Enjoying Sedona, Arizona's Natural Attractions and Man Made Fun

Ribbons of color woven into striking rock formations surrounds Sedona, Arizona. The contrasting colors between the brown-red mesas and the deep blue sky creates an unusual serenity. Exploring the hiking trails tucked in the rock crevices can keep a family occupied. There are plenty of man-made attractions, too, like helicopter rides and horseback rides to entertain.

My first time in Sedona was as a kid when we drove with my grandparents from their home in Mesa. I made my way through during a trip to the Grand Canyon and back to Mesa.

But it's been in the past few years that I've really appreciated making the almost eight-hour drive from Pasadena.

Below the photos, you can bid on Sedona time share vacations. I've personally stayed at the Sedona Summit and enjoyed it.

Natural beauty abounds in Sedona. The area seems veiled in pastel colors and the table-top mountains, mesas, are visible miles around. In winter, light snow graces the peaks like powdered sugar sprinkled over waffles. Summer time is a chance to cool off in Slide Canyon or take a hike to see some of the Indian ruins and ponder ancient history.

Within a 45-minute drive, visitors have access to remarkable ruins that include cliff dwellings and preserved pictographs. The places we've visited are: the Palatki Indian Ruins and Montezuma's Well.

When we visited in mid-August, I was afraid the heat would be brutal and we'd cut our time short at the sites. But that wasn't the case. Temperatures never rose above 95 degrees. The day we arrived it rained for two hours but the air never felt muggy.

The town prohibits tall buildings so the scenery can be appreciated from many different angles. The McDonald's in Sedona has a turquoise arch--not the typical gold or yellow. There are plenty of restaurants and coffee shops. We always eat on a budget so we had groceries to cook in our condo. But we did have a lunch with everyone at the Cowboy Club. We couldn't pass up the rattlesnake appetizers. Now, most people would never know it was rattlesnake if they hadn't been told.

Sedona Discounts

One way to get discount coupons in Sedona is agree to listen to a time-share presentation. So this is either a note of caution, or something to seek out. Downtown, there's a place that's a cowboy museum and other spots that look like attractions. Inside there are usually young men dressed in nice polo shirts and jeans. And admission is free! Here's why.

They're actually reps from local timeshares. They'll chat, invite you in, and ask what you're doing. We got free helicopter tickets for our two adults sons and granddaughter, plus a horseback ride, and admission to an animal safari.

My wife and I did spend over two hours at the Sedona Pines Timeshare Presentation -- and we bought -- and then we changed our minds.

Hiking trails abound and many of them are within a 20-minute to 45-minute drive from the town

Here's a summary of the activities around Sedona:

Jeep tours (I've not done and I'm not interested)

Hiking (I want to do more)

Horseback riding (great place for novices is in Cottonwood, Trail Horse Adventures.com) 1 Hour Ride without discounts is $ 64 per person plus tax

Out of Africa Wildlife Park (my wife, oldest son, and granddaughter enjoyed it) Adults are $ 36 and Children are $20. Check the park's website for discounts and packages.

Self-guided tours of ruins (worthwhile)

Oak Creek Canyon (worth it)

Helicopter tours (my kids really liked it -- about 20 minutes but they had a blast)

Swimming in the pool

Shopping, shopping, and shopping of all varieties (even if you're not in to New Age vortexes) There are numerous art galleries. Ask about pottery that's kiln-baked with designs splashed across the ceramic.

Cowboy movies were once filmed in Sedona--dozens and dozens with the biggest stars on screen. But there aren't many reminders of that era. It's a part of American culture that I hope we don't lose.

Sedona is definitely worth visiting for a few days or even a week. And if you're driving from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon (or vice versa), then make a point to drive through the town instead of bypassing it on the interstate.