Sedona Weekend Getaway

Can you believe it? We had decided to take a long weekend trip without the kids for my big 40. We have never traveled without them and was super hesitant to be away from them for that long. I mean, who does that? Leaving their kids behind while having fun. Well, I am glad we did and will continue to take breaks from our kids. We all need a break and reconnect with ourselves and each other.

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Not only was it a weekend away from the kids but we were meeting my sister and brother-in-law there. It’s been so long since I saw my sister and brother in law. We flew into Phoenix early in the morning for a jam-packed weekend getaway. We picked up our car rental and headed straight to their hotel to pick them up.

We then trekked on the two-hour drive to Sedona. On our way, we stopped at Denny’s for lunch. After lunch, we made our way to a vineyard for some wine tasting. It was a must-do while here in Arizona. We had planned to stop at two vineyards before checking into our hotel.

However, when we arrived at the first one, we decided to take our time, enjoy and relax. We had so much catching up to do! We ended up staying there the whole afternoon.

Alcantara Vineyard

Alcantara Vineyard was set beautifully with what appeared to be miles and miles of grapevines. It was so picturesque and the weather was perfect. Slight wind but the temperature was hovering in the mid-70s. We sat outside in their patio and enjoyed the scenery. All I imagined was all the beautiful weddings that may have taken place here.

We opted for the V.I.P. tasting which included five one-ounce tasting of our choice and a crystal glass with an etched logo of Alcantara Vineyard. We also ordered an Antipasto Plato. Delicious!!!

Where To Stay In Sedona

We finally decided to leave the vineyard and head into Sedona and check into our hotel, Sedona Real Inn & Suites. Sedona Real Inn & Suites is a family-owned adobe-style hotel located right off of State Route 89A about a 9-minute drive from the Sedona Airport and 4 miles from Seven Canyons.

It is located next to some of the best hiking and biking trails in Sedona. The best place to stay where adventure is waiting for you just outside your door.

Once we arrived at our hotel and checked in, we rested for a couple of hours before heading back out for exploring the area and dinner.

Our room was warmly decorated making it for a very cozy stay. We loved that it included free breakfast during our stay. That is a huge deciding factor for us when we look for a place to stay. Not having to worry about where to go for breakfast.

The free breakfast is not just toast and butter. They go all out providing you a hot breakfast buffet. Everything is made fresh and daily. Providing healthy, filling breakfast options so you can feel energized as you head out to explore your breathtaking surroundings.

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Things To Do In Sedona

I was so looking forward to our hot air balloon ride that we had reserved for the next day but received a call that they had to cancel due to the high winds they were experiencing and expecting it to last a few days.  

Needless to say, I was bummed that I would not have a chance to experience the hot air balloon ride on this trip. 😢

I think my sister was secretly happy that it was canceled though.

We decided to stop at the concierge service desk to see what was available.  We generally plan for 1-2 activities to do prior to the trip to allow us some flexibility while we are there.

 We decided to reserve for the Pink Jeep Tour and a Day trip to Page, AZ for the Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour.

Take lots of pictures

Now that we got that squared away, we asked her for the best places for some photo ops.  She gave us a few suggestions and off we went exploring. All I can say is WOW!! So beautiful!!

We took so many pictures. But it does not do justice for how beautiful and peaceful it is.

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Take a day trip to Page, AZ

Our day trip to Page, AZ started out with our guide picking us up in front of the hotel.  We opted for a guide and private car so we could enjoy the trip and not have to worry about who should do the driving.  It was a 3-hour drive and we just wanted to relax.   Our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable.  He pointed out the key points of interest.

So many beautiful places we passed by making note of where to need to visit the next time we make our way back to Sedona. I love that we drove from the desert into the mountains with tall trees and lots of greenery then back on the desert. Definitely a drive to remember.

Antelope Canyon Tour

You cannot visit Sedona and not make it to Antelope Canyon. Guided tours are required for this world-famous gem. It is a fully guided walking tour so be sure to dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

Once we arrive and check-in, we were guided to walk through the sandstone walls of the canyon with the driver. The walk itself is only 1/4 mile and is very easy.

Plan to be at the canyon for roughly an hour or less. During our tour, we took lots of pictures, heard some local history, and admired the beauty of Antelope Canyon.

Our guide was wonderful as he even took my iPhone and took some amazing shots of the canyon that I would not have been able to.

Glen Canyon Dam

After our tour of Antelope Canyon, we headed out to Glen Canyon Dam.

It is the second-highest concrete arch dam in the United States, second only to Hoover Dam which stands at 726 feet. The 26.2 million acre-feet of water storage capacity in Lake Powell, created by Glen Canyon Dam, serves as a ‘bank account’ of water that is drawn on in times of drought.

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is a featured landmark for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park, the Cities of Page AZ, Kanab UT, St George UT, and the Navajo Nation and has become one of the most visited in the area.

The hike to the overlook is a gentle slope of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) round-trip over flat terrain.

The trail is wide, easy for low-impact walkers, and accessible to wheelchairs.

As with any hike, be prepared with plenty of water, sturdy footwear, sunscreen, and other basic hiking essentials.

Know that there is little shade along the Horseshoe Bend Trail, only two shade stations along the way.

Avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day. It was mid-day for us and it was super hot.

What a view!  Does this give you heart palpitations?

Once we finished our time at Horseshoe Bend, we headed back to our guide and car and back to Sedona.  We were so glad we opted not to drive ourselves as we were able to nap on the ride back.

We made a lot of stops on the way back into Sedona for pictures as well as stopping at Cameron Trading Post for some shopping.

When we arrived back in Sedona, we asked our guide to stop at a local bakery to pick up a birthday cake for me.  He then dropped us off at our hotel.

Best Place To Eat In Sedona

We hurried and readied ourselves for our dinner reservation at The Golden Goose American Grille. It was an intimate setting with a nice ambiance and had a local guitarist playing.

Our dinner was wonderful! Little did I know Vang had planned something extra.  He had asked the guitarist to play a song for me. I was even given a copy of his CD!

The staff along with the guitarist came out with the cake to sing Happy Birthday to me.  So beautiful!! And was so not expecting that! What a great way to end the evening!

Hike to Devil’s Bridge

The next morning we decided to hike up to the famous Devil’s Bridge.  Be prepared for a long hike but once you get there, you will fall in love with it as we did with everything else here in Sedona. 

There were so many people waiting in line for their turn to get on the bridge for their photo ops. You would’ve thought you were in line waiting to meet Mickey Mouse at Disney.  

Oh and the crazy and daring things people did while on the bridge such at cartwheel, handstands, yoga pose or just running around up there…Give me a heart attack!! Ahem…Vang…yes talking about you my dear husband.

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Pink Jeep Tour

If you want to see red rock country up close and personal, then the Pink Jeep Tour is for you!

The Pink Jeep Tour was so fun. It was not a private tour but was had so much fun with the other folks. We chose the three-hour tour that took us through the Broken Arrow Trail and the scenic rim.

It was a bumpy ride with the twist and turns all surrounded in the most beautiful setting. What an awesome way to explore the rugged backcountry here!

Don’t skip the sunsets here

Do not skip the sunsets while you are in Sedona! One of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. I can sit and stare at this all day long.

I love watching the sunsets. There are so many benefits to enjoying a sunset such as putting me in a good mood, it is inspiring, reminds me to be grateful for my surroundings and being present for the moment.

As with all good things, it has to come to an end.

This was one great weekend getaway! We love our kids but needed this break from them as well. It was so memorable and loved that we were able to relax and reconnect with each other.

Can’t wait for another adventure!

What has been your favorite getaway without the kids?

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