Travel Log: Sedona

Sedona is a land where nature has given birth to some fantastic sculptures and natural architecture and yet the humans who live there, have spawned an un-natural amount of gaudy lifeless excuses for arts and crafts catering to what seemed to be the largely elderly resort crowds (excluding my generous hosts of course).

Hiking and wandering around Sedona’s parks left me wide-eyed and wondrous. My first hike was along a trail called Broken Arrow. Named for one of many westerns filmed in the area. The Broken Arrow trail was a relatively easy hike along a series of landscapes ascending to a view that was well worth the sweat. From there we drove to a site of the largest collection of petroglyphs in the area. In what was an otherwise un-impressive landscape, one wall of rock was covered with a variety of petroglyphes left by the Sinagua who inhabited the area between 630 and 1300 AD. Although, quite impressive, I was tired and ready for a nap.

A few days later, Jenny and I drove to an area of Oak Creek called Slippery Rock. Slippery rock is a swimmer friendly series of rapids that propel the swimmer down a series of shoots. The water was an icy 62 degrees. We were two of only a few people who braved the rocks and water. The whole environment reminded me of my childhood trips to my parents cabin in West Virginia. If similar rapids weren’t available, we would build rock walls along the river and shoot through them either in Inner tubes or rafts. I miss those days. The cabin was washed away in the great Potomac floods of 1986, expanding the river to a slow and less exciting play land where my father still goes fishing from time to time.

In between the two days of natural wonders, the weather decided to wet down the dry landscape and so we decided to check out some of the shops that cluster the town of Sedona. I couldn’t believe the cheesy yet expensive excuses for art. Bronze sculptures of Indians, horses, and dream catchers. I didn't even begin to approach the "vortex tour" shops although my curiosity almost got the better of my common sense. The only shop I witnessed that seemed to do the Southwest aesthetic justic was on the road to slippery rock. The name escapes me, but its next door to a tiny deli on your left a few miles away from the park.

The second day of our vacation Jenny's parents were generous enough to treat us to brunch at a secluded resort called
Enchantment(yeah, the name almost had me heading for the hills). Surrounded by red rock bluffs and snooty middle-aged resorters this breakfast spread is expensive, but possibly worth the 34 clams one need lay down. The view is gorgeous (of the bluffs mind you). The food was delicious. Bottomless glasses of fresh juice, mimosas, coffee and tea to wet the palette that is quickly laden with breakfast items such as pecan encrusted French toast, poached eggs cupped in tortillas with chorizo, customized omelets, thick sliced lox. And that’s just the beginning. King crab, muscles, and shrimp top off the seafood list. Scrumptious lamb chops, slices of beef, a cheese and meat platter are available for those with a blood lust. Salads were available, but who are we kidding. We ended up going back only once until our stomach started talking to our eyes and said slow down. The waitress assured us that we needn’t rush and would not be given the bill till we were good and finished. So we took a break for a few minutes and then returned with a mustered half energy that we quickly spent on the desert table. Pear almond tarts, crème brule, flourless chocolate cake, a chevre blackberry cheese cake. Quickly our stomachs screamed stop and we listened. I have to say it was all very good. Not your typical watery scrambled eggs and cold bacon typically served even by the most reputable of hotels. If you are in Sedona with your significant other with money to burn, and want a romantic Sunday brunch, I can’t imagine a more suitable place.

Enchantment resort (yeah I still have trouble realizing that I’m hyping a place called that) is located at 525 Boynton Canyon Rd. in Sedona. By the way, the Enchantment brunch was also reviewed by Daily Candy.

One other culinory mention. After checking out Slippery Rock we had lunch at a place called the Coyboy Club. Definately a tourist spot, the place was kinda fun. It evidentally used to serve as the main watering hole to many stars who filmed various westerns in the area. It now serves up novelties like buffalo burgers, cactus fries, and rattlesnake.

In general, our stay in Sedona was nice. Not a revelation, but nice. Check out more photos.