The kidlets will be out of school soon and time to start planning that family summer vacation. Consider a Sedona vacation and plan the trip around one of these hot summer festivals:

Festival of Native American Culture, June 5 – 13, 2009: The weeklong celebration is an opportunity to learn more about the indigenous people of the Southwest. A film festival, fine arts and crafts festival, music and dance festival, and educational programs round out the event. New this year is the Conference on Archaeoastronomy of the American Southwest. For those unfamiliar with Archaeoastronomy, it’s basically the study of how people of the past understood the sky and the role the sky had influencing their cultures.

Red Rocks Music Festival, August 30 – September 6, 2009: Enjoy world-class sounds including classical, smooth jazz and show tune favorites. Tickets begin at $25 each and that’s pretty cheap for topnotch entertainment.

Moonlight Madness Street Festival, September 5 – 7, 2009: Nothing says “goodbye summer” and “hello fall” like a good old sidewalk sale. This festival combines the best of free music and entertainment with children’s activities and fabulous sidewalk sales along Hwy. 89A and Hwy. 170. Be sure to bring an empty suitcase to bring home all your new treasures.

Ready to go? Book your summer Sedona vacation now.

Photo Credit: ©Janise Witt

Sedona’s bold reds aren’t just found in rock formations and sunsets but in wine glasses. Find Sedona Wine Country just a short distance away in Page Springs and Verde Valley where wineries produce award-winning red, white and rose’ wines. Fertile soil, warm days and cool nights meld to create the conditions for growing grapes which are then converted into Cabernets, Syrahs and Chardonnays, among other varieties.There are more than five wineries in Sedona Wine Country each offering tastings, tours and fabulous wines. When planning a trip to Sedona Wine Country, start at the southern-most winery, San Dominique, for a bit of character and great selection of affordable wines. Ask for Bill, the owner. If lucky, plan a visit around one of the gourmet dinners held every few weeks with Bill’s line of gourmet foods. Rumor has it he even has a garlic wine!

Next stop, Alcantara Vineyards, and transition to Italy in a Tuscan-style farmhouse which is the first winery built on the Verde River. Sip wine made with grapes grown on site while enjoying magnificent vistas.

Located in the once 1880s mining town of Jerome, next stop is Jerome Winery for distinct wines leaving a memorable impression.

Do something good for the body by sipping certified organic wines of Granite Creek located in the town of Chino Valley. This is Arizona’s first certified organic farm and only one of a handful of U.S. wineries producing full certified organic wines.

The next four wineries are clustered together so if a Sedona vacation only allows a day of winery tours and tastings, check these out:

Page Spring Cellars: Feel good tasting the signature Syrahs, Petite Sirahs, Grenaches and Mourvedres because education, family and living life to the fullest are philosophies of this winemaker and winery. Other red and whites are produced, too.

Oak Creek Vineyards: The vineyard grows along a gentle slope across from Oak Creek and a water supply located about 425 feet below keeps the grapes hydrated properly. Almonds are grown on site, too.

Javelina Leap Vineyards & Winery: Don’t expect to smell stinky javelinas (wild, pig-like creatures) here but do expect to sniff bold reds. Not only does this winery have the coolest name in Sedona Wine Country but also has a great old west feel in the tasting room.

Echo Canyon Vineyard & Winery: As the name implies, the winery is tucked away in Echo Canyon and organic and bio-dynamic farming methods are used to grow grapes. These magical wines are produced in limited quantity making them extra divine.

Ready to do a little swirl, sniff and sip in Sedona Wine Country? Book your Sedona vacation now to take advantage of unbelievable deals.

Photo: Courtesy of Sedona Chamber of Commerce

Are you suffering from red rock withdrawals accompanied by a persistent itch for an excuse to plan your next Sedona, Arizona, vacation? Perhaps you’re one of those who have heard about Sedona’s seduction but need some more convincing before deciding on booking a vacation. Or, maybe you like to experience the world sitting on the couch wrapped in a Snuggie with your laptop in hand.

No matter what your situation, if a Sedona vacation has entered your thought just once, checkout Sedona.TV. It’s a website full of videos offering Sedona visitors an inside look into what to do and see in Red Rock Country. Explore videos on everything from indulging spas to delish restaurants and wild jeep tours to eclectic art galleries.  There are useful video tours to help navigate around Sedona as well as an overview of the area’s history. The FAQ section (which is in text and not video) addresses the five most common questions people have when planning a Sedona vacation. Why are the rocks red? Where is a Vortex? Answers to these and three other burning questions are concisely answered by the Sedona Concierge.

A picture says a thousand words and a 60-second video says a whole lot more. Once in Sedona, tune into RED ROCK TV Channel 16 for things to do and see.  Let Sedona.TV entice you to vacation in Sedona and let Resort Rentals book your accommodations. Deals abound, don’t miss out!