Located in Camp Verde, Out of Africa Wildlife Park , one of the most popular attractions in Northern Arizona, is only 30 minutes from Sedona and should definitely be a part of your Sedona, Arizona vacation. This 104 acre wildlife park offers you and your family the opportunity to get up close to wild life in their natural habitat.

With educational and exciting attractions like Wildlife Preserve,Tiger Splash, African Bush Safari and Predator Feed, your kids will learn more about wildlife while still having fun!  Below you will find some of our favorite attractions at the park, and all of them are covered with general admission to the park.

Some of our favorite attraction at Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Wildlife Preserve
You can take your family on a narrated tram or trolley tour of the Wildlife Preserve or if you prefer take a leisurely walk among the Preserve’s predator habitats. Whichever way you choose you are going to want to take you camera! There are plenty of photo opportunities of lions, tigers, wolves, hyena, and other predators that roam in large, natural habitats.

Tiger Splash
At Tiger Splash(my personal favorite) Bengals, Siberian tigers and other big cats interact in a predator/prey relationship as they play with their caretakers and various colorful toys,romping and splashing in a 35-foot by 50-foot pool. Watching those huge cats jump in the air and leap into the pool is absoulutely breathtaking.This unique, thrilling, and exciting show is also very educational. Through the live narration, you’ll discover how instincts, intellect and feelings interact to form spontaneous, natural behavior.

African Bush Safari
You will experience the heart of Africa in the heart of Arizona with this African Bush Safari! This is an authentic African photo safari with expert park guides narrating throughout your tour. While riding in a safari vehicle, you can expect a personal encounter with giraffe, zebra, ostrich and more.They even provide treats so that you can feed the animals.This is where the gentle kiss from a giraffe awaits you!

Predator Feed
You also have the opportunity to see how large animals, such as lions and tigers eat. Follow the animal caretakers on a Predator Feed as they throw 800 pounds of raw food to eagerly waiting carnivores! I realize this attraction may not be for everyone, however there is something to be said for seeing the prideful walk of a Lion with his prey.

What are you waiting for, where else would you be able to kiss a giraffe, feed a Tiger, or watch people and tigers play together in a giant swimming pool? Buy your tickets today!

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”Ecotourism is responsible travel to relatively undisturbed areas. The experience focuses on conserving natural and cultural resources, educating the tourists and the community and minimizing negative aspects of tourism while contributing profitability back to the local community.”

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We wish everyone a very happy and wonderful Christmas weekend filled with family, friends and love. If you are going to be visiting Sedona, Arizona over the weekend and looking for some holiday fun, I highly suggest taking your family to see nearly one million light and over a dozen holiday displays at Red Rock Fantasy.

If you still have some last minute holiday shopping to do visit the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village for those unique last minute gifts, even if you are finished with your shopping, Tlaquepaque is a great place for a stroll and offers some wonderful restaurants to have a bite. Hopefully you have made your reservations for your Christmas feast, but just in case you have not, below you will find our suggestions for Sedona restaurants that are offering Christmas menus.

• RENÉ at Tlaquepaque
• Heartline Cafe
• Hundred Rox Restaurant

Have a Wonderful Christmas

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While you are making your plans to visit Sedona, Arizona this winter you are going to want to make sure to check out the excursion train “Eagle Watch” at the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Verde Canyon Railroad’s Eagle Watch is more than just an excursion train. It’s more than an expedition filled with scenic wonders, more than a stress-free escape. It’s a journey to the very heart of America. Searching for the ultimate American symbol while riding on a treasured symbol of freedom makes for a stirring, memorable adventure. These are the experiences meant to be shared with family and friends.

The Verde Canyon Railroad travels through untamed country. It’s a landscape that seems to have been created just to bring trains and eagles together: a narrow high-walled canyon carved by one of the last free-flowing rivers in Arizona. Dramatic and isolated, Verde Canyon remains an unspoiled holdover from the frontier. Passengers relax in grand comfort as the train rumbles into stunning terrain where bald and golden eagles swoop from wind-gnawed cliffs, Great Blue Herons perch at river’s edge and fierce sunsets streak the sky.

Each winter migrating bald and golden eagles join resident pairs in this ancient sanctuary. Verde Canyon is a protected breeding area closed to the public. Only the Verde Canyon Railroad provides this exclusive opportunity to view these extraordinary raptors in their natural habitat. Having cohabited with the railroad for generations, the eagles pay no mind as the slow rolling train clickety-clacks its way to Perkinsville and back.

The event is called Eagle Watch but the Verde Canyon offers a warm weather respite to countless other migrating birds. The outdoor viewing cars, accessible from both first-class and coach accommodations, are the perfect venue to bird watch in Arizona’s most scenic winterscape. And, while the rail cars maintain their vintage style, they’ve each been upgraded to provide passengers with a thoroughly modern level of sophisticated comfort and service.

