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Red Rock Balloon Adventures
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SEDONA:
A Recreational Wonderland!
Imagine floating through the air in a hot
air balloon, drifting at the whim of the early-morning breezes.
There’s not a sound to be heard, only the vast expanse
of the desert beneath. At
four to five miles per hour, it’s slow enough to get a good
look at the landscape with its javelina, jackrabbits, bobcats,
antelope, mule deer and other wildlife.
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Then there’s hitting the rubber
on single-track trails, mountain biking at brake-neck speed through
rolling terrain, arroyos, winding creeks and massive rock formations.
Or coasting along in a jeep, a Hummer or an ATV—or perhaps on
horseback or foot, taking a deep breath of pleasure as you admire
Sedona’s crimson cliffs and towering buttes.
At whatever speed, Sedona is an
outdoor wonderland for nature lovers. With its mild, four-season
climate, bright clear skies (and starlit nights), more than 100 trails
for hiking and biking; world-class golf and tennis; land tours; and
aerial adventures in planes, helicopters and balloons, it’s easy to
see why nature enthusiasts return to Sedona again and again.
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By: Sunfellow
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For those who enjoy a
little competitive camaraderie, Sedona hosts the Sedona Marathon
and the Sedona Century Bicycle Tour. On the second Saturday in
February, runners converge in Sedona to participate in the
Sedona Marathon. The course (along Dry Creek Road, Boynton
Canyon, Red Canyon and Sycamore Pass) is both beautiful and
challenging. |
“With all the
hills, rocks and sand this was the toughest of 17 marathons I’ve
run,” said Randi Simon, who was the first woman to finish the
marathon’s inaugural race in 2006. . The Sedona Marathon features a
full marathon (26.2 miles), half-marathon and 5K race.
It is USATF certified so racers can be
confident their finishing times can be officially accepted for other
events.
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Bike & Bean
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The Sedona Century Bicycle
Tour, held each May, offers cyclists an unforgettable ride on
beautiful terrain: past river crossings, red rocks, national
monuments and prehistoric Indian ruins and along historic
districts. This
charity ride for the Old Town Mission, a Christian ministry for
the working poor, offers participants a choice of three
circuits: a Metric
Century (62 miles), a 47-mile stretch and a 33-mile “fun”
ride. According to
Steve McClain, owner of Absolute Bikes, “Sedona Century stands
out as a great event for people who like to get out on the
road.”
For
those who prefer a more leisurely experience
of Sedona’s great outdoors there is: |
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Trout fishing in Oak
Creek Canyon
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Bird watching at Red
Rock State Park, in Oak Creek Canyon or creekside at Mia’s
Place at Los Abrigados Resort
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Camping in Oak
Creek Canyon or at area RV sites
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Backpacking into the
surrounding wilderness areas
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Visiting Sedona’s
vortex sites
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Walking labyrinths at
Los Abrigados Resort and at the Lodge at Sedona bed and
breakfast
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Picnicking along the
creek or in one of two Sedona city parks (Posse Ground and
Sunset Park)
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Sightseeing
on one of several guided tours—from a trolley
or jeep
ride to a customized tour with a personal guide.
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Exploring Indian ruins
and petroglyphs at Palatki,
Honanki
and the V
Bar V Ranch and.....
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......Sunbathing and
swimming at Slide
Rock State Park, Grasshopper Point, Red Rock Crossing,
Beaver Creek or at the City of Sedona community pool
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“Those
who take the time to explore will connect with Sedona’s Red Rock
Country at deeper levels,” notes Kathleen Bryant in Sedona:
Treasure of the Southwest. “Heart-stealing vistas wait at nearly
every turn in the road or trail. But
intimate moments—hearing a hawk’s cry echo from canyon walls or
feeling a link to the people who took shelter in sandstone alcoves
centuries ago—come with patience and an open heart.”
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