March 2016 – When we brought our RV to Sedona, Arizona, even though we had been there many times before, we still hung our heads out the windows of the truck saying, “omg omg omg OMG!!!” We’d forgotten just how stunning the towering red rocks cliffs are.
Driving into town, we were totally awed by the red rock scenery.
We were utterly mesmerized as the road carved beautiful sweeping turns through these monoliths. We just drove around for a while, taking it all in, and marveling at the views out the windows.
Anywhere you drive in Sedona, the landscapes are breathtaking.
.
White flowering trees were in bloom all around town too. What a great combination these made with those incredible cliffs behind!
White flowering trees were in bloom.
.
Sedona is a funny mix of dramatic natural landscapes, upscale trendy shops, and outdoor pursuits, all overlaid with a mystical, New Age flair. The Hyatt Regency has a fancy resort hotel in the middle of it all, while the main drag is dotted with psychic readers, mountain bike shops, art galleries, hiking stores, elegant bistros and souvenir shops.
For many, Sedona is all about shopping, artsy stuff, and eating great food.
It is a vacation playground for people from “The Valley of the Sun” (Phoenix) about 100 miles away. Bustling shops selling homemade ice cream cones are lined up against a breathtaking backdrop of bright orange cliffs where tourists go on joy ride jeep tours into the rugged pink and orange desert landscapes.
Gorgeous natural landscapes beckon just outside of town.
And every few minutes a snazzy sports car or vintage car rolls by.
Some folks travel here in style.
Exotic car sightings are the norm in Sedona.
It’s a fabulous town to stroll around, and we love the sculptures that grace the sidewalks.
Sedona is an artsy town with creative sculptures decorating the sidewalks.
No problem finding a souvenir t-shirt in this town!
The town was founded in 1902, and camera buffs have been stopping in at Rollie’s Camera Shop for camera gear and supplies since it opened in 1961. We dropped by three times to visit our friend Tom Kelly who works there and also sells his beautiful photographs.
How funny it was when a pair of tourists came into the shop to buy film. “Fuji Film or Kodachrome?” Tom asked them. They took the Fuji Film, but gosh, I never thought I’d hear those words again!
The back door of Rollies Camera where photographers have bought gear since 1961.
Of course, part of vacationing in a place like Sedona is relaxing with a glass of wine or a good microbrew beer after the sun has crested its peak in the sky. Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing, though, and partiers occasionally wind up regretting last night’s wild party the next morning. We passed a hilarious sign showing a fish that…well… drinks like a fish…
.
And where do you find the biggest selection of beer — at the best prices — in this oh-so-trendy and pricey town? At the Chevron station in the Village of Oak Creek!
Really!!
They have shelves and shelves of unusual microbrew beers, all at very modest prices, and best of all, you can build your own six pack. On Thursdays they knock even more off the price of the build-your-own-six-packs. So, if you plan your week out right, Thursday is the day to go stock up on beer.
At Chevron!
This place has the best selection of craft beer (and at the best prices) in town!
Why does a gas station have the best beer selection in a fancy dancy town like Sedona? Because it’s run by a very cool guy. Tony Pugliano is a young, entrepreneurial mountain biker who owns not just this Chevron but a 76 station over in Cottonwood too. His gas station in Cottonwood is even better. It has craft beers on tap!!
Now that’s the way to bring customers in and make them happy at your gas station!
We met Tony two years ago when we brought our RV to Sedona, and this year, while stopping at the Sedona Bike and Bean bike shop to get a part for Mark’s mountain bike, who walked in but Tony! He was picking up some parts for his bike too.
Mark recognized Tony at Sedona Bike & Bean right away. What a perfect place to run into each other!
While we chatted, I got a latte. And why not? This bike shop is the Sedona Bike and Bean, afterall. When you walk in the front door of the shop, the first thing you notice — before the bikes, and bike jerseys and bike repair stands — is the huge coffee bar where you can order any kind of fancy coffee drink you can imagine.
That’s the way Sedona is. It is a haven for lovers of gourmet coffee, great beer, and the outdoors. If you are clairvoyant and/or rich, you’ll fit right in too!
Sedona is a great place for reflections — in store windows and introspectively too!
Another fun place to go for a beer is at the Oak Creek Brewery. The brew master was busy making one of our all time favorite beers when we stopped by, their Nut Brown Ale.
The Nut Brown Ale is as fresh as it can be at the Oak Creek Brewery in Sedona.
When we cruised out of Sedona to the west, we found even more stunning scenery.
Even under cloudy skies, the scenic drives in West Sedona are jaw-droppers.
