Go Home Tourists! - 9/21/2020

Sedona was a great place to live back in the 90's. Its still very good but has now been ruined by tourists. Most of the tourists come from Southern California and Phoenix. They rent ATV's and try to sneak on to the trails to ruin everyones hiking experience. The tourists also drive up the canyon to go to Slide Rock and other parts of the creek. They park everywhere, in the middle of the road, in the middle of passing lanes, everywhere, and then they walk in the middle of the highway to get to their destination. They stand in the middle of the highway to take stupid family pics, these idiots. Go home!!! They leave their beer cans all over the creek, they deficate and urinate in the creek and all over town, they leave dirty diapers, condoms, and maxi pads floating in the creek. These tourists are disgusting and need to stay in their own city. Don't come to Sedona, we don't wan't you! But its not just the tourists that are ruining Sedona, it's also the city of Sedona. City council permits huge hotels and resorts on every street corner in Sedona. They approved the stupid Marriott hotel to have TWO hotels on one lot near the high school. How stupid can you possibly be? City of Sedona is constantly messing up neighborhoods and roads with useless drainage and sidewalk projects, hiring horrible construction companies that take years to complete a simple task. The third thing that has ruined Sedona are the stupid idiotic ROUNDABOUTS!!! Get rid of these stupid pieces of junk!!! NO MORE ROUNDABOUTS, NO MORE RESORTS, NO MORE HOTELS, NO MORE E-BIKES, TOURISTS GO HOME!!!!! Other than that, Sedona is a great place to live. - Tadestal Nillan

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Overrated. - 9/14/2020

Sedona is an absolutely ****ty and overrated place to live in. The people there are nasty to the tourists and there is barely any good food in the grocery stores. We went there to escape the heat of Tucson and found out it is just as hot and way worse than Tucson is. Horrible place.

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Loving Sedona - 9/2/2020

I LOVE Sedona. I believe most people living here do too. I think this site mixed up part of the description with Flagstaff’s since it says some of the same. Hopefully this is sorted correctly into Sedona’s. I think people want to keep Sedona secret so I am spilling the beans. There is a bit of traffic congestion in areas. Cost of living fairly high. Ive had no issues finding work but I work in elderly care and medical. This is definitely a VORTEX and attracts who is “supposed” to be here. This really makes sense to most Sedonans but not outsiders necessarily. Very friendly town and authentic lifestyle. Nature all around. 4 seasons. I have lived all over and I wouldn’t live anywhere else besides this spiritual, loving, nature filled town.

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A beautiful place to live - 7/14/2020

I've lived in Sedona for about 14 years. It is an incredibly beautiful place! Because it's so beautiful, we get a lot of out of town visitors and that does put some strain on traffic, especially on weekends and holidays. That being said, when I lived in Dallas, the traffic was a LOT worse! At least here, if traffic is bad just look out the window and see the natural beauty that surrounds you.

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Forget Sedona - 4/28/2020

May have been nice years ago, but today, not-so-much. Sedona has high sales taxes, high gas prices, heavy traffic, air pollution (ozone), and not enough doctors in the area. Nothing to do at night — everything closes before 9 pm!! Plus, there’s very little retail available except tourist shops!

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The rocks thing gets old - 8/19/2019

I lived there and left. Too many touristy non authentic shops, retirees. Boring.

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Unique and Very Livable for Some - 7/11/2019

