Sedona Arizona

Sedona is a favorite of Arizona vacationers, 2 hours north of Phoenix and Scottsdale. Sedona is absolutely gorgeous, famed for its red rock formations. Natural sculptures of sandstone shaped by wind, water, and time, are revered for their spiritually sacred vortexes, areas of concentrated energy believed to have healing and transformative effects. People visit Sedona to feel these vortexes and to meditate, pray, heal, seek enlightenment, hike and mountain bike. Besides, it just so dramatically beautiful!

Entering this gorgeous valley, I immediately felt a sense of calm, and awe, in the presence of incredible red rocks towering around the lush valley. I also experienced a healthy sensation just from breathing the fresh clean dry air, amid these spectacularly scenic mountains.

Our Sedona visit was early November, with cool 35F mornings and sunny clear days that climbed into perfect 70’s. The lack of humidity and abundance of sunshine make for great hair days (ladies), and ideal hiking weather.

The four popular hiking trails in Sedona we enjoyed are Devil’s Bridge Trail, Cathedral Rock Trail, Airport Mesa, and Bell Rock. All were stunning, hiking amid orange and Chile-pepper colored rocks, contrasted with stark spiny agave, cactus, and prickly pear plants.

Prefer scenic drives over more strenuous hiking? You can cruise around the Sedona region along Red Rock Scenic Byway, Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive, Schnebly Hill Road, and Boynton Canyon Road.

Stargazing in Sedona, and much of Arizona for that matter, is magnificent. We witnessed a literal “sky full of stars.” Locals explained to us with pride that their arid air and lack of light pollution create optimal dark wide-open sky for star gazing and celestial viewing. During these frequent cloudless Sedona nights, the galaxy is awash in fantastic stars, celestial clusters and planets. You don’t even need a telescope.

Sedona’s downtown is fun, and so colorful with its crimson rock surrounding the funky downtown. An eclectic cluster of boutiques, local craft shops of American Indian jewelry and leather, are met with chic wine bars and fun cowboy cafes with patios, all stemming from the main throughfare of 89A. Sedona’s cuisine is inspired by the southwest culture, Chile and paprika that resemble the colored rocks of the nearby mesas, with plentiful local produce and beef. Cocktails of local mezcal and wines from nearby vineyards are featured too.

High-end Arizona hotels and resorts with spas make your Sedona vacation luxurious and posh after a big day hiking, biking, and exploring. Top tier resorts include L’Auberge Sedona, Enchantment Resort, Amara in Sedona.

Two hours south of Sedona in the “Valley of the Sun” Phoenix – the Arizona Biltmore is a posh Waldorf Astoria resort property. In Scottsdale, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Camelback Resort, Four Seasons and the Phoenician are all luxury places to stay.

Cool canyon drives around Arizona include Route 66 and Arizona State Road 89A through Sedona’s chimney rock (The 3 Fingers) and the modern Chapel of the Holy Cross, to Cottonwood wine country on the Verde River Valley to ancient Clarkdale Tuzigoot National Monument, Montezuma Castel National Park, and even Jerome – the so-called “wickedest town in the west.”

Top Things to do in Sedona in 3 days

Day 1
Head to Cathedral Rock for a sunrise hike, it’s short with a relatively steep climb at one point to get up to magnificent views of much of Sedona. The towering aptly-named cathedral red rock formation before you is impressive. Travel Tip: this Cathedral Rock Trail gets very busy and is served by a very small parking lot which is closed most days of the week when you have to take the Sedona Shuttle to this climb.

After Cathedral Rock, we headed to Airport Mesa just a few miles back toward town and walked the lovely circuitous 3-mile airport loop to see the entire valley as it sprawls from your lofty high plateau loop hike. This is a relaxing sacred space, despite its airport name, where you can feel the incredible vortex of energy. After your two-morning hikes, enjoy a delicious brunch at Airport Mesa Grill (its slightly more gourmet than it sounds). Enjoy the enclosed patio views, order the Breakfast Tacos or Huevos Rancheros, and watch helicopters and small planes take off and land at this scenic hilltop airstrip.

