This Is The Friendliest Small Town in Arizona
Sedona has 10,000 full-time residents and 3 million annual visitors. The small-town feel survives the traffic. Native American heritage runs through daily life here, from Palatki and Honanki cliff dwellings outside town to handmade pottery and Kachinas at local shops. The festival calendar fills with hummingbird counts, classical piano recitals, and First Friday gatherings at the Arts Center. None of it feels packaged for tourists, and that’s exactly why locals call Sedona the friendliest small town in Arizona.
Native American Arts and History
Immerse yourself in ancient history at the Palatki Heritage Site. One of the most significant archaeological sites in the northern Verde Valley, this historically preserved cliff dwelling is believed to have been inhabited by the Sinagua people from 1150 to 1350 CE. Located at an elevation of 4,722 feet in the walls of a colorful canyon, Palatki also features extensive pictographs. Guests are invited to participate in a ranger-led tour through both the cliff dwellings and the notable rock art gallery. Another notable dwelling in Sedona is the Honanki Heritage Site, also formerly inhabited by the Sinagua. This site features widespread dwellings and collective rock art. The Sinagua were ancestors of the Hopi, and would prepare meals, raise families, and make tools from stone, leather, and wood while inhabiting these dwellings. Visitors can tour the site at their own leisure or participate in a guided excursion. Built deep within the canyon, the abodes are well hidden and feature pictographs and petroglyphs.
Don’t just learn about the influence of the Native American culture on Sedona; take a piece of it home with you. Native Jewelry of Sedona offers authentic Native American jewelry, assembled with care and pride from the rich cultures of Southwest tribes. Traditional pottery, Kachinas, and more can also be found within the store. Each piece tells a story of heritage, culture, and spirit.
Out & About
Experience more local hospitality, friendliness, and traditions through the annual festivals hosted in Sedona, each focusing on one of the town’s unique aspects. Enjoy a night of classical music at Piano on the Rocks, showcasing talents from the Baroque to the Contemporary periods, and emphasizing solo piano works, storytelling, and literature. Meanwhile, the Mary D. Fisher Theater features independent film screenings selected by the Sedona International Film Festival. Enthrall yourself in another art-based community event at Celebrate Sedona. The gathering happens during select First Friday gallery openings and celebrates local and regional artists’ crafts by featuring their art, food, and drink. Visitors and locals alike gather in the parking lot of the Sedona Arts Center along with local musicians, food truck vendors, wineries, and live art demonstrations.
For nature enthusiasts and self-proclaimed ornithophiles, don’t miss a chance to attend the Sedona Hummingbird Festival in June. Located in a red rocks landscape, the festival is as scenic as it is informative. Featuring over 14 speakers presenting various hummingbird topics, garden tours, tracking demonstrations, breakfast with hummingbirds, a marketplace, festival dinner, photo contest, and so much more, this local event is sure to provide an entire day, if not a full weekend, of amusement.
Grab A Bite
Come for the food, stay for the views. While some views are more extraordinary than others, some are especially rare, and one of those rare views can be found at the Sedona McDonald’s. It may have the same menu as the other 36,000 locations, but one thing that separates it from any other McDonald’s is the absence of the famed golden arches. To ensure the consistency of the town’s pueblo-revival style of the shopping center, without taking away from the surrounding area’s natural beauty, Sedona’s city council and Planning & Zoning commission agreed to host the fast-food chain on one condition, that the arches will not be yellow in accordance with local ordinance. Featuring the only teal (others will argue it’s turquoise) arches in the world, the restaurant has become more of a tourist attraction than anything.
For a finer dining experience in Sedona, enjoy a sit-down meal at The Hudson. Settled on a hillside overlooking the celebrated red rocks of the area, The Hudson offers classic American comfort food served with creative twists, including 45-day-aged prime rib. Pair your dinner with a local craft beer and enjoy patio dining while taking in the bold views. For more local dining with views, settle down at the Hideaway House. With three open-air patios huddled amongst the forestry, the award-winning views of the red rocks are almost as enticing as the meals guests can enjoy. Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and rich desserts are just a few favorites found on the Hideaway House’s menu.
With a population of roughly 10,000 permanent residents, Sedona has established itself as a tight-knit community run on values, history, culture, and hospitality. From the preservation of Native American traditions to memorable architectural structures and the local communal events, Sedona has been welcoming its more than 3 million annual visitors with pride and generosity. For a town of 10,000 fielding that many guests a year, the friendliest small-town title in Arizona is well earned.
