Sedona, Arizona, Part 1 - February 4-6, 2006 (Re-run)

 If there's one place in Arizona that I would recommend that everyone visit, it would have to be Sedona.  (There are other nearby towns worth visiting, and it's close enough to visit Grand Canyon, but I'll refer to the entire area as Sedona.)  Dating back to 1876, Sedona didn't start coming into its own until the 1960s, when the red rocks that surround it became a tourist attraction.  Situated at the foot of Oak Creek Canyon, the town enjoys a fairly moderate climate, not as cold as Flagstaff to the north nor as hot as Phoenix to the south.  Its population of around 10,000 is about maxed out, as there is no vacant land available for development.  Thus, surrounding towns get all the growth.

The scenery around Sedona is incomparable, leading to a wealth of outdoor activities.  Hiking, biking, Jeeping and hot air ballooning are popular, but more spiritual pursuits have become a mainstay.  Many people believe there are seven "vortexes" (vortices is the correct plural of vortex, but isn't used much in Sedona).  A vortex is considered to be a place where swirling centers of energy are conducive to healing, meditation and self-exploration.  Numerous spas, retreats, churches, etc have developed around this belief, and native culture has also figured in this movement.

Shopping is also a favored pastime in Sedona.  In addition to the customary gift shops and galleries, of which there are plenty, the Tlaqueplaque Arts & Shopping Village is a destination in its own right.  Pronounced T-la-keh-pah-keh, it is one of the best things to do in Sedona. Nestled beneath the shade of the sycamores on the banks of beautiful Oak Creek, Tlaquepaque is the most distinctive shopping experience to be found in the Southwest. Authentically fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, Tlaquepaque, meaning the "best of everything," has been a Sedona landmark since the 1970's. 

There are, of course, numerous conventional churches in the area.  The most inspirational and architecturally prominent is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude.  The chapel was completed in 1956.

From the chapel grounds, there is a good view of a private residence that can only be described as magnificent.  In 2006, it was under construction, but I have been back since and can attest to the beauty of the finished product.