Heavenly sunset at Cathedral Rock, reflected in Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona.
There are some absolutely gorgeous sights to see around Sedona, including Cathedral Rock. But, there are a limited number of places to photograph the lovely natural beauty of the area, due to massive commercial and private development. Most views of the stunning natural red rocks are blocked by golf resorts, hotels, and sprawling private mansions with huge KEEP OUT and NO TRESPASSING signs posted everywhere.
Watching the full moon rise between the spires of Sedona, Arizona’s Cathedral Rock is a truly unforgettable experience.
Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the wonderful and unique natural landscapes around Sedona. What I didn’t enjoy were the four lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic, the “tourist information” buildings on every corner that are nothing more than fronts to sign people up for high-pressure time-share sales pitches, or the uppity attitude of the campgrounds when they found out I had the audacity to try and secure an rv space less than a year in advance. As it turns out, I’m glad I couldn’t get a space in Sedona, since I ended up staying about fifteen miles away in Cottonwood, which is a lovely little town with friendly people and unpretentious shops and restaurants.
Double rainbow over Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona. Recent rains have left pools of water, creating an opportunity to capture a reflection of the famous, mystical rock in the foreground.
While I love natural wonders, I prefer my nature with a bit of remoteness and solitude rather than a huge dollop of commercial development and modern conveniences. Obviously, the millions who flock there each year feel differently than I do, and that’s fine with me. To each their own. All in all, I’m glad I went to Sedona, if only to say I did. Suffice to say, it’s not on the list of places I want to go back to.
Please take heed if you live in a lovely little town, surrounded by natural wonders, and believe that tourism is the panacea to all your economic woes. Careful what you wish for. Your town could become another Sedona.
Hi Loree, thanks for sharing your thoughts on Sedona. I have been wanting to plan a trip there and I think I might prefer staying a little off the beaten path too. Your images of the area are stunning!
Thanks so much Mary. Just my own personal opinion and preferences. I hope you enjoy your trip!
Love them all, Loree! Too bad about the over-development and tourists. Kind of like some beach-front properties. The entitled get what’s left of nature.
(“They pave paradise, put up a parking lot!”)
Enjoy your travels!
Barb
I’ve been to Sedona several times and I overall agree with your assessment. It’s best to visit off-season and midweek.
It really is sad to me that in some places, the more money you have, the more access to natural wonders you have. I’ve spoken with a few people who knew Sedona “back when” and they’ve told me what a lovely little town it used to be. That was before the moneyed interests saw it as an opportunity for profit. Unfortunately, I can see this happening in many other places, too. It just hasn’t gone quite as far yet.