Arizona's Magazine With the Great View
Since 1995, members of the Northern Arizona Watercolor Society (NAWS) have gathered nearly every month in Sedona to celebrate the art form of watercolor. Meetings typically consist of a business meeting followed by an artist demonstrating…
For the first time in eight years, Arizona has a new state park. Lucky for Northern Arizona residents, it’s in Camp Verde. Meet the Rockin’ River State Park, which opened on Feb. 9. Located on the…
The Kitchen The home’s kitchen received a full remodel. A few factors drove the design of this space: the couple’s love of the great outdoors, simplicity and items that were easy to care for and clean…
The Little Horse Trail is one of our favorite hikes in town for two key reasons – the trail is relatively flat and lets you get up close to Sedona’s famed red rocks. The trail kicks…
Watch a variety of plein air artists interpret Sedona’s breathtaking landscape at the Sedona Plein Air Festival. This marks the twentieth anniversary of the festival and makes this one of the city’s longest-running arts events. Events…
Following a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 39, Jeanine Patten-Coble went on a trip to the beach when she stumbled upon a compound of abandoned homes. “I just literally was physically struck with, ‘Create…
One of Sedona’s longest-running art festivals returns for the second weekend of October. This is the thirty-third year for the Sedona Arts Festival. The festival will see over 100 juried artists displaying their wares outside of…
When we’re searching for an escape that’s not too far from town, we often head to Red Rock State Park. There’s plenty to love about this park. This 286-acre nature preserve located on the southwestern edge…
Michele Sullins is one of Sedona’s major players in the retail and restaurant space. She’s the former owner of Sound Bites Grill and The View Coffee Café, businesses she recently sold. Michele is the current owner…
Educator Richard Sidy (pronounced like “city”) taught for close to 40 years. He started his career in Los Angeles before he and his wife moved to Sedona in 1982. He taught at his own private school,…
Cheryl Barron is a true veteran of the hospitality industry. She started her career in Denver in 1983, where she learned the ins and outs of the hotel business. During her decades in hospitality, she has…
Sipping Arizona wine in the shadow of Sedona’s red rocks at Posse Grounds Park on a late fall day is our idea of a perfect afternoon, and when Sedona WineFest happens on Sept. 28 and 29,…
Rubrix Wines is one of the newest wineries in town and opened its doors in downtown Cottonwood on Jan. 9, 2024. Owner and winemaker at Rubrix Wines, Corey Turnbull, has a long history in the Verde…
The Watters band may be based in Texas, but the band has deep roots in Sedona. Husband and wife team, Daniel and Jenna Watters, were both born and raised in town. They were even on the…
Next time you need a caffeine buzz, consider paying a visit to one of these Sedona coffee shops. Learn more about them below. Enjoy your java. FreeForm Coffee Roasters opened in 2020 and hand roasts all…
Visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Flagstaff in the summer is a great way to cool off and an even better way to check out a historic, scenic monument. We visited this spot last summer…
SANTA CRUZ We kicked off our journey in the coastal city of Santa Cruz. We were charmed by this town’s walkable downtown and historic beach boardwalk. We stayed at the historical West Cliff Inn. The light…
When those scorching summer temperatures arrive, we look for less strenuous hikes to get our nature fix. That’s why we turn to hikes that are short and sweet. And the Schuerman Mountain Trail more than works….
