Rock on, Arizona

I didn’t know I could love any rusty red formations more than Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, but Arizona has more than its fair share. Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, and the Grand Canyon set the stage for the rugged ride south. Sedona is surrounded by gorgeous rock formations, Slide Rock is a natural red rock swimming hole, Vermilion Cliffs/Marble Canyon let you drive all along the edge of the grand canyon, and the painted desert is home to the petrified forest where 217 million year old trees became rocks in a sea of stunning formations.

I booked my Flagstaff housesit due to it’s proximity to several natural wonders in Page, Sedona, and Phoenix for the Chihuly/Frank Lloyd Wright exhibits. I wasn’t anticipating delighting in so many geological gems on my outings.

Sedona is a spiritual hub, with a huge focus on the metaphysical arts. I blogged about my Tarot and Aura readings here, but otherwise I just went driving around looking at epic rock formations and enjoying the views from the patio of the Hideaway House. I highly recommend checking out the view from Lover’s Knoll, where you just drive right up to a scenic viewpoint for panoramic prehistoric rock views.

I did a little walk along the Airport Loop Trail, where you “hike” along the ledge of the mesa, and it’s an uninterrupted view of most of the major formations with fairly low impact. There were toddlers and geriatrics rocking this walk. A $3 parking pass is good for the whole day, so you can leave and come back for a stunning sunset at your favorite formation.

Being a nerdy Frank Lloyd Wright fan, I really wanted to check out the work of one his students at the Chapel of the Holy Cross. I was told to get there right when they open because the parking lot is small and the hill from the lower lot is steep. I am so grateful for that advice, because it was PACKED, and I got there a few minutes before opening. It’s a pretty small church, but the way it is nestled into the rocks, and the panoramic views from the hill are without question the best spot to rock ogle.

The views (and energy) from the Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park are stellar, and this spiritual hub for meditation was my fondest surprise in Sedona. The entire experience was new to me, and I reveled in the serenity of the space.

I crashed my dear friend Bernadette’s girls trip with her friend Sharayah for my first trip to Sedona, and we had the best time wandering around the Tlaquepaque and checking out the gorgeous plazas and shops. We loved hanging out at the Chai Spot, and wandering in and out of the galleries and gift shops. The architecture of these two compounds are worth the visit alone.

Just a few miles from Sedona (closer to Flagstaff) is Slide Rock State Park. It reminded me a lot of the limestone aquifers like Barton Springs or Hamilton Pool back home in Austin. It’s $20 per car per day during the week and $30 on the weekend, which is kind of steep to sit on a rock and people watch, but I had a great time. It may have been in the mid-80s outside, but that water was far too cold to even consider jumping in. I have plenty of insulation, and my frozen feet said there was absolutely no reason to venture further in. The kids seemed to be having an amazing time jumping off the ledges and sliding down the waterfalls. I had an awesome time watching the families play in the water, and I really enjoyed a short hike above the cliffs. This was the most fun way to get up close and personal with the beautiful red rock formations. A few months later/few degrees warmer, and I bet this would be a favorite day for red rock fun.

I took a little ride up Route 66 to head to the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert. I had forgotten that there is a famous meteor crater just outside Winslow, so I was thrilled to pull over and check it out. $25 is a little obscene to go see a big hole in the ground, but the museum is REALLY well done. The crater is so big you can see it from space, and it’s absolutely worth a little field trip. Most of the meteorite was obliterated on impact, but there are a few stray space rocks to check out.

It was embarrassingly high on my list to stand on the corner in Winslow, Arizona. Winslow is a stereotypical tourist trap, and each gift shop blasted Eagles music for the queued boomers snapping photos at the Route 66 Monument. I had the most incredible club sandwich with hatch chiles, the best onion rings of my life, and a fantastic flight of local beers at Relic Road Brewery. The field trip rocked as hard as the Eagles Greatest Hits album. I have NO regrets about this dorky detour, I mean, I stopped again when I headed out to Petrified Forest the next week.

The Wigwam Motel has been on my wishlist since I was a little kid. I had forgotten all about it until an art print of the classic cars at the concrete teepees caught my eye at a gallery in Abiquiu last month. I couldn’t stop smiling standing in the gravel parking lot and appreciating the kitschy Route 66 magic. What rocks more than classic cars and concrete novelty motels?

Pretty rocks were a priority while I was in Arizona, and I had heard the Painted Desert was the place to go. I didn’t do much research, thinking it would just be a scenic drive. So I put “Painted Desert” in my map and wound up in the middle of nowhere. The ride was beautiful, and there were a couple of pretty rocks, so I wasn’t disappointed, but it wasn’t an actual destination that way. I headed back out on 66 the following week to explore the Petrified Forest, and realized the Painted Desert visitors center is technically in the Petrified Forest. That’s where you get to truly experience the most glorious rocks around. Timing with the dog and the two hour drive made it a quick field trip for me, but you could easily spend a whole day if not two exploring this massive park of rocks.

I distinctly remember telling my dad that the Petrified Forest was my favorite part of our cross-country field trip, but I couldn’t remember why. Trust me, it all came rushing back as soon as I entered the 30 miles of madness. I love trees, and it was insane wandering around 217 million year old trees that shared this space with dinosaurs. I included some of the signage of how the trees became petrified and why they look as though someone has gone out there with a chainsaw. It was really spectacular to see the geodes sparkling in the sun within the trees.

I wasn’t sure how to spend my very last day in Arizona. I had about 8 hours and a completely fulfilled wishlist, so I thought about what I enjoyed most in town and went after it. Show me more pretty red rocks! I knew I couldn’t access The Wave (its a lottery and only 25 people can enter a day, and it’s a 6 mile rough hike each way) but I knew the rocks around it were pretty impressive. I headed back up toward Page, took the Vermilion Cliffs Scenic Drive to Lee’s Ferry and marveled at Marble Canyon. It’s a nice, easy, paved drive through the Grand Canyon, leads you right to the stunning Navajo Bridge, the banks of the Colorado River, and the most beautiful collection of red rocks. Most everything was free, it was only $15 to get into Lee’s Ferry, if you hadn’t already invested in a National Park Pass. But seriously, there is no excuse not to buy one if you are doing any sightseeing in Arizona.

I don’t care if you go for Page, Phoenix, Grand Canyon, or Monument Valley, I hope you’ll make time for at least one of these rockin’ less frequented field trips. I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite, but these lesser known/crowded destinations brought me just as much joy as the iconic stops.