Sedona, Arizona is one of those places with a reputation that far precedes it — the Arizona city is simply transcendent. It’s home to countless incredible places to hike, mountain bike and meditate in the Sonoran Desert, not to mention scenic drives and the magical-sounding vortexes.
With a perpetually mild climate, pervasive positive energy and plenty of wide-open space to roam, Sedona holds many under its spell. Oftentimes visitors arrive with a deep desire for transformation, and those who don’t might find it anyway.
In such an inspiring environment it’s a place to embrace adventure of the choose-your-own variety. Whether you lean spiritual or physical, there’s something for anyone with an open mind and adventurous spirit.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Embark on Off-Road Adventure
Jump right into the one-of-a-kind buzz of Sedona’s surreal red rocks, canyons and mesas by heading out first thing on a ubiquitous rose-colored off-road vehicle, led by a certified interpretive adventure guide.
Pink Jeep Tours‘ two-hour Broken Arrow tour is a hands-down favorite for the sheer number of thrills per minute while off-roading through, up and over rugged terrain, past red rock spires and to landmarks such as Submarine Rock or Chicken Point.
A little less bumpy, the Ancient Ruins tour is the ticket for anyone interested in petroglyphs and heritage sites of the Indigenous Sinagua people from 1150 to 1350 AD.
Back in Uptown Sedona, wind down and let Cowboy Club‘s rich history wash over you as you sip a Desert Bloom Margarita or a local Flagstaff brew on the patio with the glorious red rocks in full view.
The meticulously restored bar — which famously serves “high desert cuisine” like cactus and rattlesnake — was once a mid-century hangout for the likes of John Wayne and Rock Hudson when they were in town filming Westerns. Elvis Presley was even a regular in the late ’60s.
Try another only-in-Sedona experience at SpiritFlow, where spirit mentor, healer and guide Melina Fuhrmann leads classes, private ceremonies and other sessions around energy consciousness and management, healing and flow inside her salt room.
Make sure to book time with her far ahead of your trip, and ideally an online consultation beforehand, too, to begin visualizing the transformation you seek. No need to dress up for dinner on one of Hideaway House‘s patios, with acoustic tunes and comforting country Italian fare.
Saturday: Experience the Energy Vortexes and Red Rocks
Even with only one day in Sedona under your belt, you’ve now likely heard a bit about vortexes — special places like at Peru’s Machu Picchu and Egypt’s Great Pyramid — where energy is believed to spiral into or out of the Earth.
Whether or not you’re a believer, it’s worth seeing what all the fuss is about while you’re in town. Boynton Canyon, Airport Mesa and Cathedral Rock are the three most accessible (all a short drive from downtown) with the last being breathtaking in intensity.
For an easier go, the path to Boynton Canyon’s balanced vortex is located near the start of a lush 6.1-mile in-and-out trail. As to what you do at this healing energy hotspot, it’s up to the individual. Some sit and meditate, while others set an intention, make a Sedona wish or simply enjoy the peaceful morning quiet.
If you decide to dive deeper, One Tribe Tours offers vortex experiences ranging from half- and whole-day outings to one incorporating Kundalini yoga.
After feeling all the feels in the swirling energy center — which could manifest as a slight tingling on bare skin or a swell of emotions — fuel up at West Sedona’s can’t-miss Coffee Pot Restaurant, famous for having 101 scrumptious omelets on its menu.
Next, grab picnic supplies at Local Juicery before embarking on a meandering and dramatically picturesque half day of hiking. Start at Aerie Trailhead, a roughly 15-minute drive from the juice bar.
Continue on to Doe Mesa, an idyllic place to sit on the top of the world and savor superfood oat bars or cashew goji-crunch with a veggie juice, then climb down and explore Cockscomb Trail.
You’ve earned an indulgent visit to the Decanter Tasting Room for a tasting of Sedona- and Arizona-grown wines alongside an impressive charcuterie board.
Snag blankets, a bottle of vino and an imaginative to-go meal from chef Lisa Dahl’s popular Butterfly Burger. Then drive 10 minutes to match the morning’s magic with a little stargazing at Baldwin Trailhead.
One-tenth of a mile from the parking lot is a slick rock that’s one of the unanimously beloved spots to lay down and look up. With its dramatic vastness and low level of light pollution, Sedona is one of the world’s 34 certified Dark Sky Communities.
If you’re astronomically inclined, make sure to join a tour led by experts armed with high-powered telescopes.
Sunday: Visit an Artist Community
Start your day with a visit to Wildflower for breakfast bowls and frittatas to fuel you back up for a full day of exploring. Make your way over to Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, a ’70s Mexican-style artist community with lots of vibrant wares and crafts to shop, which is only about a 10-minute walk away.
Next, it’s time to head south with a drive down Highway 179’s Red Rock Scenic Byway. Be sure to pull over, if not take a quick hike along the side of the Bell Rock — the region’s most popular attraction.
Along the way you shouldn’t miss a stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross. You needn’t be religious to appreciate the Catholic chapel, a modern architectural marvel that was designed by a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright’s named Marguerite Brunswig Staude and built in 1956 atop a plateau of bold red rock.
This brings you to Slim Shady Trail, which offers unbeatable views of the surrounding rock formations — assuming you still have the energy.
Continue with the sacred theme at Crescent Moon Picnic Site at Red Rock Crossing, where your photographs of the glowing sandstone butte dubbed Cathedral Rock — especially when reflected in Oak Creek — may just resemble an Impressionist painting.
If it’s warm, plan to hang out with refreshments and cool off in the creek — just know you won’t be alone and that the area closes at dusk.
Do an early dinner at Cucina Rustica in the nearby Village of Oak Creek, where Artichoke Beignets and Gnocchi Paradiso stand out on a menu of decadent dishes.
It seems only right to wrap up the weekend with another moment to appreciate the vortex phenomenon. Airport Mesa, the ombré mass with a flat-ish top and lookouts providing 360-degree vistas of the whole Sedona region, is particularly beautiful at sunset.
Its 3.5-mile loop hike along the edge is sensational as is, but add a visit to the powerful masculine vortex and it’s a recipe for a memorable evening. Practice yoga, sit in quiet contemplation or engage with others who might be doing sound healing or playing drums. Most importantly, revel in Mother Nature’s many marvels.
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