Sedona is famous for many things but the red rocks that surround the city are the most obvious.
When you drive into town, unless you've been there numerous times, you will be forced to pull over on the side of the road and start taking photos. They are magnetic.
If you are lucky enough to be with someone who lives here, they can educate you on the names of some of these iconic formations. The formation above is "Coffee Pot". Below, "Shark Tooth" and "Steamboat". Although many have the honor of being named, there are plenty of these beautiful formations that are waiting to be named. The tricky part is that these rocks look different from various places in town so it takes a while to learn their names.
The challenge with living in a beautiful place is that much of the world wants to come to visit. Those of us living in Idyllwild know about that situation. We are proud of our town and love our mountains and we don't mind sharing but when we can't find a parking spot for our own hiking trails or visitors trash the trails or worse, start illegal campfires, we aren't so welcoming. Sedona's situation is magnified.
So how do you cope with the influx of people when you want to get out and enjoy nature? For me, I try to find less-known places to get out. They may not be magnificent like the popular spots, but they are peaceful and rewarding in a different way. During my visit, I was introduced to two special places that have water which is inviting to...birds. Yeah! Dead Horse Ranch State Park and Bubbling Springs are two birding hotspots that are not heavily visited by humans but they have lots of birds.
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
This masked warbler found the ponds with surrounding vegetation perfect for him.
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
Idyllwild is home to this neotropical migrant in the summer just like Sedona.
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
However, it would be rare for us to see its cousin in our mountains.
I'm hoping to get these lizards identified by someone more knowledgeable than me! Idyllwild and Sedona both share being lizard country. Our backyard in Idyllwild is a haven for four species of lizards. If you haven't spent much time watching lizards, it's really a fun thing to do. They have a lot of personality. Just like with birding, binoculars help you see their details and their behavior.
I'm usually looking for nature spots to explore but visiting museums can be extremely enlightening about a place.
We found this copper art museum in nearby Clarkdale which is a previous copper mining town.
This museum covers lots of information including historical facts like the ones listed above.
There are numerous rooms filled with beautiful pieces. Imagine scuba diving with a copper helmet? Did you know that wine is made with copper?
One of the biggest surprises to me was a room filled with "Trench Artwork". I was surprised at my ignorance about the fact that during WW1, soldiers created artwork while stationed abroad. These beautiful pieces were created from artillery canister shells abandoned on battlefields. This museum has so much to offer. I highly recommend taking a side trip to Clarkdale if you find yourself in Sedona. While you are there, go to Violette's Caboose for lunch. You won't be disappointed!
Happy Memorial Day!
Photos and content by Robin Roberts.
Click on photos to enlarge.
