It is so exciting to visit Sedona. After years of reading about the beauty and red rocks and retreats and outdoor fun, we made the scenic drive down from Flagstaff, Arizona along a road that follows a series of switchbacks with cliffside views.  We entered a peaceful valley along a tree-lined creek – like an oasis we would see in the green canopy of the Appalachian Mountains.  Then, we hit traffic.  The charming town of Sedona on this beautiful Easter weekend is, unsurprisingly, bustling.  The streets are overflowing with people, cars, trolleys and jeeps, but this doesn’t quell the excitement.  We are all here, aftercall, to enjoy the abundance the area has to offer.

We made our way through town to a dispersed camping area in the Coconino National Forest near Loy Butte and the Honanki and Palatki cliff dwelling ruins.  We found a site all to ourselves and started watching the off-highway vehicles, jeep tours, and different camping rigs drive by on the forest service road.   While quiet, remote areas are generally the preference, this makes for a nice contrast in activity (though mostly we are happy to have a good spot close to trails).

Among the closest trails happens to be one of Sedona’s major vortices, and this hike was the first order of business.  An evening hike at Boynton Canyon allows for gorgeous views of the red rocks in the soft sunset glow.  We learned that Boynton Canyon is a unique vortex as the energy flows both outward/upward toward the universe and inward/downward toward the earth.  Visitors have experienced physical, mental, and spiritual healing from the vortices and often come to them to pray, meditate, and practice yoga.  I will take any good energy opportunities available and loved the experience.  It is a beautiful, restorative place to visit with views of the rock formations and desert gardens.

 Another joy on this Sedona visit is the start of wildflower season.  The rocky slopes are sprinkled with clusters of Baby Aster and Desert Verbena and their faint, sweet fragrance floats in the air.  The cacti are starting to bloom, too – Claret Cup and Pincushion and Hedgehog.  Bright green leaves are emerging on trees and that fresh Spring feel is invigorating.

During our days in Sedona, we enjoyed red rock hikes and evening canyon walks with bats and a visit to Honanki cliff dwellings to see petroglyphs and an 800-year-old tree that surely has some stories.  To access the nearby Palatki Heritage Site, a reservation is required in advance (we didn’t have one, although we were able to fill up our water jugs with fresh drinking water here and the site looked intriguing).  At some sites like these in the National Forest a pass is required for access, and the National Parks Pass/America the Beautiful Interagency Pass covers them all. While the area and popular trail heads are busy, there are plenty of quiet trails with gorgeous walks among the red rocks. A mile or so down a trail often meant a quiet experience to oneself.

 We also enjoyed an in-town day for errands (like doing taxes in the laundromat parking lot), and a reward of lunch on the patio at Pump House Station Urban Eatery, nestled in a lovely Sedona garden landscape.

This visit to Sedona is nature-based and so nourishing in this way, soaking up the unique landscape.  With place names like Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, what could be better?  On a future trip, maybe a winery tour and an aura reading are in order.