After a peaceful night in Cave Springs Campground, we set out to explore the rock formations along the 179 heading south from Sedona.Just out of town is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a Catholic construction set solidly in the red rock about half-way up a large chunky mountain - very pretty views.
After checking out Bell Rock and Courthouse Rock from the road only, we started our drive north to Flagstaff.
The Sedona rock formations, canyons and rich red hues really blew us away. The rock formations are very similar to those in Monument Valley in that several of them spear straight up out of the earth creating these sheer cliff faces and sharp elevation changes, but the point of difference is that these ones in Sedona are speckled with greenery at the base whereas the Monument Valley ones are stark orange-red. Another significant difference is that you're not charged an arm and a leg to check out the ones in Sedona!!Sedona is also an amazing lesson in town planning, with everything in the town coloured in the hues of the region - like soft greens and strong reds - even the McDonalds! But it works, because the whole place seems so beautifully in keeping with the landscape that the township has that postcard-perfect kind of look that makes you want to look at real estate.
There's a large number of upmarket resorts and spas in town too and Sedona has a plethora of natural healing places (a few years back they discovered vortexes here - ya what???!!!). Aahhhhh NO, we didn't get a chance to try out an aura cleanse. I think the presence of us four sends peace and tranquility packing from even the most serene of places.Even so, massive thumbs up for Sedona from us. Lovely! Although judging from the tourist bustle in early spring, I'm not sure I'd fancy being there in the height of summer.
