On a recent trip to Phoenix for a conference, we decided to take a tour to Sedona with Detours American West. While I’ve been to Sedona many times over the years, I always enjoy returning to feel the pulse of the desert, the vortexes, the red rock and the mountainous terrain.
The Sedona Red Rocks tour allows you to see ancient Native American ruins and explore the local artisans of Sedona. For those new to Sedona, there’s plenty of art galleries, gemstone and crystal shops, jewelry shops and boutiques up and down the main drag.
Montezuma Castle Ruins
Detours American West tours also offer a tour to a Native American dwelling from the Sinagua Tribe that existed along this busy trade route between 1250 AD and 1425 AD. Circuits they cover includeBell Rock, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Airport Mesa and if you wish add on an optional 4×4 jeep tour, you can opt to include it as a side-trip while in Sedona. You also stop at the ruins at Montezuma Castle National Monument, which has one of the best-preserved Sinagua cliff dwellings in North America dating back 1,000 years.
Montezuma Castle
Montezuma Castle National Monument protects a set of well-preserved dwellings which were built and used by the Sinagua people, a pre-Columbian culture closely related to the Hohokam and other indigenous peoples.
There’s fascinating vegetation and bird life in the area as well as cactus and other trees of interest.
If you’re lucky, you can see Sonoran mud turtles (currently under threat from an invasion of non-native red eared turtles). You’ll also witness a number of limestone cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua Indians around the 14th century.
Montezuma Castle
Unique trees at Montezuma Castle
Inside the museum
Following Montezuma Castle, we then explored the mystique surrounding Sedona, including famous red rock features of Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, and Chapel of the Holy Cross. Along the way, we took in views of Cathedral Rock, Snoopy Rock, and Submarine Rock, to name a few.
Sacred Circle in the middle of the Desert
Not on the tour was this sacred circle that we randomly discovered in the middle of the Sedona desert. Our guide stopped along the side of the road for us to shoot a little video and take photos, and within the trees, back off in the distance, fairly close to a well known vortex, we found this circle, created in the red earth.
An important vortex in Sedona
Cactus and breathtaking views of red rock cliffs in all directions
Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel built into the buttes of Sedona and is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, as a part of St. John Vianney Parish in Sedona.
Above and below, the grounds around the Chapel of the Holy Cross
Inside the chapel, it is very peaceful and outside, there are views of the surrounding mountains and desert. Saint John Vianney Parish is a Christ-centered community, centered on the “grace of the Holy Eucharist and guidance of the Holy Spirit.” (their words, not mine). It is the parish church where all liturgies are held except a Taize Prayer service which is held at the Chapel every Monday evening.
Candles inside the chapel
Stained glass inside the chapel
The road that leads up to the chapel boasts breathtaking views of Sedona and beyond.
View of Sedona and beyond from the Chapel of the Holy Cross
Sedona Vortexes
Sedona is most known for its vortexes. It is said to be (and have) “a cathedral without walls. It is Stonehenge not yet assembled.” Many people come to experience Sedona’s vortexes.
Think of vortexes as swirling centers of energy. Some people, particularly those who are sensitive or empaths, feel the energy from the vortexes — some feel connected, others inspired, and others energized. It all depends on the person. Each person will experience the Sedona vortex energy differently.
Cactus and mountains in the distance
A known vortex in Sedona
View of the Sedona mountains and beyond
The views are breathtaking!
Near the Airport Mesa Vortex
The four best known Sedona vortexes are found at Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon—each radiating its own particular energy. It is said that some of these vortexes are thought to “produce energy flowing upward while at others the energy spirals downward, entering the earth.”
Other options include the Tlaquepaque, an outdoor arts & crafts village full of art galleries, craft shops, cobblestone paths & decorative arches and having a leisurely lunch in downtown Sedona. Shopping is great here too, especially if interested in art, furniture, gemstones, crystals, turquoise, leather, dream catchers, and other artisan handicraft. The restaurants and cafes as fabulous too. And, of course, it is home to the infamous Pink Jeep Tours, which we did last time we were in Sedona a few years back.
Be sure to check out our article on Adventure in Sedona from our previous trip as well as our Pink Jeep Tour.
Detours American West picks you up from your hotel in the Phoenix area and drops you off at the end of the day if you opt for a day tour. Detours custom touring vehicles are specifically designed for small groups with individual leather captain’s chairs that recline for each person. For more details on Detours American West tours, visit their website.
________________
Note: we were hosted by Detours American West for our Sedona tour but all opinions expressed are entirely our own.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