Sedona is a unique and beautiful place, but it is not for everyone. It has lots of natural beauty, including many options for hiking and biking. The population has an older average age than many towns and cities, but residents here tend to keep active and pursue a healthier lifestyle. There are very good grocery options for a smaller area, and they include both regular and healthy choices. Eating establishments are not abundant; however there are several excellent restaurants here, ranging from fairly inexpensive to moderate, with a few upper-scale more expensive options. Crime is low in general, especially in both West Sedona and VOC/Big Park. After living here for several years, the downside of living in Sedona has become more obvious. Healthcare options are very limited, and require many residents to seek care out of town, including having to travel as far as Phoenix, just find a doctor who will accept new patience. While the living population has risen slowly, tourism and visitors is skyrocketing. While being great for the economy, the visitor footprint has impacted the area greatly, by ever increasing traffic and delays, as well as the impact on air quality. The resulting detraction in quality of life is by no means big, but it is noticeable. The hope is that the city will make necessary and appropriate updates to the infrastructure, so that both visitors and residents are properly accommodated. Currently, new hotels are being planned and in the process of construction to accommodate visitors. This will at least provide employment options to area residents; however in a hospitality industry which is extremely transient, in this area. Just as importantly, visitors have the option to not pay outrageous prices at the larger resorts in Sedona, which offer very poor value for the money, but instead choose more reasonable lodging to be able to go out and be one with which is still a naturally beautiful and spiritual place.

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Air quality becoming a big problem - 4/26/2019

We have lived here for 10 years. The air quality used to be good every day. Today it is unhealthy for sensitive types, not an usual occurrence. You need to update this publication.

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It's a tough little city - 10/29/2018

People come here because they want to be here until they realize that there are no living-wage jobs and no affordable places to live, so most people are transient residents and it is hard to get a sense of community. Small business owners are usually exploitative and the tourists are a complication, particularly in traffic, which is an issue.

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Great views and people - 6/5/2018

My wife and I moved to Sedona a year ago, and we are really enjoying it. The views are fantastic, and the people friendly. Here are a few specific observations, some of them addressing other comments on this site. They are arranged roughly from positive to negative: - The scenery is fantastic. Not only are there the famous red rocks, but there's plenty of attractive vegetation. - Mobile phone reception is very good almost everywhere in Sedona. I have AT&T and have been very pleased. I get 22 Mbps down and 4 Mbps up. Verizon is the more dominant carrier here, and it's said that reception is even better on Verizon. - It seems that most of the people in Sedona are here because they want to be here and in many cases went out of their way to be here. There don't seem to be many people who are somehow stuck in Sedona and are looking for a way to get out. - Shopping hasn't been a problem for us. There are two decent-sized traditional grocery stores (Safeway and Basha's), and several health-food stores, including Whole Foods. There are plenty of gas stations, auto repair shops, etc. We rarely find ourselves having to go even as far as Cottonwood (19 miles). Admittedly, we often order from Amazon. (US Mail, UPS, Fedex, etc., are all quick and reliable here.) - The restaurants seem plenty good to me, and there are a lot of them. I'm not sure what inspired another commenter to criticize Sedona restaurants. - The library is beautiful, and well-supported by the community. - I see a complaint about Sedona air pollution on this site, but I am not aware of any evidence for that claim. The air seems great to me. No doubt it's worse when there are forest fires, but AFAIK there haven't been any of those since I've moved here. - There are a lot of retirees in Sedona. Since I'm approaching retirement age myself, that's fine with me. However, young people might find their social options more limited than expected for a town of 10,000. - It's hot in the summer, but not Phoenix-hot. In fact, quite a few people who live in Phoenix come to Sedona in the summer to cool off. That is somewhat mind-boggling given the 97-degree temperatures here in the summer. But with the low humidity, I find summers here to be not much worse than in Wisconsin, where I moved from. - Be aware that during July and August ("monsoon season"), it rains almost every day for a short while. It clears up quickly, and I haven't found it to be a problem. I do carry a plastic bag for my mobile phone, to protect it in case I get caught in the rain. - There don't seem to be lot of professional-type jobs here. I work from home for a company located over 1000 miles away, and many of the other "professionals" I know have similar arrangements, or are self-employed. There are plenty of restaurant, hotel, and retail jobs. But if you plan on having some other type of job while living in Sedona, you'd be smart to arrange something in advance. - The middle-income housing options do seem to be limited. There are luxury homes and trailers, and not so much in between. Surprisingly, some of the best views of the red rocks are from less-than-spiffy trailers. I don't understand the economics behind that. - The traffic on 89A is heavy, and you need to take 89A to get just about anywhere. There's a bottleneck just west of Uptown; at certain times of the year or day, this will add several minutes to your drive if you are driving between West Sedona and Uptown (which are two different, informally-designated areas of Sedona). But I bicycle almost everywhere, and with the bike lanes on 89A, I am reliably able to bypass any traffic jams. ** I see that over 40% of the readers disagree with this review. It would be useful if you'd comment on what aspects of the review you disagree with. Thanks.

