Wellness & Adventurein Sedona, Arizona

Get out in nature

Climbing Cathedral Rocks is the entry point into the Sedona region – it’s one of the first sites you see and you shouldn’t miss hiking around the area. The moderate hike is a lot of fun as you’ll scale over boulders and go up some steep inclines. Go early, around 8 a.m., or before sunset. It takes about 45 minutes to get up with a few breaks for photos and water. There are multiple points to stop and take in the amazing views. Even if you don’t make it to the end of the trail, it’s still worth the hike.

If hiking isn’t your thing but you want to enjoy all of Sedona’s natural beauty, go on a Pink Jeep Tour. On the guided tour, you’ll traverse over rocks and canyons giving you an overview of the Sedona area. The jeep will take you to a couple of sites and you’ll see quite a lot.

Cultural exploration

Visit the beautiful Chapel of the Holy Cross. Completed in 1956, the Chapel of the Holy Cross sits high atop the red rocks in Sedona. The chapel was created by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude. It’s small, but majestic – the views and setting are inspiring.

Head to the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village to browse through boutiques and galleries. The architecture, look and feel of the village is inspired by old-world Mexico. It’s a little respite and a little different from what you might expect to see in Sedona with all these little nooks and crannies and hubs of shops and galleries. You’ll find a little bit of everything, candles, paintings, pottery, jewelry, woven textiles, beaded crafts and more. Walking around is very peaceful as the area is surrounded by giant sycamore trees on the banks of the beautiful Oak Creek. This is a great place to pick up locally-made souvenirs.

Create your own art by taking a glass blowing class at The Melting Point. I love to do something out-of-the-ordinary when I go to a new place, and Sedona is known for art with many painting galleries and sculptures. The Melting Pot offers classes, a perfect mixture of a unique experience and souvenir tied into one.

Breakfast

The Coffee Pot: The spot for breakfast in Sedona. It’s been here forever, and is where the locals go to choose from a seemingly endless list of omelets.

Lunch & dinner

Mariposa Sedona: Fine-dining influenced by chef Lisa Dahl’s travels to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. The grilled Spanish octopus with garbanzo purée and fire-roasted artichokes, a bone-in ribeye, the lobster scampi and charred elote are all delicious. With awe-inspiring views through huge windows that frame picturesque views, Mariposa is a definite must-eat spot during your visit to Sedona.

Rainbow Trout Farm: Kids love catching their own fish for lunch. It’s a fish farm so whatever you catch, you can cook it and eat it right there. It's actually not very hard to catch a fish! They have grills set up around the ponds so you can cook your fish.

Drinks

Oak Creek Brewery: The Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village has ample lunch options and my family and I love this brewery that has fantastic cocktails. Don’t skip the prickly pear margarita.

Dessert

Cream: Freshly made ice cream with incredible flavors including butter pecan, the best vanilla ever and red velvet.