FESTIVALS Festivals abound in Flagstaff in the summer and fall. We’ve rounded up what we consider to be some of the most interesting ones. FLAGSTAFF BEER FESTIVAL When: June 22 Where: Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill…
We typically don’t feature books in the magazine, but every once in a while a book comes out that really captures our attention. “Brave The Wild River” is one of those titles. Flagstaff-based science journalist Melissa…
After 42 years of working in education, Sedona resident Connie Tate started a new career as a children’s book author. She fell in love with reading at a young age. “I can still remember that feeling…
It’s safe to say that there isn’t another house quite like furniture designer Glendon Good’s home in all of Sedona, and maybe even in the world. For starters, it’s perched on top of one of Sedona’s…
Cathedral Rock is a storied Sedona hike. For starters, this impressive red rock formation is one of Sedona’s most recognizable sites. Beyond that, the views are truly spectacular. You’re both up close to the red rocks,…
Drinking Arizona wine outside on a spring day in Cottonwood is our idea of a truly heavenly way to spend an afternoon. Luckily that fantasy comes to life every spring at the Verde Valley Wine Festival,…
Anita Marcus Cover star Anita Marcus is the medical aesthetician behind the business LaserGirl Skincare. She grew up in Oregon, moved to Hawaii for three years and ended up in Sedona in 1995. “I have raised…
Sedona hiking trails can be many things: scenic and peaceful being the two best descriptors that often come to mind. But they’re typically not secluded. If you’re searching for real solitude, you’ll have to venture farther…
Heather Feher has worked in arguably some of the world’s best kitchens, but did not grow up in a food-centric home. She didn’t fall in love with food until she moved to New Orleans for art…
Sometimes when you’re out hiking, you’re searching for a real challenge. A hike that tests your physical and mental limits and offers a great payoff. Bear Mountain is one of those hikes that fits that description…
The name of the nonprofit Meals on Wheels says it all. The local chapter of the national organization delivers meals to those in need, mostly senior citizens, who reside in Sedona. “Some of these people have…
The Sedona Mountain Bike Festival is returning this spring for its tenth year. The festival had, in the words of its founder, Michael Raney, “humble beginnings.” “We did the first one down at Tlaquepaque with no…
The Sedona International Film Festival is celebrating a big milestone in 2024: The festival is turning 30. Get ready for many events that commemorate the festival’s three decades in existence. “We’re trying to really pull out…
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM BLUE ZONES ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING The keys to living a longer life may involve studying what people who live to be 100 or older know about life. The areas where most…
Getting from one destination to another is something we all do a daily basis, but for some individuals, this can be a real challenge. Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition was created to address this crucial need. “Verde…
When the days are short and the temperatures plunge, we like to explore some of Sedona’s shorter trails, and Boynton Canyon Vista checks all the boxes. The trail leads to a saddle between two red rock…
WHERE TO STAY THE WESTIN RESORT & SPA, PUERTO VALLARTA Arriving at The Westin Resort & Spa – one of the properties that hosted us – feels like an event. You’ll spot a cascading waterfall from…
TLAQUEPAQUE ARTS & SHOPPING VILLAGE Located in the heart of Sedona, it’s fitting that Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is the city’s holiday headquarters. For starters, one of Sedona’s shopping and dining hubs gets all decked…
Huckaby Trail is a favorite hike among locals and tourists alike, and it’s not hard to see why. This Oak Creek Canyon trail offers up views of Sedona’s red rocks and lets you cross one of…
Spending time admiring Sedona’s stunning red rocks is always a good idea, and practicing your golf swings in their shadow is a pleasant way to pass the time. If you’re looking to improve your game, golf…
Following the success of its inaugural year, the Verde Valley Pottery Festival is returning for its second year and will be held at a new location at D.A.Ranch Estate Vineyards in Cornville. Potter Ben Roti founded…
If you’re looking to shake up your fitness routine, consider exercising up in Flagstaff’s ponderosa pine forest. Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course offers three different courses high up in the tree tops that visitors can tackle. Guests…
Thunder Mountain Trail is a gem of a hike that meanders along the base of its namesake, also known as Capitol Butte or Grey Mountain. These trails in West Sedona are some of our favorites, especially…
Every fall, the Sedona Arts Festival brings over 100 juried artists to the baseball fields of the Sedona Red Rock Jr. Sr. High School. This is one of Sedona’s longest running events (at 32 years and…
One of our favorite things about trails is that they can offer a choose your own adventure style journey. Loy Canyon is one of the city’s trails that delivers both an extremely difficult challenge or a…
The Grand Canyon’s beauty has been captivating artists for decades, and the annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art asks plein air painters to use their brushes to capture the canyon along the South Rim as they…
Manzanita Outreach started out as an organization in 2011 as a mission of the Verde Valley Christian Church. The nonprofit initially focused on large scale, meal-packing events and sent food down to Haiti following the 2010…
In a city dominated by luxury home listings, Eagle Mountain Estate manages to stand out. For starters, this home is the most expensive home ever listed in Sedona. The price tag? $18.5 million. With that high…
When those temperatures rise, we often find ourselves searching for relatively easy trails that we can finish quickly but still have a great payoff. The Wilson Canyon Trail is one of our favorite hikes that fits…
Jonathan Lutz is a self-described water person and a fly fisherman who grew up in western New York appreciating the wilderness. “Conservation to me is really critical. I grew up as a naturalist in the country,”…
The Thumb Butte Trail is one of the most popular trails in Prescott National Forest for very good reasons. For starters, it’s easy to reach. The trailhead is a mere 10 minute drive from downtown Prescott….