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Air pollution - 4/12/2018

The air pollution in Sedona is much worse than you’d think. Beware of this before you bring your kids or parents for some “healthy” outdoor activity.

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life in paradise - 6/24/2017

There is a popular saying that goes, God created the Grand Canyon, but he chose to live in Sedona. Sedona is two communities, Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. Between the two, a distance of approx. 5 miles is the famous Red Rock Senic drive. the "action" side of the two communities is Sedona, while the Village is more of a bedroom community. Macy's and Trader Joes are an hour and fifteen minutes away. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as we know. However, as you drive through this expansive country there is beauty every where. We have found a lot of varied housing opportunities. Real estate taxes and sales taxes are very acceptable. Shopping at the supermarkets ie, Whole Foods, Kroger etc is competitive on Senior's day. should some one be considering a move to the area be aggressive in selecting a really professional realtor, no friends of friends. There is a never ending supply of things to do in this end of the state. Volunteers are in great demand, on the other hand "kicking back" is the chosen avocation of many. These are "Dark Sky" communities and the sky's at night reminds an old timer of the days of their youth. You must remember something many of our parents told us, you get out of life what you put in it.

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Sedona Is A Magical Red Rock Wonderland - 6/12/2017

My wife and I bought a second home in 2003 and retired here from SoCal in 2007. We have seen many changes over the years. The area is a magnet for visitors. The majesty of the red rocks and the weather and small town atmosphere is what brought us here. Our weather is some of the best the world has to offer on a year round basis. We get all 4 seasons but the temps are mild in comparison to other areas. See weather stats at Sedona-Weather.com. We have a robust Spring visitor season in part because of Cactus League Baseball. During summer Phoenix Metro residents visit to get out of the heat. Our temps are 15º cooler. Traffic is not as bad during these seasons as it may seem because everything is very close by. A rare bottleneck might add 5 to 10 minutes to a commute. Most services are within 5 minutes of our home in West Sedona. In my opinion, there is no better place to live! If you want to learn about Sedona from a local perspective visit Ricks World Sedona....just google it!

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Snow in Sedona - 6/10/2017

Eighteen inches of snow? Sounds a little high!

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shopping - 4/10/2014

Everyday shopping is 20 miles away in Cottonwood. Art, novelty and tourist items are on every corner. The roads are narrow and parking is limited. It can take up to 20 minutes to drive 5 miles.

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Living in Sedona - 1/12/2014

We moved to Florida from Flagstaff in 1988. Now that we are ready to live our dream, we will be headed to Sedona. Having lived here in Florida for close to 30 years, we are so excited about our relocation to Az., and primarily to Sedona that getting things lined up for us has been much easier than we thought. Probably because we have spent most of our adult lives saying how much we want to "retire" in Sedona! Small & quaint, is our desire. Just can't wait to get started. The reviews we read just excite us more. So, so long South Florida!

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It is SMALL.. But that is part of the charm... - 8/29/2012

We have been vacationing in Sedona for 25 years and have rented houses there for long periods of time. I generally agree with Erikas excellent post. The town is small and you frequently need to leave the immediate area to get things. For example the Costco is in Prescott which is a day trip. Any major mall or dept atore shopping basically is a day trip too. BUT..... The town has a SUPER organic food supermarket as good as any in NY or California (New Frontiers) and there are several small strip malls with typical stores. I diasagree with Erika strongly on the restaurants though which are generally good... And there are several excellent ones.. Check Trip Advisor or Zagats. Look, Sedona is SMALL so you are not going to have the convienience of a much larger community. BUT as a result you are much closer then to the natural beauty of the area because its not built up. Sedona is a great 2nd or 3rd house community. Locals who have the money almost always have second homes (summer homes in Flagstaff or California or Hawaii).

