Food tour – Sedona Wanderlust

Welcome to the vibrant red rocks and stunning landscapes of Sedona, Arizona! Nestled amidst towering sandstone formations and winding desert trails, Sedona offers a captivating blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, and culinary delights. Whether you’re a foodie, an avid hiker, or an adventure seeker, Sedona has something to offer everyone. Join us as we explore a three-day itinerary packed with delicious dining experiences, Instagram-worthy hiking trails, thrilling jeep tours, and unforgettable visits to the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon.

Day 1: Culinary Delights and Scenic Hikes

Morning: Start your day with a hearty breakfast at Creekside Coffee Sedona, located in the heart of Sedona. Indulge in their delicious breakfast burritos, freshly brewed coffee, and scenic views of Oak Creek.

After breakfast, head to Cathedral Rock, one of Sedona’s most iconic hiking trails. The Cathedral Rock Trail offers breathtaking views of towering red rock formations and winding desert landscapes. Don’t forget to snap some Instagram-worthy photos along the way!

Lunch: After your hike, satisfy your appetite at The Hudson, a trendy restaurant known for its creative American cuisine and stunning views of the red rocks. Enjoy dishes like the Bison Burger or the Grilled Vegetable Napoleon on their outdoor patio.

Afternoon: Explore the charming streets of Sedona’s Uptown district, filled with art galleries, boutique shops, and local craft stores. Take some time to browse for souvenirs and unique gifts to remember your trip by.

Evening: End your day with a memorable dining experience at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill. Perched atop a hilltop, Mariposa offers panoramic views of Sedona’s red rocks, along with delicious Latin-inspired cuisine. Savor dishes like the Argentine Mixed Grill or the Sea Bass Ceviche while watching the sunset over the desert landscape.

“There is a reason you come here though you may not realize now.”
― Ilchi Lee, The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart

Day 2: Thrilling Adventures and Jeep Tours

Morning: Fuel up for the day with breakfast at Wildflower Bread Company, a local favorite known for its freshly baked bread, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches.

After breakfast, embark on a thrilling jeep tour with Pink Jeep Tours. Explore Sedona’s rugged terrain and hidden gems as you traverse through rocky trails and ancient canyons. Don’t miss the Broken Arrow Tour, which takes you through some of Sedona’s most iconic red rock formations.

Lunch: After your jeep tour, enjoy a casual lunch at Hideaway House, a cozy Italian restaurant with a scenic patio overlooking the red rocks. Treat yourself to wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta, and refreshing cocktails.

Travel in Devil’s Bridge Trail, scenic view panoramic landscape, Sedona, Arizona, USA

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon exploring more of Sedona’s natural wonders with a visit to Devil’s Bridge Trail. This moderate hike leads to a stunning natural sandstone arch, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Be sure to capture some Instagram-worthy photos on the bridge!

Evening: For dinner, head to Elote Cafe, a renowned restaurant serving upscale Mexican cuisine with a creative twist. Feast on dishes like the Duck Enchiladas or the Grilled Swordfish, accompanied by their famous roasted corn and homemade salsa.

“Whatever path brought you here
There is a reason why you came,
Through you may not know it now.”
― Ilchi Lee, The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart

Day 3: Majestic Canyons and Natural Wonders

Morning: Rise early and embark on a day trip to the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Marvel at the breathtaking vistas and expansive landscapes as you explore the rim of the canyon. Consider taking a helicopter tour for a truly unforgettable experience.

Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the splendor of the Grand Canyon or dine at one of the restaurants located within the park, such as the historic El Tovar Dining Room.

Afternoon: Continue your adventure with a visit to Antelope Canyon, a mesmerizing slot canyon known for its swirling sandstone formations and shafts of light. Take a guided tour to explore the canyon’s narrow passageways and capture stunning photographs of its unique beauty.

Evening: Return to Sedona in the evening and celebrate your last night with dinner at The Cowboy Club. Located in a historic building dating back to the 1940s, The Cowboy Club offers a unique dining experience with a Western flair. Indulge in dishes like the Buffalo Filet Mignon or the Cowboy Club Sampler, accompanied by live music and authentic Western ambiance.

As you conclude your three-day adventure in Sedona, Arizona, take with you memories of scenic hikes, thrilling jeep tours, and mouthwatering culinary experiences. Whether you’re exploring the red rocks of Sedona, marveling at the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, or discovering the hidden treasures of Antelope Canyon, Sedona promises an unforgettable journey filled with natural beauty and adventure.

How to spend the perfect weekend in Sedona, Arizona – a guide to this beautiful town in the southwest USA featuring 48 hours of hikes, food and wine, sunsets, and spirituality among the red rocks. Surrounded by a dramatic landscape of vivid red rock formations, Sedona in northern Arizona is one of the most beautiful places in the southwest USA. It’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors, with miles of hiking and biking routes, but has a spiritual side too. Add in fantastic places to eat, local wines, and plenty of sunshine and you have the ingredients for a perfect weekend in Sedona – and being close to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon makes it an easy add-on to a US road trip. So here’s my 48-hour Sedona itinerary.

