The 4 things you definitely can't miss if you visit Sedona, Arizona

09.01.2024 - 21:04 / insider.com

Sedona, Arizona, is an outstanding travel spot, drawing visitors with its radiant red rocks, exceptional hiking trails, and reputation as a spiritual mecca.

Recently, my husband and I drove from Houston and spent three full days there.

We brought our two small dogs and found many restaurants to be pet-friendly, with some even offering canine menus. Still, we left the pups at our cabin during strenuous hikes.

Here are four things that are not to be missed in Sedona.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is wedged directly into the dramatic red rocks.

You can get to the small chapel by taking a sloping uphill walk or by paying one of the golf-cart drivers at the bottom to bring you to the top.

I opted for the ride since we had our dogs with us.

Visitors can go inside and sit, pray, or light a candle. The chapel is free to visit.

My husband and I enjoyed sitting outside on the wraparound stone benches and taking in the incredible panoramic view.

Travelers could spend weeks in Sedona and not hit a fraction of the hiking trails, but nothing compares to Devil's Bridge.

This large sandstone arch, which looks like a rock bridge, is reachable by trails in the Coconino National Forest.

After our 2-mile hike there, I took one look at the landmark's sharp elevation and stopped. It's not for the faint of heart.

We saw some fearless hikers do handstands or jump in the air for photos on the ledge while the rest of us held our breath because of the sheer drop-off on each side.

By the time my husband reached the front of the line to take photos — about a 20-minute wait — I decided I'd go, too.

The bridge was wider than it originally appeared, but I made sure not to look down when it was my turn.

My favorite part of most trips is taking a scenic drive, and the road to Oak Creek Canyon is first-rate.

We drove State Route 89A from Sedona to Oak Creek Vista, a National Scenic Byway, and the curvy road hugs the jagged red cliffs on one side with a deep lush canyon on the other. It's a visual feast.

There are picnic areas, swimming holes, and a state park along the way, but staying in your car is just as enjoyable as walking around.

At one point, we got out at the scenic overlook where Native American vendors were selling jewelry and crafts and bought some to take home.

Many consider Sedona to be a sacred spot due to its vortexes, a place where energy is said to enter in and out of the Earth. Cathedral Rock is widely believed to be one of them.

I didn't have a spiritual experience but I enjoyed my time there.

The Cathedral Rock trail is fairly short (about a mile), but it's steep and more of a vertical rock climb than a hike.

I'm in fairly good shape, and it took me two hours — and both hands and legs — to make it to the top.

L