⭐ Sedona Firsts — A Walk Down Memory Lane (2008)

You all know about my great photo‑tagging project. I’m making good progress, but as if 10,000+ pictures weren’t enough, I discovered a whole stash of older photos that never made it into my media library.

I was searching for a specific shot I knew I took. It wasn’t in the library, so I went digging through my computer’s hard drive. Ta‑da — found it! But then… what are all these other folders? I clicked one at random.

Sedona 2008. Instant time warp.

None of these photos were ever imported, but there were a lot of them — and suddenly I was right back in that trip. 2008 was one of my earlier adventures, full of “firsts,” as you’d expect. So let’s take a walk down memory lane.

🌄 Sedona: Home of the Woo‑Woo

Sedona has a reputation — mystical energy vortexes, UFO sightings, crystal shops, tarot readers. If it’s outside the norm, you’ll probably find it here.

I didn’t partake in any meditations or energy‑raising ceremonies. For me, Sedona is a photographer’s dream:

• Red rocks glowing at dawn and dusk
• Oak Creek winding between canyon walls
• Hawks floating overhead
• A photography shop on the main street with local art so beautiful it made my heart hurt

That’s the Sedona I fell in love with.

🚂 First: The Grand Canyon Railway

I drove to Williams, Arizona, where I caught the train to the Grand Canyon. I know I’ve told you before — that first look at the canyon is beyond description.

My mind couldn’t get a grip on it. The canyon is so massive, so colorful, so unreal that I half expected to reach out and touch a mural instead of… nothingness. I don’t think I’ll ever recapture that moment again, and I’ll never forget it.

🌬️ First: Meteor Crater

Traveling east from Williams, I followed I‑40 until I reached Exit 233 — Meteor Crater.

• 1 mile wide
• 550 feet deep
• 50,000 years old

There are four lookout points along the rim, each with telescopes for viewing the floor. The day I visited was windy, and the sound was incredible — like someone blowing across the top of a giant bottle. A deep, resonant WOOOOOOSH rolling across the crater’s rim.

 

There’s a small space museum, but honestly, the crater itself overwhelmed me so much that I barely went inside.

🐅 First: A Dirt Devil Up Close

Back in Sedona, I headed south toward Camp Verde to visit Out of Africa Wildlife Park. Who expects to find a safari park in Arizona? But it was fun — until it became memorable.

I was in the bleachers watching the tigers swimming and playing when a trainer suddenly yelled, “Take cover!” We were outside… cover where?

A dirt devil was forming near the tiger enclosure.

I’d seen plenty of them while driving — harmless little twisters that never last long. Or so I thought.

This one hit the bleachers with force:

• The wind nearly knocked me off my feet
• Cat toys were flying
• Dirt blasted into the air like sandpaper
• Anything not covered stung

It only lasted a few minutes, and I wasn’t hurt, but wow — I learned how not harmless those “little” things can be.

🚁 First: My First Helicopter Ride

Another big first: my first helicopter ride.

We flew over the landscape around Sedona in a small helicopter, and I had the perfect seat — window access and a camera in hand. I took photos the entire time and loved every second.

I’ve been on several helicopter rides since, but none were as satisfying. Bigger copters, center seats, someone’s head or arm always in the way. That first ride spoiled me forever.

❤️ Why I Returned

My first trip to Sedona was a huge success. No wonder I went back a couple of years later. And if time and money allowed, I’d go again.

Maybe next time I’d even see a UFO.