Have you made your Valentine’s Day plans yet? Visit the Sedona Deals page for more than 20 of the best deals available in Sedona right now. Visit our new Sedona’s Best Videos page for 3 inspiring videos about Sedona.

While you are in Sedona over Valentine’s Day weekend, make sure to take a savory ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad’s Chocolate Lover’s Train.

Verde Canyon Railroad’s Chocolate Lover’s Festival is an annual event scheduled to coincide with the Valentine’s Day season. This year it runs from February 10-14 and makes a delicious outing for sweethearts, or anyone with a sweet tooth.

Ride the rails into one of Arizona’s most wildly scenic and undisturbed canyons where you’ll discover the perfect backdrop for romance. Revel in the breath-snatching sights of the Verde Canyon while savoring hot cocoa, flavored coffee, specialty cocktails and a platter of sumptuous chocolate goodies. Enjoy the plush comfort of a first-class rail car and access to open air gondolas with friends, family or your one and only Valentine.

Few foodstuffs hold us so tightly in their sway as does chocolate. Cocoa butter melts at body temperature so the sensation of a chocolate morsel dissolving in a heavenly puddle on our tongue is seared in our memory. It’s exactly the kind of experience you want to share with a special someone. The same can be said for the romance of a train ride.

Just remember, if you’ve got melted chocolate all over your hands, you’re eating too slowly.

Tickets are $89.95 per person, and reservations are available by visiting Verde Canyon Railroad.

What a fun weekend to visit Sedona, Arizona! Whether you’re already here on vacation, or coming up for the weekend, you will find plenty of things to do in the Sedona area. Our events this weekend encompass everything from art to music and history to comedy. We have compiled a list of highlighted events and attractions to help you plan your weekend.

Events: There are so many things to do in and around Sedona this weekend that we could not possibly list them all. To see more events for the weekend, or to read more about the following events, visit our events page.

• 1st Friday Evening in the Galleries –  February 5th 
  (5:00pm – 8:00pm) The Sedona Gallery Association offers a unique monthly showcase highlighting artists, special exhibits, and art events. These special art receptions give locals and Sedona visitors alike the opportunity to begin their weekends with an exploration of Sedona’s exciting art scene.
• Art In Motion Exhibit – February 5, 2010
  The Sedona Art Center opens the exhibit Art in Motion that features four very talented local artist, Miro Fitzgerald, Joella Jean Mahoney, Justine Mantor-Waldie and George Averbeck. The opening reception starts at 5:00pm. There will also be free art demonstrations throughout the month.
• Dave Rentz – “A Ton of Feathers”  February 5, 2010 (7:30pm) For music lovers wanting to experience something entirely different, the Old Town Center for the Arts, located at 633 N 5th Street in Cottonwood, is pleased to present “A Ton of Feathers, A One Man Musical Oddity”. Featuring multi-instrumentalist and improvisational artist, Dave Rentz.
• Sedona Marathon “Cinco de Marathon” February 6, 2010 Known for its breathtaking beauty, the red rock country of Sedona is host to one of the most inspiring and rugged marathon races. Fast becoming one of Sedona’s premiere outdoor events. The start time for the marathon will be  8:00 am at  the Cultural Park.
• Jerome Art Walk February 6, 2010 (5:oopm – 8:oopm) Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the 26 galleries and studios of Jerome will be brimming over with visual delights. There will be plenty of chocolate, music and good conversation at this event. Meet the artists that night and mingle with other art lovers who are drawn to this charming mountain town.
• Brad Zinn in “The Great Comedians” February 6, 2010 (7:30pm) Old Town Center for the Arts, located at 633 N 5th Street in Cottonwood, is pleased to present Brad Zinn in “The Great Comedians.” The central theme of The Great Comedians is one man’s childhood journey to becoming an entertainer, inspired by the Golden Age of Television, and the veteran entertainers who populated the airwaves.
• “Cliff Dwellings of the Verde Valley” February 7, 2010 (2:00pm) Red Rock State Park presents ”Cliff Dwellings of the Verde Valley” an archeological perspective on a unique architectural trend in the theater. The presentation will be made by Matt Guebard, Park Archeologist at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments. The presentation will describe cliff dwellings and cavates used in the Verde Valley during the 13th and 14th centuries.
• Verde Valley Sinfonietta “Love is in the Music” February 6 & 7, 2010. The Verde Valley Sinfonietta will be preforming its popular “Love is in the Music” concert at the Emmanuel Fellowship Church, located at 1580 E. Fir St in Cottonwood, on Februaury 6th at 7:oopm, and at 2:30pm on February 7th at the Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, 390 Dry Creek Road in Sedona.

Attractions: There are so many great Sedona and Verde Valley attractions and tours to experience while you are in Sedona that sometimes it’s hard to choose which ones to do. To see even more attractions Sedona has to offer visit our attractions page. Here are some of our top favorites:

