The Best of Sedona
Visiting Arizona has been on my bucket list for the last 5 years and I was not letting covid stop me now. We took all safety precations before and upon our arrival and I am so thankful for how wonderful our trip was. Sedona was a big part of this so let’s dive in!
Where To Stay
We drove in late from Phoenix and upon arriving at Amara Resort and Spa, we were greeted by the very kind valet team. They unloaded our car for us and escorted us inside to get checked in. Everyone at the front desk was very kind and able to check us in quite quickly so we could settle in. We had heard incredible things about Amara and from the start we could tell it was all true.
Our room was on the first floor in a Courtyard King Room. The room had a ton of storage, full length mirror, a mini fridge, in room snacks and necessities for purchase and more. I also couldn’t believe how amazing it was having a little patio of our own that also led us right out to the outdoor resort space. The room was rustic yet modern and exactly what you would picture for the perfect Sedona stay.
The bathroom had a large Jacuzzi and separate shower which was fantastic. I definitely took advantage of taking a bath during my stay and it was so relaxing. Amara is also known for their spa and variety of packages and services available. Due to our busy schedule, I stuck to the tub but I would love to experience the spa next time.
The next morning we woke up quite early to head to Devil’s Bridge and returned just in time to enjoy breakfast. Amara has a in-house restaurant called Salt Rock Kitchen that was fantastic!
The first day we started with a mimosa flight because that’s what you do when you’re on vacation and it was very good. I went with the Vortex Breakfast and Keaton did the same. We did get a little crafty, I added a bagel to mine and he added a half waffle The atmosphere is a more modern but the one wall is all glass doors that allow us to overlook the beautiful view outside.
After breakfast we decided the long hike earned us some time to relax. We went into our rooms to put our suits on and Amara’s cozy robes. We headed out to the Outdoor Pool Area where we retired to the hot tub. It has such an incredible view of the mountains, I felt like I was staring at a post card! This was pretty early in the year in the season, so although they keep the pool a great temperature, we were babes and stuck to the hot tub only! There also are fantastic cabanas that people were even lounging in in their cozy clothes. They do such a fantastic job of giving you wonderful outdoor spaces at Amara.
Salt Rock Kitchen
As I am writing this I am realizing what a long day this was. After lounging in the hot tub and relaxing we headed out to Cathedral rock for some hiking. Afterward we went to dinner and returned to Amara for something we had been looking forward to all day! Salt Rock Kitchen is not only known for breakfast but for their famous MARGARITAS! Everyone was telling us how good they were and we were not disappointed. The indoors is open with safety precautions but we enjoyed our drinks outside by the fire and enjoyed the atmosphere. It was chilly but between the fire-pits and the heaters, we were kept plenty warm. We even got to enjoy s’mores!
Overall we really had the best time during our stay. The entire resort is absolutely beautiful. I think one of my favorite little touches was that the resort had a Christmas tree set up in the lobby. It is very fitting to their style and we were there the first week of December which made us feel extra excited about the holidays approaching.
Our Favorite Hikes
Cathedral Rock
Cathedral rock was one of the most unique hiking experience I’ve had to to date. When we got there I was surprised to see how short the hike ahead looked. The fact that we could see the top had me thinking it would be nice and easy. Little did I know how steep this hike would be. There was a lot of crawling on my hands and feet, more down and then up, but it was still so much fun. It was later in the day, we went for sunset, and I was surprised at how windy it had gotten. As we approach the top we did have to be very cautious and didn’t want to push our luck going to the edge. We enjoyed the view and watched the sky change colors. We were ready to head back when we watched another couple walk out towards the lookout like area.
They came back to tell us that because of the rock formation it was not windy at all so we decided to give it a go. We knew we could always turn around if we didn’t feel safe, it’s a short walk and we felt completely fine. Once we got to the edge we are so glad that we did. It was such an unbelievable view and will forever be such a special memory to me. Keaton spun me around and I felt like a princess. The strangers photographed us and we knew it was time to head down before it was too dark. We scooted on our booty’s majority of the way down, but it was still so worth it. Make sure that you pack well, good shoes and pants that will allow all the scooting needed!
Devils Bridge
Devil’s Bridge is a can’t miss but there are a few important things to know before you go! First of all, BUY A RED ROCK PASS BEFOREHAND. You can buy them at a gas staion for around $10 dollars. This will allow you to secure closer parking, if you don’t you will add about a mile extra of hiking.
I also recommend downloading the app All Trails to your phone for any hikes you ever do ANYWHERE. It always comes in handy. We got their about an hour- hour and a half before sunrise. It was well worth it, we were the second couple up there so we were not rushed on photos. I have been told that the normal wait for a photo can be up to AN HOUR!
It’s also important to note, it’s quite cold in early December so bundle up! It’s not a bad hike, pretty easy and a great way to start your day.
Now lets explore our favorites for food and drink
After we hiked Cathedral Rock we were very hungry but realized we didn’t think of packing the nicer clean clothes. Most restaurants in Sedona close pretty early so we knew we woudn’t have time to run back to change. We headed to the nearest little restaurant/shopping area. We saw a sign for The Hudson, which was a name that looked familiar to me from recommendations and decided to give it a try. As we got there we realized they had happy hour wrapping up so we quickly ordered a drink and an appitizer. We had the soft pretzels, which is a guilty pleasure of ours.They were absolutely amazing and as we looked more online and through the menu, we realize the outdoor space had an incredible view of Sedona.
We really wanted to enjoy that, so we decided to actually close out head to another restaurant nearby and come back to The Hudson in the morning. I’m sure the servers didn’t believe us when we say we would be back, but we absolutely did and it was well worth it. Keaton ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and I ordered the Chicken Quesadilla. Both incredible, but let me say I am still beating myself self over the fact that I didn’t order the Buffalo Chicken Wrap as well becuase it was the best I have ever had, and I eat a lot of wraps. Keaton also enjoyed a local beer and I had a Hot Toddy. Everything was wonderful especially that view well worth coming back for it. I can’t recommend The Hudson enough.
Javelina Cantina
When we left The Hudson, we turned the corner and could smell tacos….we knew exactly where we were going! Keaton ordered shrimp fajitas and I ordered the shrimp tacos, we are big fans of all things shrimp. Everything was amazing! I also opted in for a jumbo peach margarita, and Keaton got a house lime. The environment is so lively and everyone was so kind. We all-around had such a great experience. It was also nice that there was so much food it allowed us to bring leftovers back with us which would be perfect for our trip to Williams the next day.
The Vault
Upon arriving to Sedona we were very hungry and quickly realized the area closes a bit early (could be due to covid) We walked down the street and came across the Vault which was still open! The staff ws friendly, outdoor seating had heaters and indoors practice social distancing and masks. We started outside but decided to move inside for it was not very busy. Keaton and I both had the Off To the Hudson, made with Hudson baby bourbon whiskey which was so good. We love ordering two entree’s to share so we followed with the Rock Shrimp with sriracha Aioli and a Double Patti cheeseburger and fries. Everything hit the spot and our server was phenomenal.
Sedona was everything I hoped it would be! I hope this guide helps you make your trip just as special as ours was! Feel free to comment any questions you have for your trip or DM me on Instagram! Cheers!
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