Sometimes when you roll into a new spot things just click, you know you are going to like it there. Such was the case at Dead Horse Ranch State Park just outside of Cottonwood, AZ. Dead Horse Ranch hit many of our feel good buttons.
Within the park, we enjoyed fishing the lagoons along the Verde River.
Mountain bike trails led to outstanding views and offered thrills with banked turns and humps.
Geocaching fueled our sense of adventure.
And s’mores over an open fire are always good, especially when you can watch the sunset behind the mountains.
Just a few minutes from the park entrance, a revitalized Old Town Cottonwood has several excellent dining options, including some great eats at Hog Wild BBQ. High in the hills, the former mining town of Jerome bustles with activity. The kids survived the gigantic Which Comes First Sandwich (chicken, egg, 2 kinds of bacon, and waffles) at the Mile High Inn.
Educational opportunities abound in the Verde Valley. Tuzigoot National Monument protects an ancient pueblo village built by the Sinagua people.
The Sinagua also built cliff dwellings like those protected at Montezuma Castle National Monument.
The natural beauty of Sedona lies about 20 minutes to the north. The famed red rocks provide a stunning backdrop to the town and, for some, a metaphysical experience. Many believe that four energy vortexes surround Sedona. An energy vortex occurs where energy emanates from the ground. They say that if you are a sensitive person you can feel the energy of the vortex. We hiked/climbed two of the more famous rock formations associated with vortexing.
Cathedral rock challenged us with some rock scrambling and interesting climbs. Outstanding views were our reward.
I found an area marked with chalk and tried my best to feel the energy.
All I felt was a lack of energy from the climb and anxiety about the climb back down.
I guess I’m not a sensitive person.
No energy luck on Bell Rock either, though bringing Angel added some excitement to our hike/climb.
Though not experiencing “vortexing” in Sedona as described, observing nature’s beauty is always an uplifting experience for us. And if nature’s not your thing, sighting the world’s only blue-clad “golden arches” might make your leg tingle.
Wow! Looks like some awesome hiking!!
Great pictures! Especially the kids with Cathedral Rock in the background. We request permission to download some of them. I wonder if Angel experienced any energy in the vortex. Wish we could be there!
We thought Sedona was so pretty when we visited. Although I too did not feel the energy.