Monday, June 16, 2014

Sedona Summer Specials at the Arroyo Pinion Hotel


Oak Creek Wine Tasting

Combine the one of our deluxe King rooms with wine tasting and you get the best of what Sedona has to offer.

Combine the wine tasting and you get the best of Sedona has to offer. Classic Wine tasting begins with 5 tastings and souvenir glasses at Oak Creek Vineyards for your wine tasting delight.

* Click here to book or please call 928-204-1146 for availability
* Not available with other specials, discounts or third party bookings. Rates are based on 2 people, and are on a space available basis.

Through -8/29 Sun – Thurs $149   Fri – Sat $199
8/30-11/15 Sun – Thurs $199   Fri – Sat $229

Special Promotions: Through 8/29
~ Stay 2 nights get 15% off entire stay
~ stay 3 nights get 25% off entire stay



Jeep Tour
Stay in one of our deluxe King rooms and enjoy a two hour Sedona’s popular Pink Jeep tour to Broken Arrow for two!

This package includes a one night stay in one of our newly renovated deluxe king rooms with a single person Jacuzzi tub in your room, granite shower, flat screen television with complimentary HBO, outdoor patio, microwave, refrigerator. On site pool, hot tub, complimentary Wifi and continental breakfast are also included.

* Click here to book or please call 928-204-1146 for availability
* Not available with other specials, discounts or third party bookings.  Rates are for two persons and are on a space available basis.

Through -8/29 Sun – Thurs $295   Fri – Sat $325
8/30-11/15 Sun – Thurs $345   Fri – Sat $375


Romance Package
This package is perfect for those celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary, birthday or just a special occasion.

The package includes:
  • Accommodations for one night in our Premium King room with a one-person Jacuzzi tub in your room, gas fireplace, granite shower, mood lighting, and complimentary HBO
  • Luxurious king size Beauty Rest mattress
  • Seasonal Flowers, Chocolates and Champagne/Sparkling Cider
  • Noon Check Out
* Click here to book or please call 928-204-1146 for availability
*The package is priced for 2 people. Not available with other specials, discounts or third party bookings.

Through-8/29 Sun – Thurs $199   Fri – Sat $229
8/30-11/15 Sun – Thurs $249   Fri – Sat $279



Riding the Rails

1 Night Stay plus 1st Class Train Tickets for two:
Enjoy a relaxing stay in one of our newly renovated deluxe King rooms with single 
Jacuzzi tub in your room.

This special package also includes two 1st class adult tickets on the Verde Canyon Railroad. You will experience the majestic scenery of Sycamore Canyon as you travel from Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back. Your trip will take you near ancient Native American ruins, over old fashioned trestles, and through a 680 foot man-made tunnel into Arizona’s other 
“Grand Canyon.”
* This package cannot be booked online. Please call 928-204-1146 for availability.
* Not available with other specials, discounts or third party bookings. Rates are based on two people. This special is on a space available basis also as per train schedule. 

Through -8/29 Sun – Thurs $295   Fri – Sat $325
8/30-11/15 Sun – Thurs $345   Fri – Sat $375