The Verde Canyon Railroad  is located in Clarkdale, only 25 minutes from Sedona and just two hours north of Phoenix, making Verde Canyon Railroad the perfect Arizona day trip!  For more information please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad.

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Check out these Sedona hotels that offer a Sedona vacation package with the Verde Canyon Railroad

• Best Western Plus Inn of Sedona
  “Romancing the Rails”
• Kokopelli Suites
  “Ridin’ the Rails”
• Wildflower Inn
  “Verde Canyon Railroad Package”

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Visit Sedona, Arizona this Fall and enjoy the crisp clean air, beautiful red rocks and wonderful Fall foliage in Oak Creek Canyon. Visit our Sedona deals page to find great savings with Sedona vacation packages, Sedona hotel specials and discounts on some of the most popular Sedona-Verde Valley tours and attractions. Check us out on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates on the Sedona-Verde Valley!

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When you are making your plans to visit Sedona, Arizona this Autumn make sure to include the “Fall Colors Tour” at  the Verde Canyon Railroad!

Taking a scenic drive to search for leafy color is an autumn tradition for many families. Of course that means watching the road, fighting traffic, stopping for food and quelling sibling quarrels over backseat turf. An autumn drive may not always be the hoped-for soothing respite. Yet it can be. Put those cares aside and climb aboard Verde Canyon Railroad’s Fall Colors Tour.

The “Fall Colors Tour” into the Verde Canyon is absolutely one of my all time favorite tours!  Passengers on the Verde Canyon Railroad are treated to a gentle ride through a high-walled canyon painted in an array of vibrant autumn hues that shimmer and change around every curve in the track. October and November bring crisp nights followed by warm sunny days beneath a sky achingly and endlessly blue. Be sure to keep a sharp eye peeled for wildlife. Sightings of deer, Javelina, coyote and other species increase this time of year and migratory birds return to the sanctuary. It may be due to cooling temperatures, or maybe the critters just don’t want to miss all the dazzling autumn scenery.

Each vintage car of Verde Canyon Railroad is outfitted for the utmost in comfort. Roomy and stylish with plush seating, unobstructed panoramic windows and prompt beverage service means passengers never have to budge to experience an amazing journey. Although budging will prove irresistible. Between the excessive spread of appetizers served in first class and instant access to the open-air viewing cars, it is the something-for-everybody trip we always want for our family.

The Verde Canyon Railroad is located in Clarkdale, Arizona  just 25 miles from Sedona and two hours north of Phoenix, making this soft-adventure Verde Valley attraction the perfect addition to your Sedona vacation or  the perfect Arizona day trip! And make sure to check out their Ales on Rails every Saturday and Sunday during October. For more information please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad

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Robert Fruggiero of Schertz, Texas, nominated Sedona for the “Good Morning America” search for the Most Beautiful Places in America. “This place is magical, with the red rocks, desert landscape and those beautiful twisted juniper trees,” he wrote in his submission, inspired by a visit to the area. ” I think everyone who visits Sedona leaves with a different sense of nature’s beauty. I did feel a little more alive while out there”…Read the full story at ‘GMA’ Most Beautiful Place in America

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Are you planning a family reunion or a group event in Sedona-Verde Valley? Well good news, there are plenty of fun activities and tours available that go out of their way to accommodate your group. Below you will find our top picks for fun things to do in Sedona-Verde Valley for everyone in your party.

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Verde Canyon Railroad
This three and one half-hour trip, which takes passengers through the protected, private back-country of Verde Canyon, offers you an exclusive environment for your special group.Whether it’s a party of 20 or 100, they make every effort to tailor seating to provide maximum exclusivity for your group. To learn more about their Verde Valley group tours or rates please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

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M Diamond Ranch
The M Diamond Ranch is the most unique location for your next celebration, wedding or corporate event. They are located in the quiet, peaceful foothills of the Mogollon Rim, which is the geological feature that creates Sedona, with spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, the old mining town of Jerome, Sedona and the entire Verde Valley. For more details on their Sedona group activities please visit the M Diamond Ranch.

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Arizona Outdoor Adventures
Perfect for corporate and business groups, birthdays, wedding parties, anniversaries, celebrations! You can take one of their regular ATV tours in Sedona, or they can arrange a special team building exercise for your group. For more details on their Sedona group activities please visit Arizona Outdoor Adventures.

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Sedona Trolley
The Sedona Trolley is perfect for group transfers in Sedona including shopping transfers, restaurant transfers, dine-arounds, golf transfers, wedding groups, Exclusive Sightseeing Tours and can carry up to 90 passengers at one time! For more details on Sedona group transfers and sightseeing tours please visit the Sedona Trolley.

