S6 S U N DAY, J U N E 11, 2 017 L ATI M E S .

CO M

ROAD TRIPS PLACES TO GO

READY FOR A
GREAT RIDE?
Before you head out on the highway, looking for adventure,
consider what you’d like to see and do. Here are a dozen ideas
to get your engines revved and ready for summer 2017.

FOLLOW THE RED ROCKS TO SEDONA

Ricardo DeAratanha Los Angeles Times

CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS is built into the red rocks of Sedona, Ariz. For a peaceful visit, stick to the area’s natural wonders and avoid uptown.

By Irene Lechowitzky
The route: Los Angeles to Sedona,
Ariz., by way of Interstate 10 east,
U.S. 60 north and Arizona 89 north.
Miles: About 380 miles one way
from L.A. to Prescott, Ariz., then 62
miles more to Sedona.
Best time: The drive through the
California-Arizona desert into the
mountains of northern Arizona is
best in spring, with colorful wild-
flowers giving way to verdant
forests.
Why: Once you get off the inter-
state, a long, lonesome two-lane
highway leads through desolate
high desert and past striking giant
saguaro cactus, then into crazy
tight turns climbing through moun-
tain forests until you reach awe-
inspiring, deep red rock canyons.
And that’s just Mother Nature’s
visuals; the towns of Prescott,
Jerome and Sedona are precious in
their own way.
Highlights: Prescott’s downtown
Courthouse Square/Whiskey Row
district oozes Western history; there
are charming shops, restaurants
and saloons. Have a drink at the
Palace (www.historicpalace .com),
which opened in 1877 and served
such notables as Wyatt Earp and
Doc Holliday. You’ll strike it rich
visiting Jerome, an old mining town
that sits precariously on a steep
hillside. Jerome went from mining
powerhouse to ghost town and is
now an artsy tourist magnet filled
with eclectic shops in buildings that
CALIFORNIA
15
40
5 Prescott
Los
Angeles
10
Palm
Springs
Sources: Mapzen, OpenStreetMap
once housed bordellos and bars.
Sedona is defined by its spectacular
red rock mountains. Be sure to
drive into the Coconino National
Forest (www.fs.usda.gov/coconino)
north of town: Deep red canyons
and towering natural stone sculp-
tures give way to pine forests.
NEV. was a nice blend of old and new.
Flagstaff
40
Memorable meal: Sedona’s Hide-
ARIZONA 89A Sedona away House (www.sedonahide
awayhouse.com) offers red rock
Jerome views along with terrific Italian food
89 and a cheerful, friendly staff. Try
the brick chicken entree and the
71
17
60
ricotta cheese pizza with roasted
10
peaches and caramelized pancetta.
10 Phoenix
50 MILES Tourist trap or treat: “Uptown
Sedona” is jammed with souvenir
L o u S p i r i t o Los Angeles Times shops, tourists and traffic. Stick to
the red rock canyons and you’ll be
Memorable stay: In the heart of fine.
downtown Prescott, the beauti-
fully restored 1927 Hassayampa Plan to spend: About six hours for
Inn (www.hassayam- the drive to Prescott. From
painn.com) has a lovely lobby Prescott, it’s an hour to Jerome and
with stained glass, murals and 40 minutes more to Sedona. Give
hand-painted ceiling beams. yourself at least a few days to enjoy
Our room felt a bit cramped but the sights.