If you’re planning a trip to the Scottsdale area to do some house hunting with The Matheson Team, we recommend that you schedule a day for some sightseeing and take a ride to Sedona. The city and the surrounding area is world-renowned for the enchantment, inspiration and vortexes of the Red Rocks.
Day Trip from Scottsdale: the enchantment and vortexes of Sedona’s Red Rocks
USA Today’s Weekend Edition named Sedona the most beautiful spot to visit in America. Just another good reason to move to Scottsdale! Sedona is approximately 100 miles north of Scottsdale, about a 1 hour and 50 minute drive.
The Sinaqua people originally settled the area of Sedona. Their cliffside homes and the artistic remnants of their communications are still visible at nearby Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot. Smaller pockets of their communities are closer to the downtown area at Palatki and Honanki.
A Pennsylvania settler, Theodore Schnebly, settled the area in 1901 after buying 80 acres of land near Oak Creek. Hoping to call the town Schnebly Station, Mr. Schnebly applied for a post office permit. The postal service felt the name was too long, so Mr. Schnebly’s wife proposed the name Sedona.
If you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle and an adventuresome spirit, one of the most beautiful rides is up the road that bears Mr. Schnebly’s name, Schnebly Hill. Starting at the center of the city, Schnebly Hill Road quickly turns from asphalt to dirt and winds for miles up into the mountains surrounding Sedona. You can bring along a picnic lunch and stop at the top for amazing views of the valley below.
Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross
Likely one of the most visited sites in Sedona is Chapel of the Holy Cross (aka Church in the Rocks). The church sits on land in the Coconino National Forest where Sedona local, Maguerite Staude worked with former Senator Barry Goldwater to get permission to build the chapel on the site.
The Chapel was designed and completed by Frank Lloyd Wright-trained architects Richard Hein and August Strotz in 1956. The church took only 18 months to complete and cost $300,000.
Other must-see scenic views are from Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Cathedral Mountain, Snoopy Rock, Merry Go Round Rock, Coffee Pot Rock, Thunder Mountain, Chimney Rock and Kachina Woman. All have either walking and or driving access. They are listed in order of arrival from west bound route 179.
Sedona is known for its vortexes (aka vortices). Vortexes are places that are said to have an abundance of spiritual energy. The Chapel at Holy Cross is one, the Boynton Vista Trail has another; Bell Rock, the Airport Loop Trail and a host of other vortexes can be found in Sedona.
In addition to the 1.8 million acres of national forest with incredible hiking and recreation opportunities, Sedona is home to incredible golf (The Matheson Team loves Seven Canyons Golf Club), more than 40 art galleries, fabulous restaurants, dozens of spas, and tasting rooms at local boutique vineyards.
To take a closer look at the many things to do in Sedona, download the guide: “Experience Sedona”.
Enjoy your drive to Sedona while you visualize the dream home The Matheson Team is helping you to find. We look forward to hearing about your experience in Sedona.
Reach out to us for Scottsdale area golf community and real estate information.
Don Matheson
Realtor | Founder
The Matheson Team – RE/MAX Fine Properties
21000 N. Pima Rd., #100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-405-4228
[email protected]
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