If you and your family love getting outside and exploring the natural world, then a vacation to Sedona is a great choice. Located in north central Arizona, the town of Sedona sits in the middle of the desert surrounded by deep canyons, pine forests, and red rocks. It’s central to several national and state parks, where you can spend your days hiking, climbing, and creating memories with your family. In this area, there are an array of other small towns waiting to welcome you for a week’s vacation or extended weekend. Here’s a list of the top 11 towns in the area to find a vacation rental in Sedona.
1. Sedona
Make Sedona your home base on your next vacation for easy access to Coconino National Forest, a location famous for its red rock buttes. Don’t forget your camera, so you can upload the stunning photos to Instagram when you get back to your vacation rental. In town, enjoy wandering around the quaint streets and visiting the eclectic selection of shops, some of them with a New Age flair, and chowing down on authentic Mexican food.
2. Village of Oak Creek
Just a little south of Sedona sits Village of Oak Creek, a gorgeous town with stunning views throughout the area. Start your trip with a visit to Oak Creek Vista Overlook to get a hint of the natural beauty in the region. Smell some wildflowers as you hike the Devil’s Bridge Trail, a 4.4-mile trail that takes you across a bridge formed from red rocks.
3. Munds Park
North of Sedona along Interstate 17 is the small town of Munds Park, a quiet location where you can get away from the crowds and unwind. Pack up your mountain bikes, and take them to Coconino National Forest, which provides designated areas for mountain bike play. Spend some time hiking the trails that don’t allow the bikes. You and your family can fish in one of the small lakes and wades in the creeks to cool off.
4. Cornville
Enjoy the warm welcome you receive in the small town of Cornville, located southwest of Sedona. For a unique experience, take the kids to the Page Springs Fish Hatchery to see how protected areas benefit fish and wildlife. At Merkin Vineyards, you can take a tour of the local winery and learn more about the process of making wine in a desert. Adults in your group can sip some samples and select a bottle or two to take home.
5. Cottonwood
If your family loves the hustle and bustle of a city, then choose a vacation rental in Cottonwood. You can bike around town or fill your afternoons shopping at the local boutiques. Fish, hike and explore by kayak or canoe when you visit Dead Horse Ranch State Park. The Verde River Greenway trail covers a 2-mile jaunt along the river, where you can catch site of bird nesting sites. Many of the trails in this state park are accessible on horseback as well as on foot.
6. Clarkdale
In the town of Clarkdale, the Verde River and Bitter Creek meander through the city, making it a cinch to find a vacation rental where you can fish in the backyard. Learn more about the Sinaguan Indians at Tuzigoot National Monument, an ancient Native American pueblo on top of a steep hill. The visitor center offers a thorough history of the area and provides some artifacts from the Sinagua Indians.
7. Jerome
Nestled on Cleopatra Hill with stunning views of the Verde Valley, Jerome lies southwest of Sedona and offers a laid back option for your home away from home that’s still in close proximity to a range of national and state parks. Learn more about the history of mining at the Douglas Mansion at the Jerome State Historic Park. Take a picnic lunch and wander through the outdoor displays before touring the mansion.
8. Stoneman Lake Area
Enjoy spending each day on the lake when you choose a vacation rental in the Stoneman Lake area, just east of Sedona. You can kayak, canoe, fish, or swim in the water when the weather’s warm. Prepare a freshly caught fish dinner each night to enjoy with your family as you reconnect and spend some quality time together.
9. Happy Jack
Choose a vacation rental in the tiny town of Happy Jack that’s known as the place where the Discovery Channel keeps its telescope. Hop in the car to make the short drive to Coconino National Forest for days filled with hiking and exploring. Enjoy the stunning horse trails, including Little Bear Trail No. 112, that winds through the Dry Lake Hills area.
10. Kachina Village
Vere off Interstate 17 north of Sedona to arrive in Kachina Village, where you and your family can unwind, kick back, and enjoy some time visiting with the friendly locals. If you have a golf lover in the family, send them to Forest Highlands Golf Club for a day on the links. It’s just a short drive from Kachina Village to Coconino National Forest.
11. Flagstaff
Spend your days visiting museums, shopping, or sightseeing when you choose a vacation rental in the city of Flagstaff, located to the north of Sedona. Stargaze at the Lowell Observatory, which offers tours during the day and at night. In the winter months, hit the slopes at Arizona Snowbowl, which offers a great mix of expert and beginner slopes.