Author Event at Sedona Rouge

I will be speaking and signing books along with two other Arizona authors, Christine Bailey and Jackie Dishner, on January 23 from 4pm-6pm at Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa. I'm really looking forward to the trip. In addition to the event, we are scheduled to take the Water to Wine tour where you kayak to the area's wineries. I'm also hoping to take a helicopter and a Tomcar ride.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

This beautiful church was designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a sculptor and student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Her inspiration came in 1932 when she viewed the newly constructed Empire State Building from a certain angle and saw what seemed to be a cross imposed through the very core of the structure. Staude had inherited a large sum of money and wanted to build a church that would glorify God and give thanks for the gifts she had received in life. After searching throughout Europe looking for the ideal location, she was struck by the beauty of Sedona and decided to build a "monument to faith" among its red rocks. It was completed in 1956.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is open to the public daily 9am-5pm and on Sundays 10am-5pm. It is operated by the Diocese of Phoenix and St. John Vianney parish. Parking is limited, and you may not be able to park at the top lot. If not, be prepared to walk. There are also no public restrooms at the chapel (although there is a small portable at the lower parking lot), so go before you go.

(Details: 780 Chapel Rd., Sedona. 928-282-4069, http://www.chapeloftheholycross.com/.)

Sedona Jeep Tour

Saturday, we took the Broken Arrow tour with Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona. We had a great time even though the temperature hovered around 100 degrees. Luckily, afternoon clouds and a few sprinkles cooled things down a bit while we were actual on the trail.

The Broken Arrow tour is the original and most popular tour. When I booked it, I wish I realized that would mean that we would be sharing our tour with another foursome--eight people was a tight fit and required one adult to sit up front with the driver. The other drawback to the Broken Arrow tour is the traffic. At least, four other jeeps pulled out with us, and we went along the trail, one after the other like a pink amusement park ride.

BUT, if you want a tour that's going to take you where you thought a vehicle couldn't go, this is it. Even though the trail is open to the public, you need a high-clearance, short wheelbase 4x4 to maneuver through the rocky terrain. The girls really enjoyed driving up then straight down boulders. I liked stopping at two points to take photographs of the incredible scenery.