• Browse Travel Reviews

Sedona, Arizona

If you can’t find something great about Sedona, Arizona, then don’t tell me; there’s plenty of homes for sale in this lovely desert oasis, and if I had my druthers, I’d love to buy a quiet get-a-way spot in this artsy and beautiful little town. The downtown strip of Sedona is all about tourists, and a lot of the stores sell the same things, but don’t get bogged down in the local olive oils (delicious) or the many healing crystals/rocks stores (there’s an abundance, often offering a massage along with your pick of powerful rocks). Instead, browse idly while talking to the folks who make Sedona their home – you’ll hear accents from all over the world, and everyone in Sedona is kind and helpful (even the gas station attendant, who let me use his restroom for free as I got a bee sting and needed to wash my hands). The best thing about Sedona is its breath-taking scenery, the famous red rocks that make up the Coconino National Park in the Upper Sonoran Desert. You should take a hike in the park while you’re there, either with a guide (which can also be on 4x4s or via horseback) or go it alone – there’s several different types of trails and you’re sure to find one to fit your fitness level. Check out Cathedral Rock and/or Bell Rock, and totally take a look at Oak Creek Canyon. Sedona hosts tons of artisan events and fitness events (marathoners and bikers, get ready!) as well as music festivals. Yavapai, Hopi, and Apache Native American tribes also populate the Verde Valley area, so turquoise jewelry and other such staple souvenirs are plentiful. Just be sure to bring your coat, as Sedona gets chilly once the sun goes down! Also, for those interested in spiritual things, the area is home to several “vortices” of spiritual import, so slather yourself with healing red rock mud and get enlightened; there’s no place like Sedona, Arizona, and it’s sure worth at least a day’s visit!

Ft. Fisher State Park, Kure Beach, NC

Ft. Fisher is one of the coolest spots on the North Carolina coastline because it’s a pet-friendly beach; want to see what your dog will do when confronted with seagulls, sand and surf? Take him/her here, just make sure to pick up after your mutt:)  Ft. Fisher is surrounded by salt marshes and tidal creeks, and there’s a boardwalk that allows you to enjoy the pristine dunes and coastal wildlife (crabs to birds to dolphins, oh my!) without traipsing all over them.  The usual swimming and sunning can be done at Ft. Fisher, but if you get tired of that, you can take the ferry over to Southport, NC and grab the usual rock candy and salt-water taffy that’s being hawked to tourists; a better bet would be to visit the North Carolina Aquarium.  You’ll trip over history, as Ft. Fisher was a Civil War site and now houses a Civil War museum, but, overall, Ft. Fisher is one of more calm and relaxing stretches of sand in NC, and I’m glad they keep it that way.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 264 other followers