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

2014 Sedona Events

Stay & Play at the Arroyo Pinion Hotel

                                                                  www.ArroyoHotel.com

2014 Sedona Annual Events

MARCH
March 15:
44th ANNUAL SEDONA ST. PATRICK'S PARADE & FESTIVAL- Saturday, March 15 along Jordan Road in Uptown Sedona. Free event presented by Sedona Main Street Program, NAU Parks and Recreation Management Program and Sedona Green Team. Parade starts at 10:30 a.m.; Festival music and activities follow until 3:00 p.m.SedonamMainStreet.com
APRIL
April 19:
CELEBRATION OF SPRING- On April 19, from 9:00 am - 12:00 p.m., $2/Child, Free for adults. Posse Grounds Park, Multi Use Field. It's more than just an egg hunt, it's a celebration of Spring! Egg hunts by age division, scavenger hunts for kids 9-12 years old, carnival rides, inflatables, pony rides, face painting, vendors and more! Pre-purchase tickets.SedonaAZ.gov/Parks
April 25-27:
SEDONA OPEN STUDIOS TOUR - The 11th Annual Open Studios Tour takes place April 25-27 from 10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. each day. This is an opportunity to visit with artists in their own work environments and gain a deeper understanding of the creative process. The event is free. Contact Mike Upp mjupp10@gmail.com or call 503-789-4437.SedonaArtistsCoalition.org
MAY
May 3:
CINCO DE MAYO- Immerse yourself in a colorful Fiesta saluting a rich heritage on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Tlaquepaque. Enjoy the festivities while cheering and whistling to the music of mariachi musicians, clapping to the steps of folklórico dancers and savoring traditional Mexican foods at Tlaquepaque’s famed El Rincon Restaurante. 928-282-4838 Tlaq.com
May 17-18: 
BIKE MS: RIDE THE VORTEX- Join us for Bike MS: Ride the Vortex, Arizona’s premier cycling event! We have route options for every level of cyclist, ranging from 30-150 miles; you will surely find a route fit for you. Enjoy delicious meals and strong support, with rest stops every 15 miles, bike mechanics and SAG vehicles. A fantastic festival awaits you on Saturday afternoon with great food, music, a beer garden, massage tent and fun entertainment.BikeMSarizona.org
May 22-25:
SFS SHOTS FILM FESTIVAL- The Sedona Film School (SFS) hosts a film festival every year on Memorial Day weekend. All graduates of SFS screen their thesis films at our annual SFS Shorts Film and the audience gets to vote! You may be inspired to make your own film. Call 928-649-4257 for details. SedonaFilmSchool.com
JUNE
June 4-9: 
SEDONA PHOTOFEST- Experience Sedona in June when monsoon skies and brilliant sunsets against the beautiful Red Rocks make this location a photographer's dream. Learn from a select group of master photographers with in-depth areas of expertise and an opportunity to catch the majesty and magic of Sedona's landscape each day. Workshops, lectures, FREE day of events. Presented by Sedona Arts Center 928-282-3809 SedonaPhotoFest.org
June 7-8, 2014:
SEDONA BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL- The 8th Annual Festival and Institute takes place June 7-8, 2014 at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa, Creekside. This event showcases established and emerging Bluegrass artists from around the USA with concerts, workshops and more. All events are open to the public. 928-204-2415SedonaBluegrassFestival.org
JULY
July 4, 2014:
LASER LIGHT SHOW AND CONCERT IN THE PARK- On July 4, from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., Free. Red Rock High School, Baseball field. Brought to you by Diamond Resorts International and Sedona Parks and Recreation. Free glow sticks, concert, food vendors on site, patriotic laser show. SedonaAZ.gov/Parks
July 26, 2014:
SEDONA'S 10th ANNUAL NATIONAL DAY OF THE COWBOY CELEBRATION- in Uptown Sedona Main Street District from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Enjoy “cowboy goin’s on”: gunfights, roping, bullwhip cracking, re-enactments, storytelling, music, artists. Free event presented by Sedona Main Street Program, Red Rock Posse and area businesses. SedonaMainStreet.com
AUGUST
August 1-3, 2014:
SEDONA HUMMINGBIRD FESTIVAL- Timed to coincide with the peak in hummingbirds migrating through the area, the festival offers presentations by world hummingbird experts, hummingbird garden tours, banding demonstrations, and sunrise breakfasts with the hummingbirds. The festival is sponsored by the International Hummingbird Society. 800-529-3699 SedonaHummingbirdFestival.com
SEPTEMBER
September 13:
41st ANNUAL FIESTA DEL TLAQUEPAQUE- The 41st annual Fiesta del Tlaquepaque is a celebration of Mexican Independence Day on Saturday, September 13. The charming plazas, patios, and streets of Tlaquepaque will be dressed in a festive wash of color, music, and dancing in the spirit of old Mexico. The lively mariachis, the heart-pounding rhythms and beats of Flamenco dancers and the mouth-watering tastes of Mexico will fill the day. 928-282-4838 Tlaq.com
September 20, 2014:
SEDONA AIRPORT'S FAMILY FUN DAY- Sedona Airport will host their Family Fun Day on September 20 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. See lots of really cool aircraft, walk and talk with pilots and learn about the world of aviation and enjoy the Sedona Car Club's classic car show. The event is free. SedonaAirport.org/events
