SEDONA is a place where mind, body and soul come together. Visitors arrive seeking solace, healing and adventure, and almost always leave changed. The moment you see the towering red rocks, a sense of wonder begins a personal transformation.
Nothing about Sedona feels ordinary. Located about two hours north of Phoenix and roughly 30 miles south of Flagstaff, the area offers dramatic landscapes and restorative experiences. At Red Rock State Park you can join a guided hike with SPEX Sedona Philosophy Experience, starting with meditation beside a babbling creek. The hike becomes more than a physical climb; it’s a contemplative journey where guides weave insights from thinkers like Socrates, Descartes and Aristotle into conversation, prompting new clarity and perspective.
To continue the renewal, visit one of Sedona’s many spas. Two well-regarded choices are A Spa for You Sedona Day Spa and Sedona’s New Day Spa. Sedona’s New Day Spa offers unique treatments inspired by Native traditions, including Wheel of Life Gem Stones Readings, Sweat Lodge ceremonies and Vision Quests. Their Desert Nature Body Treatments feature blends like Turquoise Sage Mountain Arnica and Cedarwood Citrus Wild Chaparral for an experience rooted in the local landscape.
The culinary scene in Sedona is just as nurturing as its spiritual offerings. Standout restaurants include Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, Cress on Oak Creek and Elote Café, each showcasing the region’s finest flavors. For a more eclectic, health-focused experience, ChocolaTree Organic Oasis offers gluten-free, vegetarian, no-processed-sugar dishes made with creative, nutrient-rich ingredients. The restaurant includes a marketplace with supplements, essential oils, local crafts and books, plus a garden that supplies some of its produce. Outdoor seating and hammocks give it a relaxed, community atmosphere, and the venue hosts educational programs—meditation, gardening, food-as-medicine workshops and live-food classes—alongside delicious, healthful chocolate. Wineries and breweries in the area add to Sedona’s flavorful appeal.
Cathedral Creek © SEDONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TOURISM BUREAU
No visit to Sedona is complete without experiencing the famed vortex sites said to open the mind and support healing. The region is known for five vortices, with popular locations including Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon. Each site offers a different energy—some invigorating, others calming—and many visitors report feeling refreshed and changed after spending time there. Guided experiences, such as tours with Sedona Soul Adventures, can deepen that exploration.
Yoga is abundant in Sedona, sometimes even offered at a vortex through providers like Aumbase Adventures. You’ll also find Reiki practitioners, psychics and tarot readers. Clear desert skies make Sedona ideal for stargazing tours led by local astronomers.
If retail therapy is your preference, Sedona’s galleries, boutiques and shops provide plenty of discoveries. Accommodations range from luxurious resorts like L’Auberge de Sedona to creekside cabins, villas and Airbnbs. For sweeping views, the Sky Ranch Lodge sits high above the valley and offers one of the most dramatic overlooks of the Red Rock landscape.
Tourism is a major part of Sedona’s economy, accounting for roughly 70–75 percent of local income. The community continues to plan improvements to support visitors and residents alike. Molly Spangler, director of economic development for the City of Sedona, notes that new hotels are likely to open in the coming months and the city is working to make the area more bikeable and walkable, expand bike lanes and improve parking. In the next two years, the U.S. Forest Service Red Rock Ranger District and local organizations will develop the Western Gateway trail system, adding about 27 miles of shared trails for hikers, bikers and equestrian riders, according to Kegn Moorcraft of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Board.
What makes Sedona special for business or pleasure? As Moorcroft puts it, “Your spirit will soar and rejoice in the silence of nature when you explore Red Rock Country. Seek off-the-beaten-path sites and reconnect to the Earth, your family, your partner, your children and your friends.”
SCENIC DRIVES
Scenic drives around Sedona are unforgettable. The route between Sedona and Phoenix presents hypnotic views of red-rock formations and wide open vistas, and much of the 115-mile drive moves through sparsely populated landscape with minimal traffic.
A short drive north through Oak Creek Canyon leads to the Grand Canyon region. Oak Creek Canyon, a 16-mile gorge with streams and waterfalls, is a highlight in its own right and a prelude to the dramatic panoramas that follow at the Grand Canyon.
Another memorable route runs from Sedona toward Payson. Pass through Camp Verde and the small, rustic town of Strawberry—home to Arizona’s oldest schoolhouse, built in 1885—then continue on winding High Pines roads to Payson. Along the way, stop at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, and once in Payson explore the Mogollon Rim, a 7,000-foot escarpment that drops more than 2,000 feet to the valley below. These routes offer a mix of serenity, natural beauty and opportunities for hiking, biking and exploration.