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Phoenix to sedona az11/4/2023 Open year-round, this is one of the more popular attractions in Sedona. Built in the 1950s, this landmark is a relatively young representative for the registry of historic places. Would be the infamous Chapel of the Holy Cross. If you look up and slightly to the right you may notice an interesting, almost out of place structure nestled into the hillside. Once you’ve got your fill of these locations you’ll continue north into Sedona’s city limits. Both Bell Rock and the visitor center are worth a look but it’s a sample of the beauty and mystery Sedona has to offer. The National Forest Red Rock Visitor Center and Bell Rock are the first 2 of many stops waiting to greet you but you’re not “there”…….yet. It’s very easy to get excited as the rocks and hills around start to turn to their iconic red color. Veering north you start to make your way into the village of Oak Creek. One could easily visit both locations in one day. Once the richest copper mining town in the entire territory with a working population of over 10,000 now sits a population of less than 500. This is the historic mining town of Jerome. Headed off the freeway as you make your way into Sedona off in the distant mountain range you may notice some buildings resting hillside. With the locations of Montezuma’s Castle and Fort Verde just a few miles apart, it is very possible to experience architecture and daily life 11,000 years apart. General Crook was tasked with relocating the native tribes to new locations negotiated by the US government, better known today as reservations. Another location that adds to the vision of life in the old west, this military fort was built to protect settlers from Apache raids as well serving as the base for General Crook. On the final leg of the trip a few miles before exiting off towards Sedona you will see signs for Fort Verde State Historic Park. Visiting these locations you get a sense of what life was like in ancient times. Dating back as far as 10,000 years ago these are significant to Arizona’s native people. Other places, Tuzigoot, Montezuma’s Castle and Montezuma’s Well play a much more significant role when considering all of Arizona’s history. Who came up with these names? Many of the odd sound places were former stagecoach stops on the old stage line. Aside from just the wonders of the scenery on the way, you’ll notice off-ramps names from the Old West New River City, Black Canyon City, Bumble Bee, Crown King, Montezuma’s Castle, Montezuma’s Well, Tuzigoot, Deadhorse Ranch and so on. Traveling farther north and higher up the vegetation the landscape will diversify as the appearance of Juniper trees start to make their presence felt. With concern over these precious metals falling into opposition hands, President Lincoln declared Arizona a US territory in 1863 with the 1st territorial capital located not far from this mountain range in Prescott. They had their hands full dealing with the Civil War. The US had very little interest in this region of the unexplored southwest at the time. Had it not been for the discovery of gold, silver, and copper in this mountain range, Arizona may not have become the state we know today. One particular range, the Bradshaws, will ride along with you to the west. Arizona is the most mountainous state in the US so wherever you are, there’s sure to be a mountain range insight. Looking around you will notice the abundance of mountain ranges on all sides. Just as you peak above the Sonoran Desert at about 3,000 ft in elevation you will be greeted by tall grasslands and wide-open plains. Sedona comes in at about 4,500 ft in elevation so the scenery will be constantly changing. Phoenix and the Sonoran desert rest at about 1,000 to 1,500 ft in elevation. On your drive from Phoenix to Sedona, you will be climbing elevation the entire trip. The Saguaro cactus bloom is the state flower and only blooms for less than 24 hours so if you are lucky to see one, consider it a good omen for what lies ahead. Depending on the time of year you travel, you may be lucky enough to see one in bloom. Considered the icon of the desert this species of cactus, the largest in the world, only grows naturally in the Sonoran desert. The king of the cacti, the Saguaro (pronounced Suh-war-ro) dominates your view. Named after the Mexican state of Sonora, this desert is lush with a diverse landscape of plants, trees, and cacti. Once outside Phoenix city limits, folks get a real taste of one of the most beautiful deserts in the world, the Sonoran Desert.
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