Sedona & Antelope Canyon, AZ
I don't travel domestically in the United States very often, so when I do I love exploring unique places. Sedona, Arizona is the perfect place to get away for a long weekend filled with relaxation and amazing scenery. I went with one of my friends and it was the perfect girls trip! Plus Sedona is within hours of the amazingly beautiful Antelope Canyon and other scenic spots in Northern Arizona, so you can't go wrong with a trip to Sedona! I will break down where I stayed and what I did while in Sedona, as well as offer other things to do and see in the area (which I'll have to do next time around!).
Amara Resort & Spa
When we started planning this trip, we knew we wanted to make our long weekend in Arizona a "Spa Weekend." That meant the first thing we had to find was the perfect place to stay with a spa and amenities. We searched quite a few places between Phoenix and Sedona (and even some closer to Flagstaff), but ultimately we went with Amara Resort & Spa. Located right on the main road in Uptown Sedona, it sits perfectly in front of one of many gorgeous red rock mountains in the area. There's a great courtyard with Adirondack chairs to sip a glass of wine and enjoy the views. Speaking of wine, they have a "Wine Hour" every night from 5-6 pm with free wine! In addition to the courtyard there is an infinity pool and Jacuzzi overlooking the creek and the red rocks.
The resort offers plenty of amenities including stargazing sessions (hosted by local astronomy experts from Iridium Sky Tours), access to top rated golf courses in the Sedona area, al fresco dining at their signature restaurant SaltRock (I can't recommend this place enough. It was delicious!), and daily yoga. Due to our schedule and having tours set up, we weren't able to take advantage of the free yoga, but I can only imagine how nice it would be in the courtyard with such great views while you pose! As for the spa, sadly I can't provide a review because we wanted facials and when booking, the Aesthetician was completely booked. However the reviews for the spa on TripAdvisor and other sites are quite good, so I'm sure they would have been great. You can view their Spa Menu here. We ended up going to a local spa instead (see more on that below) for services.
We were upgraded to a courtyard room upon check in and I'm so glad we were because the view from our balcony was awesome. Between the red rocks in the distance, the gorgeous sunsets, and the ability to sit outside and breathe in the fresh air at 4,500 feet, it was perfect. Overall the prices were moderate and I felt like we got our money's worth! Read below for additional lodging options in the area.
Sedona New Day Spa
As mentioned above, we didn't get to take advantage of our hotel's spa because we really wanted facials. A quick search for other spas in the area lead us to Sedona New Day Spa. This place had a LOT of really positive reviews online, plus their prices were pretty good, so it was an easy decision. We both picked one of their spa packages, which were about 2.5 hours worth of services. I got a 60 minute full-body Swedish massage, a 30 minute reflexology foot massage, and a 60 minute anti-aging caviar facial. In addition to the services, they also provided tea and treats when we arrived, then mimosas and cheese plates with fruit after our services finished. Plus, there was a really nice hot tub in the courtyard that I took advantage of in between my massage and facial.
One thing I have to mention about this spa and what honestly makes me highly recommend it for any visitors is their customer service. While I was in the hot tub, the owner (a wonderful retiree from New Jersey) came over and chatted with me. We discussed living in New York and the craziness of the city compared to the slow pace of Sedona. We discussed careers, and life in general. She was so pleasant and really nice to chat with. My facial (with Julia who was great!) was awesome and I felt so refreshed. My massage however, was not great for me. I was not overly comfortable with the masseuse and did not feel he listened to my requests, so overall it just wasn't anything to write home about (or blog about!). When checking out we were asked how everything was. I told the receptionist how nice my facial was, but that my massage just wasn't what I'd hoped for unfortunately. I told her that overall the experience was great and the amenities were enough to make the whole visit worth it. I didn't think anything of it and wasn't asking for a refund, just providing honest feedback. Several hours later I received a phone call from the owner and she said she was so sorry my experience wasn't what I hoped for and she wanted to make things right. She ended up refunding me the entire massage and foot massage costs and told me to call her if I'm ever back in Sedona so she can make sure I have the perfect massage. How sweet is that?! I was in no way looking for anything as each person is different in how they enjoy or don't like a massage. It really meant a lot to me that she was so concerned with the customers' experience. That is proof of a well-run business and definitely somewhere I will return if I'm ever back in Sedona!
Dining in Sedona
One thing I have to point out is that Sedona is a city that closes early (perhaps only during the winter?), so make sure you research and pick your restaurants for dinner accordingly. We walked around the main street of Uptown Sedona the first night and there was little open past 8:00 pm. We went into one of the only shops open: Sedona Fudge. Their peanut butter fudge was so good! I definitely recommend stopping by here for some home made fudge while you're in town. As for dinners, luckily we had reservations for each night and some great restaurants (my friend is a foodie and always finds the best places when we travel together - shoutout to Carly!!!). Our first night we dined at the restaurant at our hotel: SaltRock. I started with a super tasty guava cooler (I love me some guava!), then got some creamy tomato soup, and their meat and cheese plate. I love any restaurant where a random meal of appetizers is super filling!