Pink Jeep Tours are everywhere. What a fun way to get into the more rugged areas out of town.
The red rocks and towering mountains just don’t quit!
Sedona is in the heart of Arizona’s red rock country!
Sedona is an awesome place for RVers to settle in for a week or two.
Mark catches a pink sunset over our truck.
If you have a hankering for an RV roadtrip to red rock country, Sedona is one gorgeous spot, and the climate is ideal in spring and fall! There are more tips and links and info about Sedona below.
Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!
More info about Sedona Arizona:
- Sedona Bike and Bean – Our favorite bike shop
- The Tap Room at Oak Creek Brewery – Try the Nut Brown Ale!
- Rancho Sedona RV Park – An RV park that’s walking distance to town
- Verde Valley RV & Camping Resort – An RV park in nearby Cottonwood
- Dead Horse Ranch State Park – A state park campground in nearby Cottonwood
- Locations of Rollies Camera, Oak Creek Brewing Company, Sedona Bike and Bean and the Chevron – Google Maps
Related posts from our RV travels in Sedona, Arizona:
- Broken Arrow Trail in Sedona, AZ – What a Hike! 05/31/19
- Hiking the “Pig Trails” in Sedona, AZ – Breathtaking! (oink oink!) 05/17/19
- Top Sedona AZ Hikes: Little Horse to Chicken Point + Templeton Trail (Cathedral Rock)! 05/03/19
- Brins Mesa Trail & Unexpected Delights in Sedona Arizona! 04/26/19
- Sedona Arizona – Brooding Skies at Sunset in the Red Rocks 03/17/16
- The Crack at Wet Beaver Creek (Bell Trail Hike), Sedona, AZ 03/14/16
- Bell Rock Pathway, Sedona AZ – Hiking & Biking the Red Rocks 03/07/16
- Cathedral Rock at Red Rock Crossing – Sedona AZ 12/14/14
- Montezuma’s Castle & Schnebly Hill – Sedona Heights! 05/19/14
- Sedona Reflections on the West Fork Trail 05/16/14
- Sedona – Mountain biking in the red rocks! 05/13/14
- Oh, Sedona – Scenic drives in the red rocks!! 05/09/14
<-Previous || Next->
Our most recent posts:
- Beehive Trail in Arizona – A “Mini Wave” hike by Lake Powell 07/19/24
- Reese Goose Box Review: 20K Gen 3 TESTED + How to Hitch 06/27/24
- Lake Powell – Heart of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area 05/10/24
- Quick Release Pull Pins for Fifth Wheel Landing Jacks – YES! 05/03/24
- Sheep May Safely Graze (in the Mountains with Dogs!) 04/26/24
More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU above.
Thanks for posting, Sedona is such a neat place. Love your photos too. I went last September for the first time. My wife had been there previously. We are both looking forward to going back. Are you boondocking in the last picture?
Sedona is a really wonderful place, and I’m not surprised you plan to come back. We do too!! And yes, we are boondocking in the last picture.
HI there — where were you boondocking? Was it private land or in a park of some sort. My husband and I have really, really started reading your blog like it was our RV bible (no disrespect we are just learning sooooo much). Our big question is how do you boondock in National Parks? We are embarking on full time RVing in July and LOVE National Parks, we would love any tips! Take care and have fun! NP
I’m so glad to know that our blog is your “RV bible,” Nikki. Thank you for reading! Unfortunately, you can’t boondock in the National Parks. However, there is often some National Forest land nearby where it is possible if you don’t mind a long drive to get to the National Park. One exception is Big Bend National Park, and I explain how that works in this post: Boondocking at Big Bend National Park. We offer other more detailed info and tips for boondocking here and here.
Thank you so very much!!! We go from excited to crazy nervous on a weekly basis. We have decided to just sell the house and take the plunge. We can always sell and go back…..wish us luck!! Thanks again!
Best of luck. You won’t regret it, even if you don’t stick with the lifestyle forever. You have to chase your dreams, not matter what. What else is life for?
How fun! Your posts on Sedona are making us think we need to perhaps head through there on our way back west this spring. We’re neither rich nor clairvoyant, but we certainly love the outdoors, good coffee, and microbrews! 🙂
You’ll have a blast, Laurel. Definitely go through Sedona on your way back west!!
Oh gosh so beautiful….
I may be able to persuade the Mrs Boxin for trip out west because of this post!
And who doesn’t love a nut brown Ale…. God bless em
You will both have a wonderful time in Sedona. It’s a great place to visit!
What are the white blossom trees?
I have no idea, but they were beautiful and they seem to be common landscaping trees in all of red rock country, blooming slightly later as we travel north.