September 27-28, 2014:
SEDONA WINEFEST- Sedona Winefest 2014 festival will be held on September 27-28 at the Sedona Airport from 11:00 am - 5:00 p.m. Enjoy tasting over 60 Arizona wines. The festival includes smooth sounds, great food, a cigar area, wine education and the Winefest's Juried Art Exhibition, including paintings, photographs, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry. SedonaWinefest.com
OCTOBER
October 18, 2014:
SEDONA MAIN STREET PAINT OUT- Sedona Main Street Paint Out is Saturday October 18 from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. See thirty nationally recognized Plein Air Artists along sidewalks and plazas in Uptown, each completing a painting in 2 ½ hours. Free event sponsored by Sedona Main Street Program and presented with Sedona Arts Center.
PUMPKIN SPLASH- On October 18 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., $3/person through the gate. It's a pumpkin patch in the pool! Games on deck, super glow bat cave, pumpkin bowling, bat toss! Jump in the water to pick your pumpkin, pumpkin decorating on deck, pumpkin bounce house and caramel apple bar! So much packed into a fun afternoon! Pre-purchase tickets. SedonaAZ.gov/Parks
October 18-25, 2014:
SEDONA PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL– 30 Award-winning contemporary artists paint the landscape “en-plein air.” They come from all over the United States to spend seven days painting outdoors, and to share their incredible talent and unique experiences with this challenging art form. Workshops, Paint-Outs, Historic Events, Native American Celebration, Plein Air Gallery and more. Presented by Sedona Arts Center 928-282-3809 SedonaPleinAirFestival.org
October 31, 2014:
28th ANNUAL SAFE & FUN TRICK OR TREAT- Held October 31 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Merchants welcome ghouls and ghosts at storefronts for treats! Free event coordinated by Sedona Main Street Program plus Costume Contest and prizes in partnership with City of Sedona. SedonaMainStreet.com
October 31-November 1, 2014:
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATIONS AT TLAQUEPAQUE- Join Tlaquepaque in Patio del Norte and Patio las Campanas on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1, to make an offering at the Celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Expand your knowledge of Día de los Muertos through the beauty and creativity of Ofrenda installations by making any personal offering for those special friends, family members or even special pets that might be missed. 928-282-4838 Tlaq.com
NOVEMBER
November 1, 2014:
TASTE OF THE VERDE VALLEY- From 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., enjoy perfectly paired culinary creations featuring wines of the Verde Valley, live music and Painted Barrel Auction. Tickets are $20, includes 5 wine or food tastings, complimentary wine glass and a $10 Casino Playcheck. located at the Cliff Castle Casino Stargazer Pavilion. 928-567-7999 CliffCastleCasinHotel.com
November 28 - December 6, 2014:
FESTIVAL OF TREES - Come and Experience the Holiday Trees at TlaquepaqueThis premiere holiday event at Tlaquepaque begins on Friday, November 28 - The Festival of Trees. Area artists and galleries will have over 45 Christmas trees and Gingerbread houses fully decorated in fun and exquisite ways. Kick of your holiday season with a beautiful themed tree already pre-decorated. 928-282-4838 Tlaq.com
DECEMBER
December 1-31, 2014
HOLIDAY CENTRAL SEDONA- Sedona transforms into a winter wonderland for all of December with events and entertainment taking place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from December 1 through December 30; including Holiday Lights, Ice Skating Rink, Photos with Santa, Jingle Bell Run, Breakfast with Santa and so much more. HolidayCentralSedona.com
December 5, 2014:
TREE LIGHTING & SANTA VISIT- Sedona’s Tree Lighting & Santa Visit is December 5 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Sedona Center Plaza in Uptown. Enjoy the Tree-lighting, entertainment and Santa visits with children. This free event is presented by Sedona Main Street Program, Sedona Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sedona.SedonaMainStreet.com
December 6, 2014:
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AND JINGLE BELL RUN- December 6, 7:30 - 10:00 a.m., free, at the Sedona Teen Center. Start the morning out right with a short run through Posse Grounds Park, decked with Jingle Bells. The head on in for a free pancake breakfast served by the YMCA. Enjoy crafts, games and face painting courtesy of Sedona Parks and Recreation, and end your morning with a visit from Santa himself! SedonaAZ.gov/Parks
December 13, 2014:
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS - The lighting of 6,000 Luminarias. On Saturday, December 13 from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. This one day event - A cherished tradition which involves the lighting of 6,000 luminarias in Tlaquepaque’s courtyards and walkways at 5:00 p.m. Specially designated Luminarias honoring cancer survivors can be purchased in advance for $10.00. 928-282-4838 Tlaq.com

