9 minute read
Sedona’s ‘Secret 7’ Unlocks New Destinations, Angles
It’s easy to feel like you know everything there is to know about Sedona, especially after you’ve been there and realized all those resorts and shops and vortexes are set among the red rocks in a relatively small town.
But this burg of 10,000 residents has many less-explored sites and experiences, and its Chamber of Commerce wants everyone to know about them. The “Sedona Secret 7” isn’t a list of seven locations, its seven categories, each containing several “secret spots.”
The next time you visit this astonishingly beautiful area, do yourself a favor and use the guide and map available at www.visitsedona.com/sedonasecret-7 to help you find these places. Each page will give you directions starting from the Sedona Visitors Information Center, 331 Forest Road. Below is just a sampling of what you’ve probably been missing.
ARTS AND CULTURE
❚ Sedona Arts Center — A nonprofit organization housed in the Uptown District’s Art Barn, this houses a fine art gallery with the largest collection of works by local artists. Founded in 1958, the center also offers classes, festivals and exhibitions.
BIKING
❚ Aerie Trail — Intermediate 2.9-mile (one way) singletrack trail between the Aerie and Boynton
Canyon trailheads with views of Boynton Canyon,
Fay Canyon and Bear Mountain. For a 4.4-mile loop around Doe Mountain and back to the Aerie trailhead, turn left at the Cockscomb Trail.
HIKING
❚ Schuerman Mountain Trail — A short out-andback hike to the basaltic lava left behind by an ancient, now-extinct volcano. You can travel a 2-mile loop by taking the Vista Trail and then hiking to the top of Schuerman Mountain.
This unshaded area is best visited between
November and April.
PICNICS
❚ Posse Grounds Park — The City of Sedona’s first park has 10 ramadas, several short, easy walking trails, a playground, bike skills and skate parks and impressive views of the surrounding red rocks. Once a staging ground for the sheriff’s posse, this 78-acre property is accessed from 89A by Posse Ground Road.
SPIRITUAL
❚ Thunder Mountain Trailhead — Take a short walk from the parking lot to the trailhead and you’ll find a secluded plateau that’s ideal for a moment of meditation or unrolling your yoga mat for some poses. The steep trail itself scales one of the highest peaks in Sedona (aka Capitol Butte) for those in search of physical as well as spiritual experiences.
STARGAZING
❚ Brins Mesa Trailhead — Just north of Uptown
Sedona, this trailhead’s parking lot requires a Red
Rock Pass and is far enough from ambient light to provide stunning, starry views often bright enough to illuminate red rock outlines.
VISTAS
❚ Beaverhead Flat Scenic Trailhead — A few miles south of the Village of Oak Creek, this quieter site promises a different view of the Verde Valley, including a series of green mesas out to the east that are especially pretty under a light dusting of snow. Its remoteness makes it another great place for stargazing, too!
a leadership position. His wife has handled it all with grace, he says.
“She is a reflection of who I am,” Miguel says. “She’s giving, does what she can. She helps with the churches and the Community and that makes us both happy, more than anything.”
Miguel says they are so complementary of each other’s personalities and traits that when the time came to get married by the church they scored 99 out of 100 on the compatibility test.
“Our thoughts are the same on everything from how we are raising our family to living life. It really was a match made in heaven,” he says. “For our kids, we want to teach them to be productive people, to practice our ways of giving back and helping as much as they can.”
Miguel says he knows his children carry an added weight because of his chairmanship or having once been a star on the baseball field, but they have handled it. Out of all the children, Miguel says his youngest Stella, 11, is the one most likely to be on Tribal Council but tells each of them to find their own path in life, to find their own talents —that’s what makes him proud as a father.
“They don’t have to follow my footsteps to make me happy,” he says. “If it happens, it happens; I am going to love them no matter what. Connie and the kids have been my greatest blessing, I thank God for them every day. Sometimes it is indescribable the feeling, even more so with everything that has happened in my life.”
The unknown future
When Miguel’s term is up, it is mandatory by Tribal law to sit out for at least two years before running again for Council. In the political world, Miguel is still very young. He says he is not looking beyond his term and that he is just going to concentrate on his duties as Chairman.
He believes other opportunities in leadership and/or politics will exist, but “today is not the time to think about them.” When that time comes, he will sit down with his wife and decide.
Miguel says the competitive nature that came out of playing baseball is “still there” as he works with his teammates on Council, pushing on behalf of Ak-Chin.
