We leave the Canyon and head for Sedona, Arizona. I've wanted to visit this area all my adult life and beauty of it didn't disappoint. The mar in the beauty is that the dryness of the area sets up a great danger for fire. Entering the area we kept passing signs saying that the level of fire threat right now is Very High along with signs telling you what to do if you hear the Sedona fire sirens. Doesn't exactly encourage a sense of security.
The reality of this fire threat was very evident as you look at the horizon (picture above) The forest fire in the Flagstaff along with overcoming smoke had caused families to evacuate and roads to be closed. Fire! I guess there will always be a snake in the Garden..

The beauty of Sedona is in the Red Rock mountains. The people of the area have respected the natural beauty by constructing commercial and residential buildings in a way to that blends with the environment. As you do your 360 degree scan of the area your view isn't jarred by a billboard or sign or Southern style plantation home. Everything flows. The elevation, once again is about 7000 feet- 10 times that of Nashville. It's fascinating to hear the weather report where the prediction for the next day is 7% humidity. I don't think I've every heard that in my whole, entire Southern life. The downside, dehydration happens quickly. Some of the shops and restaurants pumped out mist onto the walkways in front of their establishments. I washed my hair and walked briefly out to the car- my hair dried by the time I got back inside.- no time for styling. Fascinating.
Sedona is a great area for spas and we enjoyed a respite from travels here. The pictures show how restful and rejuvenating the area around our room was.

Breakfast at the Coffee Pot- famous for its 101 omelettes. Also on the menu - creamed ground beef over biscuits (ugh!-didn't try it, never will) and once again...grits. The Coffee Pot is on Coffee Pot Rd., in the shadow of Coffee Pot Mountain. If you were a baby in the Mr. Coffee era then you probably can't relate, but this mountain is in the shape of the kind of coffee pots the cowboys but on the campfire or my mother put on the burner of the stove.