Guemes Island, WA

Lovely Guemes Island is a short, five-minute ferry ride from Anacortes; the only way to get there is by ferry or private boat. I think the residents like it that way, too. The island is rural in character and has very limited resources. Many of the houses there are second homes, but there is a small group of citizens who call Guemes Island their permanent home. 

I've been eying this pretty island's shoreline for years, but I've never set foot on it. During my visit to the PNW for spring break, I finally decided to hop on the little ferry for a quick ride across the channel and take a driving tour of the island. I was very pleased with what I found, and now I understand why the residents fight so hard to retain their island's rural charm.

The ferry terminal on Guemes...

The community playground and park...

The one and only fire station...

The main highway...

The cemetery...

Guemes Island Resort - you can stay here or rent a private vacation home...

Water views looking east toward the mainland...

View of Cypress Island...

Farming is pretty big on Guemes...

Another typical roadside view...

Anderson's Store - the only store, restaurant, and bar on the island...

Views from Anderson's Store...

The shoreline below Anderson's Store...

Waiting patiently for the ferry - with a view of Anacortes on the other side of the channel...

What a charming place! Because of its rustic nature, Guemes has a totally different feel from Fidalgo Island. I don't know if I could live there, but I will travel across the Guemes Channel again to enjoy the relaxing pace of this quaint island getaway.

Tlaquepaque, Sedona

Tlaquepaque is a charming arts and crafts village modeled after a traditional Mexican town. It's full of art galleries, restaurants, jewelry stores, and other boutiques selling a variety of interesting items. After visiting the red rocks around Sedona, we stopped off here for an afternoon stroll. I was much more enthralled in photographing the lovely architectural details here than actually going inside the shops. The village has cobble-stoned lanes, stucco walls, tile embellished stairs, fountains and signs, picturesque courtyards and archways, wrought iron windows and gates, and vibrant flowers. There's even a small chapel and bell tower. Very fun indeed for someone who fancies photography... or shopping for unique artwork.

Come have a look around...

 

 

I think this was the next best thing to actually being in Mexico!

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.