TRAVEL — Lauren Mossberg

Some families rent beach houses to spend summer weekends at the shore. And some get season lift passes to ski all winter long. For my family, the desert was our getaway. My mom always refused to vacation somewhere cold (honestly, I can't blame her), and I think we all enjoyed a place where we could get outside and be active. Sedona, Arizona was our place. When I was growing up, we visited Sedona once, if not twice, a year. It holds a special place in my heart for that reason.

We've visited at just about every time of year, be it the dead of summer or the cooler springtime, Halloween or Christmas. We would always take the first early morning flight out of Newark, so we could get to Phoenix bright and early. From there, we'd rent a car and drive two hours north to Sedona. Two things would inevitably happen on that drive up: it would always rain at some point along the drive and I would always fall asleep for a quick nap.

About 99% of the time, my family and I stay at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa, and that still holds true today. The resort is located along Oak Creek, situated right next to Tlaquepaque, a village with art galleries, shopping, and restaurants. Though the resort management has changed over the years, we still love staying there.

Hiking and Activities:

There's so much to do in and around Sedona, and we've tried just about everything: from biplanes to helicopters to hot air balloons, jeeps to hummers to ATVs, and of course good old-fashioned hikes on foot.

My dad always says that the difference between a rental car and a car you own is that the rental car can go 'anywhere'. While that may not be 100% realistic, we have taken our rental cars on roads that call for a 4WD truck. I would never recommend this to the faint of heart.

One of the most popular activities in the Sedona area is a jeep tour, for that reason precisely. We've always been fans of the Pink Jeep Adventure Tours. Broken Arrow is by far the most popular tour, but any of the Pink Jeep tours are great.

It's also nice to have a guided tour for some, more far out trips, like the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon. Most resort or hotel concierges can help you get that sorted. Antelope Canyon was breathtaking. My dad and I went on a one-day semi-private tour that also included Horseshoe Bend.

Some of my favorite on-foot hikes:

Boynton Canyon is about a 6-mile, 2.5-hour hike that goes through Boynton Canyon, with views of Enchantment Resort. The trail itself is relatively easy and some parts are shaded. The trail ends at a mesa with views of the beautiful canyon. Nowadays (circa 2023), the Subway Cave is a popular offshoot of the Boynton Canyon trail. It has a very steep climb into the cave, but it’s a beautiful view.

The trail around Bell Rock, one of Sedona's most recognizable monuments, is only about 1 mile. You do have the option to try and climb/hike up the rock face. My dad and I made it pretty far up one year. We stopped when the incline required climbing gear. It's as hard and as long as you make it.

Devil's Bridge is another popular hike, and one of my favorites. The most recent time I did this hike, it measured about 2.3 miles in (parking lot to bridge) and 2.3 miles out. The hike is easy except for one or two short sections of vertical steps. The trail ends at Devil's Bridge, the largest natural sandstone arch in Sedona. Hikers can walk out onto the bridge for a photo opportunity, which I love.

The trailhead to Soldiers Pass is located close to Devil's Bridge. This trail is one big loop with a couple of 'ooo ahh' moments including a sink hole and seven naturally occurring rock pools.

When I was younger, I remember going to Slide Rock. Oak Creek has created a wonderful swimming hole, best fitted for a hot summer day. The water is snow run off, so it's warmest during that time.

Parking at the trailheads can be tight, so we always hiked first thing in the morning. And prior to, we purchase a Red Rock Pass at one of the information centers. The proceeds go towards park conservation, and the pass acts like a parking pass at most major trailheads in the area.

Food:

One of our first stops after the resort is typically Basha's, the local grocery store off 89A. We would get breakfast, lunch, and snack foods for the week because for dinner, we always dined out.

Some of the restaurants have changed over the years, but here's a few of our favorites:

Cucina Rustica is my favorite Italian restaurant in Sedona, and one of my favorite restaurants in Sedona overall. I always make sure to eat there. The inside is beautiful and cozy, but they also have outdoor seating. The restaurant is part of the Lori Dahl group.
Mariposa is also a Dahl restaurant. It’s a Latin-inspired steak house with amazing food and drinks.

Tii Gavo has become a more recent routine spot for me when I'm out in Sedona. It's one of the restaurants at Enchantment Resort. The nachos at Tii Gavo are a must! The plate is plenty big for two or more.

View 180, one of the bars at Enchantment, offers panoramic views which are beautiful at sunset. It’s perfect for a pre-dinner drink.

Heartline Cafe has always been one of my Mom's favorite restaurants. I remember going to Heartline when I was young and my palette wasn't too advanced, so I would order penne with butter. Nowadays, I opt for the trout and red cabbage salad.

Ken's Creekside, which I believe is now called Creekside Bistro (or something like that), is a great lunch or dinner spot right on Oak Creek with plenty of outdoor seating. I'm a big fan of the blackened salmon salad.
El Rincon is our go-to Mexican restaurant located in the heart of Tlaquepaque.

Vino Di Sedona is another more recent addition to the must-visit list. It's a small wine bar with a big patio out back. They have great small bites (like a build your own charcuterie) and live music most nights of the week.

Mesa Grill is another one of my mom's favorites, located at the top of Airport Mesa. We usually watch the sunset and then eat, or vice versa.

Shorebird is a rather newer restaurant to Sedona, which features California-style cuisine with lots of seafood, sushi, and raw bar selections.
Lastly, Javelina Cantina is in the Hillside Shopping Center. They have solid margaritas and tacos, with outdoor seating.