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Where beauty lies - 11/25/2011

A great place to visit, hike and take in the views. Please read on if you plan to relocate here. I love it. Every place has pros and cons which are different for each person. I have lived in the Verde Valley for a year and a half. I am originally from New York State, I spent 16 years in Chicago, lived in NW MI, and many other varieties of lifestyles in cities and the country. I feel as if I have met and seen it all. We lived in West Sedona, and Cornville, so I have had the town life and the high desert country lifestyle in this area. The residents in Sedona tend to be older. The ethnic diversity is dominantly Caucasian and Hispanic. The lifestyle for most people revolve around spirituality and strong beliefs in whatever can be praised in this world. When I say whatever I mean anything goes. For the most part, fashion, makeup and hair styles are left up to the tourists. There are many salons and spas, but nothing most would consider trendy. If you want a psychic reading, you have more choices than restaurant selections. The restaurants, with the exception of a few percent, are plain and mostly for tourists with the dated menus and weak wine lists. There is not a lot of fine dining or chain restaurants, but you will pay a lot for mediocre food in the locally owned spots. Don't be surprised if you see a person on the streets outside the city of Sedona on horseback trying to get a cell phone signal. Radio is awful. Cell service is unreliable, no matter what your provider. I have never been to a place in the US with worse coverage. Have 4g? Forget it here. The Sedona and Verde Valley area housing goes two ways. You can afford a nice house, or you live in a trailer or manufactured home. There is not a lot in between. Sedona is beautiful. I fall in the with the views every day. The weather is nearly perfect all year with the exception of chilly winters and occasional rain a few times a year that confuses everyone and virtually stops life for some. You can not compare the weather to anywhere else in AZ. It is primarily a resort town, and most homeowners are second home buyers. If you have a large family, and need more than 3 bedrooms, pickings are slim, even with a big wallet. The city itself lacks everyday necessities, so plan to travel a good distance to find the supplies your life may need, Good medical care, car rentals and other facilities are out of reach. There are stores in Sedona, but it always seems every day I need something I can not find locally. I have children, and I put about 600 miles on my car in an a light week. You must have a car to get around. If you like to hike, bike and be one with what the area has to offer you can live here easily with a hearty income. The city has places to shop and a movie theatre, parks and a few small community programs, but if you like going out and meeting people, enjoying a bar scene, theatre, clubs, concerts and dining-forget it. It gets old quick. Your choices can be visited in a short time. Unless you want to travel to Phoenix or Flagstaff which have totally different climates and landscape than Sedona, it just isn't here. The farmers market is short, like in east and northern states, generally open only part of the year. It is small, limited and it has terrible parking. There is not a lot of "buy local" support. There are not many options for schools, but the city has state of the art facilities, supplies and money in the school district, but it is ever changing with the unsettled community. As all other areas of the country, even in the art capital of the southwest, which Sedona is, the art and music programs in the schools are short and disappointing. Organized Sports for kids such as football and soccer here but are very un-organized and really do not exist for adults. There is no nightlife, even on the weekends most businesses close at 9 or by 10 pm. The job market is non existent for many careers. If you plan to work here, have your job lines up first as the job market is very limited. If you like a small town feel, with great weather, this is it.

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Nice place for vacation! - 6/23/2011

I was only here for a vacation but did find the hills and natural beauty very restorative and rejuvenating. My friend and I went for a 2 hour hike(the Airport Loop) in the hills and I felt like I had reconnected w/ a part of me that was lost. The air was so fresh and clear and the night sky was stunning! I was so relaxed during our hike that I took off my shorts and hiked in my undies b/c the air was so refreshing...then my friend did the same thing. We have the best memories of Sedona and hope to return next year!

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Relocating - 4/6/2011

I am trying to relocated to Sedona AZ, I've never been there it's just calling me and I feel the need to get there this summer.I am trying to find a place where I'm close to shopping and everything. Could anyone tell about some great places to live out there.

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