Sedona is a spiritual haven for many, and it’s beyond fitting that the city has its own yoga festival. “Bringing people together in large numbers to practice and cultivate peace and unity and inspiration, all the…
When concert pianist and composer Sandrine Erdely-Sayo visited Sedona, she fell in love with the city’s beauty and eventually wanted to live here. The musician also saw that the city had no festival exclusively dedicated to…
Annie Glickstein grew up loving the great outdoors. “Horses, dogs, being out by the ocean. I just I’m an outdoors person,” says Annie. “Anything outdoors was me.” She even met her husband on a camping trip…
If you don’t mind a bumpy ride to get there, Cow Pies Trail is probably one of the flattest and easiest hikes in Sedona. It also happens to be located in an area of Red Rock…
On March 15, Sedona residents can enjoy a special performance by American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company, the junior company of American Ballet Theatre. The dancers range in age from 16 to 20 and are considered…
Sonoma County is best known as a wine destination. Here’s a smattering of wineries we visited on a trip hosted by Jordan Winery. WINERIES WORTH VISITING Jordan Winery is both wild and refined. During our visit…
One of Sedona’s most popular events has returned. From Feb. 18 to 26, watch over 150 films that are a part of the Sedona International Film Festival. Find documentaries and narrative features from all over the…
This time of year is our absolute favorite for hiking. The cool temperatures mean you can spend hours on the trails. In the winter months on the weekends, you’ll often find us taking long, meandering hikes….
MII AMO Mii amo has just undergone a sweeping transformation. Following a two-year closure and $40 million renovation, Mii amo is slated to re-open its doors on Feb. 2. After 20 years in business, it was…
Oh, West Fork. There is something undeniably magical with Oak Creek and Sedona’s towering red rocks beside you as you cross multiple streams. This only-in-Sedona scenery makes this hike truly stunning. Like so many of Sedona’s…
A new community in Sedona has opened and aims to help an under-served segment of the population. “Our official name is Sedona Lago Gardens, and our mission is to serve gifted and talented young adults with…
Yavapai College is noteworthy for its thriving wine program where many local wine makers have been trained. A new offering for the college making its debut this December is a craft distilling workshop where students will…
VISIT TLAQUEPAQUE ARTS & SHOPPING VILLAGE If you’re in Sedona, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is practically the city’s holiday headquarters. The shopping center is all decked out in lights and décor and hosts some of…
Arizona native Nancy Steele fell in love with biology as a young person. But as she was working on her master’s degree, she realized she didn’t want to work in that field. She was debating between…
Sedona is a hiking mecca with over 200 hiking trails to explore. If you’re searching for a true challenge, these hikes deliver with heart pumping climbs and breathtaking summit views that will make all the effort…
If you’re searching for a new way to see Sedona, consider trail running. For starters, you’ll see more terrain in a shorter period of time. “There is no other place that has the same red rock…
One of Sedona’s most literally colorful events is returning to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village this fall from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. Expect to see Tlaquepaque’s fountains, streets and patios transformed with colorful décor as…
On a trip to Telluride, Colorado, Ron Melmon was riding a gondola and saw an empty swath of land. He asked his niece that he was visiting about it. She told him that that’s the Valley…
Every year, the trail leading to the top of Doe Mountain seems to grow in popularity as more and more hikers seek out the mesa’s 360-degree views. It’s easy to see why so many flock to…
Northern Arizona rocks. We know that. But Northern Arizona’s literal rocks make it a popular region for rock climbing. “It’s got a lot of diverse types of climbing that you can do in a short distance,”…
In Sedona with kids and looking for a place to eat? These seven kid-friendly Sedona area restaurants each offer kid’s menus and atmospheres that are ideal for families with children. Here’s where to dine out in…
Sedona resident, designer and furniture maker Glendon Good has always been making functional items. “I was always sort of a tinkerer as a kid,” Glendon says. He made his own bicycle and skateboard ramps. He eventually…
Flagstaff’s Aspen Loop Trail is a gem of a hike any time of year, but it’s especially worth the drive in the fall. Although peak leaf peeping season does vary annually, the fall colors are typically…
When those summer temperatures soar, one of our favorite places to hike in town is Airport Mesa. The relatively easy and mostly short trails in this West Sedona area all offer stunning views of some of…
When it’s hot outside, but we still want to hike, we love trails where you can leave a car at either end, and the Jim Thompson Trail is a great option. The hike begins near Jordan…
