The high-desert city of Sedona offers both the ultimate escape and a sensory overload, whether you're visiting a vortex site to feel the Earth鈥檚 energy or trekking to a natural sandstone bridge with vertiginous views.

Situated in Arizona鈥檚 Coconino National Forest and flanked by Red Rock State Park and Slide Rock State Park, Sedona is the quintessential desert oasis. Studded with saguaro cactuses and hidden swimming holes, there are also destination spas, dozens of art galleries and 400 miles of trails to explore.

There鈥檚 a dedicated downtown, but this city of 10,000 feels more like a handful of villages spread out under the shadows of imposing red rocks that are a magnet for exploration. Getting around Sedona is straightforward, though 鈥� its neighborhoods are spread along the main thoroughfares, so you don鈥檛 need to venture too far to discover their singular charms.

Here are the four Sedona neighborhoods you can鈥檛 miss.

Uptown

Best for shopping

Sedona鈥檚 rustic roots run deep in historic Uptown, the city鈥檚 original downtown and core of its cultural heritage. Once flush with ranches and apple orchards, Hollywood came calling in the 1920s and the fledgling village welcomed an influx of movie-making, with more than 80 Westerns filmed in the area. Sedona鈥檚 hardscrabble cowboy culture was later augmented by artists and New Agers seeking spiritual enlightenment.

If you鈥檙e looking for liveliness in Sedona, Uptown is the place to be. It鈥檚 easy to spend a full day here, shopping for handmade pottery, kachina dolls and rugs made by Navajo creators at Garland鈥檚 Navajo Rugs, and learning about the healing properties of crystals at its many spiritual centers.

Pause at historic plaques, sculptures and landmark buildings that offer glimpses into the city鈥檚 past. Then dive deeper: visit , which houses thousands of artifacts and photos, and Sedona Arts Center, once a barn used for packing apples and peaches. South of Main St, the massive Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village is a must for finding arts and crafts made by Sedona鈥檚 talented artists. While here, drop by restaurant, which has been serving Arizona-style Mexican dishes and Navajo cuisine since 1976.

Stop in at for a selection of craft beer, locally made mead and dozens of wines from around the world, or keep it local at , where you can sip Arizona offerings. The streets get sleepier after dark, but some pubs and saloons stay open until midnight on weekends.

Uptown is the most convenient place to stay in Sedona, but expect to open your wallet wide for the neighborhood鈥檚 sprawling luxury resorts and hotels. If you plan well in advance and aren鈥檛 fussy about amenities, you might find a relative bargain at one of Uptown鈥檚 older accommodations, like the Sedona Motel.

Read more: Top 10 things to do in Sedona

Village of Oak Creek

Best for stargazing and golfing

The Village of Oak Creek (VOC) straddles the Red Rock Byway south of Uptown. 鈥淭he Village,鈥� as it鈥檚 called by locals, is a little more rural and laid-back than its northern neighbor. It鈥檚 dark here 鈥� perfect for stargazing and UFO spotting 鈥� and residents want to keep it that way. The Village is one of only 200 certified worldwide.

It's also home to imposing natural edifices such as the mile-high Courthouse Butte and the dome-shaped Bell Rock, one of Sedona鈥檚 four vortex sites. Some people believe a vortex is a naturally occurring phenomenon of energy that鈥檚 ideal for healing, meditating or simply recharging your weary soul.

The Village鈥檚 real character comes from its stunning natural setting, making it a good base if you鈥檙e into outdoor excursions. Plenty of easy-to-access paths crisscross the surrounding area, such as the Courthouse Vista branches of and , which offer access to popular hiking and mountain biking trails such as , and .

Naturally, the Village of Oak Creek draws its share of spirituality seekers, but they鈥檝e got competition when it comes to golfing. Sedona鈥檚 mild weather means there鈥檚 never a bad time to tee off; four golf courses (some attached to resorts) are scattered around the neighborhood, along with wellness centers offering everything from chakra alignment to halotherapy. You don鈥檛 need to go far to find a solid restaurant or cafe loved by locals, such , which roasts some of its beans on site, and brunch-spot staple the Red Rock Caf茅 (share the 3lb cinnamon roll). Not to be outdone when it comes to inventiveness, is a higher-end spot with boozy milkshakes and cocktails served up in a sophisticated space.

