Sometimes you just need to get away when you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and under appreciated in your real life, and when all those feelings take over your soul, the best place to get away to is Sedona, Arizona. Known for its spiritualism, its strong metaphysical aura, and for being a serene escape in the midst of chaos, it is almost impossible to leave Sedona not feeling recharged and at peace, but what if you only have a day to experience it? Obviously 24 hours isn’t enough to see all there is to see, to do all there is to do, or to feel all there is to feel, but it is a great start, and choosing Sedona.Org for your vacation accommodations also means you will have this guide to planning a day trip to Sedona that will never be forgotten!
Sunrise Over the Mountain
This first adventure can be accomplished on the start of your trip or at the back end of your day in Sedona, and if you just can’t force yourself to wake up that early, a mountain sunset will be every bit as fantastic. But all beginnings start at dawn, so we are going to assume that is where your adventure will begin as well. Wake early, wrap yourself in something warm (mornings can be chilly in the summer and quite frosty in the winter months), and step out on to patio, deck, or balcony, where the vast sky filled with stars is already beginning to lighten. You aren’t the only person out at this hour, but it may feel like you are, and as the world begins to awaken around you, the sound of birds cheerily singing their morning sun, the sky lightens even further, and the first appearance of colors other than black or gray begin to make their presence known, you will feel peace, followed by a quickening of your heartbeat and an overall sense of awe. The colors of sunrise in Arizona may surprise you with their vibrancy and fire, but they will be everything you never knew you needed to start out your day in Sedona.
The Choice Is Yours
At this point, you have two choices as to what you can do next. You can climb back in bed, pull the covers around your shoulders and a pillow over your head, sinking back into the land of the sandman for a couple more hours of restful sleep. Or, if the dawning of morning awakened a hunger in you, you can slip into your clothes for the day, grab the keys to your rental car, and make your way to the Coffee Pot Restaurant, 2050 W State Route 89A, where a hearty meal awaits. Your adventures in Sedona are going to need you to be fully fueled, and this iconic diner lying in the shadow of Coffeepot Rock understands your needs, providing an omelet menu with over 100 choices! Also offering a regular breakfast menu filled with morning basics including classic egg dishes, pancakes, and a Southwest selection of breakfast goodness, your biggest problem this morning may be narrowing down your dining choices to just one meal.
To Hike or Not to Hike
Now here is your first dilemma of the day. To truly experience an authentic Sedona getaway, a hike through the red rocks is highly recommended, but remember, you only have a day, and it can take up many hours to hike the trails that reveal all that makes Sedona special. Will that mean you miss out on something else? You can skip the hike altogether and start planning a return visit, one in which you have the luxury of more time, or you can hike the Bell Rock Pathway, stretching out less than a mile in total and taking you to one of our more famous red rock formations, Bell Rock. Park your car at the Bell Rock Vista Parking Area and begin your stroll (because at .8 miles, this is definitely more of a stroll than a hike) and enjoy an up close and personal view of the red rocks that you have dreamed about all your life.
A Visit to a Vortex
A vortex is thought to be a spot of swirling energy that can actually affect your mood, your health, and your emotional state, and Sedona is known to offer a large number of these fantastic energy centers. And because you can’t consider that you have visited Sedona without experiencing a vortex, the Airport Mesa Vortex, one of Sedona’s most powerful, is where we are directing you to next. The energy of the vortexes in the area can be masculine, feminine, or in this case, a balance of both, and so it is noted to offer a healing energy to those who are feeling out of balance. Getting there is easy, there is a small parking lot off Airport Mesa Road, so you will simply park and then walk up the hill and up a set of steps to reach the vortex, feeling a shift in the energy, a sense of peace and power, when you reach the spot where the swirling energy is the strongest.
Jeep, Jeep!
The easiest way, however, to see vortexes, red rocks, and everything else that makes the Sedona countryside exciting is by signing up for a jeep tour. There are several companies in the area including the original, Pink Jeep Tours, located at 204 N State Route 89-A, taking guests through the Sedona countryside while offering a narrative that will help you understand more of what you are seeing. The tours can last anywhere from 1.5 hours to 11 hours, but the more common tours are 2-3 hours in length. We really like this idea, as guests won’t have to worry about wasting time getting lost, plus, the tours really offer a synopsis of everything you really should see and do while visiting our red rock town. Arizona Safari Jeep Tours and Red Rock Western Jeep Tours are a couple of other businesses that we highly recommend.
