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a feel good travel blog

How to Spend a Day in Sedona, Arizona

5/27/2020

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Sedona is a beautiful and spiritual city, located between the Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. Whether you're passing through or driving up from Phoenix, it is impossible to experience all of Sedona in one day. However, there is plenty to do and see to experience the best of Sedona's natural and "woo-woo" side. 

Be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds and the heat. Whatever you want to experience, Sedona will definitely cleanse your mind, body and soul. 

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Red Rock Crossing, Cathedral Rock + Vortexes
People are often curious on whether the vortexes in Arizona exist, or not. That is something for you to experience on your own and determine whether or not it is real or fake. However, to the Native Americans, these energy centers are very real and have powerful healing abilities. 

The four best known Sedona vortexes are found at Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon. 

Red Rock Crossing is one of the most popular visitation spots, and the most photographed, in Sedona, and for good reason. It's a mild walk along Oak Creek and features stunning views of Cathedral Rock. The walk is relatively flat and people enjoy picnics at the Crescent Moon Picnic Area (a Day Use Fee area).  People choose to bathe in the creek where some hunt for the vortex in this area. Get down with the divine feminine with the feminine energy vortex in this area that ignites feelings of softness, receptivity and compassion. 

For those seeking a "wilderness hike," start off by hiking Cathedral Rock from the Back-O-Beyond Road to hike one of the many trails. Some people go directly up, which involves mild climbing, up to the peaks to experience the vortex. Others head left to wrap around Cathedral Rock where others go right to get down to the creek. If wanting the vortex, follow the trails, signs and people toward the rock's steeples. 

Beat the heat and start this journey early if hiking, or if wanting to experience the pools, the mild Oak Creek hike is bearable during daytime heat. 

For directions on how to access Cathedral Rock and Red Rock Crossing, click here. 
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Chapel of the Holy Cross
Everything in Sedona revolves around spirituality. Whether or not you believe in God and Jesus Christ, it is worth a visit to explore this desert architectural wonder. The chapel is part of the Roman Catholic Church. Completed in 1956, the ideas came from a local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude decades earlier, but this idea never came to fruition because of the war. She wanted to build a church similar to the construction of the Empire State Building. Budapest was the ideal location where she got help with famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, but plans were aborted because of WWII. 

The church is interesting indeed, where some are fascinated by it where others are a bit weirded out by the modern metal Jesus. There is an attached gift shop for souvenirs and is one of the top attractions in Sedona.  Parking is limited so expect lines during peak visitation hours. 
Head into Town, Shop and Get Spiritual
When driving into Sedona, drivers will pass various corporate shops and strip malls. This is not the main shopping / food district, which is located in the center of town nearby the visitors center. 

No visitation to Sedona is complete without a massage, having your aura cleansed or consulting a psychic. You'll pass numerous small shops throughout your drive, but Sedona's Main Street features a variety of restaurants, cafes, and boutique souvenir shops. 

If you're not one to go too far out of the box, get your aura photographed at Sedona's Mystical Bazaar. For $29, you'll get your auric field photographed along with 23 pages of interpretations to help you on your spiritual journey. 

Be sure to visit Tlaquepaque, Sedona's exclusive arts and crafts village. This is another "architectural wonder" as the village replicates a traditional Mexican village, Tlaquepaque, meaning the "best of everything." Built in the 1970's, one escapes the feelings of being in the US and experiences some of the South of the Border lifestyle. Equipped with a church, social events and weddings also take place in the village. 

Hillside Sedona is another hotspot for exclusive art or locally made Native American artworks and designs. 

If you have time before leaving, walk the flat Bell Rock Pathway where many claim the vortex to be strong in this area. The flat path features stunning views of Bell Rock. 

Although there is so much to do and see in Sedona, this itinerary balances the best of nature, history, architecture and the local flavor, which is part of Sedona's culture. A true artist and spiritual community, there is the opportunity to do much healing and self reflection while in Sedona, all inspired by the Native's spirit. Enjoy the land! 

​Let's Connect! Be sure to follow me on the GPSMyCity app for some of the best travel articles on various destinations around the world! 


This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to How to Spend a Day in Sedona, Arizona.
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Top Historical Sites to See in Portland, Oregon

5/19/2020

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Portland is the beloved Pacific Northwest city that is known for hipsters, sustainable food and being extremely weird. Behind all that modernism is a city chocked full of (seedy) history. Incorporated in 1851, and a bit of a Wild West town, most people say that the PNW gets prettier (and classier) the further north you go up towards Seattle and Vancouver. 

Portland is great at preserving history and there is no shortage of interesting landmarks and stories. On your next visit to Portland, be sure to check out these historical sites. 
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A hopeful sign of Spring in Portland: they've turned the Benson bubblers back on. #bensonbubblers #portland #portlandoregon #pioneercourthousesquare

A post shared by Anthony Ho (@tone_hulk) on Apr 17, 2020 at 4:18pm PDT

The Benson Bubblers
In downtown Portland you'll notice bronze water fountains that continuously flow water. This is the city's iconic drinking fountains, that may or may not still flow water to this date. There are 52 fountains in the city along with 74 individual fountains.

