Fabulous 3 Days In Sedona
We visited Sedona for the first time, and were completely, thoroughly, fascinated!! I would never thought another place in Arizona would impress me as much as, if not more than, Grand Canyon (see my 10-hour Grand Canyon day hike 10 years ago).
We have booked for only 3 days, and soon realized it was too short to explore all the beautiful parks, trails and views.
We spent our first evening at the Red Rock Crossing to see and photograph the renowned Cathedral Rock.
On google map, this place is marked as "Crescent Moon Picnic Site" at the Red Rock Crossing Road in Sedona. It cost $11 to get in - we didn't really prepare picnic, and arrived pretty late - almost near the closing hour. But I see why people still went - or stayed - at such late hours.
It's possibly the photographer's paradise - you don't have to be a photographer to enjoy this place. Almost everyone we saw had a tripod in hand, trying to explore the best spot to nail a perfect sunset shot.
We walked along the creek, and in the late-fall golden foliage. I even bumped into two wildcats alumni, who also came here to take pictures. Although I didn't get my perfect shot of the Cathedral Rock, I'd still call it a perfect evening.
We went for another 2.5-hour hike at West Fork trail the second morning.
It's a 6 mile hike, mostly flat, easy and enjoyable, great for family and kids. The only challenge is you have to cross the creek multiple times.
In near freezing temperature, Apollo slipped into the water in one crossing, and had to wear the wet shoes all the way back. Ironically he said that was "so much fun". Oh well, I never know the logic of a kid. It's full of imagination and surprises!
In my second evening to hunt a sunset photo spot in Sedona, both our little ones fell asleep in the car. Can you believe the whole ride was only 10 minutes? In situations like this, I was always the one who lucked out - hubby stayed with the boys in the car and I got to take pictures.
I was planning to photograph the iconic Cathedral Rock (not in the photo but behind me) with its reflection in water. But I missed the golden hours, and the river bed seemed to have dried out with only this tiny pond left. When one door closes, another window opens. Just as a few other photographers disappointedly left the spot, the sky fired up. What a luxury to have the whole place to myself to enjoy such a view!!! (See my Default Camera Setting For Landscape Photography)
It's by no means iconic, but by all means special, to me!
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