Refresh Out West: How to Spend a Long Weekend in Arizona
If the grey winter skies have you craving some Vitamin D, take a mini-trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon to recharge. Here's your Arizona vacation itinerary.
Sedona, Arizona has long been known as a place with spiritual powers. Even the tourism bureau there touts the vortexes of energy that swirl around this desert city, mysterious forces that leave people feeling at peace with nature around them. And who wouldnβt feel good here? The gorgeous red rocks of Sedona offer so many opportunities for exploring, but if you want to just sit tight at a restaurant, sipping a prickly pear margarita and enjoying the view, thatβs quite alright, too.
About two hours north of Sedona is the Grand Canyon, a geologic wonder and national park that everybody should visit at least once in their life. Is it possible to enjoy the extremes of Arizona β from hot, sunny Phoenix to chilly Flagstaff β in one long weekend? Yes, it is! Hereβs your itinerary so you can start mapping out your trip out west.
Day One
Fly into the Phoenix airport and rent a car for the next few daysβ transportation. If youβre headed there in winter months, it might be wise to get an SUV that can get you past any icy roads, and if you go in the summer, youβll need a vehicle with major air conditioning. (SB TIP: Spring and fall β and even through the December holidays β are ideal times to visit Arizona. Not too hot and not too snowy at the Grand Canyon.) Head north to Sedona for the two-hour drive. It doesnβt take long to feel like youβre in a Road Runner cartoon, with craggy mountains and 10-foot-tall cacti dotting the landscape.
Check into the Kimpton Amara Resort, a gorgeous boutique hotel in Sedona with magnificent views and a convenient location just off the main street in town. If you have time, lace up your hiking shoes and get in an afternoon walk along one of the dozens of trails. Many are relatively flat but have stunning vistas β not necessarily strenuous to get big visual pay-offs. Check out this list on HikeSedona.com.Β A relatively short hike (5-mile roundtrip) we enjoyed near the Amara is Margβs Trailhead.
Make sure to get back in time for the complimentary happy hour in the lobby every night from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., when the resort serves a specialty cocktail in addition to wine, with a few light appetizers. Sitting in their courtyard watching the sun go down behind the red rocks β¦ nobody can deny the good energy there. When you get hungry, the hotelβs free shuttle takes visitors to town, but itβs not a bad walk should you go that route. The super-casual 89 Agave is known for its specialty guacamoles and tequila bar. They can put together a flight of unusual guacs with a flight of tequila tastings for a dinner with local charm.
Day Two
Book a morning escapade with the Pink Jeep Tours for a thrilling adventure off-roading to spots in Sedona the average hiker would never reach. Their Broken Arrow tour is sort of a βgreatest hitsβ opportunity to see amazing vistas and go up and down a few heart-pounding hills.
Head into town for some city pleasures. Lunch at Oak Creek Brewery and Grill is an opportunity to try some local brews as well as their specialties, such as southwest mac & cheese. The eatery is located in hard-to-pronounce Tlaquepaque, a historic shopping area filled with art galleries and clothing boutiques set among a charming Spanish Colonial village.
Dinner at the Amaraβs signature restaurant, SaltRock Kitchen, offers upscale-casual dining in the resortβs scenic courtyard. Start off with the West Fork margarita, which has a little jalapeΓ±o kick to it (when in Rome β¦ ). Delicious entrΓ©es that earned our enthusiasm include the scallops with smoked corn risotto, and the duck confit served with roasted Brussels sprouts and spicy corn bread. Save room for dessert; the chocolate chili cake brings in even more Southwestern kick mixed with dark chocolate.
Day Three
Maximize a full day of activities with a good breakfast. A casual, local favorite is Coffee Pot Restaurant, a diner-style place with quirky interiors. Their claim to fame: 101 different omelets (all sorts of combos, including peanut butter and jelly, or roast beef and cheese). Afterwards, head north of Sedona to Slide Rock State Park, a donβt-miss place to enjoy a meandering creek surrounded by dramatic red rocks. If the weather permits, youβll see visitors taking a quick (cold!) dip. Continue up Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon, often called a mini-Grand Canyon with its dramatic gorges. Stop for lunch in historic downtown Flagstaff, a quaint college town set in the mountains.
The drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon National Park is only about two hours, but even with all the worthwhile stops, make sure to get there in plenty of time for sunset. If youβve planned ahead (a must for visiting uber-popular national parks such as this one), youβve already secured a room in one of the lodges along the South Rim, which allows you stunning views just outside the hotel. We like El Tovar, with its old-timey lodge atmosphere and elegant-rustic dining room (itβs good to get reservations there about a month in advance). Thereβs not much to do at night, so head to bed early so you can get up for sunrise.
Day Four
Sunrise at the Grand Canyon is a magical experience β¦ itβs not every day you get to see the multi-colored band of pink make its way along the rocky canyon. There are two ways to explore the canyon while on a quick trip (excursions to the bottom and overnight camping are available with advance planning and more time): walk along the 15 or so miles of the Rim Trail around the top, or venture down into the canyon itself on the Bright Angel Trail (remember that itβs easier to go down than back up, and take water!). After lunch at the Maswick Lodge, an easy option thanks to its food court setup, itβs time to drive back to Phoenix, four hours south, for an evening flight.
When youβre ready to head west and experience the splendor for yourself, start your planning at visitarizona.com.
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