Thursday, July 9, 2009

Someday Sedona


One of these fine days, I'm going to get myself to beautiful Sedona--maybe set up a prefab house there. Here's a few websites that will come in handy for planning the trip. Montezuma Castle National Monument is an ancient 20 room dwelling built high on a limestone cliff. Eleven miles away, Montezuma Well forms a clear blue mirror oasis from a limestone sinkhole. Oak Creek Canyon is a scenic drive with hiking trails and camping nearby. Slide Rock State Park is a historic apple farm with a natural water shute so popular that the parking lot often fills up in summer. Grasshopper Point is a cliffside swimming hole in Coconino National Forest.


Summer temperatures hover around the 80s with thunderstorms at Sunset Crater Volcano, which has a Lava Flow Trail. You can actually walk around the Wupatki Pueblo, built 800 years ago in the midst of a desert wasteland, and there's a blowhole where cold air comes up from the ground. Wildflowers of the high desert are showcased at the Arboretum of Flagstaff. Nearby in the Coconino National Forest, the Around the Peaks Loop has great mountain views. From U.S. 89, take Forest Road 418 west, then head west on Forest Road 151, and south on U.S. 180.


Amtrak's Southwest Chief costs about $60 from Los Angeles to Flagstaff. From Flagstaff, take Interstate 17 to State 89A. Then, follow 89A through Oak Creek Canyon to State 179 and back to Interstate 17 to Phoenix.

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