Sedona, AZ – I sat on the cool red rock, double shot latte in hand, and waited for the heat of the sun – and the coffee for that matter – to bring some warmth into my body.  It had been months since I last allowed myself a mental hiatus from work and my ever growing to do list to just sit, space out and watch the world go by without a thought or a care in the world.  This was something I indulged in every day whilst traveling, and I missed it.  Perhaps by some divine intervention, I had also chosen the perfect meditative setting for my early morning contemplation – near the Cathedral Rock Vortex.

From previous visits, I was aware of the presence of vortexes in the area, but I’d never personally felt one.  I lingered for several long minutes in silence, trying to connect with the energy that is supposed to exude out from these unique places in nature. I’m told that letting the vibrations flow into you helps strengthen your inner being, and in the case of the positively charged Cathedral Rock Vortex, was meant to feel nurturing, calming, and tranquil.

Approximately 4 million people a year come to the sparsely populated ‘Spiritual Disneyland’ of Sedona, Arizona in search of these infamous energy centers.  Therefore, they must exist; yet once again I didn’t sense them.  So I headed off in search of my own spiritual nirvana with a strenuous and challenging climb up one of the most difficult hikes in the region – to the saddle of Cathedral Rock.  Although the climb is only three-quarters of a mile long, it rises quickly to over 650ft in elevation. At the higher altitude of 4,500 feet (1,372 metres), I noticed my breath quickening and my lungs pumping much harder than normal. This isn’t a climb for the faint hearted or those who are unfit, but for those who aren’t adverse to a little cardio, the effort is worth the pain once you reach the top.

At the summit, hikers are rewarded with 360 degree views of what Sedona is really all about – it’s elegantly formed crimson rocks, in all manners of curvaceous forms, that jut into the deep blue abyss of the sky. The stunningly beautiful artwork we see today is the amalgamation of layers of sandstone and limestone being eroded by a receding ocean over millions of years and the formation of rust from the iron oxide that eventually covered the remaining grains. From this vista you can sit for hours taking in the serenity of the red rock buttes, the steep canyon walls, and the pine forests.

Which, if I was there for the weekend, I would have done, but my brother and I had just travelled up for the day, so after a few moments of reflection, I was back down the sheer rock face to partake in my next adventure. Forget Sedona being referred to as a Spiritual Disneyland, this is a magical kingdom for grown-ups with an endless list of outdoor activities to pursue. There are over 80 trails interspersed throughout the area with intriguing sounding names like Slim Shady, Chicken Point, and Tea Cup.  Each with uniquely different perspectives, terrains and sinuous curves.  Perfect for hiking, and according to my brother who is an avid cyclist, even better for mountain biking.

The adventure list doesn’t stop there.  Hidden streams provide fast moving currents for kayakers and trout fishing pools for anglers. For our aerial enthusiasts, one can splash out on a tranquil early morning hot air balloon ride over the valley or a swooping, fast paced helicopter trip through the high-walled canyons. Washboard, near vertical outcroppings also await 4×4 off-roading junkies with dedicated Jeep trails.

For the less adventurous at heart, there are local vineyards where you can quench your thirst with some wine tastings. There is a never-ending assortment of art galleries and boutique shops in which you can while away an afternoon.  And if you are in need of some relaxation there are mediation shops and massage therapists on every corner.  This is a playground with literally something for everyone.

My passion is hiking so I took an additional jaunt up HiLine trail, where more magnificent views awaited. Then at the agreed upon time, I caught up with my brother who had spent his morning zooming along a connected network of single track trails that lead from Bike and Bean in Oak Canyon all the way to Little Horse Trailhead. Three hours of riding in total. In mutual exhaustion and delirious euphoria, we agreed it was time for lunch.  We settled on a glutinous meat eaters pizza from Famous Pizza and Beer and washed it down with some on tap craft beers. With over a dozen top end brews available, it was hard to make a choice.  My brother easily settled on the New Belgium Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Brownie American Brown Ale at 6.3%ABV.  As I wasn’t driving later, I upped the ante and went for the Stone Enjoy By 12.25.15 Double IPA at 9.4% ABV. Both were a rewarding treat after an exercised filled morning and the flaky pizza crust was the best I’d ever tasted.

Replenished, we contemplated what else to fit in during our final hours. My brother couldn’t possibly head back to Phoenix without getting in some 4×4 thrills, so he eased me into off-roading with some gentle tracks around Solider’s Pass to the Devils Sinkhole, the largest in Sedona, and the Scared Seven Pools, aptly named because a seasonal torrent river leaves seven holes of water carved out in the canyon. We ended our day trip with a death defying slide down the Waterfall, my brother’s name for the steep, rocky washboard part of the trail on Broken Arrow, which is actually called ‘The Steps’. That was the end of my adrenaline intake for the day.

So with the sun starting to set casting multi-layered, wispy brushstrokes of hot pink, sultry orange and slate grey hues across the horizon, we ended our day trip to what I consider one of the most magical places in the USA.  And whilst I saw evidence of the vortexes in the twisted Juniper branches I passed along the trails, I never did feel one myself.  Still, every time I go to Sedona I leave bursting with energy and felling positively uplifted for days.  So maybe I have unknowingly experienced their healing powers after all.