This striking mid-century modern chapel sits atop a perch with a stunning view of the surrounding red rocks, from both within the sanctuary and outside. If you do go inside, please give the building the reverence you would a cathedral and maintain the silence. Outside, the parking lot is steep and often crowded, so coming early to grab a good parking spot is ideal. The walk up the ramp to the building entrance is also steep. There are three parking lots—in the middle lot is the trailhead for Chapel Trail, a highly suggested but optional hike past the red rocks. Open 9am-5pm daily, but check the website for mass and service times.

Two vista points–Yavapai and Courthouse–are near to each other on opposite sides of the Red Rock Scenic Byway. There are hiking trails leading from both, but Courthouse Vista’s trails surrounding Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte are superior. Visitors looking for a meditative experience will also want to seek out the alleged vortex on Bell Rock, so you may find people doing yoga or enjoying a moment of peace. Whichever vista point you choose, both offer splendid views of the buttes and the surrounding red rock scenery. Parking may be slightly easier at Yavapai, for what it’s worth!

Built by the Sinagua people over 1,000 years ago, the remnants of this 110-room pueblo sit on a hill in the Verde Valley. A small museum in the visitor center includes artifacts discovered during the excavation. Crowds are rarely an issue here, so this impressive site is a good midday option when Sedona's parking lots are filled to capacity. Open 8am-4:45pm daily.

Red Rock State Park's trails take hikers through desert brush and low forest surrounded by a red rock backdrop. Most hikes require some moderate elevation gain, but the stepladder orientation of the trails mean you can hike as big or as small of a loop as you'd like. The visitor center and open field behind it have some views of the red rocks with no hiking required. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Photographers try to get just the right shot of Cathedral Rock looming over the reflective waters of Oak Creek. This picnic area features open lawns and plenty of picnic benches. To get to the best photography spots, walk to the far end of the open fields and follow the path along the creek until you reach a wide riverbank of red rock. Even further than that is Buddha Beach, a small swimming hole directly underneath Cathedral Rock. It's possible to hike to this picnic area from the Secret Slickrock trail, or vice versa. The trailhead is hidden behind some electric boxes about 100 feet north of the park entrance on Red Rock Crossing Rd. Open 8 a.m. to dusk.

This lookout atop airport mesa is one of the most popular places to catch a sunset, with an unobstructed view of northern and western Sedona. Other than a few large rocks, there is no seating so bring a lawn chair if you have one. Parking is $3 across the street.

This is a must visit for families! Though much of this park preserves an old pioneer homestead and apple orchard, the highlight is a swimming hole along Oak Creek Canyon with a natural water slide. The red rocks surrounding this portion of the creek are also fun to climb around. One brief hiking trail skims the ledge above the creek for wider views. Hours vary through the year but are typically 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.. December and January hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The parking lot for this popular trail fills up fast, so get here early if you can! The entire trail, which follows the west fork of Oak Creek as it meanders through a forested gorge, is 6.5 miles out and back, rated as easy to moderate, and will take roughly three hours. Though the trail remains relatively flat, there are 13 creek crossings over logs and stepping stones, so you won't get far if you're not up for a creek crossing. Still, the trailhead is beautiful and the ruins of the old Mayhew Lodge before the trail goes into the gorge are fun to explore. You can always give it a shot and turn around when the trail becomes too difficult. With over 100 species of birds found here, this is also a popular birding site.

Stop at this vista at the northernmost tip of Oak Creek Canyon for a birds-eye view of the scenery. Vendors of the Native American Crafts Market set up booths on the walkway between the parking lot and the overlook daily. Some arrive as early as the vista opens and stick around as late as it closes, but midday is the best time to catch the most vendors, who sell handiworks from local native artists. The vista is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

A historic Arizona town, once full of miners, bootleggers, and gamblers, are now full of shops, tourist attractions, and restaurants. Come visit!