By day, Sedona’s dramatically sculpted red rock
backcountry is the main draw for hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers,
and off-road “Jeepers.” But, at night, all eyes are on the skies. Named
the world’s eighth International Dark Sky Community in 2014, Sedona
(elevation 4,600 feet) is one of the best places in the world to witness
celestial wonders such as a blue moon.
How to Get Around: Sedona is located in north-central Arizona two hours north of Phoenix
Sky Harbor International Airport via I-17 North. From the airport, rent a car or book a commercial shuttle. In Sedona, rent a Jeep for a half or full day to four-wheel on roads and trails in the surrounding Coconino National Forest.
Sky Harbor International Airport via I-17 North. From the airport, rent a car or book a commercial shuttle. In Sedona, rent a Jeep for a half or full day to four-wheel on roads and trails in the surrounding Coconino National Forest.
Where to Stay: Located within Boynton Canyon and surrounded by red rock cliffs, Enchantment Resort
is an oasis with minimal light pollution. The 218 guest casitas, junior
suites, haciendas, and casas each have a private deck, patio, or
balcony. Guest activities include guided stargazing with a telescope
(Tuesdays and Saturdays, weather permitting); a two-hour full moon hike
and private guided hikes; a summer solstice celebration week (June
14-21) with Native American dances; and new moon and full moon-themed
specialty treatments (available only around those moon phases) at the
onsite Mii amo Spa.
Even the resort's restaurants are
designed to optimize night views. On any full moon evening, watch the
moon rise behind the Kachina Woman red rock formation from View 180, the
indoor/outdoor, tapas-style restaurant and lounge.
What to Eat or Drink:
Prickly pear cactus, also called “tuna” (the fruit part) and “paddles”
(the leaves), is a local staple. Try the cactus fries (de-prickled,
breaded, and flash-cooked paddles) with prickly pear dipping sauce at Cowboy Club Grille & Spirits
in Sedona’s arts district. Prickly pear sweet fruit nectar is used to
make jams, jellies, cocktails, ice cream, and more. Sit under the stars
on the Barking Frog Grille outdoor patio, and sip a desert mojito (mixed with prickly pear cactus juice) or a prickly pear margarita.
What to Buy: Shop for Sedona-themed gifts, including
handcrafted ceramics, weavings, blown glass, Native American jewelry,
Hopi katsina figures, and Navajo sand paintings, at Tlaquepaque
(pronounced Tla-keh-PAH-keh) Arts & Crafts Village. Designed in the
1970s to replicate a traditional Mexican village with stone walkways
and vine-covered stucco facades, Tlaquepaque is home to over 40
galleries and shops. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (Closed Christmas and
Thanksgiving.)
What to Read Before You Go: The current edition of Terence Dickinson’s classic stargazers’ resource, Night Watch: A Practical Guide to the Universe is updated for use through 2025 and includes helpful night-sky charts and astronomical photography tips.
Helpful Links: Visit Sedona, International Dark-Sky Association, and Arizona Tourism
Fun Fact: It takes more than three
and a half hours to drive south from Sedona to Tucson. That’s time well
spent if you’re heading to Bloom Night at Tohono Chul. The Tucson park is home to the nation’s largest collection of the night-blooming cereus Peniocereus greggii, known as the "queen of the night." Most of the flowers bloom on a single night between mid-May and mid-July. Join the park’s Bloom Watch email list to get the date (sometimes with only 12 hours' notice) of this year’s Bloom Night.
Staff Tip:
Enchantment Resort, spectacularly set in Boynton Canyon, has access
right from the property to hiking trails that head into the red rocks.
Head out early to catch sunrise at Kachina Woman, the sentinel of the
canyon, for unparalleled views of the valley and the Coconino National
Forest; look for hot-air balloon rides launching in the distance. The
area around Kachina is an energy vortex and is said to have uplifting
effects. Follow your hike with a frittata and smoothie at the Mii Amo
Spa café. Ask your server if the "angel" (or any other defined shadows
that they've named) has appeared on the canyon wall viewable from the
windows of the café. For a totally different experience, drive to Oak
Creek Canyon—often described as the smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon
and noted for its scenic beauty—for a hike along Oak Creek, a tributary
of the Verde River. Overnight in a cozy cabin (with stone walls,
fireplaces, and Native American-inspired furnishings) at Briar Patch
Inn, a hidden find situated on the lush banks of the creek. —Susan O'Keefe, associate editor, National Geographic Traveler