Lunch at the Cowboy Grille & Spirits
However you spend your morning, by the time midday rolls around you will be more than ready for an American Bison Burger served just the way you like it at the historic Cowboy Grille & Spirits. Located at 241 N State Route 89A, this restaurant has been around for over 70 years, since the days when Western movies were made here, and it was a favorite hangout for some of the biggest stars of the day, including John Wayne, Rock Hudson, and yes, Elvis Presley. Today, it is one of those restaurants that complete an authentic and iconic Sedona vacation, offering a hearty menu, refreshing beverages, and the echoes of Old Hollywood experienced with every bite.
Urban Adventures in Sedona
Now that you have experienced the natural side of your escape to Sedona, it is time to switch gears, exploring cultural, sophisticated, and urban adventures that you may not expect from a historic town in the old west. If you are visiting in the summer, you may appreciate the chance to get out of the heat, savoring air conditioning all the more. It doesn’t matter the order in which you do all of these things or even if you are ABLE to do them all, we at Sedona.Org are just tossing out some ideas, perhaps encouraging you to come back again later when you have more time!
Sip and Savor at Winery 1912
Arizona wines are becoming quite competitive, and we are pleased offer a taste of the best with Winery 1912. Located at 320 AZ-89A #3 and tucked away in a stone and wood strip center, from the outside you wouldn’t be aware of what treasures await you inside, and we aren’t just talking about the wines. Step inside, and the walls of glass that take up the exterior of the building let in views so breathtaking, your heart may skip a beat, and you may lose the ability to form sensible thoughts. And then, with your first sip of wine, you will be able to breathe again, your heart will settle, and thoughts that begin with words like yum and wow, will be running through your mind. Winery 1912 is a stop on the Verde Valley Wine Trail, a trail of wineries and tasting rooms that take guests on a sipping journey through nearby towns of Clarkdale, Cottonwood, and Jerome, something you might want to keep in mind for a return visit.
Art is Everywhere
You really can’t go far into town without experiencing the art of Sedona. Navarro Gallery and Sculpture Garden offers a breathtaking selection of bronze sculptures, the Bearcloud Gallery has a selection of Native American Art, and Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art features art in all its forms, including glass, jewelry, sculpture, and paintings. These wonderful establishments will steal your heart, as will the dozens of smaller galleries and shops, all offering a unique perspective of the talents that can be found in our Arizona town.
Rocks of Ages
Remember, we mentioned a metaphysical side of Sedona way up at the beginning of this page, and if you thought the vortexes were what we had in mind, you are about to discover even more ways your metaphysical needs will be met in the red rocks. You can’t throw a stone without hitting a shop dealing in rocks and crystals, (See what we did there?) and shops like the Dragon’s Den Sedona, Mystical Bazaar, and Sedona Crystal Vortex all offer the stones and crystals you need to feel more balanced. Also offering clothing and jewelry, if you are flying anywhere soon and are lacking space in your luggage, you may want to skip these shops, as it is incredibly easy to fill your arms with bags of rocks that may make your luggage go over the weight limit!
And Every in Between
The galleries and crystal shops we mentioned above are just the tip of the shopping iceberg in Sedona, as you’ll also find bookstores, jewelry stores, clothing shops, souvenir shops, and our personal favorite, two year-round Christmas stores! You can attire yourself in the flower child outfits of that long ago time period, you can purchase jerky made from a variety of animals, including elk, bison, and other exotic flavors, and you can find houseware gifts that you wonder how you have lived this long without them. If you can think it, there is a shop in Sedona that sells it, and we can tell you that one afternoon is not enough to explore all of the shops in Sedona.
Totally Spahmazing
If, after all of the above, you find yourself with an hour or so to kill before dinner, why not take that time to spoil yourself with a visit to Sedona’s New Day Spa? Located at 3004 N State Route 89-A and offering massage, skin care, waxing, and Native Wisdom Rituals, you will need a good meal to wake up and turn your jelly muscles back into functioning parts of your body! But it is a great way to end a day of fun in Sedona, or at the very least, keep it in mind for that return trip that is now a certainty in your mind.