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Out of Africa Wildlife Park
Out of Africa Wildlife Park offers fun, exciting and educational attractions such as Wildlife Preserve,Tiger Splash, African Bush Safari and Predator Feed. Out of Africa Wildlife Park welcomes groups and gatherings of 20 or more people at special rates. For more details on their Verde Valley group activites and discounts please visit Out of Africa Wildlife Park.

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Blazin M Ranch
Blazin’ M Ranch is a perfect setting for all family and corporate celebrations that demand fun and entertainment. We suggest you round up your posse of 20 or 280 and head their way for great food, great entertainment and great fun for all ages. For more details on their Verde Valley group activities please visit Blazin’ M Ranch.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks are having a good year, the MLB Allstar Game is on its way to phoenix in the beginning of July and we at Sedona Arizona Vacations are excited! Here is a great idea! Why not extend your vacation to Arizona for the MLB Allstar game and visit us in the beautiful red rocks of Sedona!

Sedona is located only 2 1/2 hour from Phoenix and would make for a great extension of your vacation. Use our site to find all the great Sedona-Verde Valley attractions, tours and events to plan some family fun during your stay and make sure to visit our Sedona Deals Page to find all the ways to save on your Sedona vacation including a $ 7 off  coupon for Out of Africa Wildlife Park and a Sedona adventure package“Saddle & Paddle” that includes Sedona horseback rides with the M Diamond Ranch and kayaking on the Verde River with Sedona Adventure Tours.  Below you will find some great places to stay with your family in Sedona before, during or after the game. If you would like to learn more about the MLB Allstar Game or interested in buying tickets visit MLB.com.

Featured Sedona Lodging

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Wildflower Inn “Your Home Away from Home” Wildflower Inn offers views like no other hotel in Sedona with exceptionally affordable accommodations. Their proximity to the famous Bell Rock and featured vortexes are just one our many selling points. Check out their Sedona Vacation Packages!

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See you in Sedona!

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May is a great time of year to come and see Sedona, Arizona. Bask in the sunshine, walk the galleries, enjoy some of the great tours, visit the surrounding areas like Jerome, Cottonwood, Camp Verde or Flagstaff, maybe even incorporate a day trip up to the Grand Canyon. You truly have endless possibilities of things to do as you explore the area.

I would have to say one of my favorite things to do this time of year is visit all the great galleries and specialty shops. You could spend the entire day checking out the local artists, especially in the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, known as the Art & Soul of Sedona. And if you come the first weekend in May you can participate in the Sedona First Friday Evening in the Galleries and the Jerome Art Walk! Both events give you the opportunity to meet the artists featured at the participating galleries receptions.

May is also a great time to enjoy tours in the Sedona-Verde Valley. I have quite a few favorites this time of year, I would have to say top on my list would be a horseback ride offered by the M Diamond Ranch. What a great way to see Sedona, from the back of a horse. Their horseback riding trail climbs a ridge above the ranch providing breathtaking views of Sedona’s Red Rocks, the Mogollon Rim, Verde Valley and the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff. You really want to make sure to have a camera for this tour!

I also enjoy taking the Water to Wine Tour from Sedona Adventure Tours. I would definitely say that this is one of the most popular tours that combines a one hour Ducky Kayak trip on a scenic stretch of the Verde Valley River with just enough chutes and riffles to add a bit of excitement without ruffling any feathers. Your Ducky Kayak trip ends in the shade of giant cottonwood Trees where you will take the gravel path up through the vineyards to the Tuscan farmhouse at the Alcantara Vineyards for your wine tasting delight. Now that is the Best of both worlds!

There are so many tours available in the area it is hard to name them all but the other tops on my list are Verde Canyon Railroad; a wilderness train excursion through the Verde Canyon, Sedona Trolley; known as “the best first thing to do” in Sedona due to their knowledgeable guides and two fully narrated 55 minute tours and Arizona Outdoor Adventures; ride one of their ATV’s on a guided tour of West Sedona!

As far as day trips go, you can easily do Cottonwood, Jerome and Camp Verde in a day. Jerome, located high up on Cleopatra Hill and only 20 miles from Sedona, offers a variety of very talented artists, fun restaurants and great shops.  Let’s not forget the wine, Old Town Cottonwood located just 16 miles from Sedona, gives you that old town feeling with an updated twist where you will find wine tasting rooms, specialty shops and galleries. Camp Verde is the home of a historic military post, Fort Verde State Historical Park and just 20 miles from Sedona.

