Sedona, AZ

Sedona is a pleasant, easy two-hour drive from Phoenix, so if you ever find yourself in Phoenix with time to spare, do make the trip to visit the striking Red Rocks of Sedona. These fascinating sandstone formations change color with the varying location of the sun. The area around Sedona is also known for its hiking spots, biking trails, art galleries, and sacred vortexes - which are visited by new agers from around the world. Fortunately for me, my host invited me and my Nikon along on a trek to this stunning area; I had been here years before, but not with my Nikon. 

Our first stop was the Red Rock Information Center...

 Here's where you get the first glimpse of the Red Rocks and hiking trails...

  After the Information Center, you enter the town of Sedona...

 A must stop before heading into town is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. 

From this spot, you get fabulous views. 

Here's the chapel nestled into the side of a rock...

 Here are the views from the chapel grounds...

The next stop was the Sedona Airport - for lunch...

 There's a restaurant called Mesa Grill right next to the terminal where you get wonderful vistas 

of the surrounding mountains - they serve great food as well. 

It's also a popular spot for cocktails and skywatching...

Right next to the restaurant is a lookout point with plenty of parking...

Here's a panoramic view of Sedona from the lookout point...

Just a little bit down the road from the airport is the Airport Mesa, one of the many vortex areas. It's a short walk up to the peak and there are several trails around the area which give you a 360 degree view of the red rocks and valleys below...

Please stop and enjoy the views...

  

 A typical neighborhood as seen from the vortex...

A panoramic view from the Airport Vortex spot...

Did you know that Sedona was named after the wife of the city's first postmaster? 

Next stop: Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, which is a mini replica of the charming Mexican town of Guadalajara. 

Phoenix: Historic Neighborhoods

On my recent visit to Phoenix, I made a point of asking my host to drive me around some of the historic neighborhoods close to the downtown business district. These neighborhoods go by the names of Coronado, Roosevelt, Willo, Garfield, Encanto, and Palmcroft and they have some of the oldest homes in Phoenix. Apparently the Historic Preservation Office works hard to protect and enhance these neighborhoods and the houses in them so that their historic value and architecture can be enjoyed. The houses I saw ranged from the size of minuscule bungalows to handsome mansions.  Most of the houses are well maintained and very colorful. And each one is unique. Some of them don't look like they belong in the desert, whereas others have a definite southwest feel. Take a look at a few that I photographed... 

There are many, many more such homes in other neighborhoods around the downtown. There are also public house tours given which give one a better idea of what these homes look like inside and provide an explanation of how they came to be. These quaint houses in the historic districts are in stark contrast to the sprawling residences that are so commonly found in the newer housing developments. It's nice to see that these areas of Phoenix are being preserved and protected so that the city can hang on to this picturesque piece of history.