Red rock adventures, a celebrated wine trail, world-class wellness, a thriving arts scene, and some of the darkest skies in America. Here is the complete guide to the Sedona lifestyle.
Sedona draws several million visitors a year to its towering red rock formations, but for residents, it's the depth of the lifestyle that matters — the hiking out the back door, the celebrated wine country just down the hill, the wellness and arts culture, and some of the darkest, most star-filled skies in America.
This is a living guide to the experiences that define Sedona, from the iconic vortex sites and Jeep tours to the resort spas, galleries, and day trips that make this one of the most distinctive places to live in the Southwest. Whether you're considering a second home in Uptown, a red rock retreat, or a short-term rental investment, this is the lifestyle you're buying into.
These are the experiences first-time visitors come for — and the ones residents never tire of.
The most famous name in Sedona off-roading. The Broken Arrow tour is legendary, climbing slickrock and threading canyons that ordinary vehicles can't reach. The benchmark red rock adventure.
Guided Jeep and hiking tours to Sedona's famed energy vortexes — Airport Mesa, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon — blending geology, history, and the area's renowned spiritual draw.
A modernist chapel built directly into the red rock buttes, and one of Sedona's most photographed and beloved landmarks. Free to visit, breathtaking at any hour.
State Route 179 — an All-American Road winding past Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte with pullouts and trailheads. The classic introduction to the landscape.
Dawn flights drifting over the red rocks — an unforgettable, only-in-Sedona experience and a perennial bucket-list favorite.
A natural sandstone water slide in Oak Creek Canyon, perfect on a hot day — family fun in a spectacular setting just north of town.
Sedona is a world-renowned wellness destination, with a tradition of holistic healing matched by few places in the country.
One of the most acclaimed destination spas in the world, set in Boynton Canyon. A transformative wellness retreat that consistently ranks among the best in America.
Airport Mesa, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon are believed to be sites of concentrated energy — centers for meditation, yoga, and reflection that define Sedona's spiritual identity.
World-class spas at L'Auberge de Sedona, Enchantment, and the Hilton at Bell Rock bring red rock serenity to every treatment.
For its size, Sedona punches far above its weight as an arts destination.
A beautiful, Mexican-village-style arts community of galleries, boutiques, and restaurants beneath sycamore trees along Oak Creek — the cultural heart of Sedona.
Sedona ranks among the top small-town art destinations in America, with dozens of galleries showcasing painting, sculpture, and Native American art.
Sedona is an International Dark Sky Community — guided stargazing tours and simply stepping outside reveal skies most Americans never see.
Sedona's location puts some of the Southwest's greatest wonders within easy reach.
Arizona's premier wine country — tasting rooms in Old Town Cottonwood, vineyards in Page Springs and Cornville, and the mountainside town of Jerome. See our full wine trail guide.
One of the seven natural wonders of the world, an easy day trip north through Flagstaff.
A historic mountainside mining town turned arts-and-wine destination, clinging to Cleopatra Hill with sweeping valley views.
Mountain town at 7,000 feet — cooler temperatures, pine forests, skiing in winter, and historic Route 66 charm.
A scenic heritage railroad through a wilderness canyon accessible only by rail — including evening "starlight" rides.
A lush, winding canyon drive between Sedona and Flagstaff — one of the most scenic stretches of road in Arizona.
Dreaming of life in Sedona?
Top experiences include hiking iconic trails like Cathedral Rock and Devil's Bridge, off-road Jeep tours, visiting the energy vortex sites and the Chapel of the Holy Cross, exploring Tlaquepaque arts village, and touring the nearby Verde Valley Wine Trail.
Vortexes are sites — including Airport Mesa, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon — believed to be centers of concentrated energy. They are popular for meditation, yoga, and reflection, and are central to Sedona's wellness identity.
Yes — the Verde Valley, about 25 minutes from Sedona, is Arizona's premier wine region, with tasting rooms in Cottonwood and vineyards in Page Springs and Cornville.
Sedona is an International Dark Sky Community, offering exceptional stargazing. Guided astronomy tours are popular, and the night skies are among the clearest in the country.