Areas I love

Sedona

I’ve called Sedona home for more than 20 years, and even after all this time, I still find myself stopping to admire the red rocks. There really is something special about living in a place where incredible scenery and hiking trails are part of everyday life.

Sedona proper is an incorporated city and offers more services and conveniences than some of the surrounding communities. We have 4 grocery stores, many restaurants, a large public library, movie theaters --including Mary Fisher which play non mainstream movies--, public schools, a community pool, parks and walking paths, along with hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails in the surrounding area.

The City also provides some nice services for residents, including recycling options, community shredding and electronics-disposal events, yard-waste and mulch programs, and community events and concerts.

One of the things I enjoy most about Sedona is that there is always something happening, yet you can drive a few minutes and be on a trail surrounded by nature. I love hiking here, and you'll also occasionally find me dancing to live flamenco-style music at Tlaquepaque.

Housing in Sedona is generally the most expensive in the Verde Valley. But what you are paying for is not just a house—you are also buying into a very unusual lifestyle and setting.

If you're curious about the Sedona real estate market statistics, click here. 

Village of Oak Creek / Big Park

The Village of Oak Creek, also known as Big Park and ZIP code 86351, is about seven miles south of central Sedona. Many visitors assume it is part of the City of Sedona, but it is actually an unincorporated community in Yavapai County.

And it certainly doesn't feel removed from the red rocks. Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte are right here, with hiking and biking trails practically woven through the community.

The Village has its own grocery store, restaurants, cafés, boutique hotels and inns, a library branch, and two golf courses. The largest homeowners association, VOCA—the Village of Oakcreek Association—includes approximately 2,340 lots within 25 subdivisions.

Compared with Sedona proper, there are fewer public amenities. There is no operating public school in the Village, no municipal swimming pool, and fewer public parks. On the other hand, some people actually prefer the quieter, more residential feeling.

Another difference is infrastructure. Many Village properties use private septic systems, although portions of the area are served by the Big Park wastewater district. It's something buyers should verify property by property rather than assuming one or the other.

Home prices also tend to be somewhat lower than in Sedona proper, which makes the Village worth considering for buyers who want the red-rock lifestyle without necessarily paying Sedona-city prices.

Cottonwood

I drive to Cottonwood often—it's only about 25 minutes from Sedona—and it offers a very different lifestyle.

Cottonwood is one of the Verde Valley's main commercial centers. You'll find conveniences we don't have in Sedona, including Walmart, Home Depot and many other larger stores and services.

But my favorite part is Old Town Cottonwood. It has wonderful historic character, restaurants, cafés, wine-tasting rooms and shops, and I particularly appreciate that dining out is generally considerably more affordable than it is in Sedona.

Cottonwood also has larger schools than Sedona, including Mingus Union High School, which serves students from several surrounding Verde Valley communities.

Housing is considerably more affordable than Sedona, so buyers often discover they can get more house and land for their money here. For someone who wants access to Sedona but doesn't necessarily need to live among the red rocks, Cottonwood can make a lot of sense.

Clarkdale

Clarkdale has a special place in my heart because I once had the warehouse for my home-and-garden décor business here. Imagine a warehouse filled with Buddha statues, furniture, art and all sorts of unusual treasures imported from Bali—that was us!

Because of that, I spent quite a bit of time in Clarkdale, and I still think it's one of the cutest communities in the Verde Valley.

Clarkdale was developed as a company town during Arizona's copper-mining era and has retained much of its historic character. It feels small, established and community-oriented.

One of the things I enjoy is the town's Concerts in the Park series, with free outdoor music at the town park. Clarkdale is also home to the Verde Canyon Railroad, and Tuzigoot National Monument is right nearby.

For buyers who like historic neighborhoods, a slower pace and a genuine small-town atmosphere, Clarkdale is definitely worth exploring.

Cornville

When I think of Cornville, I think of horses, vineyards and a little bit of country.

Cornville is an unincorporated community in Yavapai County, and Oak Creek runs through portions of the area. You'll find everything from traditional neighborhoods to larger rural parcels and horse properties.

There is a strong equestrian presence here, along with vineyards, wineries and beautiful countryside. It feels noticeably more rural than Sedona or Cottonwood, even though you're still close to both.

And Cornville has some surprisingly good places to eat. A few of my favorites are Brewha Social Eatery & Market, G's Burgers and Up the Creek.

For buyers who want a little more land, room for horses, vineyard country or simply more breathing space, Cornville offers something quite different from Sedona.

Rimrock

Rimrock is another unincorporated Verde Valley community and has a distinctly different feel from Sedona.

It's conveniently located near I-17, making it easy to travel north toward Flagstaff or south toward Phoenix. The community has a more rural, Western character, and you'll find everything from modest homes to properties with larger lots and beautiful views.

One place I enjoy stopping is the Peach Tree Cafe for breakfast or brunch.

One of Rimrock's biggest attractions from a real-estate standpoint is affordability. Buyers who have been priced out of Sedona—and sometimes even Cottonwood—may find considerably more options here.

It isn't trying to be Sedona, and that's part of its appeal. It's quieter, less tourist-oriented and generally more affordable.

Camp Verde

I like to think of Camp Verde as an agricultural garden of the Verde Valley.

The Verde River runs through the area, and you'll see farms, ranches, pecan orchards, vineyards and roadside farm stands. The landscape feels completely different from Sedona's red rocks.

Camp Verde also has a fascinating history. Fort Verde State Historic Park preserves its frontier-era story, while Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well provide an extraordinary glimpse into the much older Indigenous history of the area.

One of my favorite local stops is Green Magic Garden Farmstand, run by Juanita Bosman. I also really enjoy Moscato Italian Restaurant; a surprisingly great restaurant in the middle of Camp Verde offering amazing food, great selection of wine, and medium-upscale atmosphere. 

Camp Verde offers more of a rural lifestyle, with opportunities for larger parcels, horse properties and agricultural land, while still having everyday services and easy access to I-17.

Flagstaff

Flagstaff is about an hour from Sedona, and I go there often. It's one of my favorite escapes, especially because the landscape changes so dramatically—from Sedona's red rocks to tall ponderosa pines and mountain scenery.

My husband is Austrian, so skiing naturally became part of our lives, and you'll often find me skiing in Flagstaff during the winter.

Flagstaff has a completely different energy from Sedona and the Verde Valley. Northern Arizona University brings a younger student population, and downtown has an active mix of restaurants, breweries, shops, galleries and historic buildings.

There's also simply more going on culturally and socially because it's a larger city and university town. I particularly love the many dance and music events that they have. Tons of great restaurants too. Check out Pizzicleta, Pato Thai, Karma Sushi, Diablo Burger, and if you fancy fine dining definitely check out Atria. There's a lot of coffee shops to choose from. My favorite is Late for the Train right across from Heritage Square. If you're into cocktails, definitely hit for the lounge at Monte Vista. 

For people who love four distinct seasons, mountain living, skiing and a livelier city atmosphere, more history, Flagstaff offers a wonderful alternative to Sedona.