FRIDAY EVENING

Start your weekend in Sedona with one of the town’s famous vortex sunsets. Vortexes are a kind of spiritual hotspot, where energy flows radiate the Earth’s power. They’re said to promote healing and spiritual awareness, and many were sacred to local Native Americans. Whether you’re a believer or not, Sedona’s vortex sites are also some of the most scenic spots in town, so make sure you add them to your Sedona itinerary. Airport Mesa is one of the closest vortexes to the center of town, accessed via a parking lot near Sedona’s tiny airport. The full Airport Mesa hike is 3.3 miles, but you can get great views even if you just follow part of the trail, with red rocks glowing as the sun sets.

Then head to 89Agave Cantina for dinner and one of their signature margaritas, featuring prickly pear or jalapeno-infused tequila. On the menu are Mexican favorites like enchiladas, tamales, and chicken mole, with a streetside patio and an art-filled dining room.

SATURDAY MORNING

Start the day with a hike through Sedona’s gorgeous landscapes. There are over 100 hiking trails so you can choose a length and difficulty to suit you. For many trails, you need a Red Rock Pass. A one-day pass costs $5 and you can get them from visitor centers or vending machines at the main trailheads. Head northwest of Sedona for the 4.2-mile Devil’s Bridge Trail, which takes you to a natural sandstone arch that’s one of Sedona’s most popular photo spots. The first section’s on a dirt road so if you have a 4WD you can drive along it and cut a couple of miles off. The rest of the route is fairly easy other than a bit of scrambling at the end. It’s a popular hike, so be prepared to queue if you want to get a photo standing on the bridge.

Or follow the Red Rock Scenic Byway south of town to reach a selection of hiking trails. The Cathedral Rock Trail is one of the most popular hikes, a steep, rocky climb to reach a vortex site. It involves a bit of clambering so isn’t great if you don’t like heights, but the views are spectacular. The trail is just over a mile round trip and starts along the evocatively named Back O’ Beyond Road between Sedona and the village of Oak Creek. You can also get a close-up view of Sedona’s most famous rock formations on the Bell Rock Pathway Trail. This easy 3.6-mile trail runs around the base of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. It starts just north of Oak Creek, so call into the nearby Creekside Bistro afterward for lunch, serving home-cooked American favorites with a view from the deck.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

If it’s a hot day, head to Slide Rock State Park to cool off (entry is $10–30 per vehicle). The park is home to a unique 80-foot-long natural waterslide. The chute has been worn into the sandstone and a combination of the gradient, the current, and a layer of algae make it extra slippery. And there’s also a series of pools for swimming where the creek widens out.

Or if you’d prefer a bit more luxury, Sedona has a selection of high-end spas where you can spend the afternoon being pampered. The Amara Sedona Spa* is only a short walk from downtown Sedona and offers a range of massages, scrubs, and facials, including their signature Rain Dance Massage using lavender, rosemary, and sage oils. There’s also a heated saltwater pool and hot tub where you can soak up the scenery. Finish the day with a pre-dinner stroll along Sedona’s main street, where you’ll find galleries, artists’ studios, and boutique shops mixed with New Age crystal shops and spiritual healers. Don’t miss Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village for southwest art, pottery, jewelry, and photography. There’s also a brewery on-site if you fancy a drink. Then have dinner at Mariposa, an upscale South American-inspired restaurant run by local celebrity chef Lisa Dahl. Grab a spot on the patio for a sunset drink with a panoramic view over Sedona before trying their steaks and seafood grilled over a wood fire.

SUNDAY MORNING

The next morning, start the day by checking out the view from the Chapel of the Holy Cross – if you don’t mind an early start it’s extra beautiful at sunrise. This unusual-looking structure perched among the red rocks looks a bit like a James Bond film villain’s lair. In reality, it’s a Catholic chapel built in the 1950s. It was designed by sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who’d been a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright, and was inspired by the Empire State Building, with two central beams forming the shape of a cross. Then take a short road trip along the Red Rock Loop. This 8.5-mile route connects to Highway 89A west of town and is paved so you don’t need a 4WD. It winds its way through terracotta hills with views of Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Courthouse Butte.

Or if want to try something more adventurous, Pink Jeep Tours run off-road tours into Sedona’s backcountry in their distinctive bright pink open-top jeeps. Their two-hour Scenic Rim* tour runs through bumpy, rocky backcountry terrain and climbs over rock formations past filming locations for classic Westerns and along the state’s first cattle trail. Then call into the Red Rock Cafe in Oak Creek for lunch. It’s known for its friendly service and tasty brunches with a southwest twist, featuring dishes like Huevos Rancheros, Southwest Benedict with black beans and green chilies, and Breakfast Burritos.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Then finish your weekend in Sedona itinerary with a trip just out of town. Arizona isn’t the most obvious place you’d expect to find wine being made, but the Verde Valley region south of Sedona has been producing wine since the 17th century. Its climate of warm, dry days and cool nights creates the perfect conditions for grape growing. The Verde Valley Wine Trail includes 25 wineries between Sedona and Jerome. Most are small boutique producers with wines you won’t see anywhere else – popular grape varieties include Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Most wineries are open to visitors (though you may need to book in advance) so you can try and buy some to take home.

Then finally stop off at Jerome, at the end of the wine trail. It was once a thriving copper mining town, nicknamed the ‘wickedest town in America’ for its drinking and gambling. But it was abandoned in the 1950s when the mine closed and left as a ghost town. Today there are just a few hundred residents – as well as a few ghosts* – and signs of its past history to explore, including a mining museum and a State Historic Park.

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Tag: Food tour

Discovering the Best of Sedona, Arizona: A Three-Day Itinerary

How to spend a weekend in Sedona