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Sunny days, blue skies and green grassy lawns begging to be lounged on are the palette for the quintessential summer picnic—add in the red rock vistas of Sedona and you’ve got a masterpiece in the making. Here are seven of Sedona’s best places to nosh in nature—from enclaves along rugged trails, lands preserved for historical and natural edification to traditional manicured public parks—they’re all so jaw-droppingly good, you might have to remind yourself to chew. Leave your coffee pot behind when you breakfast on Brins Mesa Trail, but bring plenty of water. Conveniently located on the edge of town, with goo d parking at the end of Park Ridge Drive, th is six-mile out and back trek trades the shade for vast vistas—including Coffee Pot Rock, Wilson Mountain, Chimney Rock and more. Go early during summer months and brunch at the flat-rock ledge near the end of the trail while taking in the rewarding view and appreciating the effort you made to get there (though moderately rated,...

Everyone has a part of their self that gets neglected during the consuming obligations of everyday life. So, take time out to tend to your inner self and watch yourself blossom into a fuller, happier, more exquisite you. The best place to do it… Sedona where natural beauty, positive energy, extraordinary attractions, unforgettable activities and superlative amenities await you. Merriam-Webster defines utopia as “an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness,” but there’s nothing imaginary about the YOUtopia you can create in Sedona. Whatever part of you (mind, body or soul) yearns for attention, Sedona and its surroundings offer experiences that will polish those facets and send you home shining like a diamond. Connect With You Years of personal neglect might leave you lost in regard to exactly what you need. Sedona’s many spiritual and metaphysical practitioners can help you find your way. Hypnotherapy and psychic readings tap spiritual connecti...

When the excitement of the holidays fades and your spirits fall in time with the temperature, banish the wintertime blues with an outdoor adventure to Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Kent County, Maryland . Just a daytrip from Baltimore, Philadelphia and DC, nearly 2,300 acres of natural beauty await on this island cozied between the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay. One of the 500-plus refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, Eastern Neck Island is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Whether under the water, on the water, on land or in the sky, their efforts provide sanctuary for myriad life forms. With more than 240 species of birds including bald eagles, hawks and osprey, tundra swans, Canadian geese, and other migratory types, it’s a veritable birding haven. Animal lovers will enjoy the diversity of amphibians and reptiles including diamondback terrapins with their intricately decorated shells and mammals like the endangered Delmarva fox squirr...

In Sedona , beauty surrounds you, but for up close, personal and jaw-dropping sights created by nature, you’ll want to go off the beaten track. With more than 100 trails covering 300-plus miles in Sedona, it’s easy to find a new path to wander. What’s hard is deciding which path to take. Whether hiking , biking , walking or running, there’s a route for you. Landmark Decisions Check ‘em off on Doe Mountain Trail where switchbacks ascend a mesa with 360-degree views of Bear, Maroon, Mund and Wilson mountains; Loy, Boynton Sycamore and Secret canyons; Chimney Rock and Cockscomb formations. You’ll agree it’s well worth the effort. (1.5 miles; 2 hours) Note: All distance and time estimates reflect round-trip excursions. Meanwhile, Centennial Trail [LC1]   , a paved 1-mile trail, delivers many of the same visual rewards, including the Red Rock Country basin, the Cockscomb formation, Bear, Doe, Mingus and Secret mountains. Go late in the day and watch how the setting sun chan...

“Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.” – Thomas Jefferson Wise words and so true. Walking is easy on the frame. It frees the mind to roam along with the body, and it calms mental chatter—like a reset button for your brain. Walking builds stamina; exerts muscles and lungs on an upward path. Trek far enough and you will go amazing places. In Great Falls , there are many amazing places, and they’re all within walking distance. “One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.” – Barbara Walters The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex (commonly known as the Bob) is an outdoor lover’s paradise. This federally preserved 1.5 million acres hugs the Continental Divide and reaches elevations above 9,000 feet. Its trails could be wandered for weeks, though many are just a short drive and a day-hike away. These will get you going: Devil’s Glen via Dearborn River Trail (6 miles round trip). Don’t be fooled by the name, this little m...