Calla went to Sedona for her birthday - learn all about her favorite places to go!
When I want a little getaway from this crazy thing we call “life”, I always immediately think of Sedona. It is a quick 2 hour drive from Phoenix with beautiful scenic views along the way.
For my birthday this year, my husband, Mike took me on a trip to Sedona. We stayed at the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock. It’s a chic hotel with a pool, on site restaurant and bar, spa, large guest rooms and even a golf course. We stayed in a one bedroom suite with a king bed, living room, and desk for work if we needed it. It also had a wet bar with a mini fridge if you wanted to bring any food or adult beverages along. The bedroom was separate from the bathroom area, which had a spacious walk in shower. The room was very clean and beautiful but the best part about the hotel is that they are pet friendly so we were able to take our 2 chihuahuas, AKA “The Girls” with us too! The hotel even gave them a welcome gift that included treats, a bandanna, tennis ball and dog waste bags! Such a thoughtful touch!
After checking in, we decided to explore the downtown area. This is a little more tourist-y than we normally pick, but there are so many cute local shops and restaurants to choose from that we couldn’t stay away. We stopped at Open Range Tavern and Grill for a quick drink. Make sure to grab a table outside so you can take in the beautiful views!
Next, we walked to Canyon Breeze Restaurant and grabbed a chicken quesadilla to split and a couple more drinks. Again, grab a table on their outdoor patio because you don’t want to miss the views of the beautiful red rocks!
When traveling, we love to find local craft breweries, so we did a quick google search and found the Sedona Beer Company. They have a rotating seasonal tap list so you will always have something new and exciting to try. I tried their stout and Mike had their hazy IPA, both were awesome! They also have a small food menu so you can grab something to snack on while you enjoy a few beers. Mike is what I like to call a wing-aholic, so he ordered the wings in their green chili garlic sauce (the sauce is legit bright green lol) and loved them! I am a freely admitted french fry addict, so I had to try their sweet potato waffle fries, extra crispy of course! You get to pick either garlic and herb or salt and vinegar as your seasoning flavor. You also have the option to add chorizo and cheese sauce, so you know I picked that option and it did not disappoint!
After that, we headed back to our hotel to grab a nightcap at Shadow Rock Tap & Table. They have multiple fire pits outside that you can buy a s’mores kit and roast your own marshmallows! The entire bar and restaurant went through a huge renovation and it has an awesome open concept with a modern design. Added bonus, they have a bunch of local beer taps to pick from as well as a nice selection of bourbon, which is my favorite choice for a night cap.
The next day we decided to get up early and go on a hike. Sedona has some of the best hiking trails in all of Arizona. We decided to do the Little Horse Trail which is rated moderate and is a little over 4 miles. We didn’t run into a lot of people on the way in, but there were more bikers and hikers coming in while we were headed out. My suggestion would be to go early, like we did, to avoid the crowds. There are plenty of shaded areas on the trail and beautiful views of The Chapel of Holy Hill. The view at the end was totally worth the hike. It was simply breathtaking!
We worked up an appetite while hiking, so we decided to grab some pizza and a couple beers from Famous Pizza & Beer, which is a locally owned and operated business. #supportlocal We ordered our go to pie which is pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms and olives baked extra crispy with a side of marinara and ranch (it’s a Midwest thing) for crust dipping. They offer cans of beer so we grabbed an apricot sour and a hazy IPA from Almanac Beer Company. The pizza was perfectly cooked, crispy crust and another beautiful view from their outdoor patio.
After our hike and pizza we needed to relax and destress, so we booked a couples massage at Namti Day Spa. This is an adorable locally owned and operated spa. They offer a variety of services like massages, facials, energy healing and acupuncture. The prices are extremely reasonable and the massage therapists are very professional and listen to what areas you would like to focus on for your session. Sedona is already a very calming and relaxing destination to visit but enjoying a spa service or two just helps out even more.
We headed back to our hotel, after our massages, to shower and get ready for dinner. We selected Mariposa, a Latin inspired grill, for my birthday dinner. We picked a sunset dinner reservation and requested to sit outside. Again, the views of the red rocks are so beautiful it’s impossible to put into words. We selected a bottle of 2014 Barolo and started our dining adventure with the pulpo parrilla (octopus). It was one of the most tender octopus appetizers we have ever eaten. Our waiter also recommended the handmade empanadas with your choice of 3 fillings, if you are not an octopus fan. Next was our entrees, we both picked the center cut filet mignon cooked medium rare (the only way to eat a steak, fight me on it lol) with their signature mushroom gorgonzola chipotle sauce. Seriously, you could cut this steak with a fork it was that tender and their signature sauce was to die for! We also ordered the lemon mashed potatoes with luscious lobster scampi and they did not disappoint! Just enough lemon flavor and it added a little surf for our turf. Last but not least was dessert. We are lovers of any type of cheesecake so we had to try their prickly pear with a pomegranate reduction. Again, it was nothing short of amazing, creamy and just the perfect amount of tang from the prickly pear. This restaurant is definitely more of a splurge for your budget, but well worth it for the delicious, perfectly executed food and of course the sunset views!
Sedona is a one of a kind destination with a small town feel. The relaxing vibes, beautiful views of the red rocks, local restaurants, breweries and businesses are well worth the two hour drive north of Phoenix. If you haven’t made the trip to Sedona, please do yourself a favor and add it to your bucket list! I promise that you won’t be disappointed!
Xo
Calla
I have been to Sedona a few different times before this trip and thought I would include a few of my other favorite places:
Brewery: Oak Creek Brewery & Grill
French Restaurant: Rene Restaurant
Italian/Pizza: Pizza & Pasta Company
Airbnb: Home Sweet Dome!
Golfing: Sedona Golf Resort
Breakfast: Creekside
Unique Shopping: Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Hiking Trail: Bell Rock
Hiking Trail: Devil’s Bridge
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