The traits his grandfather instilled him will not ever “just go away” — he loves his people, Arizona and knows there is a lot of work that can be accomplished for the betterment of everyone.
The horizon is as wide open as the desert he was born into, but the Chairman can say with certainty, no matter the next part of the journey, he will always be connected to the land from where he walked the fields with his grandfather after it rained, under the same stars his ancestors looked up to, telling stories, passing on the traditions and language of his people.
March 19, Events Day at Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center
A day of fun, March 19 will bring people together with great food, classic cars and one of a kind entertainment with “little doggy” races. The event was postponed last year because of COVID-19.
The Chihuahua Festival and Lil’ Doggy Races, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
One of the more popular events in the region returns with a few new twists. The event will focus more on pet and adoption services with Pinal County Animal Services, but the fun part is the small breeds of dogs competing for the Fastest on Four Little Legs trophy and prize money — $250 for first place.
Entry fee is a monetary donation or canned goods that will go to the Maricopa Pantry, which often provides pet food for families. The first 15 who register through the Eventbrite.com link will automatically be eligible to “compete.” Anyone who registers at the event itself has to qualify for the final spot — that means running and getting the best time out of two attempts.
Two dogs at a time will compete; best two of three, per race. This year’s twist, adding obstacles and “distractions” to level out the field. The final race will be best three out of five.
“What makes the race unique is that there’s not a specific type of person who owns a little dog!” says David Trujillo, operations manager, Ak-Chin Entertainment Center. “The reaction is awesome as they scream and yell and cheer on the dogs, and you can actually see the pure joy on their face. It’s also cool to watch people size dogs up and give their opinions on how they will do, and it’s always a toss up no matter what you think. The dogs do their own thing!”
So “big dogs” don’t feel left out, there is always a costume contest open to any dog for a $100 prize.
Central Arizona Food Truck Battle, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
In this event, high profile and local favorites will “battle” through food sales and through the judges.
The judges will be local restaurant owners and sponsors. Twenty trucks are projected to be a part of this event with trophies for People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice. As part of the strategy, trucks will have to figure out whether they want to push out higher volume at a cheaper cost, or go high dollar with their most popular item.
Accounting Advocates, a local tax service firm, will ensure fairness and track sales. It will be imperative for the trucks to get their following to support them.
The Maricopa Real Estate Co. and Nova Home Loans are title event sponsors.
“We’ve seen the smiles the trucks bring, and it is just awesome to be able to have such a variety where there’s something for everyone,” says Brady Murray, The Maricopa Real Estate Co.
Entrepreneurs, artisans, crafters, and direct marketing businesses are invited to promote their work at the Pinal County Business Expo.
Pinal County Business Expo, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
This event is for all entrepreneurs looking to connect with the community and to network. Artisans, crafters, direct marketing businesses also are invited to promote their work.
“It will give everyone an opportunity to showcase themselves, develop some new relationships with fellow business owners and potential customers,” says Angel Raymond of AA Raymond Law. AA Raymond Law is the title sponsor for the event.
Each registering business will receive space up to a 12x12 canopy. They will be allowed to sell or just give away marketing prizes. Nonprofits will be allowed at no cost provided they bring activities, games or “swag” for the children.
Also, local networking groups will be given the opportunity to pull together and be involved as sponsors, showcasing what they are doing to promote business and shop local initiatives.
Those entrepreneurs and business owners looking to register can go online to www.eventbrite.com.
Central Arizona Car and Bike Show, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Classic cars, motorcycles, muscle cars, lowriders, modified streetcars, classic trucks and the most unique will be showcased. This event draws the best of the best from the region. Reed Classic Motor Company will host it — along with a few car clubs as part of the judging process.
Best in Show will receive $500 in cash along with the trophy. Organizers are in the process of creating the different categories. All categories will have a cash prize and trophy.
Title sponsors for the event are 911 Air Repair and AZ Quality Plumbing.
Luis Ascencio, owner of AZ Quality Plumbing, says, “I am a fan of the lowriders and classic cars, and these shows can be inspiring for a guy like me who is looking forward to the days when I can cruise in style!”
Check-ins will begin at 7 a.m. Those who pre-register will get a discount and a breakfast empanada from OG’z Food Truck and free coffee from Honeycutt Coffee. Registrations are on www. eventbrite.com.
