Our Unforgettable Road Trip Through Arizona
Once in a while, you stumble upon places that unexpectedly touches your heart.. My happiest moments as a traveler always seems to come when I stumble upon something while in pursuit of something else. Our trip to Arizona turned out to be one of those places.
“As soon as I’m on the road, I see, often palpably, that I know nothing at all, which is always a great liberation.”
Horseshoebend; One of the most memorable sights on our trip.
Our first stop was Lake Powell which is the second largest man-made reservoir in the United States. We didn't really see much of Lake Powell and actually chose to spend our first night here because of it's proximity to Antelope Canyon. Unfortunately we didn't get to visit Antelope Canyon as you have to book a tour weeks in advance - which we hadn't. However, we did still enjoy Lake Powell and especially Horseshoe Bend which was a huge positive surprise!
Lake Powell was such a magical and relaxing place to unplug a little. What makes Lake Powell so memorable is the contrast between the deep clear blue waters and the surrounding landscape - stark red sandstone rocks with little or no vegetation.
Horseshoe Bend is called the intimate Grand Canyon experience and to me it was just as impressive as Grand Canyon. The view is incredible and we loved walking along the rim of the canyon.
After Horseshoe Bend we started the 2,5h drive towards Grand Canyon. We got there just in time for sunset and got to watch the red rocks turn into a thousand shades of red and orange.
I’m a little bit of a geography/geology nerd and had to do a little bit of research after visiting beautiful Grand Canyon. Did you know that Grand Canyon is the home to rocks that date back to 2 billion years ago? At the very bottom of the Canyon Schist can be found, and this is about 2 billion years old. Near the upper rim limestone which dates back to 230 million years ago can also be found. Due to the diverse amount of different rocks that can be found here, it is a very important location for geologists to do research and is therefore preserved very carefully. .
Such a magical sunset in Grand Canyon. If this place is proof of anything it’s that persistence is key; A river cuts through a rock not because of its power. But because of its persistence. Remember that when you feel like giving up
Oak Creek Canyon was just incredible and we had to stop and take in this spectacular view.
On state route 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona
Leaving Grand Canyon we needed a place to stay and decided to drive down to Sedona as we found a cute hotel there. We arrived at night and woke up to the most stunning landscape! This is, to me, one of the best ways of traveling, when you stumble upon places like this and don’t have lots of expectations.
Visiting Sedona, AZ was an unforgettable event. The unique beauty of Sedona, confronts you unexpectedly. Once you arrive, your feet start itching to get out of the car and explore this fantastic landscape.
Chapel of the holy cross is a must see when visiting Sedona. Surrounding the chapel are the Mystic Hills, filled with ancient forms, animal faces such as Eagle Rock, and sacred imagery. These energy-rich red-rock formations, which some say are a vortex, embrace the chapel in an arc from behind.
Meditating and taking in this incredible landscape by magical Cathedral rock in Sedona, AZ. Locals call Sedona, with it’s world wide reputation as a spiritual Mecca, a cathedral without walls. My days here were inspirational and soul-nourishing. The red-orange color of the rocks is said to be one of the most neuro stimulating colors - enhancing creative thinking and problem solving. I don’t know if I was in a “cathedral” but Sedona definitely provoked a sensation pretty close to mindfulness as I’ve ever experienced.
The 1 mile hike up to the gorgeous Cathedral Rock takes less than an hour and you’re rewarded with stunning views far various points on the trail. This was the only hike we got to do on our two day adventure to Sedona and it made me wanna go back and climb those red rocks.
I fell in love with Arizona over and over again on this road trip. We didn’t plan much in advance and honestly I’m happy we didn’t because each place we discovered was a pleasant surprise. I wish I had more time to discover this beautiful state.