A WEEKEND IN SEDONA
Get some rest and explore the outdoors amid the red rocks
There is no place like Sedona. Multihued stone formations jut upward from the high desert floor creating a vivid, mesmerizing setting that changes hourly with the light. Surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest, visitors have instant access to recreation galore. Yet they’re never far from the indulgences of town. Sedona is equal parts rugged and resort. That makes for an idyllic weekend getaway.
Friday
Late afternoon seems to trigger a mass exodus from Sedona. As if by signal, traffic pulls off the main roads and heads for the airport. Yet folks aren’t rushing to catch a flight out of town. They’re angling for high ground. Sedona’s airport straddles a long mesa and crowds assemble on this elevated perch for the red-rock sunset and to savor the creamy, dreamy light that follows. There’s a large parking area at the top of Airport Road.
The views are just as exquisite at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill. Set on a bluff alongside State Route 89A in the heart of Sedona, Mariposa overlooks a swath of forest and is ringed by red cliffs. The restaurant features Argentine-style grilled meats and seafood, wood-fired flatbreads and roasted vegetables, all prepared in the large exhibition kitchen. Start your meal with handcrafted empanadas.
Details: 700 W. State Route 89A. 928862-4444, www.mariposasedona.com.
Grab a nightcap at Oak Creek Brewing Co., a locals hangout tucked away in a small commercial neighborhood. A bar and tables are squeezed among gleaming fermentation tanks and on a comfortable patio. It feels like drinking at a buddy’s house. The Nut Brown Ale is the bestknown beer, a malty, nutty flavor with hints of molasses and a slightly spicy finish. Details: 2050 Yavapai Drive. 928-2041300, www.oakcreekbrew.com.
Saturday
Fuel up for an action-packed day at Coffee Pot Restaurant. The Sedona institution is known for oversize omelets — 101 varieties — fluffy pancakes and freshly ground Colombian coffee. The piled-high huevos rancheros is another popular choice. Take time to browse the overflowing gift shop.
Details: 2050 W. SR 89A. 928-2826626, www.coffeepotsedona.com.
Sedona is a user-friendly version of the Grand Canyon. Same breath-stealing scenery but getting out to explore it proves much easier on the knees. Over 300 miles of hiking and biking trails slash across the sprawling backcountry, many with trailheads right in town. So it’s a cinch to find just the right match for your skill level and time frame. Easy to moderate options include Margs Draw (4 miles), Courthouse Butte Loop (4.2 miles), Brins Mesa (6.4 miles), Jim Thompson (6 miles) and Pyramid-Scorpion (4.1 miles). All mileages are round trip. A $5 Red Rock Pass is required at developed trailheads. See purchase locations online.
Details: 928-203-7500, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.
Tamaliza Café serves up a simple menu of delicious tamales. Owner Claudia Gonzales learned traditional Mexican recipes from her grandmothers and uses fresh, healthful ingredients. No lard or processed foods are involved. Large gourmet tamales, with meat and vegan options, are made with non-GMO organic masa.
Details: 1155 W. SR 89A. 928-2029056, www.sedonatamaliza.com.
In this craggy angular landscape, jeep tours have become a signature Sedona experience. An army of brightly colored off-road vehicles whisks visitors into the sandstone outback. Each company offers specialty rides ranging from gentle, scenic excursions to boulder-climbing thrillfests. Tours can range from 90 minutes to half-day outings. A list of jeep companies can be found at www.visitsedona.com.
Browse distinctive Sedona galleries at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, a collection of Spanish-style buildings reminiscent of a Mexican hamlet. Cobblestone walkways meander past vinecovered walls and beneath stone archways. Graceful Arizona sycamores shade the courtyards where shoppers stroll past splashing fountains and beds bursting with flowers.
Details: 336 SR 179. 928-282-4838, www.tlaq.com.
The Hudson whips up sophisticated comfort food in a setting that combines industrial chic with muted Sedona tones and a patio with eye-popping views. Start with bruschetta, a trio of innovative morsels. From there you can keep it healthy with a big salad or pounce on a burger, steak, chicken or fish.
Details: 671 SR 179. 928-862-4099, www.thehudsonsedona.com.
In 2014, Sedona was designated the world’s eighth International Dark Sky Community. While you can enjoy the lavish celestial canopy with unaided peepers, you’ll see and learn more on a stargazing outing. Professional astronomers at Evening Sky Tours act as guides. State-of-the-art telescopes zoom in on comets, planets, star clusters and galaxies. $60, $35 for ages 6-12. Details: 928-853-9778, www.eveningskytours.com.
Sunday
Just like the name promises, Creekside Restaurant perches on the edge of Oak Creek with a beautiful view of Snoopy Rock rising above sycamore and cottonwood trees. Serving eclectic American cuisine, the place bustles all day long starting with breakfast. Try the breakfast tacos — soft corn tortillas filled with chicken chorizo, cheddar, scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, cilantro, jalapeños and fire-roasted salsa.
Details: 251 SR 179. 928-282-1705, www.creeksidesedona.com.
With an early start you’ll have time to rack up a few more miles on the trail. Hike Broken Arrow Trail (3 miles round trip), a gentle climb through woodlands past the Devil’s Dining Room, Mushroom Rock and Submarine Rock to an exposed ledge of sandstone known as Chicken Point with dramatic wraparound vistas.
Details: 928-203-7500, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.
On your way out of town, stop by the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Completed in 1957, the little chapel rises between two burly pillars of rock. Cliffs of salmon hues form the backdrop. The interior is simple. A few benches, some tapestries and flickering candles create a meditative oasis, while soft sunlight streams through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Details: 780 Chapel Road, 928-2824069, www.chapeloftheholycross.com.
For more information, the Visitor Center is at 331 Forest Road uptown. 800288-7336, www.visitsedona.com.
Find the reporter at www.roger naylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorin AZ or Twitter @AZRogerNaylor.