*GASP!* In Sedona? /s

I'm a fan of Shorebird... not always stellar, but definitely always good. I really like Dellapiane (Argentinian restaurant with empanadas and good burgers), but my favorite is Cress on Oak Creek located at L'auberge resort. That's some genuine fine dining.

My wife and I went to Mariposa for our last anniversary. Excellent cocktails and world class views!

And like I said, I was only in Taos for a few days. It was around Christmas and I didn't do any actual hiking. Could be a totally different experience at other times.

One of the nicer shots I've seen of Mono Lake. You had to be thrilled with that light. Nice capture!

I was only in Taos for three days, and it was during the winter. So my experience there is limited. To be honest, I was actually kind of disappointed... in fact, kind of shocked. What struck me most about the place was the vivid contrast between extremely wealthy people walking around in fur coats and the addicts shooting up in the parking lots. I'm not trying to trash the place at all... I was just surprised. Three days was enough for me there... I doubt I'll return.

Sedona, on the other hand, is truly fantastic, which is why I moved here. It's very touristy and very crowded, for sure. But if you're willing to wake up early and hit the trails around sunrise, you can actually find solitude for a while. There are also some world class restaurants and spas, if that's what you're into. I'm clearly biased, but if I were you, Sedona is where I'd spend my vacation. I just wasn't all that impressed with Taos.

Very, very touristy. Lots of shops selling crystals, palm readings, photos of your aura, turquoise jewelry, etc. It has everything a self-styled "spiritual" person could desire.

Agreed. Almost all of it is in National Forest, and within the forest there are a couple of large designated wilderness areas. Not as well protected as a National Park, but still protected.

You're the second person to say this. Clue me in - what does this mean?

It’s never empty now. People everywhere all the time.

That may have been true at some point, but believe you me, it’s insane all year round now.

Mid-October of last year.

I did an overnighter from the top down. There were places I carried my pack over my head with my eyes barely above the water line. Beautiful place.

I thought it was wall-to-wall desert until I moved here... there are even places you can ski in the winter, believe it or not.

Made me Google ravensburger. Now I realize that was a compliment - thanks!

Always nice to see a landscape ridiculously over-processed. Nature is just so ugly as is.

Yes. This just screams cool. Bet you were the first in your class to get laid.

I do indeed. Why do you ask?

That’s what Photoshop does. Makes shit look good.

Photoshop, amigo. It makes shit look good.

Photoshop is a helluva drug.

Yeah….. it’s the “energy”

Quite a halo around those trees… positively glowing.