Space, solitude, spiritualism and sandstone. Welcome to the wonders of Sedona, an Arizonan rockery blessed by nature.
An easy drive southeast of Las Vegas, the final approach into Sedona is a scenic medley of narrow canyons, verdant countryside, tumbling valleys and a babbling brook to boot. Enter Sedona and switchoff from the world.
Previously the location for a slew of Hollywood Westerns, New Age types now swoon over Sedona, which is a mecca for shamans, crystal healers and all manner of mystics.
If that's not how you roll, don't let that put you off, because the landscape of chimney-like rock stacks and pancake-flat mesas are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Sedona's geological wealth is derived from a combination of limestone, sandstone and mudstone. The area is liberally crowned with Dr Seuss-like natural monoliths, many of which bear names that resemble their shape. Top of your tick-list should be Cathedral Rock, Coffee Pot and Bell.
For more outdoorsy fun, head to Slide Rock State Park, home to natural waterslides that will get your heart pumping and vista-rich hiking trails. Hire a bike and take advantage of the area's stunning mountainbike trails for a bit more kick.
Shoppers? Set aside time for the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, an authentic Mexican-style handicraft experience inspired by the markets of Guadalajara.
If time is of the essence, the perfect way to distil the best of Sedona is to stay at Enchantment Resort, where activities include guided nature walks, pottery and art classes, wine tasting, spirituality lectures, narrated star-gazing and Native American guest performances. The resort's award-winning restaurant, Yavapai, specialises in fresh, seasonal Arizonan cuisine, while the Mii amo spa features Native American treatments, whirlpools and eucalyptus steam rooms.
This Southwest-style resort, made of low-slung adobe casitas, blends in beautifully with the signature red-rock cliffs of Boynton Canyon. Enchantment's 218 rooms and suites were given a major refresh last year. After a cosy night's sleep under crisp linens, I awoke to the wrap-around splendour of green cottonwood trees, canyon walls and Thunder Mountain. Interiors are inspired by the terrain and are furnished with accents of local Native American culture including traditional rugs and a cracking kiva fireplace, which is just the ticket in desert country when the sun goes down.
Wherever you are in Sedona, watching the sunlight dance across the rock formations and the changing colour chart slide show - spanning pink to rustic brown - is truly enchanting.
