enough to find your way out and bring lots of water in case you get a little off course. We did run into some folks that got turned around and had been hiking for 2 hours off the path. Still, the Birthing Cave is glorious and worth the adventure!