• Arizona ATV Adventures  The West Sedona Canyon Tour 
  “Hollywood’s Favorite Location for Western Films”
  Go on a guided 30 mile ATV tour in the outback of the West Sedona Valley where over 40 movies have been filmed. They have over a hundred miles of trails to choose from, which provides their guides with the opportunity to customize each tour based on the age, interests and skill levels of the group. If the conditions are right, you’ll be awestruck by a view of the Verde Valley from the top of Skeleton Bone Mountain, over 800 feet above the valley floor.
• Blazin M Ranch
  “ChuckWagon Supper & Live Western Stage Show”
  All ages from all walks of life find themselves transported into a simpler time as they clatter along wooden boardwalks, purchase frontier souvenirs at the local mercantile and enjoy a hearty conversation with one of the authentic cowboy wranglers. Travelers are invited to tantalize their taste buds and tickle their funny bones with a knee-slapping, wholesome, good time during their Chuckwagon-style Dinner and Show.
• Sedona Trolley 
  “The Best First thing to do in Sedona”
  Make the most of your stay here in Sedona! Join us for our two, fun and informative, fully-narrated 55 minute tours that take you to all of the best places in town. Visit historic spots, take in the breathtaking views, inspirational landmarks, vortex sites, and photo ops. Learn about Sedona’s past and present, with tips on the best places for hiking, picnicking, shopping, dining, and watching red rock sunsets!
• Verde Canyon Railroad (Friday & Saturday at 1:00)
  “Eagle Watch”
  The Canyon is void of most foliage so many of the wildlife who live along the river are more visible. The chasm also is home to a productive pair of American Bald Eagles, and offers a winter respite for other migratory visitors including many species of endangered and endearing waterfowl. From early winter through late spring, these amazing raptors will thrill you with their aerobatic courting rituals, dedication to incubation and fierce protectiveness over their new generation.

There are many lodging choices for your stay in Sedona. Here are some of Sedonas’ top hotels, bed & breakfast and resorts that offer special packages for your Sedona Vacation. All you need to do is click on their name to see their specials and packages.

• Best Western Inn of Sedona
  “Deja View”
• Kokopelli Suites
  “Winter Wonderland”
• Casa Sedona Bed & Breakfast
  “Winter Magic”
• Baby Quail Inn
  “Affordable Sedona”

Make sure to check our Sedona deals page for current vacation packages, discounted Sedona tours and much more.

*List this site on your favorites and make sure to check in every Friday for the updated, always current, news on Sedona events, attractions and entertainment!

All of Sedona and film buffs around the world are anxously awaiting the start of the 16th Annual Sedona International Film Festival “Reel Magic” taking place February 21-28, 2010. Along with feature films by Barry Levinson (“PolliWood”), Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan (“The Greatest”), Aiden Quinn (“A Shine of Rainbows”), Connie Stevens (“Saving Grace B. Jones”), and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and Jerome resident Maynard James Keenan (“Blood Into Wine”), the Festival will screen several films with strong Arizona connections including films by:

• Lee Storey, a Paradise Valley resident, “Smile Till It Hurts: The Up With People Story”  
• Joe Mundo, a Scottsdale filmmaker, “When the World Breaks,” 
• Marlo Bendau, who was intrigued by the Cornville artist’s concept for a 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero in New York City, “Rising: The Art of John Waddell”.

For more information on this Sedona Event visit the Sedona Film Festival.

*For those traveling to Sedona  for the Festival we suggest making your reservations ahead of time.  Here are a few of our picks for lodging in Sedona. To see more lodging choices visit Sedona Lodging.

• Best Western Inn of Sedona
• Kokopelli Suites
• Baby Quail Inn
• Casa Sedona Bed & Breakfast
• Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa

 *Check back weekly to this site to read more information about this festival. We are commited to make your time here as informative and enjoyable as possible.

This year’s annual Sedona Marathon “Cinco de Marathon” will be taking place February 5th. What better, healthier way to explore the red rocks of Sedona than participating in this Sedona event. Not only can you enjoy all the beautiful scenery, you can challenge yourself and your abilities.

You do not have to be a mega athlete to enjoy and participate in this event. Sedona Marathon offers three different levels of races for all skill levels.

• Full marathon race with a distance of 42.195km and an elevation gain of 1800feet.
• The Half Marathon race with a distance of 21.0975km and an elevation gain of 1100 feet.
• The 5k race with an elevation gain of 150 feet.
• All races start at 8am Mountain Standard Time with the full marathon race starting first, followed by the half marathon race and finally the 5k race and will be separated by several minutes.

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For everyone coming to Sedona,who is looking for an attraction that involves good food, musical comedy and an all around good time Blazin’ M Ranch season is upon us. A Cottonwood tradition comes a-blazin’ back on February 3 as the Blazin’ M Ranch opens for its sixteenth year.

Popular with locals and visitors alike, the Blazin’ M Ranch dishes up music with a side of comedy following the all-you-can-eat barbecue supper, served Chuckwagon-style.The gates open at 5 p.m. on a western wonderland chock full of fun. Lovely shops line a boardwalk anchored by Olde Tyme Photos. Tucked into a corner is the one-of-a-kind Wood ‘n West museum featuring hand-carved animated vignettes with themes ranging from a baseball game to a bank robbery. Kids of all ages can learn to rope and shoot.

The 6:30 dinner bell calls everyone to the huge, climate controlled barn for a feast including beef, chicken, cowboy beans, baked ‘taters, biscuits, chunky applesauce and spice cake, all homemade and all delicious. Wonderful selections of pies are offered for sale as well.

The month of February in Sedona, Arizona is jam packed with events, attractions, and endless entertainment. There are so many things to do in Sedona that you should consider either an extended vacation or some extra weekend getaways. Not only does Sedona offer the Sedona Marathon,the 16th Annual Sedona International FilmFestival , great Valentine’s Day deals and happenings like the Verde Canyon Railroad’s Chocolate Lovers Festival but also the Sedona tour companies are ready to enhance your vacation with thrilling jeep tours, tours of the wineries and even tours of the Universe.

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