Brie, Colby and even Cheddar are cheeses that go well with wine. When visiting the Verde Valley Wine Trail, which is surrounded by Arizona’s rugged and stunning red rock scenery, you’ll be saying “cheese” all vacation long. Wine lovers are encouraged to submit photos of the Verde Valley wineries for a chance to win some pretty sweet prizes.

As we’ve blogged before, the wine trail passes through Sedona, Arizona, along with the communities of Cottonwood, Camp Verde, and Jerome, and there are four wonderful wineries with tasting rooms in Verde Valley. To refresh your memory, they are Page Springs Winery, Javelina Leap Winery, Alcantara Vineyards, and Oak Creek Vineyards.

The photo contest theme is appropriately named “On the Verde Valley Wine Trail” and the goal is to shoot photos telling the Verde Valley Wine Trail story. Photos can include the wineries, vineyards, tasting rooms, grapes, the spectacular scenery, attractions, and people enjoying the region.

The contest is open to anyone 21 years and older and submitting photos is free. A sampling of prizes includes wines, admission to area attractions, and wine tastings. Enter at www.vvWinetrail.com and choose “Photo Contest.” Deadline to submit photos is Nov. 15, 2009. The Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce will select the winning images and prizes will be awarded by Dec. 1.

Getting snapping and uploading those photos! Haven’t been to the Verde Valley yet? There’s no better time than now to plan your Sedona vacation and be part of the competition.

Photo Credit: Sedona CVB

Hey, foodies! Yes, we’re talking to you. The hottest thing about Arizona this June isn’t the pavement but the inaugural Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest. The 16-day culinary event is guaranteed to be a party for the taste buds as well as the wallet.

Here’s the scoop, a variety of Sedona restaurants are offering three-course, prix-fixe dinner menus beginning Monday, June 15 through Tuesday, June 30, 2009. Diners will be able to select an appetizer, entree and dessert. There are three different price points fitting every foodie’s dining budget.

The Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest Web site lists all the participating restaurants but here are our picks from each price point:

Modest Dining $19.95
Dine like a Sedona local at the hopping Blue Moon Café with cooked-to-order entrees and portions mama used to serve. Dining options are outdoors on the patio (where Fido’s welcomed) and inside.

Classic Dining $29.95
Okay, we admit the name of this Sedona restaurant piqued our interest and although it’s a favorite with tourists, the Southwestern cuisine on the menu is worth the trip. We’re talking about the Barking Frog Grill which proclaims to be “An American restaurant with a Southwest bark!” Don’t worry, you won’t find any dishes made with amphibian frogs on the menu.

Elegant Dining $39.95
Planning a date night during the Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest? Reserve a table at Cucina Rustica for the romantic atmosphere, magical musicians and Continental cuisine. Enjoy an adult beverage before or after dinner on the outdoor patio to take in a perfect Sedona evening.

Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest is coordinated by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. Ready to book your Sedona vacation? Check out the best accommodation rates available June 15 – 30, 2009. Importantly, don’t forget to tip your server!

Photo Courtesy: Sedona Chamber of Commerce

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