Eclectic 3.0: The Roads Less Traveled from Ross Ching on Vimeo.

Check out this in-FREAKING-credible video.  The time-lapse photography is mind-blowing and the whole viewing experience is so neat, I just had to share it.  Definitely hit the view full screen icon and turn up the volume on your speakers… the music is great and the film is available in HD.

Big ups of course go to Ross Ching, the photographer/filmmaker. See him and read his excellent description and added photos and map at his site: rossching.com/eclectic30. And another shout-out to Maria Langer and her website/blog… I stumbled upon Maria Langer when searching for other Arizona bloggers and I can barely peel myself away from her posts.

When the opportunity presented itself for the three female staffers at Sedona.net to hold a company “retreat” of sorts in Sedona this month, you can bet your bottom dollar that we jumped at the chance. Left to design our ultimate two-day female-bonding getaway in Sedona, we immediately agreed that our two-day trip had to be filled with golf, photography and a spa experience. Read on for our unbiased-yet-glowing reviews of the Sedona Golf Resort, Sedona’s New Day Spa and the Sedona Real Inn & Suites.

The Two Christinas (Christina & Chrissy) and De loaded up the car and headed out from Cave Creek to the Village of Oak Creek, just south of Sedona. Our first “appointment” on this oh-so-tough work trip was a mid-morning tee time at the Sedona Golf Resort. With perfect sunny mild weather, friendly golf-pros and ideal course conditions, our day of golf was so enjoyable we three gals couldn’t even get mad when we made some bad shots. The course wasn’t jam-packed so we were able to play at a leisurely, resort pace and we even had time to take some terrific photos of the red rock vistas from nearly every tee on the course. The staff at Sedona Golf Resort met us after our last hole, eager to help us clean our clubs and they even took our car keys and loaded our bags into our car.

Next, we made tracks for our apres-golf destination, the Sedona Real Inn & Suites located in West Sedona. We were each treated to upgraded suites; these oversized guestrooms feature ample living & sleeping space and giant in-room jacuzzi tubs perfect for soothing tired golf muscles.

After an active day, the three of us were hungry for a satisfying dinner. We chose Szechuan Restaurant located at the Old Marketplace in West Sedona. With its adjacent Martini Bar and traditional Asian menu, we ordered a smorgasboard of dishes to share and washed them down with sake and their specialty Pomatini (pomegranate martini – yum!)

After a comfortable night’s sleep and complimentary breakfast, we three gals headed into Uptown Sedona for some shopping at Tlaquepaque followed by lunch at the Wildflower Bread Company and Cold Stone Creamery, both located at the Shops at Pinon Pointe in Uptown Sedona.

Then we geared up for the “toughest” part of our retreat: our spa day at Sedona’s New Day Spa. Our afternoon at Sedona’s New Day Spa, an upscale day spa in the heart of Sedona, would be hard-spent relaxing and luxuriating with a facial and massage treatments.

Christina had been dying to try Hot Stone Massage Therapy. De opted for Sedona’s New Day Spa’s “Le Grande Classique” 90-minute facial. Chrissy requested a 90-minute session of Cranial-Sacral bodywork. This was, by far, one of the best day-spa massage experiences the three of us had ever had. The combination of our therapists’ skills, the extra-long 90 minute sessions and trying out some new techniques made for an unforgettable experience.

Relaxed and refreshed, we almost-regrettably hit the road for home, taking with us our photographs and memories of an ultimate girls’ getaway.

Updated October 2010:
Late September October through mid-October November is the best time to visit Sedona to see the fall leaves change color. Sedona.net gives tips on scenic drives and photography spots for a “leaf-peeping” trip to Sedona this fall…

Read the rest of the article on Sedona.net

Adventure Photo Tours, an eight year veteran in the Las Vegas sightseeing tour industry, introduces the most upscale ground tour package ever to the magnificent Grand Canyon National Park, the world’s #1 sightseeing attraction.

(PRWEB) June 2, 2006 — Adventure Photo Tours is known for its unique and very interesting tours in a fleet of Ford Expedition 4×4 vehicles to some of the southwest’s most interesting geographic locations. With the addition of a NEW fleet of 14 passenger luxury mini coaches, Adventure Photo Tours is making their customers feel very pampered and special. The vehicles are equipped with soft ride suspensions, extra sound insulation, oversize viewing windows, pillow top luxury motor coach seating, pillows & blankets, HD widescreen DVD players and top line sound systems. To insure everyone is well fed on their way to the Grand Canyon National Park, breakfast, lunch, snacks and bottled water are all included on this tour.

Because Las Vegas has grown away from the discount days of the old El Rancho, Binion’s and Stardust hotels to the upscale city of today with properties like Bellagio, Paris and Venetian, a more upscale ground tour product was necessary to satisfy these new buyers. Although, Donna Tryon, President and CEO of Adventure Photo Tours comments, “Just because the town is now a very upscale destination there is still room for a high end tour product at an affordable price, this is a business model that works in any industry.”

Interestingly, Las Vegas is near many of the great natural wonders of the southwest which allows Adventure Photo Tours to service most of them with a wide selection of day tours. Will Tryon Vice President of Adventure Photo Tours commented, “Most people prefer day tours and I can identify with that. I like to think of myself as Indiana Jones but at the end of the day I want to be in a fine dining room with a Sirloin steak and a glass of Merlot in front of me.”

The word “photo” in Adventure Photo Tours indicates their style of tour presentation which is to stop as many times as possible during a tour to allow the passengers to get out to take photos. This type of fun and interactive day combined with knowledgeable tour guides creates a wonderful and memorable experience for the sightseeing customer.

For more information on this wonderful company and the natural attractions surrounding this remote and amazing city in the middle of the Mojave Desert go to www.adventurephototours.com or call 888-363-8687

Prescott – Granite Dells