Several years ago, Bill and I visited Sedona, Arizona. We were in Phoenix for a real estate conference and drove to Sedona for a few hours before our evening flight home. We loved it and vowed that someday we would return for a much longer stay. Well, this year, we returned for a week-long stay and had a great time.
Pickleball, of course
While Bill drives, I search Places2Play and other apps to find Open Play near where we stay. I discovered the Village of Oak Creek Pickleball (VOCA), where they had 6 dedicated courts and Open Play every morning from 7 am to 11 am. We played 4 times and met a wonderful group of people. By our second visit, we felt like regulars, and our games were both fun and highly competitive. It’s what I love about pickleball. You can play hard and do your best to win but still have a few laughs and make new friends. Thank you to Eve, Fred, Karen, Yvonne, and everyone else at VOCA Pickleball, Sedona’s #1 Fun Pickleball Group.
The Grand Canyon
We are not avid hikers, but we wanted to see the Grand Canyon. Bill booked the Grand Canyon Railway roundtrip in an observation dome car from Williams, Arizona. During the ride, we learned the history as we were entertained and enjoyed drinks and snacks. We spent three hours at the Southern Rim, hiking, touring the museum, and having lunch, but we did not do the hike down into the canyon. I looked at the narrow trail and decided to walk the Rim and enjoy the views.
Walnut Canyon
It’s not as well known as the Grand Canyon, but we both found Walnut Canyon fascinating. Located outside Flagstaff, Walnut Canyon provided a glimpse into the years when scattered families farmed the canyon rims for centuries, growing small gardens of corn, squash, and beans. During the 1100s, many moved into limestone alcoves below the canyon rim, where they constructed the cliff dwellings we see today. The Walnut Canyon community thrived for another 150 years before the people moved on. We could hike down the canyon and see some of the cliff dwellings that have survived.
Flagstaff, Arizona
While in Flagstaff, we visited the Museum of North Arizona, which we thoroughly enjoyed. It was the perfect complement to our hike at Walnut Canyon. In addition to the fascinating history of the native tribes, there was a special exhibit called Selling the Southwest featuring incredible paintings, artifacts, and sculptures commissioned to promote travel to the Southwest.
As we headed to our next adventure, our Suburban began to ride roughly, and we knew we had a problem. I immediately googled “Chevrolet dealer near us. Luckily, Flagstaff Chevrolet was only a few miles away and was still open. Since it was 3:30, we were worried they wouldn’t be able to accommodate us and fix the problem that day. When we pulled in, Bill went to talk to the Service Manager, and he said, “No problem, pull your car in.”
They diagnosed the problem – a bad fuel injector. It would take a few hours, but they said they would finish it while we had dinner. They recommended a fantastic Italian restaurant, Oregano’s, a short walk from the dealership! We shared one of the best pizzas we’ve had in a long time, and that’s saying a lot! This was the best experience at any car dealership to date. I can’t say enough about Flagstaff Chevrolet; they understand customer service. Thank you.
Rancho Sedona RV Park
Rancho Sedona RV Park was another winner. It is a fun, beautifully maintained, family-owned park that we loved. Many campers were regulars, with many families and repeat visitors. Rancho Sedona is fully shaded by grand Sycamore and Cottonwood trees and is in the heart of town, next to beautiful Oak Creek.
Dining in Sedona
We had several wonderful meals in Sedona. Szechuan was an excellent Chinese restaurant. The Hudson had great views and a wonderful Ahi Poke Tower; Hideaway House was a casual Italian restaurant where I had the best green mussels in a white wine sauce with homemade fettuccini.
Next Stop Big Bear Lake, California, for the 4th of July!