Is Sedona really all that?

These days, it is difficult to find a person who is not familiar with Sedona, Arizona. This is for good reason, as Sedona is stunning. The red rock, seemingly endless formations, and cutesy stores.

I have to admit, it is stunning at sunset.

But when you get down to it... is it really worth the trip?

If you know where to look, it is not *that* hard to find beautiful red rock formations. The town once known as a mecca for desert travel is now feeling a little played out.

I went to Sedona a few months ago, and am ready to give my honest opinion. Remember, I live in southern Utah and spend a lot of time in our beautiful red desert, so that definitely will reflect in my opinions on this location. However, I am considering many factors and saying what I genuinely enjoyed about this area.

To me, Sedona felt like Disneyland. It's fun to go once, but it feels a little too manufactured.

When you first roll into town, it feels overwhelming almost. There is so much to see, and no one would ever deny the beauty that exists there. But, as you get closer to finding activities to do, most things are either crowded, expensive, or a hearty mix of both.

Hear me out here. As a lover of the outdoors, I decided to hike Sedona's big hit, Devil's Bridge. I know that this was maybe not the best idea on my part, but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Mid-hike

The trail was crowded, even in dangerous areas. There was a constant stream of people the whole way, and then the absolute kicker was having an hour + long line at the top to take a photo. We decided to opt for a photo off to the side, and by the time we left, another line had gathered where we took a quick photo.

Once you get back into town, there is a variety of cute stores to explore.

For example, I *loved* Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. There is still the touristy draw to it, but it is less obvious. In particular, I would recommend The Chai Spot. It is light, a fun atmosphere, and the teas + treats are delicious. Another redeeming factor for Sedona is The Chapel of the Holy Cross. I truly enjoyed the breathtaking art that seemed to appear directly out of the rocks that surround it.

Details from the Chai Spot

There are several viewpoints where one can watch the sunset, and we tried to find some while we were there. The fun part of that situation is that everywhere charges you for parking. Like $10 for 15 minutes of parking type of style. Which I personally am not the biggest fan of.

Lastly, there are the pink Jeeps.

The whole town is crawling them, with the roughly $70 per person tours (depending on the package one selects) covering every inch of their desert. I have heard that they are fun, but sheesh! Driving through town feels like you are the only vehicle that is not a hot pink Jeep. I know this is a small detail to get caught up on, but it felt extremely pertinent while driving through.

Overall, Sedona is beautiful. No one is debating that. But, if you take into account the tourists, manufactured fun, and price tag on everything.... I will take Utah red rocks over that any day.

I would recommend Moab, Lake Powell, Snow Canyon State Park, Zion National Park, Capitol Reef National Park.... okay a lot of places over Sedona. Keep an eye out to make sure you hit them during the slow season, but in my opinion these areas provide a much more authentic experience.

Remember- have fun, be safe, do the right thing, and have fun out there!

Xoxo- Hat