Words That Play

While hiking Woods Canyon Trail near Sedona, Arizona , you may spot a glistening rock that catches your eye. Amber crystals coating one side—a chip from a large geode. As much as you may adore earthly objects found in nature and want to take them home—don’t. This simple chunk of beauty was Mother Nature’s jeweled accessory she was showing you. Take Only Photos “Leave what you find” is one of seven principles in the “Leave No Trace” philosophy, which strives to minimize human impact as we enjoy the great outdoors. Sedona , with 1.8 million acres of national forest land and 300-plus miles of developed trails, is a plein air playground, which earned the city the top spot in the USA Today Weekend list of “The 10 Most Beautiful Places in America.” But if every visitor kept what they found in Sedona’s stunning red rock wilderness, the luster of what many argue is “the most beautiful place on Earth” might soon fade. So, as you hike, climb, swim, fish, peddle, paddle and tour this m...

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...

Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in response to the ever-widening social disparities of 1843 England. Observing that the spirit of the season had a way of bringing people together and fostering an altruistic attitude, it was Dickens’ appeal that everyone practice acceptance, generosity and good cheer not only during the holidays but every day. Like the reformed Ebenezer Scrooge in the final act, we should vow to honor the spirit of Christmas in our hearts and keep the cheer and generosity of the season with us all year long. This resolution will be easy to adopt if you set the tone in Kent County , where its Victorian-style architecture, Royal-Colonial history and mirthful locals make the perfect backdrop to your own Christmas carol story. From Thanksgiving weekend until the calendar flips into the new year, festive celebrations throughout the county offer opportunities to honor traditions from the past, embrace whims of the present and rejoice in future prospects. Tuning U...

Though the street signs at the centers of U.S. towns may not all read Main , the moniker evokes a collective impression in American society—a certain nostalgia that harkens back to a simpler life, a sense of belonging, a safe place to go. Bucolic Kent County , Maryland’s smallest, delivers this sensibility on nearly every street you travel. Perhaps it’s due to geography. Practically an island, with roughly 93% of its borders defined by the Chesapeake Bay and the Sassafras and Chester rivers, the county is naturally preserved from the hustle of nearby Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia. Or, might it be in the air? Breathe the salty spray along the bay, the earthy aroma of winding rivers or the pastoral perfume of nearby fruit and vegetable farms, and your body immediately downshifts to a pace that befits a Main Street stroll. In 1998, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development created the Main Street Maryland Program with a vision to restore and revitali...

The beauty and vibrancy of Sedona has inspired artistic expression for an estimated 5,000 years—from petroglyphs and pictographs in the cave dwellings of its earliest inhabitants to traditional and emerging mediums in the galleries, museums and studios of today’s artists and craftspeople. Whatever style grabs you, you’ll have no trouble finding it in Sedona. In fact, art in Sedona is so prolific you may become overwhelmed by all the choices, but this guide to approaching Sedona’s artworld will help you discover and take home that perfect piece. First, walk off the intimidation. Put on some comfortable shoes and get a sense of what’s out there using Sedona Art Walk Maps . These interactive and downloadable maps detail where to find the more than 80 galleries in West Sedona, Uptown Sedona and Gallery Row—identifying walkable clusters of galleries and not-to-be-missed outliers. Public transportation stops are plotted as well as history placards to make your journey both easy and e...

Stressed from the chaos of the big city; bored by the business of everyday life; worn out with the complexities of modern living? Retreat to Bulow RV Resort where the simplicity of camping out (or the relaxation of glamping in) will give you room to breathe, fun things to do and a return to what matters. Here’s how: 1. Location, Location, Location Nestled alongside a historic state park and a creek, Bulow RV Resort is your basecamp to the beautiful Palm Coast and Flagler Beaches playground—five quaint communities with 19 miles of sandy beaches and access to the Intercoastal Waterway. Literally minutes after exiting Interstate 95 between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, you’ll be parked, unpacked and ready to play on their well-appointed and perfectly located property. When you’re ready to explore beyond the resort, the area offers endless options. Step back nearly two hundred years at the neighboring Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park . Roam what remains of the Bu...