Southwest Day 3
Southwest
Day 03 - Friday, May 22, 2009 - Prescott, AZ to Sedona, AZ and Jerome, AZ
We woke up to gray skies and light rain in Prescott, Arizona; very unusual for this time of year and this region. After our delicious breakfast of bacon, eggs, and cinnamon rolls we packed up our rain gear and headed to the city of Prescott and a tour of this thriving area.
Jim and Mary Ann pointed out the highlights, especially the Court House Square where they were getting ready for Memorial Day festivities.
Our initial stop was the Visitor’s Center at the Coconino National Forest where we received a map of Verde Valley. The Park Ranger was very knowledgeable and gave us recommendation for good photo stops.
Jim asked about the Golden Eagle National Park pass. What a deal for us! For a one-time fee of $10.00 we are now official card-carrying Senior Citizens and able to enter any National Park or Federal Recreation Lands for no charge.
We left Visitor’s Center and made many stops at the photo pull outs along the highway seeing Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, with a very unique stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross built in 1956 overlooking the valley of homes below and the red rocks of the surrounding area.
Our tour directors, Jim and Mary Ann pointed out so many beautiful sites, but by this time it was a much heavier rain. We made our way through the city of Sedona and then continued on US Highway 89A to the once prosperous copper mining town of Jerome.
Jim found a place to park and then we hiked up the steep steps up into the city center, know as the most vertical town in the United States! The old store fronts and buildings were once very impressive, but now many are in disrepair.
There were fun little shops and boutiques, and many restaurants. We had lunch at The Haunted Hamburger at the very top of the town. At 2:00 we trekked down the hills and took photos along the way. It was beginning to rain hard so we hustled back to the car.
The road back to Prescott (Hwy 89A) was very steep and with hairpin curves. Looking out over the red rocks and green, green forests was truly impressive. We arrived back to Forest Trails about 4:00.
Gennie checked her mail and classes and I downloaded theGPS to relook at our route through the Verde Valley. It stopped raining hard so the four of us took an exploratory hike around the neighborhood and up into the newly developed hillsides.
Lots and homes here are at a premium, very well cared for properties make home values high! It was 6:00 when we returned from our hike.
Gennie worked on the journal for the day and I sorted photos. It was difficult to choose only 5 for the highlights of the day; we had seen so many beautiful sites.
Comments
Great pictures. Good to see Jim and Mary Anne again.
Post a Comment!Oh, you saw one of my most favorite areas. Still great shots but too bad it was raining.
Coconino National Forest
Jim, Mary Ann, Gennie, & Vic
Red Buttes of the Sedona Area
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Jerome, AZ
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