Arizona’s Red Rock Country is well-known as an outdoor mecca, so a trip there is more about finding the beaten path than it is wandering off it! It’s also a place to find calm, so we’ve created an itinerary that lets you both explore and relax all in one day. Don’t forget your hiking boots, because here’s how you’ll be spending one perfect day in Sedona.
Rise and shine! It pays to be the early bird in these parts, so you make sure you're packed and ready before breakfast. Essentials for the day include sun protection, good shoes, snacks, about 50% more water than you think you'll need, your swimsuit and towels.
Savor a calm, creekside breakfast at your hotel, L'Auberge de Sedona. With vegetables, avocado, poached egg and chorizo, the Warm Red Quinoa Bowl will set you up right for the day, and you linger with your coffee for a few extra minutes to enjoy the birds' morning chorus.
After a fairly short drive in your rental car, you arrive at beautiful Fay Canyon for a morning hike. In these cooler hours you make your way through a striking red rock ravine with waterfalls, seasonal wildflowers and an impressive natural stone arch. Those after a longer and more challenging hike can drive slightly further north to explore stunning Boynton Canyon.
You've worked up a sweat and want to cool off, so you head south to Red Rock State Park. Just twenty minutes from Fay Canyon and with jaw dropping views of Cathedral Rock, this is easily one of Arizona's most beautiful swimming holes. Spread out your towel and relax in the sun, then dip into the refreshing waters of gorgeous Oak Creek.
With a growling stomach, you make your way to Tamaliza for lunch. Claudia Gonzalez - who grew up southwest of Mexico City - handmakes her organic masa tamales daily, which have quickly gained a loyal following with locals. There's no need to spend long perusing the menu - the Tamale Supreme is the way to go!
Next, you drop by the acclaimed Sedona Arts Center to browse its galleries and snag some local art from the finely curated shop. Having now spent time exploring the landscape, you can appreciate where many of these artists draw their inspiration from.
After an early start to the day and an active morning, you unwind with a late afternoon Flower Essence Massage back at L'Auberge de Sedona. Their spa sits in a tranquil forest near the creek, so the sound of rushing water provides a backdrop to your restorative treatment.
It's time for dinner at the renowned Cafe Elote, owned by James Beard Award-winning chef James Smedstad. From your patio seat overlooking the red rocks at sunset, you enjoy blood orange margaritas alongside dishes like smoked brisket enchiladas, elote (Mexican street corn with spicy mayo, lime and cotija) and agave ice cream topped with crunchy pepitas. There could be no better ending to a day spent exploring the mystic grandeur that is Sedona.
