Sedona, Arizona
November, 2008
Almost in Sedona, arriving from the north via Hwy 89A
Sedona is located in the high desert at an elevation of about 4500 ft. Just over 50% of its land area is privately owned; the rest belongs to Coconino National Forest. The first Anglo settler arrived here in 1876, but there was no population explosion over the next 75 years or more.
In the mid-1950s, Sedona's first telephone directory had only 155 names. Over the next several decades, however, Sedona saw an influx of artists as well as followers of the "New Age" movement, and it was becoming a popular destination for tourists. By 1987, there were 9,000 residents, and in 1988 the city was incorporated. Currently Sedona has a year-round population of more than 10,000, and hosts four million visitors per year -- and has many, many shops and galleries to accommodate and tempt all those visitors!
Upon entering Sedona from the north, this is the first of the shopping/eating areas,
with a view of the scenery to the west.
Notice that the street lights and traffic lights have a matte finish and are painted in colors that match the rocks! Sedona is color-coordinated to harmonize and blend in with its natural surroundings. Even McDonald's famous "golden arches" aren't golden in Sedona; they're the color of the sky.
On the opposite side of the road are more shops, and a restaurant that serves pizza
along with this view from an outdoor deck of the scenery to the east.
Did I mention Sedona has free trolleys that go from one end of town to the other, and from one shopping area to the next, to the next, to the next until there are no more... and then they turn around and make stops at the shopping areas on the other side of the road, too?
Unfortunately for Sedona, shopping is far down on my list of favorite things to do. One of the shopping areas had been recommended as a place to see, however, so a trolley ride to get there seemed appropriate.