Monday, February 17, 2014

Roger Naylor’s Arizona: Secrets of the Verde Valley

Special for The RepublicSat Feb 15, 2014 9:35 AM
CAMP VERDE – Morning sun glints off the water at Montezuma Well. Ducks glide across the surface, occasionally diving with a flip of tail feathers. I’m standing on the rocky overlook from which I see ancient cliff dwellings tucked in an alcove, the pond and mountains beyond. It’s a peaceful scene, but I’m not fooled.
I know that when the sun sets, the seemingly placid water teems with thousands of leeches. These endemic invertebrates don’t suck blood like their slimy brethren do. Instead, they snack on amphipods, which are tiny crustaceans. Still, the thought of leech hordes snaking through dark water searching for meat gives me the willies.
I scribble a reminder in my notebook that it’s time to rewatch “Attack of the Giant Leeches,” a 1959 low-budget and unintentionally hilarious sci-fi film. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but the leeches appear to be played by men in garbage bags with suckers attached. That’s enough for me to start making popcorn.
You don’t need a lot of time to explore Arizona — you can pack plenty into a loosely planned day trip. I like scenery, history and quirkiness, so on this mild February day I point my truck toward Camp Verde. Overshadowed by neighboring Sedona, Jerome and Cottonwood, Camp Verde is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Verde Valley.
Despite the leech population, I love Montezuma Well, which is part of Montezuma Castle National Monument. Though thousands of Arizonans have journeyed to the castle, an exquisitely preserved five-story cliff dwelling, only a fraction continue to the well, which lies 11 miles north.
Montezuma Well is a limestone sink formed by the collapse of an underground cavern. A continuous water flow has created a verdant oasis in the middle of desert grassland. Subterranean springs replenish the well with 1.6 million gallons of water a day, an amount unvarying since prehistoric times. This was an important water source for the Sinaguan people. Short trails take you around the well, past ancient ruins and along the bank of Wet Beaver Creek, canopied by Arizona sycamore and velvet ash. It’s spectacular in spring.
My next stop is even further off the radar. The ruins of an ancient salt mine are at the edge of Camp Verde in Prescott National Forest. Decaying timbers, crumbling foundations and hulking, rusted machinery are all that remain of an operation that ceased in 1933. What’s not immediately apparent is that this is one of the oldest underground mines in America.
During the 1920s, employees of the mine’s operator, Western Chemical, began unearthing artifacts such as woven yucca sandals, ax handles and torches. After a mummified body was discovered, an anthropologist was brought in. Ancient tunnels were found, and it was determined that salt was mined throughout the Sinagua era, from about 1140 to 1400. It’s a cool spot, and I spend time scrambling around white hills and snapping photos.
Next, I swing by the Verde Valley Archaeology Center in downtown Camp Verde, a small and informative museum. I’m glad to hear that it is working with the Forest Service to try to make the salt mine a heritage site and get signs posted. The center opened in its current location a year ago and tells the stories of the early people who occupied the valley. It has a short film and a room filled with exhibits.
After a morning steeped in history, I shift gears. Enough with using my legs to get around — I am ready fly. Or at least zip. I go to the Predator Zip Line at Out of Africa Wildlife Park. The zip-line entrance is adjacent to Out of Africa and the ride shows you the park in a whole new way. (A separate ticket is required to enter the park.)
This is the only part of my day that takes a smidge of planning, because reservations are necessary. We riders are fitted with so many harnesses and straps that we could shinny up redwoods. We are driven to a wooden tower. Ably assisted by knowledgeable guides, we take turns careening along steel cables from one tower to another, soaring above lions, tigers and bears. Oh, my. Also above leopards, tundra wolves and an enormous sleeping rhino.
We zigzag from one tower to the next, speeding along five cables each several hundred feet in length. I had never zip-lined before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I have no fear of heights, but I am a crotchety old coot who distrusts anything new. The zipping is a blast, although I feel no need to travel upside down or in weird yoga poses as did the adventurous members of our group.
I enjoy my time standing on the towers as much as I enjoy the zipping. Each stop affords sweeping views, and it is amazing to see the animals from above. A bicyclist rides through the park and a tiger pursues him along the fence line. I see a leopard and lion cuddle together, looking very much from that height like my two cats snoozing at home. I watch another lion stride about his pen roaring, a ferocious sound that seems to shake the tower. After he gets that out of his system, he makes a quieter rowr, rowr, rowr sound — another behavior I recognize from my cats. Dude wants a snack. I feel bad I don’t have a gazelle haunch to toss him.
The tour ends with a final blast of adrenaline, a 1,000-foot-long zip over the herd animals, screaming in just above the treetops and practically giving the giraffe a new part in his hair.
The experience whets my appetite, so I swing back through Camp Verde and stop at the Horn, a casually upscale restaurant that is reconnecting with the valley’s strong agricultural roots.
The Horn is a comfortable place, and I like seeing couches in a saloon. In my youth, I thought they would come in handy for a snooze if I “accidentally” got locked in overnight. Now I look at them longingly because an afternoon siesta is my idea of whooping it up.
Instead, I belly up to the bar for a tasty appetizer and a half pint of Cascade Kolsch, one of the craft beers created next door. Verde Brewing Co. is a nanobrewery, whipping up small batches, each containing a local ingredient. The beer complements the menu, which draws heavily on ranches and farms in the Verde Valley that have been here for generations. History tastes delicious.
I head for home. When my wife asks how I spent my day, she never knows what to expect.
Find the reporter at www.rogernaylor.com.

