From the colossal chasms of the Grand Canyon to the intricately carved monoliths of Monument Valley to the radiant red rocks of Sedona, Arizona is home to some of North America's most astounding geological wonders. Depending on where you travel in Arizona, it's possible to encounter vast expanses of desert terrain, snow-covered Alpine peaks, dense forests, raging rivers, and azure lakes. The state's abundance of sensory stimuli is combined with superb outdoor recreation. Also, Arizona's cultural diversity revolves around large populations of Native Americans and Hispanics while maintaining strong links to "cowboy culture".
Among the trendiest Arizona hotspots is Sedona – population 17,000 – a resort town situated at an altitude of 1280 metres just two hours north of Phoenix. Blessed with a mild four-season climate and known for its spectacular sunsets, it sits on a swath of high desert not far from Cathedral Rock, a mammoth rock formation looming high above the town that is one of the most photographed sites in the state.
Sedona has been attracting tourists since the 1920s when it was the backdrop for many Hollywood westerns. Among the stars who spent time in Sedona during filming were John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Gene Autry, Rock Hudson and Elvis Presley.
I recently spent several delightful days exploring Sedona and the vicinity during which I took some day trips to nearby attractions. With its combination of scenic beauty, fine restaurants, quality art galleries and terrific shopping, Sedona is a destination itself as well as a great base from which to explore the breathtaking surroundings.
Mother nature's finest
I began my stay with a raucous jeep tour that jostled my innards during a two-hour wild ride through the backcountry. Our fearless leader was a garrulous driver and guide who talked a mile a minute while wowing us with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the region's flora, fauna, geology and history. A jeep is the only vehicle able to negotiate this rocky terrain and at times it felt like we were on a non-stop roller coaster as we bounced over boulders and squealed down sheer rock faces.
Besides four-wheel driving, high on the list of favourite Sedona pursuits are hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding along the network of trails that crisscross Oak Creek Canyon just north of Sedona.
Other popular pastimes are golf – two 18-hole championship courses – and tennis. In the winter, skiing and snowboarding are favourite activities at nearby San Francisco Peaks where Mount Humphrey, Arizona's tallest mountain, rises almost 4000 metres above the winter sports mecca known as the Arizona Snow Bowl. Sedona is also adjacent to Coconino National Forest, which puts on one of Arizona's most brilliant autumn displays when the leaves of maples, oaks and aspens are ablaze with shades of orange, yellow and red.
Another major draw is the art scene as more than 200 artists live and work in Sedona with a full calendar of openings, artist receptions, demonstrations and workshops year-round. The New Age movement is also very much alive and well here as spiritual seekers have found it to be an exceptional location for healing and emotional rejuvenation.
In the mid-1970s New Agers claimed to have discovered four major electromagnetic energy sources in Sedona known as "vortexes", and today a thriving community of alternative healing practitioners offers a year-round schedule of workshops and events. There is also a Tibetan Buddhist Centre that is open 24 hours a day and insomniac visitors are welcome to meditate at 3am.
Several attractions are within an easy day's roundtrip drive from Sedona, and among the best are the Verde Canyon Railroad and the former mining town of Jerome. Just a half hour from Sedona is Clarkdale, departure point for the historic Verde Canyon Railroad, which transports passengers on a stunning four-hour ride into the remote wilderness of the Verde River Canyon past towering basalt, granite and red rock cliffs.
The next day I visited the town of Jerome, which boomed in the early years of the 20th century when copper was discovered in the hills outside the town. By 1920 the population had swelled to 15,000, but eventually boom went to bust and after the last mine closed in 1953, it became a virtual ghost town. However, due to the town's magnificent location and rock-bottom real estate values, groups of artists and craftspeople began moving in again in the 1960s. Today the town is prospering as an artists' colony and many of the century-old buildings have been restored.
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