While I was growing up I was fortunate enough to travel a lot with my family. We road tripped all over the United States as well as traveling to Europe, Mexico, Canada, and a few islands. I loved every trip but when someone suggested I write about my favorite place to visit I immediately thought of Sedona, AZ. This is a must-see location just about two hours north of Phoenix. This sweet city is nestled right in the center of some of the most beautiful red rocks in the country. It is a little haven away from the desert heat that Arizona is known for. It can get much cooler here at night and sometimes you will even see snow glazed over the desert brush and cacti.
We started going to Sedona when I was very young. I'm not sure exactly how my parents chose this destination but we all fell in love with it right away. From then on we started going every other year for Spring break. We would bring different family and friends so they could take part in the magic of the town as well.
There are plenty of great activities in Sedona to enjoy but these are my top 6 favorite things about this spiritual, gorgeous, friendly city.
1. Cathedral Rock
Down beneath Cathedral Rock is Red Rock State Park. Every time we've gone to Sedona we make sure to pack a picnic and visit this serene location. You can follow the trail back through the woods and up to the water where we would spend hours laying out on the large, flat rocks, playing in Oak Creek, and watching the sunset on Cathedral Rock above us. The farther back you follow the trail the closer you get to this gorgeous formation and the more magical things you'll find. We found a whole area where people made rock towers with the oval shaped stones, so of course we took part in the tradition. I will always remember this park as one of my favorite places to be in the world. It makes you feel as though you're truly one with nature and is a great place for writing and reflecting.
Check out Red Rock State Park here.
2. The Coffee Pot Restaurant
The best breakfast restaurant in America, maybe the world. I am not even a big breakfast person but the Coffee Pot Restaurant can convert any eater. They are aptly named for having a large red rock formation behind them in the distance shaped like a large coffee pot as well as having some of the best coffee in the state. I also love their pancakes and french toast and from my egg loving family I know they have some of the world's best omelets. I think we visited this little place almost every morning of each trip and it was always packed. Definitely get there early and be ready to wait a short time. It's totally worth it!
See their menu here.
3. Bell Rock
Have you ever wanted to conquer a mountain? Bell Rock is the best place to start. Another spot we hiked every trip was this sloping, flat rocked, formation. It is a great place to bring kids too because it's a very easy climb and you can hang out on a lot of the larger "ledges." My goal from the beginning was to make it all the way to the top and after a few years I was able to do just that. My younger cousin and I helped each other right to the top peak with my Uncle spotting from below. It was a great feeling of success and accomplishment and I loved being able to see the whole landscape from up there.
Learn more about Bell Rock here.
4. Tlaquepaque: Arts and Crafts Village
Tlaquepaque (t-lockey-pockey) is one of the most amazing arts and crafts shopping villages you'll ever find. The name means "the best of everything" and it truly is! It is nestled near Oak Creek under large Sycamore trees with vine covered walls and a very Mexican/Latin American feel. They have many festivals that have been celebrated in Mexican tradition for years and they offer many types of art and jewelry from local artisans. Some of the must see events are the Cinco de Mayo and Feista de Tlaquepaque celebrations as well as the Festival of Lights. If you want to experience something unique and very Southwestern then this is the place for you!
5. Sedona Summit Resort
The only place to stay while in Sedona is this resort. My parents found it originally through a timeshare and we all immediately fell in love with it so we never stayed anywhere else! The rooms are spacious with full kitchens and we would usually end up with one large suite for my parents and a connecting room for us kids. My favorite part was the extremely spacious shower, but the grounds are also gorgeous. They have lovely pools, movie rentals, and some game rentals like ping pong. They even have activities in the main building, whether it's a wildlife presentation (I got to hold a Rose Tarantula) or local Native Americans selling their jewelry. I give it 5 stars all around.
Here's their website for booking.
6. Palatki Indian Ruins
Palatki ruins were created by the Sinagua people who inhabited the cliff side from around 500 to 1425 AD. This is a great little hike up the hillside to see the remains of the dwellings these people created as well as pictographs and petroglyphs. It is also a beautiful drive where I have seen wild coyotes. One of the petroglyphs is a girl with buns on the side of her head so every year we went I would either put my hair up or hold it up like that and take a photo in front of her. I love seeing this very native part of American culture each and every time I visit.
Check out these ancient ruins here.
I hope you all get a chance to check out this amazing town and all it has to offer! Happy travels!
