It's Impossible Not to Fall in Love…Again and Again…With Sedona

What's So Special About Sedona Anyway?

"Sedona, Sedona," Zach, my precious 20-year-old nephew, and Arizona State University freshman, queried with youthful skepticism, "What's so special about Sedona anyhow? I keep hearing about the place." He had recently moved to Phoenix, Arizona, for college.

"Honey," was my candid reply, "It's impossible to describe Sedona to you. You must see it and experience it yourself. I'll take you."

Over four decades of living two hours away in Phoenix, I have made countless trips to Sedona. My multiple jaunts as a tour guide for first-timers were sheer delight. I also experienced unparalleled joy for several months as a resident of the small burg of 10,000 people. 

If unexpected circumstances dictated my return to the States, it would be my first residential choice. If my last breath were to be drawn in the US, my ashen remains would be scattered amidst its scenic topography.

Sedona - A Home Away From Home

Sedona became a frequent day trip after 1977 when I moved to Arizona. For subsequent decades, it became my runaway, dropout R&R spot when working crazy hours in a demanding profession. It was always the take-out-of-state-visitors locale.

Family members, who either visited or later moved permanently to Phoenix, all fell in love with Sedona, too. My nephew, his wife, and two daughters utilized their timeshare allotment at a local resort so frequently that they referred to it as their home away from home.

I spent my 60th birthday there, interviewed for a job, and received an offer - a delectable gift. 

The "Ooh Ah" Trip

I always referred to the Sedona drive as the "ooh ah" trip. Invariably, at the propitious winding turn upon first espying the magnificent, unparalleled beauty of a red rock monolith erupting from the Sonoran Desert, newcomers' comments were: "Oh my god," "Ooh, ah," or a comparable breathless shriek.

Encountering additional of nature's grandiose gifts as the road meandered around curves through the cacti, pines, and sagebrush is otherworldly. To this day - innumerable trips later -  I still weep beholding that first glimpse. 

Zach's exclamation was the then-college vernacular of "way cool." It may have been "insane" or "rad." Suffice it to say, he became an immediate Sedonaphile convert on that first trip and has frequently returned. 

Red Rocks and Energy Vortexes

The deep red hue of the basalt, sandstone, and limestone formations derives from hematite (iron oxide).¹ Sedona sits at an elevation of 4,350 feet, with the tallest peaks topping out at 7,000 feet. Its stunning scenery has provided a backdrop for numerous Hollywood movies shot on location.

The most identifiable megaliths are named for their shapes - Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, The Cockscomb, Coffeepot Rock, and Snoopy and Lucy (from the "Peanuts" comic strip).

Complementing the captivating formations are seven vortexes (or the proper "vortices") believed to be the phenomena of invisible swirling energy. As a decades-long Qigong practitioner, I can attest to their powerful draw. The energy is considered to be healing and spiritual. Whether or not one subscribes to the notion, the centuries-old hematite monoliths calm and mesmerize. One never meets an unhappy or grumpy tourist in Sedona.

Although the entire area is considered a vortex, at several sites, the energy crackles most intensely. My Qigong Grandmaster Hong was a strong proponent of its intense energy field.

As a result, the area is a magnet for New Age adherents, yoga and meditation teachers, and seekers from across the globe, becoming a veritable metaphysical microcosm onto itself. Hence, in addition to top-notch hotels and resorts, a wide range of crystal and stone shops, bookstores, yoga studios, tarot card readers and psychics, and meditation and retreat centers abound. 

If you have not experienced the area personally, please enjoy this vicarious visual trip. Because it is a professional photographer's paradise, countless phenomenal shots are available. Far more stunning than my amateurish ones, I have included several.

Skip the Grand Canyon if Time is Limited

The Grand Canyon located two hours north of Sedona is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Therefore, it is often on "must-see" lists of tourists. Indeed, it is awe-inspiring and worth visiting.

However, if travel time is limited, I frequently have advised people to skip the Canyon and head to Sedona instead. Why? Statistically, the average visitor spends 30 to 60 minutes at the South Rim of the Canyon gazing at the gargantuan crater in the earth, taking the requisite photographic memories, and then departing. 

In Sedona, on the other hand, people spend hours, a day, or several exploring. It's a hiker's haven. A spa-goer's nirvana. A resort lover's Shangri-la. A photographer's idyll.

A favorite saying of the locals, attributed to the indigenous peoples of the region, is that "God made the Grand Canyon, but he lives in Sedona." I've certainly not traveled the world, but based on the places I've been fortunate to visit, Sedona for me ranks as the most magically stunning place on earth.

To Go or Not To Go

Dealing with the perennial conflict between economic benefit and strained resources, the city in recent years has become overrun by tourists. As a result, it has ceased advertising its breathtaking vistas in glossy travel publications. During COVID, the sentiment of residents was clear, "It's lovely here in Sedona, so stay away."²

Hippies, Hikers and Luxury Travelers All Agree Sedona Is the Place to Be. The city might have a reputation for out-there New Age thinking, but it also welcomes vacationers with world-class hiking and indulgent resorts. - David Weiss, Wall Street Journal

It was recently voted as the topmost hidden gem in the US by one travel site. Hence, the likelihood of it not continuing to be over-populated by day trekkers is a non-existent fantasy. 

If you visit, enjoy, enjoy! Respect the terrain, be enthralled, and revel in its energy and the sacred. 

If you are not enamored by crowds, souvenir shops, or mystical mumbo jumbo, escape to a coveted quiet spot of desert splendor. Take a walking stick, drench with sunscreen, and be alert for rattlesnakes. And, if your budget permits, you won't regret the exquisite views from a short helicopter trip.

References:

1. https://www.arizonaruins.com/sedona/sedona_geology.html.

2. https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/sedona-arizona-18458116.php

3. www.travelingphotographer.com

Your time is valuable. I'm honored you chose to spend it here. Victoria🙏

© Victoria Kjos. All Rights Reserved. 2024.