Black in Sedona
did y’all know that Sedona was this pretty?
this is it. This is the entire post.
have you ever pulled up to a city and been completely shocked by how amazing it is? Well, Sedona is that place for me. Prior to this trip, I never heard of or knew of Sedona! But as soon as I arrived i immediately understood why so many people move there and never come back. From the natural beauty to the relaxed pace of life, Sedona is really one of America’s gems.
Unfortunately, I did not find any Black businesses or stumble upon any Black history while I was there, so I cannot tell you the intricacies of living or existing in Sedona. But, I did want give you my experience and talk about the cool things that I did while I was in Sedona for a few days! So, here we go!
a few things to check out in Sedona
go for a hike
Sedona is gorgeous. Point blank period. While you’re there, you should definitely take advantage of seeing it’s beauty up close on a free hike! Plus, most of Sedona is considered to be a spiritual vortex, so hiking to some locations is said to have healing properties. Consider connecting with nature and doing outdoor meditation or yoga while your out there!
Some great hikes to check out are
Cathedral Rock
Devil’s Bridge Trail
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Slide Rock State Park
Devil’s Bridge Trail was my fave!
Visit Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Nestled in the middle of Sedona is the rustic Tlaquepaque Arts Center! Here you can find local artisans, clothing stores, and restaurants that give you a different side of Sedona!
Tlaquepaque was developed in the 1970s and modeled look and feel like a smaller Mexican village. I can’t speak to the authenticity of this, because I haven’t visited Mexico that much, but the town did feel cute. On some nights, if you’re lucky, you can catch a free outdoor music show that definitely makes you forget that you’re in Sedona.
Take a Day Trip to the Grand Canyon!
Sedona is two hours north of Phoenix and two hours south of the Grand Canyon! So, if you have time, you can definitely squeeze in a roadtrip to one of America’s most popular national parks.
I personally preferred Sedona over the Grand Canyon because I thought the views were prettier in Sedona. It almost felt like Sedona is the kind of experience you would get if you could live in the Grand Canyon because Sedona is packed with gorgeous rock formations as backdrops to the city. And, all of these views are free! I didn’t have time to do any major hikes at the Grand Canyon, so perhaps my opinion would be different if I had.
Pro Tip: Pack. Warm. Clothes. The weather in the Grand Canyon is not the same as the weather in Sedona, so make sure you check the weather before you go, otherwise you’ll have to buy clothes at the Park’s General Store.
catch the sunset at Sedona Airport
The Sedona Airport is one of the best vantage points to catch the sunset! Once there, you are elevated above the city, so you can see the sun set over the town below.
But, make sure you get there early to get a good spot! And, bring cash with you because parking is $3!
Drive the Scenic Byways
If hiking is not for you, then consider driving through Sedona! There are plenty of pull off points along Sedona’s major highway that allow you to stop and take pictures of what you see!
I recommend SR 179 because the views are pretty unmatched!
If hiking is not for you, then I recommend driving through Sedona’s scenic byways, specifically SR 179. There are plenty of places where you can pull off to get closer look at the scenery and connect with nature!
my Black ass Experience
During this trip, I saw less than 10 Black people, and didn’t really have a chance to talk to any of the locals to get a pulse of the city, because #COVID.
But, I did find some Black haircare products at their CVS, which was my only hope for miles! And, tbh, it wasn’t too bad. They had enough products from a variety of major labels to keep my hair moisturized throughout my roadtrip! All in all, I was pleased.