How to Spend a Long Weekend in Sedona, Arizona
I was captivated with Sedona the moment I had my first glimpse of the red rocks on our early morning drive to the area.
We spent a long weekend exploring this mystical town and it certainly whet our appetite for a return visit. We packed in a good amount across our three days, so I wanted to share how we approached our getaway as well as provide some helpful tips if you’re considering a visit!
We took an after work flight from Boston on a Thursday and chose to spend the evening at a hotel near the airport in Phoenix, so we could hit the road at sunrise the next morning. The drive to Sedona is incredibly scenic, as are all of the roads around the area, so if you enjoy driving and views, I’d recommend opting for a fun rental car to take it all in. A convertible sports car made it so much fun and we rented ours through Turo.
I’ve had the Enchantment Resort bookmarked for years and I was so excited to finally experience it. The grounds of property are expansive and absolutely stunning! From tennis courts and pools with unbeatable backdrops to mountain bikes, an amazing spa, and nearby trailheads, the resort offers a perfect blend of activity and relaxation. We loved sipping fireside cocktails at sunset, relaxing at spa treatments at Mi Amo, and walking the grounds, which are filled with gorgeous plantings, hummingbirds, and even javelinas!
The Enchantment Resort is located 20-25 minutes away from 89A, the main commercial street that leads into Sedona, and there can be quite a bit of daytime traffic as well as dark roads to navigate at night. We loved being away from the hustle and bustle, but it’s worth noting if you prefer to be closer to the restaurants and main attractions and don’t want to deal with a lot of driving.
I love starting a vacation with a spa treatment so I booked a massage at the highly regarded Mi Amo. Beyond the massage itself, which was incredibly thoughtful and tailored to my needs, the common areas of the spa are fun to explore. There are plenty of peaceful spots for reflection, meditation, and even healing. I started each day by writing down a worry or intention and placing it in a box outside the crystal grotto to be burned later that day. The spa also offers unique sessions like past life regression and various healing courses. I’d love to try one of those on a future visit!
Once we settled in, we got acquainted with the area by taking a meandering drive through town, passing by some of the most famous rock formations. There are striking views everywhere you look! It’s really remarkable how stunning the color of the red rocks is and the different formations themselves! Pictures don’t do them justice. Lyle loves to drive and relished every winding turn that revealed another unreal backdrop!
After enjoying sunset by the fire at the hotel, we headed to Mariposa for dinner. This is a fairly large restaurant that’s definitely geared towards special occasions and celebratory group dinners. I personally wish it felt a bit more intimate, but we thought the food and service was very good, and during the day, there is a beautiful view of the mountains!
On Saturday, we fueled up for a day of exploration at the Coffee Pot, a homey restaurant that prides itself on serving up 101 different omelettes!
We hit the trails of Bell Rock Canyon, which is considered one of the more moderate hikes. We took our time heading up to one of the main lookouts, taking in all the vantage points along the incline. Make sure to pack lots of water, a hat, and sunscreen. It’s a dry heat but even in early April, it was hot! Word to the wise, if you want to ensure the best parking for popular trails, you have to get there very early. We are not early risers so we had to pivot a bit from our original hiking plan but it ended up working out well.
After we finished the hike, we were starving, so we headed over to the scenic outdoor shopping area of Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. Designed with a Spanish colonial aesthetic; think courtyards with mosaics, stucco buildings, ironwork, fountains, and beautiful florals, we loved walking through the different sections of the village and popping in and out of shops. There are a lot of art and sculpture galleries with interesting southwestern inspired designs and handcrafted items like jewelry and homewares. For lunch, we found the Secret Garden Cafe, which had a cute patio and approachable menu of sandwiches and salads.
Everyone recommends doing a Pink Jeep Tour if you visit Sedona, so of course, we booked one! It’s a great way to learn more about the area as well as see high vantage points that are either impossible or very challenging to reach by foot. We chose the Broken Arrow tour, which was a fun, bumpy ride up to points like Subway Rock and Munds Mountain Wilderness. The tour guide tried to make it enjoyable with jokes and some tricks with the jeeps and we loved seeing the different views. I’d recommend booking an early morning or a late afternoon tour for optimal light for photos. We did a 4 p.m. which put us right at golden hour during the time of year that we visited.
Following the tour, we raced up to Airport Mesa, one of the area’s best spots for sunset. It’s quite the event! There is a large parking area across from the lookout point, which makes parking relatively easy (expect lines to exit once the sun goes down), and several food trucks for snacks and treats. On the evening that we went, there was live music and a really fun, energetic atmosphere. It felt powerful to watch the sun go down over the red rocks with such a big group of people all there to embrace the end of another day together. The Airport Mesa is also one of the vortexes in the area, which makes it a very special spot. During our trip in early April, once the sun went down, it got quite chilly, so pack layers and warmer clothes for evening if you visit in the spring.
Elote Cafe is widely regarding as one of the best restaurants in the area and I was so disappointed when I couldn’t get a reservation! If this happens to you, add yourself to the reservation notify list. They called us on both evenings of our trip to offer last minute availability — and the food and drinks were just as delicious as we had hoped! Win-win!
Since we had so many adventures and a jam-packed Saturday, we had a slow morning by the pool on our final day before grabbing a healthy lunch at Wildcraft Kitchen. We checked out a few more fun shops around Sedona – think crystals and lots of souvenirs with Kokopolei’s flute featured on them.
Taking it easy, we did a scenic drive through Oak Creek Canyon, heading up towards Flagstaff. Again, all of the drives are so beautiful that we really enjoyed exploring by car as much as on foot. If you have mobility issues or are older, you might not think of Sedona as a destination for you, but it really has something for everyone and a very peaceful energy!
To close out the trip, we took a final hike on a trailhead right off the Enchantment Resort property. It was a quick up and down, and at the top there is another vortex. The views of the resort below and nearby area were incredible and we loved taking a few moments to sit and savor it all.
We had an early dinner at the hotel before hitting the road back to Phoenix for our red eye flight home. We caught the most gorgeous sunset as we left the area and both said that we would certainly be back..!
