Friday, March 1 - Saturday, March 9
Sedona was a welcome surprise. Arriving at 4,500 feet, the town's elevation brought a refreshing change. Nestled amidst a dramatic landscape of towering red rock formations, Sedona offered us a unique blend of cool temperatures and breathtaking scenery. Over the next seven days, we looked forward to exploring the town itself and venturing further into the wonders of the surrounding area.
Saturday
Exploring the town of Sedona
On Saturday, when we first went to explore the "uptown" (what the locals call it), it was bustling with a vacation and tourism atmosphere. Unlike the quiet seclusion we'd envisioned, Sedona has a unique blend of natural wonder and tourist activity. The very beautiful red rock formations, the crown jewels of Sedona, create a dramatic backdrop. Yet, their majesty comes at a price – limited access routes that lead to congestion.
Our first adventure, besides finding a place to park, was a trip on the Sedona Trolley Tour. This allowed us to explore the outer reaches beyond the uptown. Our trolly driver and tour guide has his own enjoyable and unique style; over thirty years in the area, now by day a trolly driver and tour guide and by night a musician playing at several venues in the area. He regaled us with tales of the area's transformation from a sleepy desert town to a new-age mecca. He explained that Sedona has seen a surge in tourism over the past few decades, and the influx of visitors places a strain on the area's infrastructure.
To escape the hustle and bustle of Sedona's uptown, we opted to stay a few miles south in Village of Oak Creek. This village offered a quieter pace, perfect for an eight night stay, and a nice place to unwind after each day of exploring the larger area's sights and attractions.
 A piece of the towering red rock formations surrounding Sedona |
 Looking up the valley |
 Our trolly tour bus, just put into service two weeks before |
 Our quite informed driver and tour guide |
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Sunday
Petrified Forest National Monument
One of the top sights we wanted to explore on our trip was the Petrified Forest National Monument. From our hotel, it was a 166-mile, 2-hour and 30-minute drive northeast. We factored in time to tour the park and figured it would be an all-day adventure, but totally worth it.
The Petrified Forest National Park is home to the largest concentration of petrified wood in the world. The park itself is long and skinny, stretching for 28 miles along the scenic Painted Desert. As we drove through the park, we were not only amazed at the colors of the petrified wood, but also the colorful hills and canyons. We also learned that petrified wood is not unique to this area, but is present in most states in the US and most countries.
"Petrified wood is formed when trees are buried by sediment and deprived of oxygen. This prevents them from decomposing. Over millions of years, minerals dissolved in groundwater seep into the buried wood, replacing the organic material with stone. The resulting petrified wood can retain the appearance of the original tree, including its rings, knots, and even bark."
Also, toward the end of the 28-mile scenic drive (we started from the south end and headed north) there is a nostalgic stop marking a bygone era – a section of the original Route 66 (pronounced "root"). A weathered/rusted 1966 Studebaker stood sentinel to this location adding a splash of rust against the colorful landscape.
 Petrified Forest National Park entrance to the 28-mile drive |
 A field of petrified logs |
 More logs, ah rocks |
 So, these are rocks, not logs? |
 There is more than just logs to see here |
 Beautiful canyon |
 Well worth the trip!!! |
 There is a lot to see and do at Petrified Forest National Park |
 Route 66 historical marker |
 Well past its prime, but in its day ... |
Monday
Monday offered a welcome pause in our Sedona adventure. We took the day to recharge, savoring a leisurely breakfast and catching up on paperwork, reading, and planning the rest of our trip. This downtime allowed us to fully appreciate the tranquility of the desert setting, making us even more eager to delve back into exploring Arizona's wonders.
Tuesday
Tuzigoot National Monument
Feeling adventuresome, we headed 25 miles west of Sedona's red rock magic, to visit a hidden gem: Tuzigoot National Monument. This spot had sheltered the Sinagua people, who called the Verde Valley home between 1125 and 1400 CE.
A quick museum visit educated us on the Sinagua's story through artifacts and exhibits. Then, we took the challenge and hiked the Ruins Loop Trail to a 3-story, 110-room restored pueblo ruin perched atop a limestone and sandstone ridge. The view from the summit displays the vastness of the Verde Valley and rewarded our effort.
On the way back to Sedona, we stopped by the old town district of Cottonwood to explore and satisfy our growling stomachs and had a delicious BBQ dinner at the Colt 804 Grill.
 Just about there, on the way up the Sinagua Ruins Trail Loop |
 The back side of the ruins |
 Several rooms uncovered in the ruins |
 No wonder they built their vilage here. What a view! |
 Becky conquered the climb |
 The Colt 804 Grill in Cottonwood, our lunch/dinner spot |
Wednesday
For our last day of adventuring in the greater Sedona area, we started the morning heading to the Jerome State Historic Park and then took a ride on the Verde Canyon Raiload.
Jerome: A Cliffhanger Town Steeped in Mining History
Swapping Sedona's red rocks for Arizona's mining heritage, we arrived at Jerome State Historic Park. Reaching Jerome itself was an adventure - a narrow, winding road clinging to a steep hillside offered dramatic previews of the town clinging precariously above. Once a booming copper town and the center of the leading industry for the state, Jerome's rich history unfolds through the remnants of saloons, shops, and miners' cottages. The crown jewel is the Douglas Mansion, a luxurious early 20th-century home turned museum. Inside, exhibits detail the backbreaking labor, technological advancements, and the daily lives of the miners who fueled Arizona's copper boom.
 A modern day hotel on the side of the mountain |
 The copper mine’s smelting plant is next to the mine |
 The Jerome copper mine town hanging on the side of the mountain, a few thounsand feet up in the mountains |
 This is the entrance to the copper mine. Underground, there is over 300 miles of tunnels. |
Verde Canyon Railroad: A Journey Through Time
Capping off our Sedona adventure, a relaxing afternoon awaited aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad. This scenic train ride whisked us through a breathtaking canyon landscape, following the historic route once used to transport copper and supplies. Our comfortable vintage train car offered the perfect vantage point to soak in the dramatic scenery. While the train's narration was difficult to hear in our car, our attentive car attendants did a fantastic job pointing out sights and sharing interesting explanations along the way.
 ALL ABOARD! -- We are on our way |
 Our caboose picking up the rear |
 View from the open air car |
 Becky says, "let's get this train going." |
 See that white spot at the top of ridge? That was a lightning strike. |
 Into the canyons |
 Great colors |
 Beautiful sky and clouds over the prairie |
Thursday and Friday
Thursday and Friday became our Sedona chill-out days. Laundry got done, we perfected our plans for Phoenix, and generally got caught up and relaxed before heading on. By Saturday, we were recharged and ready to explore Phoenix, our next adventure just a few hours south.
Captivating Sedona: A Visual Journey
As we bid farewell to this enchanting desert town, let these additional photos from the Sedona area linger in your memory. Each frame captures the essence of majestic red rock formations, standing tall against the backdrop of clear blue skies.
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