After a few days of world-class, jaw-dropping nature in Tucson and a whirlwind of experiences at the Grand Canyon, our next stop was in Sedona!
But first, food…
Just outside of Sedona in Oak Creek is the beautiful scent of BBQ emerging from the Colt Grill. Google Maps photos initially made me weary — this place seemed maybe a little too fancy for our group of Sedona explorers, but it was totally casual and welcoming upon arrival.
I got the brisket tacos and they were packed to the brim with ingredients. I really enjoyed trying their selection of BBQ sauce options — they were good and fun to sample with our meal. All in all, the Colt Grill provided a nice respite for us hungry day trippers.
Bell Rock
Heading north on Route 179, the Bell Rock is the first major Sedona point of interest. The parking lot here was jammed when we first arrived, but we were able to turn around and park by the nearby intersection and walk over. In addition to the views, you can also embark on some hiking trails from here.
Courthouse Vista
Just a minute or two down the road past Bell Rock is the Courthouse Vista, which features a different vantage of the area and formations.
Airport Overlook
After navigating intense Sedona traffic and paying a $3 parking fee, we arrived in the lot of the Sedona Airport, which is renowned for it’s vantage of the city and surrounding rock formations.
The view doesn’t disappoint and the fee to park is totally worth it. This stop only takes several minutes to visit and enjoy, but there is a trail nearby for more explorations if desired.
Cathedral Rock
We found a couple really cool vantages of Cathedral Rock on Red Rock Loop Road.
The views were really pretty and this was only time we felt like we truly escaped the Sedona crowds. We were the only ones at the Lover’s Knoll overlook area and could really appreciate the peace and vast view of the area.
