L'Auberge de Sedona
Caught Up in the
VORTEX
ARIZONA’S MYSTICAL SEDONA WILL CAPTURE YOUR HEART AND YOUR IMAGINATION. Photo essay by Rebecca L. Rhoades
AAA.com/world
AAA World • September/October 2014 29
“YOU CAN GET MAPS that point out the vortexes in the area,” says Greg Hanss, managing director of L’Auberge de Sedona, a AAA Four Diamond luxury inn and spa in Sedona, Arizona, a town that is one of the country’s—if not the world’s—spiritual hotspots. “But to me, a vortex isn’t a specific place on a map. To me, a vortex is any place that makes you feel something, a place that you really connect with.” As Hanss and I dine at the inn’s creekside restaurant, we are talking about the area, its attractions and its purported spiritual qualities. As a quasi-nonbeliever in New Age mysticism, I’m curious to hear a local’s perspective on the concept. “When I first moved here, I didn’t believe in vortexes,” notes Hanss. And yes, vortexes, not vortices, is the way locals refer to the phenomenon. “I went to all of the designated spots, but I didn’t feel a thing. Then one day, I was out jogging, and I came across this dip in the trail. For some reason, I was overcome with this sudden urge to take a giant leap, and I yelled out as I did so. I did the same thing the next day, and the day after that. When I told a friend about it, he looked at me and said, ‘Well, looks like you’ve found your vortex.’” Whether or not you believe in vortexes, which, by the way, are places where the earth supposedly radiates psychic energy, there’s no denying that Sedona is a magical destination. Its surrounding landscape—filled with towering red rock formations with clever names such as Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Coffee Pot, Mittens, Snoopy and Courthouse Butte that rise out of cactusand brush-covered rolling hills—ranges from jawdropping to otherworldly. As the day wanes, the colors become more saturated and practically glow until the evening sky envelopes them in a blanket of stars. Sure, there are a lot of businesses that capitalize on the area’s New Age reputation—there’s no lack of stores hawking crystals and meditation beads, tarot readings, aura photographs and chakra cleansings; you can even take a UFO-spotting tour—but Sedona is also a mecca for outdoor adventurers, with miles of hiking trails ranging from leisurely strolls to strenuous climbs that travel through hidden canyons and across soaring outcroppings. Mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, outdoor yoga and hot-air ballooning are other popular ways to get in touch with the natural surroundings. And, of course, with all of this raw allure, it’s no wonder that the area is a popular destination for photographers. You can see for yourself as you join us on the following pages for a pictorial journey through the mystery and beauty that is Sedona, Arizona. Perhaps you’ll even find your own vortex among the images. 30 AAA World • November/December 2014
A sign at the Coconino National Forest South Gateway Visitors Center introduces tourists to the first red rock formations they encounter on arrival in Sedona.
Bell Rock on the outskirts of town is one of Sedona’s most famous formations. It is also purported to be one of the area’s strongest vortex centers. AAA.com/world
Segway tours are a fun way to explore Sedona’s beautiful scenery.
Tourists walk along the shores of Oak Creek, which runs directly through Sedona.
Numerous adventure outfitters offer Jeep and off-road vehicle tours. One of the most popular is Pink Jeep Tours, known for its distinctively colored Jeeps.
Designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, this small chapel built into the buttes has been a Sedona landmark since its completion in 1956. AAA.com/world
AAA World • November/December 2014 31
Even approaching monsoon clouds can’t take away from the amazing natural beauty that is Sedona, Arizona.
Fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) is an internationally renowned shopping center in the heart of Sedona that offers high-quality artisan products. 32 AAA World • November/December 2014
Red Rocks and the Cowboy Artist, sculpted by Clyde “Ross” Morgan in 2002, is a tribute to Sedona artist Joe Beeler, one of the founders of the Cowboy Artists of America. AAA.com/world
Lesser known than the vortexes, the Amitabha Stupa, an example of sacred architecture, is said to hold mystical healing powers. And Peace Park in which it is located is a tranquil oasis surrounded by 14 acres of high desert wilderness.
