Where beauty lies
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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.
erika | Chicago, IL