So, how did these fountains come about?  In 1912, a local lumber baron, Simon Benson, noticed alcohol on his worker's breath. They claimed there was no fresh drinking water and resorted to alcohol. Benson donated $10,000 to the city to build 20 bronze drinking fountains. Supposedly beer consumption decreased by 25% after the installation. See a map of the fountain locations here. 

Simon Benson House
For those who admired Benson and his philanthropy be sure to check out his 1900 Queen Anne Style House. It was condemned in 1991, but later moved to the Portland State Campus, and now serves as the office to the Alumni Association. 

The Old Church 
Finding religious people in Portland is nearly an endangered species. Downtown features several old churches in operation, but one of the most prominent sites is The Old Church. Once a Presbyterian church is now the "sanctuary of sound" and operates as a concert venue hall. Built in 1883, the church features European architectural influences with a Gothic design, pipe organ, vaulted ceilings and Corinthian columns. 

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Running really is the best way to explore any city. Sometimes you end up in Chinatown.

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 Old Town China Town & Shanghai Tunnels
Nearby the Amtrak station is the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of the city, which is sandwiched between the Willamette River and the Pearl District. It's an interesting neighborhood to say the least. Many homeless camps pop up from time to time on the city streets, but it is a good place to savor a tasty Asian meal. 

Below the city streets are the Shanghai Tunnels, which connected the shops and hotels to the waterfront. The purpose was to avoid traffic, but the darker side of the Victorian life was used to kidnap or "Shanghai" (also called "crimping") people through trapdoors, which are found in many buildings still to this date. Most victims were sold into some form of labor slaves. 

To learn more take the historic Shanghai Tunnel walking tour. 

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Just five minutes from our front doors, can anybody tell us what happens here twice a week? #portland #ankenysquare #travelportland #sunshine #skidmorefountain

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Skidmore Fountain & Ankeny Plaza
Back in the day, Ankeny Plaza was the epicenter for entertainment and commerce. Skidmore Fountain was built in 1888 and known as Portland's oldest public art piece. In its inauguration local brewer, Henry Weinhard, offered to pump beer through a fire hose to the fountain, but the idea was vetoed by civic leaders. Today its a place for Portlanders to stay cool during the summer months. 
Waterfront + Portland's Saturday Market
The waterfront is worth exploring through a historical walking tour in Portland's Old Town. From chilling stories, or historic architecture, so many things have once happened on these city streets. The docks were the gateway of the "port life," receiving shipments of lumbar and supplies to nearby warehouses. 

The most popular place to explore on the weekends is the Portland Saturday Market. Located on the Willamette River, explore a myriad of food, craft and clothing stalls. The market has been in operation since 1973 from two local artist women, Sheri Teasdale and Andrea Scharf. The market operates March through Christmas Eve every weekend. 

I recommend a historical walking tour 
offered by Know Your City, Slabtown Tours and the Architectural Heritage Center.
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Flowers in Portland â–¡ #beautiful #beauty #urbanlandscape #city #portlandoregon #pnw #pacnw #Portland #Oregon #travel #tree #traveler #traveling #travelgram #travelstagram #architecture #naturelover #nature #outdoorlife #outdoors #spring #sprituality #lifestyle #mindfulness #mindfulliving #mindbodysoul #flower #flowergram #flowerstagram #flowers

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on Apr 27, 2017 at 2:38pm PDT

Nob Hill - Alphabet District
The historic Alphabet District is zoned between NW 17th and 24th Avenues, and between W Burnside and NW Marshall Streets. â€‹It's a fun neighborhood to get lost in to admire historic architecture. The district got its name in 1865 when Captain John H. Couch platted his first subdivision labeling each street name by a letter. By 1869, the area featured streets A through O. 

Nob Hill has been home to the wealthier class since the origins of the city. It gots its name from San Francisco's "Nob Hill," in hopes to attract the wealthy, upper class nobles to the neighborhood. The neighborhood features plenty of Portland Victorian, Craftsman-style homes, some of which were the grand merchant homes of the 1890's. Many people marvel at the adorable apartments, most of which were built after the 1905 Louis and Clark building boom. Most people find themselves shopping or dining on 23rd street (aka Trendy-Third Street), which is where most of the retail resides. You'll certainly find trendy boutiques and sophisticated dining spots here. 

This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to  Top Historical Sites to See in Portland, Oregon.

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    Elizabeth Rae Kovar is a Fitness Trainer, Author of Finding Om, Presenter, Yogi, Vegan & lover of the World. View her portfolio at www.elizabethkovar.comor health-based blog at mindbodysoul-food.com

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