"Travelin' Light, Is The Only Way To Fly"

A Church in the mountains was quite a surprise...

While visiting my Parents' in Sun City, AZ we had asked them about some potential day hikes that would be enjoyable, and not completely wear us out.

They recommended Sedona for as a day trip which met that requirement; and boy did it ever check it off.

The views from the car on the drive alone could have quenched our thirst for the outdoors.  Mountainous walls covering each side of the highway, painted in a bright-adobe color, guided us along the road.  As we rolled into Sedona we were delighted to see an array of general stores which felt like the old west (or at least like we were on the set of Back to Future Pt III)

We could only do so much "appreciating" though, so decided it was time to actually start making our blood circulate.  Our primary stop for the hike was between Sedona and Flagstaff at Coconino National Forest.  Coconino is great, specifically if you only have a day to visit the area, because it offers a cornucopia of landscapes; desert, mesa, flatlands, pines & peaks.  We hit stride in our hike at a rare time when the sun and dark clouds were battling for control of the skies.  We ended with a strong, illuminated-grey that are cameras simply could not do justice.

Our surprise we encountered was the Chapel of the Holy Cross.  No one informed us we'd see a church built high-up into the mountains.  The Chapel was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude.  The Church sits along two giant boulders that seem to be hugging it into a higher setting.  Definitely a must-see before your trip ends!  Until next time...I'm comin' home, baby.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Sedona (general stores)
• Chapel of the Holy Cross
• Coconino National Forest
• Cathedral Rock

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Bring plenty of water
• Equally be prepared with rain gear
• Weather is temperamental; have proper attire for 100º or 50º on the same day
• Sunscreen - lots of it
• Extra Socks are your best friend