Whether you believe in it or not, New Age mysticism is popular in Sedona. Visitors can have their chakras aligned and their auras photographed. They can purchase crystals or take UFO-spotting tours. And, of course, they can visit the world-famous vortexes. AAA.com/world
AAA World • November/December 2014 33
VORTEX
ARIZONA’S MYSTICAL SEDONA WILL CAPTURE YOUR HEART AND YOUR IMAGINATION. Photo essay by Rebecca L. Rhoades
AAA.com/world
AAA World • September/October 2014 29
“YOU CAN GET MAPS that point out the vortexes in the area,” says Greg Hanss, managing director of L’Auberge de Sedona, a AAA Four Diamond luxury inn and spa in Sedona, Arizona, a town that is one of the country’s—if not the world’s—spiritual hotspots. “But to me, a vortex isn’t a specific place on a map. To me, a vortex is any place that makes you feel something, a place that you really connect with.” As Hanss and I dine at the inn’s creekside restaurant, we are talking about the area, its attractions and its purported spiritual qualities. As a quasi-nonbeliever in New Age mysticism, I’m curious to hear a local’s perspective on the concept. “When I first moved here, I didn’t believe in vortexes,” notes Hanss. And yes, vortexes, not vortices, is the way locals refer to the phenomenon. “I went to all of the designated spots, but I didn’t feel a thing. Then one day, I was out jogging, and I came across this dip in the trail. For some reason, I was overcome with this sudden urge to take a giant leap, and I yelled out as I did so. I did the same thing the next day, and the day after that. When I told a friend about it, he looked at me and said, ‘Well, looks like you’ve found your vortex.’” Whether or not you believe in vortexes, which, by the way, are places where the earth supposedly radiates psychic energy, there’s no denying that Sedona is a magical destination. Its surrounding landscape—filled with towering red rock formations with clever names such as Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Coffee Pot, Mittens, Snoopy and Courthouse Butte that rise out of cactusand brush-covered rolling hills—ranges from jawdropping to otherworldly. As the day wanes, the colors become more saturated and practically glow until the evening sky envelopes them in a blanket of stars. Sure, there are a lot of businesses that capitalize on the area’s New Age reputation—there’s no lack of stores hawking crystals and meditation beads, tarot readings, aura photographs and chakra cleansings; you can even take a UFO-spotting tour—but Sedona is also a mecca for outdoor adventurers, with miles of hiking trails ranging from leisurely strolls to strenuous climbs that travel through hidden canyons and across soaring outcroppings. Mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, outdoor yoga and hot-air ballooning are other popular ways to get in touch with the natural surroundings. And, of course, with all of this raw allure, it’s no wonder that the area is a popular destination for photographers. You can see for yourself as you join us on the following pages for a pictorial journey through the mystery and beauty that is Sedona, Arizona. Perhaps you’ll even find your own vortex among the images. 30 AAA World • November/December 2014
A sign at the Coconino National Forest South Gateway Visitors Center introduces tourists to the first red rock formations they encounter on arrival in Sedona.
Bell Rock on the outskirts of town is one of Sedona’s most famous formations. It is also purported to be one of the area’s strongest vortex centers. AAA.com/world
Segway tours are a fun way to explore Sedona’s beautiful scenery.
Tourists walk along the shores of Oak Creek, which runs directly through Sedona.
Numerous adventure outfitters offer Jeep and off-road vehicle tours. One of the most popular is Pink Jeep Tours, known for its distinctively colored Jeeps.
Designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, this small chapel built into the buttes has been a Sedona landmark since its completion in 1956. AAA.com/world
AAA World • November/December 2014 31
Even approaching monsoon clouds can’t take away from the amazing natural beauty that is Sedona, Arizona.
Fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) is an internationally renowned shopping center in the heart of Sedona that offers high-quality artisan products. 32 AAA World • November/December 2014
Red Rocks and the Cowboy Artist, sculpted by Clyde “Ross” Morgan in 2002, is a tribute to Sedona artist Joe Beeler, one of the founders of the Cowboy Artists of America. AAA.com/world
Lesser known than the vortexes, the Amitabha Stupa, an example of sacred architecture, is said to hold mystical healing powers. And Peace Park in which it is located is a tranquil oasis surrounded by 14 acres of high desert wilderness.
Whether you believe in it or not, New Age mysticism is popular in Sedona. Visitors can have their chakras aligned and their auras photographed. They can purchase crystals or take UFO-spotting tours. And, of course, they can visit the world-famous vortexes. AAA.com/world
AAA World • November/December 2014 33
