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While Sedona may be full of spiritual hucksters,
souvenir shops, and a vortex tour company on every
corner, it is one of the most beautiful and intriguing
places on earth. Rewind 20 years, before Sedona was
really discovered, and you have a tiny hamlet with a few
thousand people and a two-lane road running through
a makeshift town. Times have changed, the people
have changed (city-slickers coming to re-discover
themselves), even the spirit of the city has changed, yet,
the enchanting wilderness lies as a beckoning backdrop
wherever you go.
“Want to feel close to God? Escape the masses.”
After nearly 20 years of living here, I still feel a bit
like a tourist in my own town; snapping a quick photo
of a glorious sunset, stumbling upon a new trail that has
yet to be explored, or simply revisiting an old tourist
trap that is far too beautiful and fascinating to resist.
Let me share a few of my touristy “must-sees,” which
10 psst! | summer 2018 0 10 10 ps psst st s ! su s mm mmer er e 201 01 0 8 8
I still visit on a regular basis:
Tlaquepaque, a veritable
architectural portal to
your minds vision
of Old Mexico,
overflowing
with art
galleries
and
eclectic
shops.
The monolithic Chapel of the Holy Cross that juts
out of the red rocks at one of the most scenic vista
points in town; the incredible panoramic views and the
tranquility of the church are enough to make anyone
a believer.
The journey northbound on 89A through Oak
Creek Canyon to the West Fork Trail is probably the
most scenic roadway you’ll ever encounter, and would
make anyone consider taking up Sunday driving as a
daily routine.
The West Fork Trail, though I’ve explored its beauty
upwards of 50 times at this point, I would happily
ditch this article writing and escape to there right now.
Sure there may be plenty of other people that had the
same idea, and the parking lot might even be full; but
where else am I going to roam through a deep canyon
of red rock and limestone walls, feast my eyes on the
phosphorescent glow of a sunbeam and creek shaking
hands, and get lost in a variety of nature’s décor -
ranging from pine trees to prickly pears?
Take a few steps outside of Sedona and you’ll find
Jerome, population 500, a tiny town with a funky
hipster biker vibe. Everything there seems a little more
down to earth beatnik; artists have their own studios
where the art isn’t marked up like you’re buying a
Picasso, and restaurants serve honest food that reflect
the character of their owners. It is there that you’ll find a
delightful little mining museum and a vantage point that
will absolutely take your breath away; there used to be a
sign at the top of the town that read “Jerome- one mile
high with a fifty mile view.” That should give you an idea
of what I’m talking about.
There are many nice tasting rooms in the area, but
I like to sneak over to Page Springs Cellars. Sitting
out on their beautiful riverside terrace makes me feel
like I’m in another part of the world. The Verde Valley
is no Loire Valley, but the wine is much better than
you’d anticipate and the verdant farms are certainly a
surprising find in the middle of Arizona.
Slide Rock
dylan martin photography