You are planning a fabulous vacation to Sedona, Arizona, and you have already booked your gorgeous vacation home via Sedona.Org. You plan to see all the major tourist attractions in Sedona. However, you want to see some of the lesser-known places as well. It is always nice to come back with a souvenir or snapshot of someplace your friends have never heard of even if they have visited Red Rock Country.
Oak Creek Canyon
This river gorge canyon is located between Sedona and the cute college town of Flagstaff. It is in the Coconino National Forest area. It is like a miniature version of the Grand Canyon. You will see many of the same types of land formations without the long drive or the crowds. The canyon is just 12 miles long and 800 to 2,000 feet deep. There are several hiking trails here. If you take one of the trails on the canyon’s western side, you can discover the Red Rocks Secret Mountain Wilderness. The Secret Wilderness is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. You will see many different shades of red rocks and wind- and water-sculpted pinnacles, as well as slot canyons. You can walk into deep canyons, or you can hike to a cliff where you can find panoramic views. You can access this trail from the Flagstaff Ranger District. On the way back to Sedona, you can stop for a wine tasting in the town of Oak Creek.
Sedona Heritage Museum
735 Jordan Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
Hours: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Admission: Adults: $7.00
Children (under 13): Free
You will learn about the history of our charming little town at this museum. Sedona is known for its spirituality, so it is no surprise that her namesake is Sedona Schnebly, a bible teacher and entrepreneur who was the wife of the town’s postmaster. You will learn all about the Schneblys and their contributions to the community when you visit this educational center. You can also see the Schuerman Homestead House, which was once the home of a prominent Oak Creek family in the early 1900s. The Schuerman began the first school in the area as well as the first winery. They built this house on property near their ranch. The museum also has a unique online exhibit called COVID Stories where people can share their battle with the disease online.
Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park
2650 Pueblo Dr, Sedona, AZ 86336
Hours: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
This attraction in Sedona has been deemed a holy land by Native American people. It is a place where you can go to meditate and commune with nature. You can find this magical place at the base of Thunder Mountain. It was considered the perfect place to put a stupa. A stupa is a monument that holds various religious relics, and you will find two of them here. There are 28 Buddhas and each of them has a stupa containing their treasures. The park is home to two stupas belonging to Buddha Amitabha’s who represented limitless light and Buddha White Tara who represented long life and compassion. The most prominent stupa builders in the world erected the two structures here. A Buddha does not have to be dead to have their possessions stored in a stupa. Shakyamuni (Gautama) Buddha is alive and has treasures stored in Buddha Amitabha’s stupa.
Go Shopping at Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village
Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
You will find the perfect souvenir for yourself and the perfect gift for your friends when you visit this fabulous collection of shops. The gifts here are not exactly cheap, but they are unique. The Village sits on the banks of Oak Creek, and it is the host to quite a few events, including a farmers’ market and a flamingo dancing exhibition. It is designed to look like a Mexican village. You will find many restaurants here where you can try several different types of cuisine. There are several shops where you can buy handcrafted jewelry and pottery. Be sure to stop by Alt Books and Records, where you can find out of print books and record albums.
Go Stargazing
You would be surprised at how few people take the time to just look up at the sky when they visit Sedona. Sedona is very dark at night there are limitations on the number of street lights that they can have and how bright those street lights can be. When you look up at the night sky when enjoying Sedona off the beaten path, you will see millions of stars, listen to the music of nature, and feel at peace.
Sedona.Org has many fabulous homes for you to stay in while you visit Sedona. However, the town is a very popular travel destination, and our homes go fast, so give us a call today to secure your stay
