Sedona ranks as don’t-miss destination

Question: AWe plan to visit Arizona for the first time this summer and want to create a weeklong itinerary that includes a couple of do-nothing days at a resort. The Grand Canyon is at the top of our list. Is Sedona also a must-see? nswer: Sedona is a marquee destination. Its stunning red rocks, abundant outdoor recreation and reputation as a place for spiritual awakening draw visitors from around the world.

Travel guides love to pour on the accolades for Sedona. The latest buzz comes from Fodor’s, which just published its list of the 10 Best Small Towns in America, places it says should “inspire travelers of all walks to fill up the gas tank and hit the road.”

Sedona made the list, sitting alongside Brattleboro, Vt.; Provincetown, Mass.; Bozeman, Mont.; and Healdsburg, Calif.

The blog at Fodors.com calls Sedona a spa and wellness haven.

“The striking vistas and natural splendors that once inspired artists like Max Ernst and countless Western filmmakers are today attracting a mix of New Age healers, spa therapists, artisans and wellness-seekers to this mellow desert town of just over 10,000 residents,” the guide said.

It singles out two restaurants: foodie favorite Elote Cafe (expect a wait) and upscale Italian eatery Dahl & Di Luca.

For hotels, Enchantment Resort and its Mii Amo spa, L’Auberge de Sedona and Sky Ranch Lodge get mentions. Sky Ranch Lodge is the most affordable of the three and offers panoramic views from its location atop Airport Road.

If you go to Sedona, don’t ask around for directions to what Fodor’s calls “the Vortex,” which it describes as a rock outcrop said to be a powerful source of ancient energy. Sedona is filled with sites said to be vortices. Two popular ones are Cathedral Rock and Airport Mesa. Visit on your own (there are guidebooks galore) and see if you feel the energy, or sign up for a vortex tour.