A Meal to Remember
Sedona truly is a foody paradise, and as you have enjoyed two other iconic dining experiences, of course we are going to finish off your Sedona day trip with an equally memorable meal. Elote Café is relatively new to the restaurant landscape, but this chef-driven restaurant located at 350 Jordan Road has become all the rage in its nearly 20 years of existence. Celeb chef Jeff Smedstad is an Arizona native that makes us proud, serving up a menu of Southern Mexico favorites that will make you understand the difference between true Mexican cuisine and the stuff served at chain restaurants in the Midwest!
Welcome Home to Sedona.Org
Whether you have just 24 hours in town or are here for a true vacation, our homes and condos will make you feel at home and are places where luxury and comfort go hand in hand. Reserve your favorite property today!
As we dive into the new year with enthusiasm and a touch of worry, you may be already starting to plan your vacation schedule, exploring the idea of visiting wonderful places all over the world, with a trip to Sedona heading your list. We at Sedona.Org can wholeheartedly get behind your plans, even going as far as suggesting that February 5th would be Book Direct Day, the perfect day to pick your vacation dream home come true, that our homes are the ones that are going to add something wonderful to your vacation experiences, and to tell you that booking directly with us, instead of straying towards the third-party vacation websites, will change the way you travel forever. February 5th is , and this guide to all the reasons you should book direct will give you insight into what an idyllic vacation can look like!
How Can We Help On Book Direct Day?
At the top of that list lies our willingness to provide the personal touch that is sadly lacking in other websites, going the extra step to ensure there is no uncertainty and no wrong notes that will play out during your Arizona adventures. We love our little section of paradise, and when you book directly with Sedona.Org, you will have access to all the hints, tips, and ideas that will make this getaway stand out. When you’re celebrating a special occasion, only a special occasion restaurant will do, and we know the best of the best having celebrated at those spots many times ourselves. Filling the pantry of your fully equipped kitchen can be fun, especially when we direct you to the shops that provide gourmet and perhaps unusual food ingredients. And what if you forgot your blood pressure pills and need an emergency refill but aren’t sure which pharmacy you should have them sent to? Just ask and we will reveal all, adding that personal touch to your vacation and a sense of relief that you won’t have to suffer the consequences of your understandable forgetfulness.
Book Direct and Shop Local
Our nation’s economy thrives when the small towns and big cities that make up its whole thrive, and the best way to do that is by shopping local. We don’t just work in Sedona; we live here, we play here, and when we hire, we hire local residents, ensuring that the money spent will be funneled back into the community. You aren’t from the Sedona area, of course, but it benefits you when you explore a vibrant and bustling town, one with a large selection of specialty shops, gourmet restaurants, and wonderful attractions that will add excitement to your trip, and besides. When you shop local, wherever you are visiting, you are doing your part to boost a national economy that has been in a slump for more than a few years. The third-party platforms you are used to using, simply pocket your money and move on, giving new meaning to the phrase, “the buck stops here!”
What You See Is What You Get
From the first moment that our property caught your eye while scrolling to the exciting moment when you step inside for the first time, you will have been dreaming about the spaces you saw in the pictures, perhaps even poring over them time and time again. These mini “vacations” from real life got you through some really tough times, and you just can’t imagine what you would do or feel if the door you walked into on your first day was not the one you saw. Fortunately, because you booked direct, you don’t need to worry about that, because there will be no substitutions (as can happen with the big corporate vacation rental websites) and the pictures we post are updated and recent. Walking inside will feel as if you are greeting an old friend and as you peek through windows at the red rock views you have dreamed about, you will realize that dreams really can come true.
Saving Money by Booking Direct
This probably isn’t your first vacation, and you are probably aware of the extra fees those big name sites add to the bill, including the ones that charge you for “privilege” of using their websites. When you book direct, those unnecessary fees don’t exist, especially as we feel the privilege is ours that YOU chose US for your vacation accommodations. This cuts down your overall costs, but that isn’t the only way you will save. Booking direct will give you access to last-minute discounts, holiday sales, and off-season deals aimed at getting your head in our beds! The end numbers will be noticeably different, perhaps changing the way you travel forever more.
Book Direct on February 5th
Come home to all that makes Sedona.Org comfortable, luxurious, and serene. Reserve your favorite escape today!