THIS ARTICLE APPEARS IN THE RED ROCK NEWS

May 19, 2023

 

Sedona has so much to offer, that sometimes we forget all the amazing things we have right at our fingertips.

Often, I hear, “I’ve lived here for years, and I’ve never been to that restaurant, shopped at that boutique or attended a concert at Posse Grounds.”

I would like to challenge you to do something different, explore a new trail, shop at a different store, visit one of our amazing art galleries and attend a movie, concert, or cultural event that you have never experienced before. Our team at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau has been working diligently on our Secret 7 initiative finding hidden gems to be discovered.

If you are not familiar with our Secret 7 program, I would encourage you to check it out on our website, sedonasecret7.com. It includes categories such as hiking, biking, stargazing, picnics, vistas and two new categories, Arts & Culture and Ancient Trails. We have been working with the U.S. Forest Service which has selected all the trail locations to help disperse usage and protect our environment.

Our new Arts & Culture section includes Capricorn Hill, the historic home of renowned surrealists Max Ernst and Dorothea Tanning who lived in Sedona from 1943 to 1957. Behind the Sedona Arts Center is a 12-foot mural of Sedona’s Rabbit Ears, created by a master artist and two students last summer. Gallery 928 is a Sedona Arts Center summer internship program for high school students in the Verde Valley. SAC is currently accepting applications from those students who are interested in participating in this summer’s program. The Jack Jamesen Memorial Park is always a great stopping point to view many of Sedona’s recognized sculptors and their work. The park is also home to the Sedona Military Service Park and honors all five branches of the military. Watch for an announcement of their Memorial Day service honoring our veterans. If you are looking for authentic Native American Art and Artifacts, the Kachina House is a hidden gem. If you love history, check out the Sedona Heritage Museum. There you will learn about Sedona’s history dating back to 1876. They even have a multitude of events and speakers that the whole family may enjoy. Sedona’s Public Library is a place for the community to gather. Grab a book, attend an educational workshop, watch a movie, and check out the used bookstore next door. It is Sedona’s best-kept secret. And finally, if you have not attended that concert at Posse Grounds, each Friday evening through the month of May, bring a blanket and a few chairs and enjoy a concert by some of the very talented musicians we are honored to have here in Sedona.

We would also like to suggest taking the Ancient Trails self-guided tour. It starts at the Verde Valley Archaeological Center and Museum in Camp Verde and from there points you in the direction of many Heritage Sites of the Indigenous Peoples. Visit Montezuma Castle National Monument, Montezuma Well Heritage Site, The Crane Petroglyph and Historic V Bar V Ranch, Honanki Heritage Site, Palatki Heritage Site and Tuzigoot National Monument. Not only will you learn about the history, but you will see ancient dwellings, a hilltop pueblo and petroglyphs dating back thousands of years.

So, take the challenge and explore some of Sedona’s hidden gems. It will give you one more reason to love where you live — in Sedona.

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–Michelle Conway, President/CEO
Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

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