It's great to know that a clean air, unusually beautiful area is close to where I currently live in Southern California.
I flew to Phoenix and rented a car but flying these days is unpleasant, so should I return to Sedona, I'll drive stopping in Palm Springs for a night.
Other than coyotes and cowboys, Sedona is a quiet town that will likely remain so because there's a cap on population growth at 22,000.
Right now, Sedona population is at 19,000. This ensures air quality should remain relatively clean.
My top favorite recommendations in Sedona include:
Tours of the Universe, which I wrote about here.
Red Rock Jeep Tours with our cowboy guide Dan, which I allude to here.
Sedona Trolley, which makes going carless in Sedona easy. It's a hop on and hop off trolley that takes you to several town highlights, including on the first Friday of each month when the trolley takes you to art galleries. A very Sedona thing to do, as this area is known for its artists and spiritual retreats.
Out of Africa Wildlife Park is not only a great place to see lions,
tigers, jaguars, rhinos, giraffes, and lemurs up close and personal, it's the vision of Dean and Prayeri Harrison who in 1988 decided to share their love of wildlife at this park where you can take a Serengeti Safari.
The safari gives you a feel for Africa in Arizona. Giraffe, zebras, ostrich and more are frequently touchable.
While many of the animals are robust, others are rescue animals that have been injured and find good care here.
Red Rock State Park is the location of one of the most photographed areas in Sedona. Cathedral Rock is here (photo above) and not only breath-taking, it's one of four major energy vortexs in the area. I took several photos and video.
Another energy vortex is Airport Mesa, which has a great restaurant for breakfast. Maybe more, but I just ate breakfast.
Speaking of eating, a super-homey yet elegant restaurant with organic locally grown produce (as much as possible) served on country-style plates with colorful paintings decorating the walls is the Heartline Cafe. I ate there for New Year's and recommend it.
I stayed at Red Rock Resort, formerly called Saddleback Ranch, once a famous B & B where John Wayne stayed and now an elegant country-styled Inn. Above the refurbished piano is a signed photograph of the cowboy. This is also near the Airport Mesa vortex and is rumored to have very positive energy from the vortex as well. Truth be told, my dreams were more active than usual and I slept deeply.
Today, this three bedroom house with a cottage in the back and a pool and grand views of red rocks in the front is available for short term rentals. Perched high on a hill, I recommend it. Especially great for a romantic get-away. Speaking of romance, I'm told the estate can be rented for weddings complete with a vegetarian chef.
There was a lot of road construction while in Sedona, signaling Arizona still has money unlike California, and while passing construction sites, naturally, dust was in the air. Nowhere is perfect but this place comes close for desert beauty and accessibility.
Sedona is located 90 miles from Phoenix (I flew Southwest) and about 30 miles from Flagstaff, where you can find direct flights on Alaska Air.
Flagstaff is close to Williams where the Grand Canyon Railway leaves for the Grand Canyon, something I'd like to try in the future.
For those who have asthma, lung disease, or know yourself to be prone to altitude sickness, keep in mind Flagstaff is high at about 7000 feet. If you are sensitive, I'd suggest either flying to Phoenix and gradually elevating (driving) to Sedona (4400 feet) followed by Flagstaff.
And drink plenty of water.
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