Phoenix Day Trip: Sedona, AZ
Cathedral Rock
The magic of Sedona, home to strong magnetic vortexes, is only 2.5 hours north of Phoenix. If you’re visiting the Phoenix area (or live there!) Sedona is an awesome day trip!
Start Your Day in the Red Rocks
Sedona boasts plenty of gorgeous hikes, many with jaw dropping views. If you only have a day in Sedona and you want to do an amazing hike that won’t take up too much of your time, then I recommend Cathedral Rock. The butte is about 10-15 minutes south of Sedona’s downtown. The trail to the top and back is 1.2 miles and takes most people about an hour and a half to complete! There are a few tricky places near the middle portion of the hike, so bring good hiking shoes with traction if you plan to make the summit. If you don’t consider yourself a hiker, then you can still take the trail; it’s just a few minutes walk up to the base of the butte! From there you’ll still enjoy a stunning perspective of the Red Rock wilderness. I recommend starting the hike as early in the day as possible because the parking lot can start to get pretty crowded around mid-morning.
Lunch at El Rincon
Whether you decide to hike in Sedona or perhaps do something more leisurely with your morning, you’ll need to eat lunch. And the Sedona area is a good place for Mexican Cuisine. My recommendation is El Rincon in Tlaquepaque Square. It’s a popular lunch spot, so I definitely recommend making reservations. If you don’t have reservations, and you do end up having to wait a bit, you’ll get to enjoy the sights and sounds of old Eucalyptus trees shading a terra-cotta fountain. As far as the menu at El Rincon goes, I have two words for you…green chiles. I recommend anything with green chiles.
Shopping at Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village
Tlaquepaque (pronounced T-la-keh-pah-keh) Square was built to feel like an old Mexican village. It’s surrounded by Sedona’s red hills, filled with ivy, terra-cotta, Mexican tiles, and even has a chapel with a bell tower. There’s wine tasting, clothing boutiques, and of course restaurants. But Tlaquepaque is especially known for art galleries and for supporting the performing arts. Check out their website here for a calendar of events:
Dinner at Mesa Grill Sedona
One of the best sunset views in Sedona can be had, believe it or not, from the restaurant at the tiny little airport. Yep, the restaurant at the airport. You climb up to the top of Airport Road and land at Mesa Grill. Mesa Grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They offer fun outdoor seating so you can bring your four-legged pal along and watch airplanes take off from outside. If you prefer to sit indoors you will still catch the stunning landscape through the floor to ceiling windows. They have gluten-free options on the menu, including the best shrimp & grits in Arizona (gluten free on request). They also have happy hour from 3:30 - 5:30PM and delicious dessert!
Want help planning your enchanting trip to Sedona? Get in touch with me here!
Top Hotel Pick
Prefer to stay overnight to see more of Sedona? L’Auberge de Sedona offers 5-star lodgings where you can enjoy the serenity of Oak Creek. The hotel offers access to the creek, hammocks, fire pits - everything you need to recharge!
When you book through me you’ll also enjoy
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Breakfast credit of $30 USD per person for up to two guests per bedroom (limit of $60 USD per room, per day
$100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Image courtesy of L’Auberge de Sedona
Sibley’s Map of Sedona
More to Explore
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