Sedona, Arizona lies in the northern Verde Valley between Phoenix (to the south) and Flagstaff (to the north). The region is famous for its incredible red sandstone formations! While Phoenix and Scottsdale are pretty in their own way, Sedona is the beauty of the bunch.
In April 2012, my mum and I paid Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sedona a visit. With direct flights to Phoenix and a basic hotel with pool included at just over $450 each (from Calgary/Vancouver), the trip was a great deal for a weekend. We booked through Westjet Vacations and for that value, I’d certainly do so again.
Let’s go on a road trip!
Sedona’s characteristic red rock is formed from a thick red and orange rock layer called the Schnebly Hill Formation. The formation is exclusive to the Sedona area and was deposited between 252 and 300 million years ago in the Permian period. A little geography lesson!
It was a hot day, even in April. We were glad for our rental car’s air conditioning. Average temperatures in April are cooler than in Phoenix at 23 degrees Celcius (~73 F), which is still warm by Canadian standards!
Sedona is a great day trip if you’re in the Phoenix (or Flagstaff) area. The drive is about two hours from Phoenix or just under an hour from Flagstaff. There are all kinds of annual events to plan to attend if you’re looking for a specific reason to drive in, besides the beautiful landscape!
Look out for snakes and prickly cacti! 😉
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