Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim), Arizona to Sedona, ArizonaAfter the Grand Canyon, we headed Southeast to Sedona which is supposedly famous for its red rocks. I read in many websites that it was a very scenic place where there are a lot of expensive spas around. Many celebrities even have their vacation homes in that city so it must be pretty amazing, right?
Well, we were quite disappointed with Sedona actually. Maybe it was because we had come such a long way and seen so many magnificent sights, especially since Grand Canyon was the last stop, that we didn't find anything very special about Sedona :(
Well, we were quite disappointed with Sedona actually. Maybe it was because we had come such a long way and seen so many magnificent sights, especially since Grand Canyon was the last stop, that we didn't find anything very special about Sedona :(
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, ArizonaThe most memoriable feature of Sedona was probably the Slide Rock State Park. We didn't actually went into the park because Sonya and Clara just recovered from their fever and the weather was really hot. At the park, "for several hundred yards, the water descends gradually in a series of steps while flowing over smooth sandstone strata via a series of natural chutes and pools, perfect for sliding down and swimming in." It was amazing even from what we could see from afar. It was like a natural water amusement park!
Slide Rock State Park, Sedona, Arizona
Slide Rock State Park, Sedona, Arizona
Slide Rock State Park, Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, ArizonaWe headed for the Red Rock Crossing and the most famous attraction in Sedona - the Cathedral Rock.
Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, Arizona
Cathedral Rock, Sedona, ArizonaIt was still very hot that day and we were reluctant to let the kids under the sun again especially since Sonya was still feverish and she still had her sore throat :( So, I went to explore on my own and see if there was anything really worth visiting. The photos below show what I saw. You be the judge :)
Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona
Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, Arizona
Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, Arizona
Oak Creek, Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, Arizona
Oak Creek, Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, ArizonaWhen I got to the river they called Oak Creek, there were many people sunbathing on the river banks and a few of them were swimming in the river. It was Thursday when we visited. We wondered how crowded it would be on the weekends.
Oak Creek, Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, ArizonaCan you guess what the boys in the photo above are about to do? Watch the video below to find out if you are right :)
Oak Creek, Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, Arizona
Oak Creek, Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, Arizona
Oak Creek, Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, Arizona
Oak Creek, Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, ArizonaAfter Red Rock Crossing, we took a drive along Red Rock Loop Road to visit the Red Rock State Park.
Cactus by Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, Arizona
Cactus by Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, Arizona
Cactus by Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, ArizonaAs we suspected, there was an entrance fee to get into the park so we didn't go in the end. Instead, we drove along US Highway 179 which was supposed to be a scenic route. Hmm, it was not really that scenic to us...
US Highway 89, Sedona, Arizona
US Highway 89, Sedona, ArizonaWe passed through West Sedona. Dark clouds have been looming over the mountains and we thought we would probably get caught in a big thunderstorm but it never happened. The sun peeked through the clouds now and then.
US Highway 89, Sedona, Arizona
US Highway 89, Sedona, Arizona
US Highway 179 / Red Rock Scenic Road, Sedona, Arizona
US Highway 179 / Red Rock Scenic Road, Sedona, Arizona
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, ArizonaAlong Highway 179, we stopped by the famous Chapel of the Holy Cross where they built the cross right in the middle of two red rocks.
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, Arizona
US Highway 179 / Red Rock Scenic Road, Sedona, ArizonaWe drove on and came to what is called the Bell Rock. The National Park annual pass that we bought was not valid in Sedona. They have their own pass called the Red Rock Pass which was required to park anywhere in Sedona to see their attractions.
Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona
Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona
Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona
Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona
US Highway 179 / Red Rock Scenic Road, Sedona, ArizonaAfter the scenic route, we continued onto I17 to Montezuma Castle National Monument. It was half an hour before their closing time and the weather was still rather hot so we only took a quick walk around the compound to see the "castle". It was actually cave dwellings from a long time ago.
Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona
Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona
Montezuma Castle National Monument, ArizonaWe had another horrible tasting dinner at Sonic (never going back to Sonic again) and then headed to the hotel to get the kids ready for bed so that we can pack our luggage for our flight home at midnight the next day :)
La Quinta Hotel, Sedona, ArizonaI think Sedona is definitely not a place I would want to live in. The weather was just too hot. All the red rocks just made the area seemed even hotter. Everything was red red red. I wonder why there are so many spas in that area. I thought all the red in the area would just make me agitated instead of relaxed :) That's just me...
No comments:
Post a Comment