The creations of Arizona-born Orlando Dugi, a member of the Diné Nation, are nothing if not dramatic: gowns glittering with delicate beadwork, silks embroidered with symbolic flora and fauna. Some have been exhibited at places like the Denver Art Museum and the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles. While his imagination is fueled by his upbringing—days spent watching his grandmother sew and nights stargazing at his family's sheep ranch—Dugi also finds inspiration in Santa Fe, which he's called home since 2010. “All the tribal, colonial, and Spanish history—it's all here,” he says. “It's very small, but it's also pretty international.” New Mexico's capital city is set to draw a global audience as host of the inaugural Santa Fe Native Fashion Week, the first of its kind in the country, held from May 2 to 5, where Dugi will present highlights from his mens- and womenswear collections. When he's not designing, he enjoys connecting with Indigenous culture on the ancestral lands of the Tewa people—or kicking back with a margarita.
12 free things to do in Sedona, Arizona
11.04.2024 - 12:57 / lonelyplanet.com / Art
Sedona is celebrated for being a luxury haven in Arizona, satisfying the senses with elegant resorts, rejuvenating spas and superb restaurants that blend beautifully into the natural surroundings. Not everything worth seeking out is expensive, which can help you keep your budget in balance after indulging in awe-inspiring experiences like drifting over the desert in a hot-air balloon and bouncing through the backcountry on a Jeep tour. Regardless of the reason, here are 12 free things to do in Sedona.
Take advantage of fee-free days at important heritage destinations run by the US Forest Service: Palatki, Honanki and Crane Petroglyph (formerly called V Bar V), which is Verde Valley’s largest known site of its kind. Park rangers lead tours, deciphering cryptic paintings and markings etched in the stone and providing intel on the prehistoric cultures and people who originally lived in what’s now the Coconino National Forest near Sedona.
Gaze up at sandstone cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua peoples and imagine how they existed in this otherworldly landscape, estimated to be between 1150–1350 CE. Get a glimpse into their lives, from the wild plants they ate and deer and rabbits they hunted for sustenance to the tools they fashioned from wood and stone.
Planning tips: You must make a reservation to visit Palatki and Honanki. All three sites are subject to closures during extreme temperatures in summer, as well as on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Dogs are not allowed.
At night, Sedona gets dark – like, really dark. Sedona’s clear skies and dark nights are ideal for getting a glimpse of Mercury rising or spotting Orion’s Belt. As an international dark sky community, the city keeps light pollution to a minimum. That makes it easy to find a pitch-black place, let your eyes adjust and see what glitters or glows. The city also has a reputation for UFO sightings, and astronomy tourism is big here.
If you’re hitting the desert trails at night, remember to bring a flashlight; you might even spot some scorpions. Take your stargazing to the next level to see deep-sky objects – star clusters, nebulas and galaxies – by hooking up with the Sirius Lookers, a local amateur astronomy club.
Planning tip: Save the daily $5 parking fee at popular trails by heading off the beaten path to places like the Jordan Road Trailhead at the end of West Park Ridge Drive.
The upper regions of the Sonoran Desert – where Sedona is situated – supports a surprising amount of wildlife such as javelina, coyotes, mule deer, black-tailed rattlesnakes, tarantulas and a ton of lizards. And the 27-acre Sedona Wetlands Preserve is probably the best place to go birding.
The Northern Arizona Audubon Society offers free seasonal field trips here
I stayed in 2 of Arizona's top hotels, and they couldn't have been more different. Take a look.
Arizona is a hot spot for luxury travelers.
Step inside Scottsdale, Arizona, where migrating millionaires have created one of the hottest housing markets in the country
Wealthy residents from big cities across the US are uprooting their lives to start over in Scottsdale, Arizona.
DiscoverEU: How to get one of the EU’s 35,500 free rail passes for young people this summer
If you are young and looking for a budget-friendly way to explore Europe, there’s good news.
Luxembourg’s free public transport to be extended across French border with new commuter scheme
Luxembourg is famous as the only country in the world to offer free public transport - and now it’s set to expand its reach.
Save your cents with the 10 best free activities in Austin
Austin's incredible live music and culture scene has resulted in skyrocketing popularity in recent years – it's quickly become one of the most visited cities in the US.
Why I got the Chase Freedom Flex and how I'm getting max cash back this quarter
As a TPG staffer, I have a pretty solid credit card portfolio. I love using The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn bonus points on flights, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express for bonus cash-back on grocery and transit purchases and American Express® Gold Card to earn bonus points when I dine out.
How to Fly Your Kid Solo, Free of Stress
For many parents and guardians, putting a child on a flight alone may seem terrifying. Belligerent passengers, delays, turbulence: All loom large in a caregiver’s imagination.
Greece Giving Free Hotel Rooms to Travelers Impacted by 2023 Rhodes Fires
As a result of the devastating fires on the island of Rhodes in 2023, the Greek government announced it would offer free hotel accommodations to impacted travelers.
This Packing Spreadsheet Is Going Viral — and You Can Get It for Free
There are endless tips out there to help you pack for an epic trip — from the type of luggage to use to maximize space to whether or not to bring packing cubes, right down to creating a personal lookbook. But there’s one packing hack going viral on TikTok that you need to see — and all it takes is an Excel spreadsheet.
How I Booked a Free Stopover in Sydney With the United Excursionist Perk
Let me tell you a story about the United Excursionist Perk, the little-known award travel tip even points and miles pros forget about.
9 great things to do in Miami for free
It’s easy to get lost in the glitz and glam of Miami.