On our second day we started out at Coffee Pot Restaurant, which is named after the Coffee Pot Rock behind the shopping mall. This place is a great Mom & Pop type restaurant with a huge menu (served old school newspaper style) and all the coffee you can handle. Each person gets their own coffee pot and locally made coffee mugs. We indulged in eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage biscuits & gravy, and of course some delicious pancakes! It was the perfect start to a full day of hiking and the spa.
The "Coffee Pot" rock is on the right end :)
That night for dinner we went to The Hudson Sedona. I absolutely loved the decor inside this restaurant and the food and service were just as nice! The waitress we had was so friendly and was willing to answer a plethora of questions we had about their menu. There was so much to choose from, we were lost! I ended up getting The Hudson Chopped salad with salmon and it was amazing! I really wanted to try their desserts because every time one went by our table they looked so good, but sadly I was too full once it was time. Plus, I still had my peanut butter fudge at the room ;)
On our final night, after a long day of driving to and from Antelope Canyon, we ate at Hideaway House. With a menu full of homemade pastas and pizzas, this was another hard choice. I ended up going with a gnocchi and shrimp dish, while my friend went with the mussels. We both got dessert this time (giant cannoli for me, cheesecake for my friend) and it was the perfect end to a great trip!
Additionally, we also got some delicious ice cream at Cream & Cake Couture. They had the cutest baked goods as well, but my red velvet birthday cake ice cream was amaze!
Sedona Hikes
Besides the spa, the best part about a weekend in Sedona is the endless amounts of hikes available! As you drive from Phoenix to Sedona, just before entering Sedona proper, you will start to see the red rocks that make this area so beautiful! No matter which way you look, there is a new red rock formation. Once you're in the area and ready to explore, there are so many options. Unfortunately for us, we didn't get to do as many hikes as we'd planned due to torrential rain (even hail at one point!), but here are a few hiking suggestions for the area:
Cathedral Rock - This rock formation is of the most famous in Sedona and what is known as a "vortex site." A vortex site is thought to be a swirling center of energy that is conducive to healing, meditation and self-exploration. The hike itself is deemed "slightly more challenging" than others as there are some steep inclines in several places. However, once you get to the top the views are awesome.
Bell Rock - This rock is another vortex site in Sedona. Unlike Cathedral Rock, this hike is easier with less steep spots.
Broken Arrow Trail - This hike would be considerate moderate with some steep spots and taking roughly 2 hours to complete. Along this hike you will see both Chicken Point and Submarine Rock.
Fay Canyon - This trail will take about an hour. At the top of Fay Canyon, you get amazing views of Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Bell Rock. Sadly this is the one hike we really wanted to do, but when we got to the starting point it stated on the sign there were steep areas and rocky areas. Since it was just starting to rain heavily, we thought best not to chance it.
Boyton Canyon - This is a very easy trail, that you can take to about 1/4 mile view point or you can continue farther to Devils Bridge Trail. We were able to make it to the 1/4 mile point before thunder rang out. Just as we made it back to the car, the hail came piling down!
Margs Draw - Lastly as an option is Margs Draw which is about a 2 hour hike that will provide plenty of red rocks views along the way.
Antelope Canyon
Last, but definitely not least, it's on to my favorite part of the trip!!! Many months ago I saw photos of Antelope Canyon on an athlete's Instagram account I follow. I immediately bookmarked that page and added it to my list of US places to visit. When my friend mentioned to me that she had a companion pass with Delta that had to be used by March, we started brainstorming places in the US we could use the pass. Originally we were going to head up to Maine in the Fall to see all of the leaves. However, we quickly realized the flight wasn't that expensive and it wouldn't be a great use of a companion ticket. My friend suggested a spa weekend in Arizona and I jumped at the offer all because it meant I could visit Antelope Canyon. It didn't take long for me to convince her by simply showing her the Google image results for the canyon and then I got to researching!
We ended up booking our tour through a company called Antelope Canyon NOW! which was more of a broker than the actual tour guide as our lower canyon tour was with Ken's Tours and our upper canyon tour was with Antelope Slot Canyon Tours. It made it easy to book through Antelope Canyon NOW! because everything was done at once. Since the lower and upper canyons are located in different areas, there are different tour groups that operate at each. No matter which tour you book through, it must be with an official Navajo Guide. Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land, so you can only enter the canyons on an official Navajo-guided tour. In addition, because of being on Navajo land, there are a lot of restrictions as to what you can and cannot bring with you on the tour. Essentially you can have your camera (both phone and handheld) and a clear water bottle. All other items are prohibited (no bags, tripods, etc.). Additionally, you will be instructed to turn all cell phones on airplane mode and you may not use a flash at any time. Respecting the Navajo culture is vital when visiting, but it is SO WORTH IT! Just look at how cool this place is!!!
