Day 2

Red Rocks, Road Trips & Rookie Errors 🚗🌄

After getting to bed late the night before, the last thing we wanted to hear—after flying all the way from Australia—was a 5:00am alarm. Despite the short sleep, we’d both rested reasonably well. We packed up quickly and headed outside to meet our Uber, ready to kick off the next leg of the trip.

Ted had already been awake earlier thanks to jet lag, so we’re hoping that doesn’t linger too long. Being a Sunday, traffic was light and the trip to Los Angeles International Airport was quick. Even more surprising was how smooth the TSA process was—far less hectic than we’d expected.

With no breakfast yet, we grabbed a fairly average airport meal—pancakes and eggs on toast—before heading to the gate. One thing we did enjoy was seeing so many dogs around the terminal. It’s definitely not something we’re used to back home, where the only airport regular is Elmo the service dog!

Our flight to Phoenix with Southwest Airlines was about two-thirds full, which made for a comfortable ride. The crew were friendly and relaxed, delivering a safety demonstration with plenty of humour—including the classic “in case our aircraft becomes a cruise liner…” line. Not something you hear every day.

In under an hour, we landed in the “Valley of the Sun”—Phoenix. This was my first time here, while Ted had visited once before. One thing the airport does very well is its rental car system. Instead of navigating out of the terminal area, you take a dedicated train to a massive off-site rental facility, which made that part easy.

Actually getting the car, however, was another story.

We’d booked an electric vehicle and were told to collect it from Bay 203… which didn’t exist. After a bit of back and forth, we were eventually offered a Kia EV6 instead. Once that was sorted, we hit the road toward Sedona.

On the way, we stopped at Montezuma Castle National Monument—a place we’d both technically visited before, although quite some time ago. Despite the name, it’s not actually a castle and has nothing to do with the Aztec ruler Montezuma. Instead, it’s a remarkably well-preserved cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua people around 900 years ago. Carved into a limestone cliff about 27 metres above ground, the structure contains around 20 rooms and would have housed an entire community. Its elevated position protected residents from flooding and made it easier to defend—an impressive piece of engineering considering its age.

Before we even got that far though, we had a minor crisis. When we stepped out of the car, we realised we had no idea where the key was. After tearing the car apart trying to find it, we eventually discovered it… on the passenger seat. I’d been sitting on it the whole time.

Arriving into Sedona, the scenery immediately stood out. The town is surrounded by striking red sandstone formations, shaped over millions of years by wind and water erosion. These towering rock formations—like Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte—glow deep orange and red, especially in the changing light, creating one of the most distinctive landscapes in the American Southwest.

We checked into Bell Rock Plaza and had a quick look around the nearby shops before deciding to charge the car. That’s when the next issue popped up—we couldn’t find the charging cables.

Once again, we pulled the car apart looking for them. After multiple phone calls to various Budget Car Rental offices (and being repeatedly redirected to call centres), we finally got through to someone helpful. As it turns out, things work differently in the US—charging cables are already attached to the stations, unlike back home where you bring your own. Apparently, they were removed from rental cars due to theft. Crisis over… again.

Finding an actual charging station, however, took a bit more effort. Many were located in quiet suburban areas with nothing nearby, but we eventually found one at The Collective Sedona. By this stage it was around 3pm and we hadn’t eaten properly, so we were relieved to find Dellepiane—an Argentinian spot that was still open. Exactly what we needed.

By the afternoon, jet lag was starting to hit. We headed back to the hotel for a quick nap… which may have gone a little longer than planned. Waking up felt harder than expected, but we pushed on and headed out for a drive.

We took the Red Rock Scenic Byway toward downtown Sedona—and it’s hard to overstate just how impressive it is. This stretch of road is considered one of the most scenic drives in the US, running through a corridor of towering red rock formations. On either side, you’re surrounded by iconic landmarks like Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Courthouse Butte, with layers of red and orange cliffs contrasting against bright blue skies. As the sun lowers, the colours intensify, giving the whole landscape an almost unreal appearance.

After picking up some groceries, we attempted to drive up to Airport Mesa—known for some of the best panoramic views in the area. Unfortunately, so did everyone else. The line of cars crawling up the hill wasn’t moving, so we quickly gave up and turned around.

Instead, we headed back into town and stopped at Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village—and this turned out to be a highlight. Originally built in the 1970s to resemble a traditional Mexican village, it’s far more than just a market. The space is beautifully designed, with cobblestone pathways, archways, courtyards, and vine-covered walls. It’s home to a mix of art galleries, boutique shops, and quality restaurants, all set within a really atmospheric setting. It felt authentic, relaxed, and genuinely worth the visit—we both really enjoyed it.

Coming into Arizona, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect given how long it had been since either of us had visited. But so far, Sedona has exceeded expectations.

Even though we’re running on fumes at this point, we’ve set the alarm for an early start tomorrow. If today is anything to go by, sunrise here should be something pretty special.Read more