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“We get so many guys who come out here to cross this off their bucket list,” says David. “They come because they dreamed of being a race-car driver as a kid or they bring their own kids, but they all come with expectations of what it takes to drive a race car fast. And race-car driving is about going as slow as possible. It’s 180 degrees different from what you think.”
Racing Adventures, 8776 E. Shea Blvd. in Scottsdale (888-572-7223); www.racingadventures.com
Sedona ATV & Buggy Rental
For the DIY guy who would rather lead the pack than follow it, there’s Sedona ATV & Buggy Rental, “the tour without the tour guide.” The five-year-old business, owned by former dirt-bike racer Tim Angus, offers 13 different vehicles all tailor-made for Red Rock Country. Think of it as Sedona’s choose-your-own adventure: Where do you want to go, how do you want to get there and how long do you want to be gone? The vehicles range from one-person All Terrain Vehicles to two-seat Tomcars built for the Israeli military to six-passenger buggies with bucket seats and cup holders.
“I love watching people’s reactions when they come back,” says Tim, who has lived in Sedona off and on for 40 years. “To this day, it amazes me. This isn’t a guided tour, which is a very passive experience. Someone drives for you and takes you to specific places. In these vehicles, you get to experience the Sedona outback and drive yourself. If you want to stop for a photo, stop to look at a cactus, you can do that. It leaves a deeper imprint on the brain. It’s a more alive, vibrant experience.”
The off-road equivalent of a luxury car in Tim’s 70-plus-strong fleet (the largest in Sedona) is the Polaris RZR S in both the two- and four-seat models. The RZR has won several Baja California races. Vehicles are available to rent for four or eight hours. Some of Sedona ATV’s recommended trails include Diamondback Gulch and The Outlaw southwest of town and picturesque Schnebly Hill Road. The company subscribes to the “tread lightly” philosophy when it comes to the environment, and it works closely with the Coconino National Forest Service. Each vehicle is equipped with a Red Rock Pass so you can legally park and hike. Before heading off on your adventure, the staff at Sedona ATV makes sure everyone receives an orientation on respecting the land and driving safely. Passengers and drivers are required to wear goggles or helmets; bandanas and winter gear can also be supplied. The vehicles are loaded with coolers, full tanks of gas and maps with photo books. Rental rates start at $125. You must be 18 to drive.
“We have a lot of families come out and rent these,” says Tim. “But we also cater to guy’s groups whether its corporate outings or father-son trips. We’ve had the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals out here – lots of repeat visitors. ”
Sedona ATV & Buggy Rental, 2740 W. SR 89A in West Sedona (928-204-0000); www.atvsedona.com
Seven Canyons
If you want to golf at Seven Canyons – and let’s face it, if you’re a golfer, you really want to play Seven Canyons – then you have a few options. One: Buy into one of the 30 Tuscan-style villas. Two: Purchase a membership, which will set you back a cool $20,000 in initiation fees and $500 per month (those increase to a $40,000 fee and $700 per month once the new clubhouse is built). Three: Stay at nearby Enchantment Resort. Enchantment took over management of Seven Canyons in June 2013. Or you could make friends with a Seven Canyons member and ask nicely. Members are always allowed to bring guests.
Seven Canyons is a 200-acre private club at the end of Long Canyon Road smack dab in the middle of more than 100,000 acres of Coconino National Forest. The club opened in 2003 and includes a par-70, 18-hole golf course designed by pro golfer Tom Weiskopf; 30 fractionally owned villas; 36 estate lots; a “practice park” with a stillness that’s almost startling; high-tech golf carts; and a clubhouse. The new, 14,000-square-foot clubhouse, slated to open in April 2015, will offer members three swimming pools, a bigger restaurant and bar, locker rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness facility, says Dave Bisbee, golf operations and membership director.
Seven Canyons has gained a reputation for putting together the ultimate guy’s golf getaways with private chefs, spa treatments at Enchantment’s Mii amo spa and Ryder Cup-style golf tournaments. Dave says Seven Canyons has a reputation for solitude, privacy and golf that is bar none.
“We are unique, even among high-end clubs, because you can get lost in the scenery out here,” says Dave, who has been in the golf industry for more than 35 years. “You don’t just see the red rocks, you are in the red rocks. A few years ago, a writer with Golf Week magazine called us the IMAX of golf courses. That completely sums it up.”
Seven Canyons, 755 Golf Club Way (928-203-2001); www.sevencanyons.com
MORE THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN SEDONA: Sedona festivals, secret Sedona, Sedona Bluegrass Festival, four-wheeling, kayaking, hang gliding and skydiving, Sedona confidential, wine tasting rooms, best pizza in Sedona, Sedona calendar of events, Sedona skygazing, Sedona dance classes, Sedona rock ‘n’ roll