Nightlife is seriously casual in the Village and a handful of local joints stay open until 2am, like , which has live music on Wednesdays, and the , the destination for DJs, karaoke and pool (it鈥檚 free to play on Tuesday nights). The area is mostly walkable and almost everything in the Village is clustered around strip-malls and hotels, resorts and vacation rentals. Accommodations run from midrange to luxury.

Oak Creek Canyon

Best for picnics and swimming

Although it鈥檚 just a short drive from downtown, Oak Creek Canyon is much more serene. Traveling north on the 89A as it twists through the canyon, Sedona鈥檚 signature red rock desert gives way to the glorious green of one of the world鈥檚 largest ponderosa pine forests. The canyon鈥檚 cooler temperatures offer a reprieve in summer with natural sites like Midgley Bridge Observation Sight for picnicking and for swimming and cliff-jumping.

One of the area鈥檚 unusual attractions is at : an 80ft natural sandstone chute that deposits sliders into Oak Creek鈥檚 refreshing water. Even if you don鈥檛 want to swim or splash, there鈥檚 a history lesson to be had here 鈥� on the primitive trails that lead to the 43-acre Pendley Homestead and apple orchard, you can view historic cabins and learn about Central Arizona鈥檚 early agricultural development.

Many places in Oak Creek Canyon are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but there鈥檚 enough around for you to fuel up or scratch your shopping itch. If you鈥檙e determined to find that rare vintage basket crafted by an Apache artisan, a squash blossom necklace or other collectible, drop by . The family-owned business has been selling art and treasures here since 1945.

If you decide to stay in Oak Creek Canyon, there鈥檚 an array of accommodations hemmed in by creek and forest, whether you're looking for a campsite, full-service resort or a cabin at the . Restaurants are few and typically scattered along 89A or located in resorts. You can pick up coffee and provisions at , and has a full-service bar with local beer on tap. And at blink-and-you鈥檒l-miss-it Hideaway House, Italian-inspired meals and casual fare are served in its two dining rooms.

West Sedona

Best for living like a local

There鈥檚 more of a residential feel to West Sedona, an excellent jumping-off point for accessing scenic spots like Airport Mesa Overlook and Thunder Mountain, which towers in the distance. Located about a mile west of Uptown on 89A, it鈥檚 a great area to make your base if you plan to hit the trails early and beat the crowds. Find your way to nearby spots like the Seven Sacred Pools historic site (access is via the ) or, even closer, the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, an unexpected slice of Tibetan Buddhism, complete with stupas, a medicine circle and colorful prayer flags waving in the breeze.

West Sedona has a number of chain hotels that will appeal to travelers looking for a break on room rates, while boutique-style inns and lodges are further from the heart of the neighborhood but closer to the trails. Functional businesses, bookstores, thrift shops and metaphysical stores line the main artery, Arizona 89A. One standout is the, which showcases and sells work of more than 100 local, regional and Native American artists. You can purchase everything from jewelry to textiles and paintings to rock art.

Food offerings are eclectic in West Sedona. Local Juicery is a morning mainstay for smoothies, dairy-free beverages and nourishing breakfast bowls, while promises to be a vegetarian sanctuary of sorts, with chocolate, snacks, tinctures and teas, plus its entire menu is composed of 100% organic foods. Craving sushi in Sedona? Although it might seem counterintuitive to eat raw fish in the desert, has local cred, offering a signature 鈥淪edona roll鈥� and 鈥淩ed Rock roll鈥� and a decent selection of sake and shochu. And, of course, there鈥檚 the iconic McDonald鈥檚: here the 鈥済olden鈥� arches are teal, so they don鈥檛 clash with Sedona鈥檚 surrounding red rocks.

Like the rest of the city, West Sedona isn鈥檛 exactly party central. is a must-go spot for its selection of 900 wines as well as craft beer for sale, alongside live entertainment and a menu of tapas, pizza and locally made charcuterie.

Keep planning your trip to Sedona:

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