The Arizona Zone

I am a searcher too – looking for a spiritual experience. New-ager friends had visited Sedona, Arizona's Lindisfarne, some years ago. And the Navajo whose spiritual homeland is Monument Valley have a rich and powerful culture/religion and a respect for the land that is centuries old and perfectly in tune with today's eco-movement. Native American culture with its animal symbolism is rewardingly complex. There’s a tragic element too – the mistreatment of the Native Americans can be witnessed to this day. It's something you can't appreciate until you see it yourself.

At one point during my travels I find myself stopping at a dirt-poor trinket stand cobbled together with scrap wood. Here Navajo folk sell cheap beaded bangles. An enormous mobile home the size of a removal truck pulls in and out steps Rich America. A tiny pedigree hound scampers up to the stall holder's Chihuahua. The two dogs bark at each other. The hound’s mistress declares that her tiny Valentine doesn't like other dogs… or people. It is a tiny moment that seems to capture something of the inequality that exists in the US.

The best time to travel to avoid the desert heat is spring or from early September on. I fly direct from Heathrow to Phoenix, Arizona, a huge city of four million. The following day in a rented Ford Escape I travel 175km south to Tucson a city surrounded by suburban sprawl. The old vaudeville theatre, the Rialto, has been converted into an indie venue and the neighbouring Congress hotel (former star guest John Dillinger) hosts feisty club nights. A fine modern art gallery is one of the few downtown must-sees.

Two memorable daytrips take me to Tombstone, the legendary cowboy town, and Sabino Canyon. The state of Arizona is thousands of kilometres from the sea so any hint of water is a thrill. Run-off from the tablelands comes from melting snow and creates waterfalls, swimming holes and even a beach area. An electric bus takes you so far and there is plenty of scope for off-road hiking (if signs warning of the sighting of a wild cougar don't put you off – if you see him don't make eye contact and don't run as it "will trigger the chase instinct" says helpful signage).

After a picnic lunch amid the boulders and cacti I go back to town stopping at a Tucson institution. Bookman's is a warehouse-sized emporium devoted to second-hand CDs, books and magazines. By contrast, the next day at Tombstone I see a re-enactment of the shootout at the OK Corral. The town’s a hoot – Main Street, saloons with swing doors, locals dressed as gunfighters, stagecoach rides and a tour of Boot Hill cemetery. It’s not tacky; it's part of American history. It's also close to the US/Mexican border so take your passport with you in case twitchy officials ask. My next stop is Sedona: the New Age Lourdes. In the mid-1980s this became a place of pilgrimage and the surrounding rock formations in astonishing shades of red and orange are extraordinary. Spas in the woods offer any number of therapies for the weary traveller but Sedona town, for me, is like a trip round a crowded shopping mall without the benefit of air con. Yes you can have your chakras aligned, a hot stone massage or a psychic reading but sadly this place is a real tourist trap. Republican Party reptile John McCain has a cabin in Sedona, which really says it all.

Sedona Az Vacation | SEDONA VACATION HOMES

I have been to Sedona before and it has to be the most beautiful, peaceful place I have ever been to in my life. Though, I went at the end of summer and would like to go again soon!… so questions being..

I agree with you that Sedona is a beautiful and peaceful place. I’ve been to Sedona in the winter, both times in January. I had a variety of weather on my trip. Most of the time it was cool and sunny. However, it did snow when I first arrived in Sedona the last time I was there. I’m from Chicagoland, so the snow didn’t bother me. The snow melts very fast in Sedona, and it warms up quickly. I like winter the best because I hate hot weather. I’ve heard from other people who visited Sedona that fall is also very nice because they have lovely fall colors. So, I say go in winter or fall.

When I vacationed in Sedona, I stayed at The Quality Inn, which is within walking distance of Talaqupaque Shopping Mall. The hotel was clean, everything worked fine, and the price was good. If you don’t care about the price, there are some hotels that have great views of the red rocks. El Portal Sedona is a luxury suite hotel with great views of Sedona. Adobe Grand Villas is a Bed and Breakfast Hotel with some excellent views. Adobe Village Graham Inn is another luxurious Bed and Breakfast with breathtaking views. There’s also the Hilton Resort Hotel and Spa that has many rooms with scenic views.

Fodor's 2009 Arizona & the Grand Canyon

Mountain Bike America: Arizona

Controlling Pilot Error: Weather

Technocracy

Radar and satellite weather interpretation for pilots