An afternoon wine tasting is ideal in Sedona’s beautiful Verde Valley, which is surprisingly green (hence – verde) at the basin of dry, dusty red rocks. Page Springs Cellars, on peaceful Oak Creek, offers an estate winery tour, or you can just visit the cozy tasting room and pretty garden patio. Next stop, the newer but already award-winning, Cove Mesa Vineyard tasting room serves excellent wines in a flight format for $20-30 per person, you can lunch here too. Continue wine popping on the Verde Valley Wine Trail at Oak Creek Vineyards, Javelina Leap. Or skip to our favorite – DA Winery which is tucked up a short dusty canyon road. You will find a cozy log cabin on a very pastoral vineyard estate. DA Winery (an acronym for Dancing Apache – a playful tribute to their dance-inducing wines) has live music in the afternoon and a food truck. You can sit outside picnicking under a Cottonwood overlooking the pond or inside the log cabin lodge by the fireplace.

Day 2
Hike Devil’s Bridge early, we suggest just after sunrise. Eager keeners hike it for sunrise, but then you are climbing in the dark. We got on the Mezcal trail at 7am, 30 minutes after sunrise in early November, with good daylight and up to the Bridge as the sunrisers were departing. It’s a very pleasant hike, very easy and mild until the very end which is punctuated with steep red rock stairs. The Devil’s Bride is a phenomenal view scape, and a dare too! Do you dare walk out the narrow namesake bridge for a photo opp? It’s plenty wide for a human to walk, but the consequences below are real, which makes it more “concerning” and therefore – “exciting.” Spend time at this unique scenic spot breathing the electrified mountain air just admiring the surroundings you climbed up for. Catch your breath after your bridge-walk-dare for the Instagram, and feel the ancient energy. Devils Bridge is also only accessed by the Sedona Shuttle most days of the week. We were warned it can get VERY crowded here and take an hour to have your photo taken on the bridge.

After Devils Bridge you are close to Enchantment Resort for a posh breakfast or lunch at this spa lodging setting. We chose to carry on to Palatki Heritage Site. Palatki is a fascinating well-preserved ancient Indian dwelling, with incredibly diverse and interesting hieroglyphs, pictographs, and 800-year-old ceremonial drawings in the rocks and cliffs. The Park Rangers and guides here are passionate about their study of the petroglyphs and this mysterious society.

Returning to Sedona, you can hike Boynton Canyon, another legendary vortex. Or return to town for shopping after a yummy Mexican lunch along Route 89 at the authentic Torta de Fuego (where the locals go) or the more chic 89 Agave in the heart of town. Definitely make a shopping stop at Son Silver West – a potpourri of local and exotic art in a funky folklore for-sale market atmosphere. Next visit Exposures, the other extreme, Sedona’s extremely expensive top art gallery. Exposures is an upscale display of art from around the world set in a grandiose gallery.

Don’t miss Sedona’s Tlaquepaque Village – an historic enclave now hosting cute boutiques, jewelers, spiritual readers, and a few cafes. Just strolling the sculptures and fountain-lined plazas is pleasant. Uptown Sedona has several shops and galleries as well, and some fun bars and western saloons. Don’t miss the sunset and stargazing in this dramatic canyon of Sedona.

Day 3 Rise, rise, shine and go ring the Bell. Hike up Bell Rock for a spectacular view of the valley on this bell-shaped pyramid, and feel the dramatic vortex energy. Just stop and sit and bask in the sun on the grand sloped red slabs, overlooking Sedona.

As you drive into and away from Sedona, back to Phoenix, you recognize what a unique valley of stunning beauty Sedona is – where towering red rocks descend towards the green Verde Valley below.

Next, stop at Montezuma Castle – just off Highway 17 as you return south towards Phoenix. It doesn’t look like much as you approach, but tucked into the limestone cliffs are amazing 1100 civilizations clinging to the rocks, along the peaceful Beaver Creek. Montezuma Castle National Monument is an easy .3 mile walkway amid grand sycamore trees. Tuzigoot National Monument is another amazing Apache settlement turned park, Tuzigoot means crooked water, referencing the river. Here 87 pueblo room remains crown a summit – its a 1200s village of Sinaguan Indians.

Cottonwood is also lush with wineries and vineyards, known as the Little Napa Valley of AZ. Visit these Arizona wineries including Pillsbury, Chateau Tumbleweed, Bodega Pierce, Merkin and Tantrum.

Time to head back south to Scottsdale and Phoenix… how about a posh resort spa to relax after all that hiking? See our review of staying at the Arizona Biltmore.