Sedona, Arizona - a Real Garden of Eden

"There ain't no Arizona..." So starts the opening lines of one of my favorite country song. The words go on to state "there ain't no painted desert, no Sedona!" Well as much as I love the song, I've got some enlightening news for the writer. Having spent a week in Sedona, I would not be doing my job as an alert observer if I failed to point out that the writer is wrong on all three counts! In fact, not only is there a Sedona in Arizona, it is unquestionably one of the most beautiful places I think I have ever visited and as regular readers of my articles will know, I travel a great deal. I've never considered myself a travel writer, though few writers get to travel as extensively as I am privileged to do. Come to think of it, I've never considered myself a writer in the true sense of the word. Reporter, perhaps? Even Journalist? But a writer, not really. I can't spell to save my life and having been schooled in no less than 26 different establishments of learning, in no less than 6 countries, my grammar is appalling. If it weren't for my good old spell checker, I'd be out of action in sheer embarrassment.

That said, allow me to assume my newly assigned title of travel correspondent and share with those of you who may not have visited this enchanting place, some of the magic that is Sedona. Imagine if you will a Garden of Eden lovingly placed in a valley surrounded by giant pillars of stone reflecting an almost cosmic glow of red's and gold's at the rising and setting of the sun. Where the Sun shines endlessly, at least during my all-too-short stay; and in no matter what direction you may choose to stroll, you find yourself midst fauna and flora on endless trails leading always to the base of some magnificent towering red rock monolith whose weather worn countenance takes the form of some strange shape that varies as the sun moves across the never ending blue sky.

What I'm really trying to say is that Sedona is the most beautiful inland vacation spot it has been my privilege to visit. Art galleries, restaurants and amazing craft displays abound everywhere. Balloon rides; Jeep tours, and Helicopter trips through the magnificent canyons are just some of the endless variety of activities that help you appreciate the natural environment that despite Sedona's popularity somehow remains almost untouched.

I drove my trusty steed (my 2004 Buick) down a road; I use the word sparingly, that would have given the most ardent off road fanatic heart failure, to visit the ancient home of the Paleo-Indian.

These remains of their multi level stone masonry dwellings are constructed high in overhanging cliffs, strewn with imaginative rock etchings (petro glyphs) and rock paintings (pictographs) and I was able, under the watchful eye of a park ranger, to photograph these archaeological treasures for all to see.

These magnificent red rock canyons have been home to many different cultures over the last 10,000 years. Around A.D.700 a culture known as the Southern Sinagua had settled in the valley. By A.D.1425 they had mysteriously vanished. The reason for their sudden disappearance remains a mystery. Today there is only speculation as to what became of this once great culture. Only the ruins, their art and artifacts remain to shed light on their daily existence.

Some years ago when I saw an article in which Sedona was listed as one of the top 10 destinations in the USA, I assumed that it was the golf that I had heard so much about. Certainly the golf here is magnificent but what really makes Sedona the attraction that it has now become is the remarkable variety of things to do and see.

Place it high on your preferred destinations list!