Meeting and Getting to know Sedona

Sedona was a faraway dream. Not because of its distance from where I lived but because I didn’t think I’d visit it anytime soon. I first heard of it and saw pictures of her eye-catching rocks almost a decade ago when a family friend shared an online album of his trip there. And then later, I would end up having to do some research about the place for work and this strengthened my wish to see the place. And it did move higher up that list. Now that I’ve actually been there, let me tell you that Sedona, Arizona, now features on my repeat-trip list.

Now, why would I want to return to Sedona, AZ?! First of all, I was enchanted by the red rocks that define her. Secondly, my Sedona to-do list didn’t get all the checkmarks it was supposed to get by the end of the trip and lastly, I’d actually like to put aside some time to feel the energy at the vortices, there.

The Red Rocks of Sedona

Sedona’s better-known landmarks are naturally made, and made of red sandstone. They come in amusing shapes too, such that they have come to be known by names like Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Capitol Butte, Madonna, The Nuns, Snoopy Rock and Ship Rock, to name a few.

It’s beautiful to see how the city has grown around these rocks yet hasn’t overpowered them; neither with tall buildings nor with flashy colors that would compete with the original color of the place, which is an orangish red.

Airport Mesa views

To get to know this red-rock city, we started with a panoramic view of Sedona. The POI was Airport Mesa, the large table-top that also houses the local airport. From there, we got to see many of the prominent structures that make up Sedona.

😢Sedona was such a feast and I had taken loads of pictures from several stops we made and from the drives there too. So I was supposed to have a whole lot to show you here in this post but unfortunately, I lost some folders of pictures during an OS update and wasn’t able to retrieve them. (It was heart-breaking!) So I’m making do with pictures and videos on my phone. Well, now there’s yet another reason to go back. 😄

Here are some red rocks formations, for now —

Red Rock Scenic Byway

Another thing we did not want to miss was a drive through Sedona’s Red Rock Scenic Byway. This we did check off the list and you must too if you go that way.

This scenic route is actually Arizona State Route 179 (AZ 179). It is a 14-mile stretch of road that lies between AZ 89A (which runs through the heart of the city) and Highway 17 (which would take you towards Phoenix, AZ).

Believe me, when I say driving on these fourteen miles is one way to see Sedona. Many of Sedona’s famous rock formations can be seen from this route. There are some stops you can make to get a better view, take some pictures, and even go hiking.

With single lanes on either side of the road, cars are not flying past, so you’ll also be able to take in the famous views of this Arizonan city.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

If you asked me the top five things to do in Sedona, AZ, visiting the Chapel of the Holy Cross would definitely be on the list.

And if you asked me ‘why,’ I say — it’s one of the city’s most prominent buildings — it literally stands tall and handsome. It stands out because of its shape but it doesn’t really take much away from the larger picture of red rocks. While it is a place of quiet and calm, it also promises you some great views of Sedona. (I wish I had the photographs I’d taken from there!)

A bit more about Sedona

Sedona lies between the cities of Flagstaff and Phoenix. Apart from being known for its red sandstone, the area is also known for its vortices. It is believed that there are several spots in the city where there is a higher concentration of the earth’s energy. Several people are said to have experienced it, too. And local lores talk of people who have been drawn to some of these spots, some even of having found themselves in precarious heights and needing to call for rescues.

Several of these vortices have also been sacred places for prayers and rituals for Native Americans who still live in the area.

Sedona gets her name from one of its early settlers — the wife of the first postmaster of the city.

More:
Red Rock Formations
Lithic Landscapes on Tipsy from the TRIP

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