The Grand Canyon of course is a must if you are in Northern Arizona and you could easily incorparate stops of interest in and around Flagstaff on the way. Sunset Crater, The Museum of Northern Arizona, Wupatki National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument and Lowell Observatory just to name a few.

As you can see, there is plenty to do in Northern Arizona, and May is a great time to do it!

Our top picks for Sedona Lodging

• Kokopelli Suites
  “Where Every Guest is a VIP”
• Best Western Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas
  Awarded “Best of the Best in Customer Care”
• Casa Sedona Bed & Breakfast Inn
  “An Invitation to Indulge”
• Best Western Inn of Sedona
  “Unbeatable Views of Sedona’s Red Rocks”
• Wildflower Inn
  “Offering you the comfort and convenience you deserve”

Plan your Sedona vacation today and we will see you soon!

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With all the beauty, art, spiritual rejuvenation, relaxation, hikes and surrounding attractions Sedona is the perfect choice for  your Northern Arizona vacation!

Visiting Sedona, Arizona guarantees that you will see some of the most beautiful desert scenery in the west and you will be visiting one of the Top 25 Destinations in the United States!

Sedona has received awards in three categories by Trip Adviser in 2010. First, as one of the overall best destinations in the United States, next as one of the top ten Relaxation & Spa Destinations in the World and third as one of the Top Ten Romance Destinations in the world.

All the awards are great, but that is not really what makes it perfect. Take it from someone that lives in the area, there is so much more to Sedona than meets the eye!

There is a feeling in Sedona that is hard to explain. It’s a special place that melts away your everyday stress, fills your senses with wonder and awe and re-energizes your soul. There are many people that will say all the vortexes in Sedona help to create this magical feeling, I am not going to pretend to know what creates this feeling, all I know is that the combination of the majestic red rocks, clear skies and an abundance of some of the most creative art works that I have ever seen have something to do with it.

Make your plans today to experience the beauty of Sedona, Arizona, you will not be disappointed! Below you will find some of my favorite places to stay when I am visiting Sedona.

Best Western Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas
Awarded “Best of the Best in Customer Care”
The Best Western Arroyo Roble and Creekside Villas is located in the heart of Uptown Sedona, overlooking Oak Creek Canyon and situated on over 600 feet of private frontage on Oak Creek, offering an abundance of family fun opportunities including fishing, wading and swimming. Or you can relax on the private deck and enjoy watching the native wildlife under a canopy of ancient Sycamore trees.

Casa Sedona Bed & Breakfast Inn
“An Invitation to Indulge”
Casa Sedona is a nationally recognized bed & breakfast inn nestled on an acre of natural and manicured gardens where beauty and serenity abound.The inn is perfect for a relaxing getaway, spiritual retreat, or intimate wedding. Casa Sedona was also featured on the Travel Channel’s Best of the Best; the 2007 edition of “1000 Places to See Before You Die”.

Best Western Inn Plus of Sedona
“Unbeatable Views of Sedona’s Red Rocks”
Beckoned by the mystique of Sedona, Arizona, the Best Western Plus Inn of Sedona will surround you with breathtaking beauty and the natural majesty of Sedona’s Red Rocks. The Best Western Plus Inn of Sedona’s award winning design allows 360 degree views of Sedona’s Red Rocks from their four Terraced Promenade Decks unique among Sedona hotels. Recently renovated, the Inn of Sedona offers three distinctive room types, including King Fireplace rooms.

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While you are making your plans for your family Easter Sedona vacation make sure to include the Easter Bunny Express at the Verde Canyon Railroad. This is one train ride your family will never forget!

The Easter Bunny hops on board The Verde Canyon Railroad on April 24th, for the Easter Bunny Express to share his basket of goodies with young and young-at-heart on this Sunday excursion. Children of all ages can visit with the Easter Bunny on the patio. There will be plenty of photo opportunity’s, treats and a jelly bean contest.

On top of the fun with the Easter Bunny, the journey into the canyon is amazing, especially in the spring! Spring in the Verde Canyon is absolutely breathtaking. Mother Nature masterfully showcases her towering cliffs in desert reds with a sapphire sky dancing on their pinnacles as the lively green waters of the Verde River enhance the shoreline. She dots the landscape with multicolored wildflowers and blooming cacti, completing her handiwork and arousing your senses.

The ribbons of green vegetation that grow along the banks of the Verde River provide critical habitat for the Canyon’s waterfowl, including the Great Blue Heron. While cruising the river, these graceful birds glide on a wingspan that can reach close to six feet. The Verde Canyon is home to a variety of wildlife, you never know what you might see!

So, what are you waiting for, make your reservations today and treat your family to the Easter fun while enjoying the greatest wilderness excursions in Northern Arizona! For more details please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

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