First Day....wake up and grab a cup of possibility. What is it about sunshine, the warmth on your face and your toes brushing up against nature that is so invigorating? This lovely cup was waiting in my sister's cabinet and just the perfect beginning to my adventure in Arizona!
Next stop, REI. Ok, so I had never heard of such a place. I live in Virginia Beach, not exactly the Mecca of hiking gear, so trying to find good hiking shoes in the middle of the winter was a no go. I walked into REI and found a friendly associate who was extremely knowledgable about the type of shoes that would fit feet with high arches, bunions and a narrow heel. The whole transaction took about 20 minutes and I left with an awesome pair of hiking shoes that I couldn't wait to break in! Found out that Virginia Beach is due to get it's own REI soon! Dicks is great-it just had a limited selection and with my issues I didn't want to just order online. Check out my shoes below
Day 2: Road Trip to Sedona. Ready to see the sights and get some red rock dust on my new shoes. Sedona takes about 2 hours to get to from Chandler, AZ. Chandler is close to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and if you want to experience four seasons then Flagstaff would be the destination for you! There are plenty of scenic rest areas. What better way to stretch your legs and take in the nature surrounding you.
When you begin the approach into Sedona the formations take your breath away! The color in contrast with the sky makes one feel like your entering a traveling movie set.
President's Day weekend proved to be the perfect time for sun seekers who wanted to don their hiking shoes and explore the beauty and mystery that Sedona has to offer. The traffic was thick, but as a back seat driver I had the opportunity to take in all the new places. We had lunch at Taos Cantina, a Mexican restaurant with excellent food. The prices were higher than expected, but as a tourist destination (and escape for Hollywood stars) it is to be expected. It was also a place to explore by an educator turned boar riding-pro(thanks to my sis for being a good sport).
Catching the sunset is the thing to do, and the Sedona airport hosts a nice little spot. Several tourists were snapping phones and cameras every few seconds. I watched my step and found myself not being able to capture the true beauty that I was beholding.
We were close to the airport however, and some of my younger companions wanted to see planes take off and land, so we walked closer to the airport. That is where I got this shot. Next plan is to inquire about nice cameras and go back and pretend to be a professional (why not:)
Day 3: Hiking Day. Time to see if these shoes eat rocks for breakfast!
One famous hike is that of the natural bridge. I searched, "Things to do in Sedona," on
Pinterest and found this interesting spot. Funny thing, I have a fear of heights, but I still wanted to see this site first hand.
Following my crew up the mountain. Checking out the rocks in my path and making sure to dodge them as best I can, but so glad I have the proper equipment, including my trusty new backpack that has a water pack to keep me hydrated ( a must in Arizona's dry climate).
You see those tiny dots atop the rock? Those would be the leaders of our pack waiting for us to catch up......working on it....reminds me that I have the need to condition my body for times such as these. If you don't do this all the time you need to make sure that you take the easier hike (although it is often not that easy-be aware of your skills).
Ta-da! Balancing as close to the edge as my comfort zone allows. Another warning: there are no safety nets. You need to be careful of footing and stay a comfortable distance from the edge.
So, I saw the bridge and said, "Oh, no!" I looked to see all the folks exploring and noticed a couple with a baby, that gave me the confidence that I needed. I handed over my phone to our designated photographer and said silent prayers as I walked very carefully to my placement on the edge of the rock. I looked across the deep canyon and smiled.
Much deserved reward for a 5 mile hike! Oak Creek is brewed in Sedona. I tried the Nut Brown Ale and it was refreshing and tasty! We enjoyed the beer and super-juicy burger with the fries at the Red Planet Diner. Hey, sometimes you have to treat yourself.
Last place for exploration was the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The traffic was basically at a standstill so my sister and I jumped out and walked uphill to this amazing structure. Although this place would be an ideal wedding location, upon exploring the website, I found that they do not offer this as a wedding location, but it is an active place of worship. As we left we saw musicians entering and chatting about their prayer meeting. I thought what a magical place to commune and watch the sun set over the natural beauty that they are surrounded in.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross even has a cool mailbox. We ran into this on our journey back down to the car.
Sad to say goodbye to Sedona. Caught a breath-taking sunset on the road trip back to Chandler.
The view from my sister's neighborhood. I will use this to remember the warmth and natural beauty of such a cool place.