This is actually the exit where we climbed out of the Lower Canyon!
Note that the only time of year when the sun light will beam through the slots on the upper canyon is end of March through October. Since we were there in February, we didn't get this but honestly what we saw was so amazing I didn't even care! Also, please note that it is much colder once you're in the canyons (especially the upper canyon where there is less light), so dress accordingly!
Getting to Sedona & Antelope Canyon
Fair warning: no matter what car you booked for your trip (yes, you need a rental car since there's no real way to get around without one), the rental car agents at Phoenix airport will try to upsell you! When asked where we were going, I said Sedona. Immediately I was told "oh you'll be in the mountains, you should definitely upgrade to an SUV!" I explained that I paid for the car through Chase travel, so I didn't have any more room in my budget to upgrade. I was then presented with signs about thefts in Phoenix and how important added coverage was (which I again declined). Lastly, I was told gas would be the same if I prepaid through them or got on my own. I immediately pulled up Gas Buddy on my phone and confirmed that local stations were priced almost 30 cents less than what the prepaid option was, so again I politely declined. Funny enough, once we got to the garage and the spot where our car was, it was an SUV! So I guess the patronizing male agent felt I couldn't manage without a big car "in the mountains" so he gave me a free upgrade. While we never off-roaded or drove "in the mountains" it was a nice Jeep Compass and it did us well!
The easiest option to get to Sedona is to fly to Phoenix. The drive from Phoenix to Sedona is just under 2 hours, so it's a pretty easy drive. Once you're at your resort in Sedona, there is definitely the ability to walk around. However, if you want to venture outside of Upper Sedona or go on any hikes, you will need to drive. There are plenty of parking lots at the different hiking trails (most free, a couple $5 for a day pass). You can also just get in the car and drive around to take in the red rocks views. We did that one afternoon and ended up discovering a cool church that was nestled in some red rocks.
To get to Antelope Canyon from Sedona, it is about a 3 hour drive north. You will start by winding up to about 7,000 feet through Oak Creek Canyon. We left our hotel around 7:30 am and found ourselves in a winter wonderland before we got to the main interstate towards Flagstaff. It was beautiful compared to the dessert and red rocks we'd seen for the past two days! As we made our way north to Page, AZ and the canyons we were surrounded by even more scenic beauty. It was a really gorgeous drive:
Tips/Suggestions
Accommodations - While we stayed at Amara Resort & Spa, there are many other options in the Sedona region.
Higher End Options: Enchantment Resort and L'Auberge de Sedona are two of the nicest resorts (and priciest) in Sedona. While L'Auberge is right off of the main road in Upper Sedona, Enchantment is more secluded, close to Boyton Canyon. Both offer tons of amenities and are very luxurious.
Moderate Options: In addition to Amara Resort & Spa, there are quite a few moderately priced options including Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Piñon Pointe, The Orchards Inn of Sedona, and Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock.
Budget Friendly Options: If money is an issue and you just want to be in the region for the free hikes and experiences (and an off-site spa like Sedona New Day Spa), then there are definitely options which will work. You can find quite a few cheaper (but still nice) options like the Sedona Village Lodge, Wildflower Inn at Bell Rock, Days Inn By Wyndham Sedona, and Holiday Inn Express Sedona.
Book In Advance - As stated above, we couldn't use the spa at our own hotel because we wanted facials and they were all booked. With both spa treatments and any tours (Antelope Canyon, Sedona jeep tours, Sedona helicopter tours, Sedona hot air balloon tours, etc.), it is better to book once you've booked your hotel. You don't want to miss out on anything when you get there because you waited too long to book! We learned the hard way, so whatever I can do to help future visitors I will!
Pack Accordingly - It might be easy to think "it's the desert, it's hot" when packing for an Arizona trip. However, Sedona is at an elevation of 4,500 feet above sea level so it is a little cooler depending on the time of year. And as it did on our trip, it can really storm there! Make sure to check the extended forecast a few days before you leave so that you make sure you have enough layers and accessories like umbrellas if you need them. Also keep in mind that with the red rocks everywhere, when it rains you get red mud and it gets all over your shoes and clothes! So don't pack anything that you can't get cleaned after :)
Don't Expect Desert - I knew very little about Sedona, but I'd been to Phoenix a couple of times before as well as Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. I just assumed that Sedona would be very desert-like, but it is much more mountainous and green. There are a lot of trees and so many red rocks. You don't see many tall cactus plants (except when driving to/from Phoenix), but you will see plenty of Prickly Pear cactus (not actually a pear). I had envisioned getting a really awesome nighttime star photo with a giant cactus in the foreground. Nope, not in Sedona! haha Usually I google everything for a trip, but occasionally even I'm surprised :)
Bon voyage!
