Tag: jerome

Top Destinations to Visit Before Summer Ends

Whether you’re ready for it or not, another too short summer is coming to an end. Instead of lamenting the loss, grab the most you can out of the last few weeks of summer and take one last road trip. We’ve got some ideas for a last minute, all-in fun, trip:

Cabins at Thousand Trails Verde Valley
Cabins at Thousand Trails Verde Valley

Verde Valley: Any time of year here in Red Rock country is worth the trip. Why not take a late summer journey to Sedona and book a stay at Thousand Trails Verde Valley and enjoy all there is to do here from hiking to horseback riding to enjoying the Dark Sky designation of Cottonwood. Dead Horse State Ranch Park offers hiking trails as well as horseback riding and some great birdwatching opportunities. Relax and explore the Verde Valley Wine Trail (vvwinetrail.com) or head into Jerome and get to know this once bustling mining town-turned ghost town that is now a bustling artisan’s hub with shopping and restaurants.

The Keys: Key hop for your last adventure this summer and explore the Florida Keys. Stay with us at Sunshine Key Tiny House Village and get to know Bahia Honda State Park or visit the adorable, and unique, Key deer at the National Key Deer Refuge. Hop over to Long Key and glamp in a colorful cottage at Encore Fiesta Key and then hop on the Overseas Highway and head down to Key West and feel the vibe of this funky town so loved by Ernest Hemingway. Other Keys highlights include the Turtle Hospital (learn about how this facility rehabs sea turtles), John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (great for snorkeling and kayaking) and watching the sunset on Islamorada.

Mt. Hood Tiny House Village
Mt. Hood Tiny House Village

Mt. Hood: If hiking to Oregon’s Ramona Falls has been on your bucket list, “they” say the time to do it is in late summer and early fall so book a tiny house stay Mt. Hood Tiny House Village and get ready to hike. Enjoy the late summer bounty of the Mt. Hood Farmers Market (Friday afternoons through October) that in addition to the produce also features arts and crafts, bread and pastries and specialty items. Check out the old stomping grounds (literally) at the St. Josef’s Grapestomping Festival, set for September 7-8 (stjosefswinery.com), that will feature music, locally sourced food items, and of course, grapestomping.

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Winter in Sedona: Sixties, Sunny, and Styling

Sedona, AZ
Sedona, AZ

It doesn’t matter which season you visit Sedona because the magic of the desert and the Red Rocks is there year round. However, if you’re more of a cooler weather person, winter is the best time because the average temperature is around 60 degrees, which makes any outdoor activity enjoyable.

Another thing you will find enjoyable in Sedona is accommodation options at Verde Valley in Cottonwood. Just as unique as the Red Rock formations that dot the Sedona desert, your accommodations at this conveniently located resort are unique as well. Cabins, cottages and the oh-so-trendy tiny homes are available options at Verde Valley.

Rose, Tiny House, Verde Valley RV Resort

Cabins are complete with a kitchenette, flat screen TVs and covered porches while the cottages have private bedrooms, full-sized refrigerators, and flat-screens, too. You certainly wouldn’t be roughing it while taking in the beauty Sedona has to offer! Or, opt to be a trendsetter and choose from one of two tiny houses, Finn or Rose, and enjoy big-time amenities in small-space sizes. While the hospitality of the resort and the cozy charm of your choice of accommodation may find you not wanting to leave “home,” don’t miss everything that makes Sedona, and the surrounding area, so magical.

Take a trip up into the mountains and explore Jerome, a charming ghost town that was once a booming mining town. Stop in at the Douglas Mansion which serves as the history museum for the town and learn all about Jerome. There’s also the Sliding Jail, an actual Jerome jail that slid 225 feet downhill due to the land shifting from so many mining shafts in the area. Jerome also has some neat restaurants, shops, and even a winery.
Tuzigoot National Monument and Montezuma Castle National Monument are where you will find well-preserved dwellings used by the Sinagua people almost a thousand years ago. In 1906, Montezuma Castle was one of the first four National Monuments designated by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Another interesting way to get some historical insight into this area is the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum which is dedicated to preserving artifacts and archeological sites of the area. Visit verdevalleyarchaeology.org to learn more.

If you’re planning to spend a chunk of your winter soaking up the culture, history and Sedona sunshine, there are two big events you’ll want to take note of.

Sedona VegFest cooking demonstration; Image courtesy of Sedona VegFest.

Sedona VegFest 2019 is scheduled for the weekend of January 19-20, 2019, and is a celebration of plant-based eating with exhibits, products, and speakers who are national experts in plant-based nutrition and lifestyle. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official Sedona VegFest page! To stay connected, visit the Sedona VegFest Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

From February 23 through March 3, the Sedona International Film Festival will feature more than 160 films (from documentaries to foreign films), and host celebrities, filmmakers and movie fans alike. For information visit sedonafilmfestival.org.

Image Courtesy of the Sedona International Film Festival

Don’t wait! Make your reservations for your winter getaway with Petite Retreats, today!