Friday, February 14, 2014

VISIT SEDONA AREA WINERIES 




BY ROGER NAYLOR Travel writer for azcentral.com

In recent years, several wineries have taken root in the rolling hills just outside Sedona. Taking advantage of the rich volcanic soil and excellent climate, these wineries are producing handcrafted wines in white and red varietals as well as multigrape blends.
The winemaking tradition extends back to the earliest settlers of the region. Heinrich (Henry) Scheurman arrived in Sedona in 1884 and planted an orchard and vineyard along Oak Creek. A few years later he was selling apples, peaches and wine to the logging camps of Flagstaff and the miners in Jerome.
Locally-produced wines can be found in stores and on the menus of restaurants throughout the area. Better yet, go all Napa Valley on these idyllic little places by taking your own personal wine tour.
Alcantara Vineyards: The largest winery in central and northern Arizona, Alcantara Vineyards rambles across the limestone terraces above the Verde River in a picturesque setting. A Tuscan-style farmhouse serves as a tasting room. Open daily for tastings; vineyard tours on Fridays and Saturdays. 3445 S. Grapevine Way, Cottonwood. 928-649-8463 orwww.alcantaravineyard.com.
Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery:Javelina Leap, nestled in a valley overlooking the riparian greenbelt of Oak Creek and the Audubon bird sanctuary, is a family-owned winery producing 1,200 to 1,600 cases of wine annually. Don't expect indecipherable wine-speak in the cozy, comfortable tasting room, modeled after an old saloon. Open daily. 1565 N. Page Springs Road, Cornville. 928-649-2681 orwww.javelinaleapwinery.com.
Oak Creek Vineyards and Winery: Producing crisp, clean whites and velvety full-bodied reds in small batches. The tasting room, with gourmet cheese plates, is open daily. 1555 N. Page Springs Road, Cornville. 928-649-0290 or www.oakcreekvineyards.net.
Page Springs Cellars: This operation specializes in delicious and complex Rhone wines. The tasting room and vineyard are open daily and visitors can buy a bottle to enjoy on the creekside deck. On Sundays, a local musician with an impressive John Prine repertoire entertains. A little wine, a little Prine and lots of sunshine. Now that's a Sunday to remember. 1500 N. Page Springs Road, Cornville. 928-639-3004 orwww.pagespringscellars.com.
http://www.azcentral.com/travel/arizona/sedona/articles/2009/04/09/20090409sedona-wineries.html