After a two-year hiatus, the Sedona Yoga Festival will return this month. The festival was one of the first major events to shut down at the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020. “We’re so…
Finding a quiet trail to hike in Sedona can be tough, and that’s why trails like the White Mesa Trail – a historic cattle trail – can be refreshing. Although this hike lacks red rock views,…
Accessing the Vultee Arch Trailhead is a challenge and one of the hardest parts of this easy trail. The only way to reach it is with a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle. Yes, you need both high…
DOWNTOWN WILLIAMS Downtown Williams is teeming with top-notch restaurants and shops and makes for one pleasant stroll. Choice highlights include Pine Country Restaurant. Homemade pies ranging from Key Lime to Triple Layer Chocolate Cake are the…
The Verde Valley Archaeology Center opened its new 10,850-square-foot facility in Camp Verde this past winter. This will be the Center’s fourth home in Camp Verde since it began in 2010. “The museum part will be…
WHERE TO STAY A few new lodging options have opened at the Grand Canyon that cater to the traveler who wants to experience the great outdoors without having to sleep on the ground. One of those…
When we set out to hike Munds Wagon Trail, we weren’t expecting to find waterfalls. We’ve hiked this trail in warm weather without a puddle in sight, so we suspect our experience was relatively rare, which…
Fay Canyon has long been one of the most popular hikes in Red Rock Country and for good reason: There’s plenty of parking at the trailhead, the route is relatively flat until the end and the…
Although originally built for and by mountain bikers, the 2.5-mile Mescal Trail is a relatively easy, mostly flat trail that makes for an easy going hike. Mescal is most likely named for the mountain it skirts…
South of the “Y” Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village Fashioned after a Mexican village, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is filled with more than 50 colorful boutiques. We’ve spent many hours strolling through this centrally located…
Running a turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day morning can be a tradition much like eating pumpkin pie and turkey on Thanksgiving. Now in its twelfth year, the Sedona Turkey Trot is slated to return this year…
Airport Loop When out-of-town guests who don’t hike often ask us what trail to hike, Airport Loop is typically our answer. This relatively flat (but a little rocky) trail offers breathtaking views of all of Sedona’s…
The sandstone arch that gives this trail its name has become a star on social media. The arch’s visual appeal is undeniable. Many hikers flock here to see this incredible arch with their own eyes, and…
Sedona Learn more about two historical spaces in Sedona that are still in use today, the Hart Store/Hummingbird house and the Sedona Heritage Museum. The Hart Store/Hummingbird House Named after L.E. “Dad” Hart, a rancher in…
Summer’s high temps generally linger in September, and if you’re looking for an easy and short trail that features stunning red rock views, try the quick and easy Chapel Trail. Although dogs are not allowed inside…
Image above: Sedona-based photographer Ted Grussing photographed this red tail hawk at Lake Pleasant in Peoria. “This was the takeoff,” he says. “It’s just the magnificent wing positions. It’s kind of like a ballet. Then you’ve…
Following a virtual event in 2020, the Humane Society of Sedona’s annual gala has returned as a virtual and in-person event in 2021 with the theme of Pet Lovers’ Masquerade Gala. “We’re excited to be back…
Sedona diners who want to eat out at a restaurant with their dogs have plenty of options. All of these restaurants offer dedicated dog menus so you and your pup can both enjoy a fine meal….
Image above: Sedona photographer Ted Grussing took this photo of this bobcat in his backyard. She was about seven or eight feet away from him. “She was staring at me. She was really relaxed. I just…
Slide Rock State Park One of Sedona’s most popular attractions in the summer, Slide Rock State Park, is named for the 80-foot long natural rock slide that visitors have been sliding down for years. The setting…
The water of Oak Creek can be an incredible thing, and one of the best ways to spend a few hours on the creek is by fly fishing. “There’s lots of boulders. It’s absolutely crystal. That…
Italian Bella Vita Ristorante Bella Vita Ristorante combines a charming atmosphere with fresh, homemade Italian fare. Quaint interior details include a real fireplace, warm red walls and chandeliers that will make you want to linger. The…
When owner Amber Eilers renovated and designed Strawberry’s The Strawberry Inn – formerly the Windmill Corner Inn – in the summer of 2016, she kept functionality in mind. In addition to the main building on AZ-87,…
When those temperatures rise in June, many Sedona hikers will stick to shorter trails until the cooler weather returns. And that’s why we love a quick hike like Allen’s Bend. The trailhead for Allen’s Bend starts…
Hot summer months have many Northern Arizona residents and visitors alike kayaking on the Verde River looking to get some exercise and cool off on the water. Don’t expect an entirely placid river though. “There is…
