Verde Valley recognized by Lonely Planet

uestion: We are new to Arizona and hope to explore the state next year rather than spend a lot of money on airline tickets. Can you suggest some must-see spots? nswer: Why not start with the Verde Valley in central Arizona?

No less an authority than the venerable Lonely Planet travel guide this month named the region, which encompasses Sedona, Cottonwood, Jerome, Cornville and other towns, one of the top 10 U.S. destinations for 2013.

The travel guide, whose lonelyplanet.com website features stories on such exotic destinations as Vietnam and Paris, put the Verde Valley in good, if eclectic, company.

The other destinations on the list are Philadelphia; Minneapolis/St. Paul; the San Juan Islands in Washington; American Samoa; Louisville, Ky.; Fairbanks, Alaska; Glacier National Park, Montana; northern Maine; and the Eastern Sierra in California.

In announcing the list, editor Robert Reid wrote on the website that the Verde Valley is taking off as “Arizona’s go-to destination, and not just among the spa and crystal Sedona fans of years past.”

The guidebook publisher praises the region’s beauty, but it’s clear the Verde Valley is on the list for another reason: its burgeoning wine industry. Reid mentions the Verde Valley Wine Trail — vvwinetrail.com — which features four wineries and six tasting rooms.

“Most fun is reaching the Alcantara Vineyards by kayak,” Reid wrote. “Less fun is being the designated kayaker.”

For lodging, Lonely Planet singles out the Cozy Cactus bed-and-breakfast — cozycactus .com — in Sedona, noting that it has easy access to hiking trails.

Readers, do you think Lonely Planet made the right call by including the Verde Valley on the list? Do you worry about big crowds as a result of the publicity?

We would love to hear about your favorite wineries, accommodations and activities in the Verde Valley. Send your ideas to the e-mail address below.