Sedona, Arozona

Sedona, Arizona

Figure 1 Rocks in Sedona

Sedona is a desert resort town in Arizona.

We heard about Sedona from friends and decided to take a side trip to check it out on our trip to Grand Canyon.

On the way from South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Sedona is about 100 miles via Flagstaff. It was a clear spring day. The clean and crisp air made everything looked so clear and close. Most part of our drive was along the Oak Ridge Creek which feeds the area and there were woods close to the road and distinguished them from the surrounding desert landscape. Even Flagstaff looked very inviting. It was a aquatint and pretty town. There were modest houses with well maintained yards. And stores, restaurants and other commercials were sparsely located throughout the area.. After leaving Flagstaff soon we could see red rocks on the both sides of the road and we knew we were approaching Sedona. It was famous for red rock formation there.

Figure 2 our hotel

Figure 3 flowers from red rocks

We arrived at Sedona late afternoon and checked in the Best Western Inn in Sedona. The hotel situated on a slopped ground so the building was built such that the floors were layers in the shifted ground and made a staircase. Our room was on the first row of the building. The building has an adobe style and fits into the surrounding very well indeed. There was a veranda outside of the slide door of our room. There were patio tables and chairs for guests to enjoy the outdoors. We just sat in the patio to relax after the long drive and enjoyed the openness and the view.

It was pretty hot and we just rested for the day. Next morning we aroused early and took a walk on a trail next to our hotel. The trial goes through the resident neighborhood. It was a quite morning. On the trail we only met a couple. We could see various rock formations on the hills around the area. Some rocks were bright red and others were dark gray. the hump of red rocks rolled on each other and formed very unique pattern of the landscape. On the way back to our hotel I enjoyed to take pictures of the exotic desert flowers, they were so pretty.

Figure 4 Vortex-energy source?

Around 10 O’clock we were on the way to check out the interesting spots in the area. Not far from a small airport there was a interesting place for tourist: vortex. We tried hard and finally found a parking place. There were many people on the vortex. It was said that the vortex is a source of energy, people could obtain energy being there and rejuvenate their bodies and minds. The vortex was not supposed to be altered so on the trail we saw piles of rocks hosted in wire cages which were used as markers for trail as well as for holding signs. The site was higher than the surrounding area and shaped as a volcanic cone. The rocks there looked they were forming a spire shape so it was named as vortex. I liked the fork lord tale of energy source and liked to experience it; also I liked to view the formation and the views in the area and the surrounding. It was an interesting and unique place. 

Figure 5 a sign on the vortex

Figure 6 the best burgers in town

Downtown of Jerome

After visiting the vortex, we checked out our hotel and headed toward Jerome. It was used to be a mine town. Now it is a tourist attraction. The town was built on the cliff facing a vast open area. It was really funky and popular. We walked around and saw a number of art galleries and a few gift shops. David felt like a burger for lunch, according to the tour info the hunted hamburger” is the choice; it was a small but very crowded place. We had to wait for our turn. Main while we just walked up and down the streets literally. The street next to this street could be ten feet higher. There was a typical corner of a old cowboy town and a old church. After 45 minutes waiting we were seated in the top floor of the restaurant. The burgers were superb indeed and worth the wait. 

After the lunch we walked to the edge of the cliff and were told there was an very expensive lot belong to a celebrity. I wonder who that was and why who on Earth chosen this place for a mansion!

It was a nice side trip and we enjoyed the scenery on the road and in Sedona, also we liked the funky town of Jerome.