Sedona, Arizona, may be the glamorous mega star of the Verde Valley with her breathtaking beauty, otherworldly vibe and really good hair. But Cottonwood, the seemingly ordinary little town centered around the Wal-Mart and the spankin' new Home Depot, is that ordinary girl you sit next to on the bus, strike up a conversation and discover she's a fascinating creature who gets more beautiful the longer you look.

Settled in the foothills of Mingus Mountain, this town of about 10,000 offers a range of activities and discoveries for those willing to do a little digging.

I once was scouting some land for a potential homesite with a cowboy-turned-realtor (a common species, in Arizona!) at the top of a knoll, just at the base of the Black Mountains. In one direction loomed the foothills folded like fingers on a clenched hand, with the shadowy peaks rising above. In the other direction spanned the sparse desert landscape that stretched out to the Red Rocks in the distance, glowing in the setting sun. This was The West, in all its understated glory. The realtor then picked up a small, flat rock, shaped into a circle and chiseled around on all sides to a sharp edge. It was an ancient cutting tool, he nonchalantly explained, "probably coupla' hundred years old...they're all over the place 'round here."

Whether he was right or not, I was enchanted, and it was certainly plausible. Remnants of ancient communities are all over the Verde Valley and Cottonwood in particular, most notably Tuzigoot National Monument. This complex dwelling was built by the Sinagua people more than 1,000 years ago, and remains amazingly intact today, giving visitors a vivid understanding of what it may have been like to be alive long, long ago. Tuzigoot is just minutes away from Old Town Cottonwood.


Tuzigoot National Monument