Small Town Series: Sedona, Arizona

Another in my #SmallTownSeries! It’s been awhile since I’ve covered another small town so allow me to reintroduce the concept: America is full of famous places like Zion National Park and San Francisco but America’s small towns are just waiting for you to discover them.

Welcome to Sedona. Here’s what you need to check out:

Hiking Trails

The awesome thing about Sedona is that there are trails for everyone: easy, moderate and difficult. For an easy hike, check out Little Horse Trail which travels along the red rock landscape or West Fork to experience the forest wilderness. For a moderate hike, check out one of Sedona’s most famous trails, Devil’s Bridge or Doe Mountain Trail. For more difficult trails, check out Huckaby Trail or Boynton Canyon Trail.

Shopping

Sedona is full of art galleries, antiques and mystical items to explore. 89A runs right through the middle of town and there are shops dotted along both sides of downtown worth visiting. Voted one of the best things to do in Sedona, Tlaquepaque Sedona Arizona's Arts & Crafts Village is something that you definitely need to check out. For some out of this world shopping, check out Mystical Bazaar or Center for the New Age.

Vortexes

Sedona has long been thought to be a hotbed of transformational energy. Particular points that are said to have strong swirling energy synonymous with meditation and healing are called vortexes. Stay with me here - Sedona has developed a global reputation as a place of enlightenment with many alternative spiritual practices. Even if you don’t believe in the metaphysical, these “vortexes” offer places of peace, reflection and unparalleled views. The four best known vortexes can be found at Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon. So, how do you know if you’ve found a vortex? Trust me, you’ll know.

Health & Wellness

As I mentioned above, Sedona has an international reputation for being a spiritual mecca. Aside from vortex hunting (yes, that’s a thing), you can engage in spiritual tours with shamanic guides, stargaze with astronomers or look for UFOs. There are a multitude of churches in Sedona but you need to visit Chapel of the Holy Cross (see the photo to the left). Even if you aren’t religious, it will blow your mind. For a more down to Earth experience (*wink*), Sedona has a myriad of spas and resorts offering everything from red clay wraps to facials.

Safe travels,

V.