Sedona - a Peaceful Respite
to Visit or Call Home

It’s no wonder that Sedona topped the list of USA Today’s “Ten Most Beautiful Places in America." Sedona offers a mild, high desert climate and sits at an elevation of 4,500 feet. Majestic scenery is bathed with green vegetation and highlighted by the neuro-stimulating red-orange color of the surrounding rock. Rugged cliffs and needlelike pinnacles rise from the canyons.

Some of the red-rock monoliths are aptly named Coffeepot, Cathedral, Bell, and Snoopy because of their shape. Mogollon Rim towers above Sedona and marks the mouth of the stunningly beautiful Oak Creek Canyon. Oak Creek Canyon is one of the most scenic drives in the United States. Sedona borders the 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest.

The Sedona area has an international reputation as a spiritual Mecca. Many people believe that the area has a high concentration of vortexes which release metaphysical energy and power from inside the earth. Historically Native Americans have also considered the region to be a sacred place. There are several well-preserved Native American historic sites in the area. The remarkable Montezuma's Castle cliff dwellings date back to 1150 A.D. and rise 5-stories above the floor of the valley.

As a result of the peaceful surroundings and beautiful landscape, Sedona has become a haven for artists and writers. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the side benefit of a multitude of arts and cultural experiences, which come from having a large local community of artists and writers. Add plenty of sunshine and clean air to the formula and it’s easy to see why the Sedona area is becoming so popular.

The population of the city is currently around 11,000 and growing. City officials expect the population to swell to approximately 15,000 people over the next ten to fifteen years. The big demand for housing pushed the minimum listing price for a single family home in Sedona to $339,000 in November 2005 according to local real estate agents. The minimum list price for a condominium was $272,000 for that same period. The price of a single family home jumped nearly 13% between 2003 and 2004. Vacation cabins and cottages, priced from around $250,000, are also in high demand in Sedona. If the cost of a home or condo in Sedona is higher than your budget can afford, the nearby town of Cottonwood has more affordable housing. However, the price of real estate in the Sedona area is expected to continue an upward spiral because there is limited space for new home development since the region borders U.S. Forest Service land. The property tax rate is approximately 1% of the sales price.

Tourism feeds the Sedona economy. More than 3.5 million visitors flock to the Sedona area each year according to the National Forest Service. Leisure and hospitality services and retail trade jobs account for a large percentage of employment in the community. But the boom in the housing industry has also created a lot of jobs in the construction industry. There is also a growing demand for health care professionals in the region. Employment opportunities in Sedona and nearby towns are listed in the classified ads of the Sedona Red Rock News, which is published twice a week.

Medical facilities in the city of Sedona include an outpatient clinic with an Emergency Room, and lab and x-ray unit. The city has a wide range of physicians and dentists. Skilled paramedics and an emergency search & rescue team serve the Sedona area, along with a medical evacuation helicopter. There is a 99-bed hospital in Cottonwood, which is 20 miles west of Sedona.

The Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District is comprised of one high school and two elementary schools. There are several private elementary and high schools located in the area as well. The area is served by Coconino and Yavapai Community Colleges, which offer a variety of classes. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, situated about 30 miles north of Sedona.

Recreational activities abound in Sedona. There is something fun for everyone to do. Outdoor activities include golf, nature walks, boating, fishing, bicycling, and horseback riding. Hot air ballooning is also popular. Grand Canyon State Park is a couple of hours north of Sedona by car.

The acclaimed Sedona Golf Resort, which has received a continuous four-star-rating from Golf Digest, has a challenging par-71 layout. Players face elevated tees, raised greens and difficult approach shots. The Canyon Mesa Golf Club offers another public course in Sedona. There are also several private golf clubs in the area.

Hiking is another recreational pastime that is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. There are numerous, easy to access trails with unparalleled views, which are suitable for either the novice, or the more experienced hiker. Trails wind through canyons with lush vegetation and take the more adventurous hiker to a possible elevation change of 2,400 feet.

Shoppers will also find ample places to pass the time. There are abundant one-of-a-kind shops in Sedona. The area also has prestigious galleries and fashionable shops. The Hwy 89A strip mall in West Sedona offers residents a more traditional shopping experience. Major outlet stores such as the Gap and Tommy Hilfiger can be found in The Village of Oak Creek.

Cultural events abound in Sedona. The area has an opera company, a chamber music society, and a ballet and modern dance company. A local Shakespeare festival, a Film Festival and a signature “Jazz on the Rocks” festival are part of the cultural menu each year, along with dozens of art and sculpture shows.

In all, Sedona makes a wonderful vacation or day trip destination. But it is also a great place to call home!

Other Sedona Articles of Interest

Sedona, Arizona: A Gathering Place For Spirituality
Sedona - a Peaceful Respite to Visit or Call Home
Residency in Sedona, Arizona
Arizona's Sedona for Art and Shopping Lovers