Tuesday, January 29, 2013

RED ROCKS OF SEDONA, AZ on "TRAVEL TUESDAY"

Feel like taking a little hike today?  Come on along...you'll be seeing red...
The area surrounding the town of Sedona, AZ is home to some of the most spectacularly beautiful southwest scenery you've ever laid eyes on.  RED ROCK STATE PARK offers up a myriad of easily accessible hiking trails, or just beautiful vantage points for photos, for those less inclined to traipse around in nature. 
I had to laugh a week ago, while out to dinner with my husband and friends - I married someone who absolutely hates to travel, but has been more than willing and happy to let me do so, on my own, as the occasion arises.  Conversation turned to trips that evening, and he actually said he felt bad enough to feel I should have been dealt a luckier hand in life, and married to the "travelin' man" at the table with us (though he already had a wife, and I wouldn't have married him anyway).  I asked later, if he wanted to travel with me this summer...the answer was still a resounding "No...but you go right ahead and I'll be waiting when you get back." 
I HAVE been lucky that my folks are still as incredibly active as they are...and still seem to like me!  They love road trips, and I have been fortunate enough to tag along the past few summers - they haven't even driven off and left me at a gas station.  Yet.  My kids were taken on a few of these trips when they were smaller.  Seeing the sights and gathering knowledge of different places through Grandma and Grandpa's eyes was a pretty wonderful experience for them. 
The beautiful American Southwest is still a favorite destination - always enchanting, this ancient wonderland. On this day, I enthusiastically drug my poor Dad up the red dirt trail to see what we could see from the top of the hill (actually, I drug him over quite a few roads in the two days we were there). This is a 78 year old Superman/Walking Encyclopedia, who fell from a tree 10 years ago and broke one lower leg in 21 places (19 pins in it to this day, I believe).  SUCH a good sport, and nimble as a mountain goat, yet (that's what got him in trouble with the tree that day).  Mom just recovered from Rotator Cuff surgery, and has amazed everyone with how fast she has healed (a lot of hard work was involved, though)...no one is more amazed at them both, and thankful for them, than I.
The clouds were ominously beautiful this day, providing a reprieve from the desert heat - make sure to take water with you if you start out on any hike.  Or any road trip.  Sage words of wisdom from my dad, that have stuck with me, forever.  You might want a whistle, too...just in case.  He got me mine at the Army/Navy Surplus Store in Denver - WORLD'S LOUDEST WHISTLE (for serious). 
These red rocks are some of the most breathtaking you'll ever see.
Jaw-dropping scenery, just a hop, skip and jump from the main drag of Sedona.  And, like I said, you don't need to hike it...a lot of these shots are accessible, and just as impressive, from the front seat of your car...
Let someone else do the driving, though -
"Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel..."


18 comments:

Quinn said...

Lovely photographs - you are really making me miss the SW!

Cindy said...

Gorgeous scenery! Your kids are fortunate to be able to spend such quality time with grandma and grandpa

Sea Witch said...

Love this post. I would get "red rock fever" often when I lived in
Flagstaff and would grab the kids, the dogs and anyone who wanted to to the rocks. We would hike and often hit Walnut Canyon for a dip in the water when the sun was high. Lizarding on flat rocks, your mind just wanders while surrounding by such beauty. Always changing as the sun moves and once it hides behind the mountains, the colors are so powerful. Your post brought back marvelous memories of this very special and powerful place.

DearHelenHartman said...

I'll keep my eyes on the road and my hands on the wheel but my mind will be wandering to taking great trips and seeing the kinds of sights you've shared!

My Garden Diaries said...

It is gorgeous! I have never been but I'm thinking it is in our future! My husband wasn't a road tripper either though I have been slowly breaking him in! How wonderful that you have that time with your folks! Your kids are lucky to have had some trips with them too! Good stuff and awesome pictures!

Jackie said...

Oh I love travel tuesday!! I beg... take me with you, I really want to see Sedona and Santa Fe!
love the JM quote at the end!

Laurie said...

I love to travel, too.....Your photos are wonderful. They remind me of "Garden of the Gods" in Colorado Springs. I'm sure you've been there, being from Colorado. I visited my daughter, who lives in Denver, in Oct. 2011 and that was one of our field trips.

Dorthe said...

You are wonderfully lucky, to be able to take such tours with your great parents, dear -and to have a husbond ,that O.K.`s it.
Amazing photoes from this beautiful place in your land.
Hugs from Dorthe

Ronda Walker said...

Whew! I'm tired after all that hiking. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics.

Something Special said...

Oh, I love all your photos from the southwest. I see that you live in Henderson, NV and I am just up the road in Logandale, NV. I love your quilts. Something I really want to start doing soon. I do love to create things everyday. Thanks for visiting me.

Createology said...

Sedona Az is one of my very favorite places in the west coast. I love everything about it and we visit over and over again. I would live there if it weren't so expensive!!!
Love traveling with you...

Tammy said...

How wonderful! I love hiking. And travelling. My family always took 2-week long road trips when I was growing up -- the last one we took was actually flying -- to Hawaii. My mom planned every detail of our itinerary and hiking was always involved. In fact, while in Hawaii, we hiked to dormant volcanoes and around islands -- we didn't go to the beach like everyone else did. Now I travel with my husband and boys to places I never would have imagined. It's great that your parents are still able to get out there and go. The last time I was in Sedona was to visit a girlfriend -- that was 1991. Thanks for stopping by my corner of the world. Have a great day. Tammy

Donna Heber said...

Wonderful photos Tanya! Thank you for the awesome tour :-)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely blog post! I was on a trip out west in 2008 driving from Colorado, through Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and back to Colorado - we were working 2 different craft shows and although exhausting I remember the changes in scenery from state to state... it was gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful photos... oh, and you are indeed lucky to have those parents you ended up with! Treasure them forever!! That was so sweet about your hubs telling you no he didn't want to travel but he'd be there waiting for your to come back! You are a lucky girl my friend!
talk again soon...
Hugs,
Beth P

Hindustanka said...

amazing pictures! such truly American landscape, and one of those cliffs reminds of such in "Up" cartoon when the house stood upon it in the end :)
I'm glad your parents recovered fast, wishing them more strength and health to go for many other hikes/trips !
have a lovely day!
Anna

Kadee Willow said...

Wow! I feel I was right there with you climbing those trails! I have been to Sedona several times but never took time to hike the many trails. Next time I will make a point to do so!!

Vicki Boster said...

Tanya- what a stunning photo tour--- jaw dropping scenery is beyond gorgeous!! You know-- I'd hike with you anywhere!! Thanks for taking us along on this amazing journey!!
Vicki
Ps- your husband sounds like a sweetie!

AppleApricot Wen said...

Red Rocks! It's been so long since I was there... We passed it when visiting the US and I loved it. Beautiful photos!
Thank you for your sweet comment at my blog Tanya. Happy day to you too!

Hugs, Wendy @ AppleApricot