In the weeks leading up to his birthday last month (it was a pretty big one!), Mr. SP couldn’t decide if he wanted to celebrate with a party at home, or a weekend getaway with just the two of us. (I know which I was leaning towards!) At the last minute, he opted for a trip and I knew just the place…Sedona, Arizona.
We’d originally planned to visit Sedona as part of our family trip to the National Parks last Spring (see the full itinerary here), but in the end, decided to save it for just ourselves. There’s something special and a little romantic about Sedona…and also spiritual, which is right up Mr. SP’s alley! #hippydippy
Gray Tee | Gray Hoodie Pullover
The town itself is fairly small and easy to navigate in a couple of days, making it a great spot for a long weekend. The two hour drive from Phoenix is stunning, and it’s amazing how quickly the weather and terrain changes. The weather in October is absolutely perfect…and we never saw a single cloud! Days were warm and sunny with the brightest cornflower blue skies, and evenings were brisk and clear with more stars than I’ve ever seen.
There are an abundance of trails and hikes, as well as art galleries, quirky shops, and divine cafes and restaurants. We spent our days hiking the Red Rocks, eating amazing food, and relaxing by the creeks…exactly what he wanted.
The biggest lesson we learned from our Tour of National Parks is to bring good hiking shoes! Regular tennis shoes just don’t cut it. I mean, you can get by with a basic gym shoe, but you’ll have to be extra careful and move at a slower pace.
This is my third hiking trip with these amazing shoes (I found them at Nordstrom, of all places!), and I can truly say they make all the difference in the world. I feel like Spiderman in them, able to climb just about any surface! Mr. SP has had his for years, but loves them so much, he had them resoled before this trip!
Sugarplum Travel Tip: Mornings were chilly, but the afternoon sun was toasty, so light layers were key. Sunglasses were essential, too!
Hiking Shoes for Him | Hiking Shoes for Her
Funnel Hoodie Pullover | Sunglasses
The town is very casual, but there are also opportunities to dress up if you like. Since we were celebrating, we actually dressed for dinner one night. I brought my latest dress obsession, this magical ruched number, along with cardigans to keep warm. Mr. SP stuck with his favorite jeans and a sport coat.
Ruched Dress | Cardigan | Similar Booties | Necklace | Clutch
The sunrises and sunsets were spectacular, and the whole town seems to pause while they happen. One night we even saw the moon rise over the craggy Red Rocks!
Plush Turtleneck | Hoop Earrings | Jeans | Boots | Sunglasses | Watch | Bracelet
Workout Tank | Cropped Leggings | Sports Bra | Hiking Shoes | Sunglasses
The hikes we tackled were no joke, but worth every steep step! The Grand Canyon is a short two-hour drive north, but honestly I think Sedona has plenty to offer without a day trip!
Sidenote: Funny story about this picture…all the hikers take turns walking out on Devil’s Bridge to get the cool shot. So there’s a small crowd waiting and watching. After a couple of pics, I hollered out at Mr. SP that I was going to jump (you know I love a good jumping pic!). Well, it took me a second to get my nerve, because it feels reeeeeeallly narrow when you’re standing on the bridge, and then I jumped with all my might. And everyone howled with laughter! Apparently, even though this pic looks like I got some air, my feet barely left the ground!
Long-Sleeve Tee | Jogger Athletic Pants
{Where We Stayed}
L’Auberge de Sedona ~ This hotel is out of our usual travel budget, but since it was such a quick, celebratory visit, we decided to splurge. The property was stunning…nestled in a ravine next to a rushing creek, with stand-alone cottages, an abundance of peaceful nooks, and an awe-inspiring platform to view the sunrises and sets. The people were delightful, the rooms gorgeous and comfortable, and you can’t beat breakfast by the creek!
We loved every second there, but I can’t say I’d make that splurge again. We’d likely opt for the Kimpton Amara Hotel (right next door). Another amazing option is the Enchantment Hotel, which is a bit outside of town (and fully booked the weekend we visited).
{Where We Ate}
SaltRock Kitchen and Craft Margaritas ~ Funny enough, this is the house restaurant to the Kimpton Amara Hotel, but had the best margarita of my life!! Something with jalepeno and passion fruit…oh my, I’m dreaming of it now! And I challenge you to try the corn dip app without licking the plate. We didn’t eat dinner, but rather enjoyed drinks and a snack while watching the sun set.
Mariposa Latin Grill ~ Walls of glass provide amazing sunset views in this lively dinner spot.
Indian Gardens Cafe and Market ~ A delightful stop on the way to Oak Creek Canyon, they have delicious breakfasts and smoothies, and make a mean sandwich for a mountaintop picnic!
Red Rock Cafe ~ This unassuming spot lives in a bland strip mall, but manages to be one of the top-recommended places to eat in Sedona! I don’t know if it was because we’d just spent 4-hours hiking, or if they were genuinely the best pancakes and eggs I’d ever had!
Elote Cafe ~ Tell anyone you’re going to Sedona, and they’ll tell you to eat dinner here. But good luck getting a table. They don’t take reservations, and unless you show up an hour before opening (no, thanks), or are willing to wait 90-minutes (um, no), your chances are slim. But it’s so highly-recommended, I wanted to mention it.
Style Sidenote: Mr. SP is a life-long, hard-core fan of relaxed jeans. In other words, the baggier the better. #thumbsdown But by some miracle, I found a style of slim jeans that he’ll not only wear, but actually loves wearing! He says these are slim through the leg, but not constricting in the thighs and bum. In fact, he chooses them over his relaxed fit jeans most of the time now! I seriously might have to write Nordstrom a thank you note.
Cotton V-Neck Sweater | Jeans | Boots | Sport Coat | Shirt | Jeans | Lace-Up Shoes
{Best Sites + Hikes}
Cathedral Rock Hike ~ This is a short, steep climb into the gaps of Cathedral Rock. The towering side rocks keep the saddle points shaded and breezy, but the lower portion of the trail is bare red rock with total sun exposure – be careful if you’re doing this in the Summer. There were a few occasions I had to crawl up, or slide down on my bottom. But there aren’t really any cliff’s edges, and we saw several kids.
Devil’s Bridge Hike ~ This moderate to steep climb leads to a large, natural stone arch…making for a nauseating, but cool photo! The hardest part was the 1-mile walk from the parking lot to the base of the climb.
Chapel of the Holy Cross ~ Set in the side of the cliffs, this quick stop is one of Sedona’s most interesting architectural gems.
Red Rock Scenic Byway ~ The stretch of road in and around Sedona is an experience in itself! Splurge for a convertible to take in the 360-degree views.
Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village ~ A maze of charming shops, art galleries, crystals, restaurants and more.
Son Silver West Gallery ~ Probably the quirkiest spots in Sedona, and easily our fave shop! It’s overflowing with pottery, hats, wind chimes, dried chili peppers, baskets, vintage rugs…you name it!
Sugarplum Travel Tip: Sedona is home to hundreds of diverse and epic hikes, and choosing one can be tricky…especially if you’re there for a short visit. The Hike House has an interactive database to help you choose based on your time frame, and ability level.
Off-the-Shoulder Sweatshirt | Cropped Leggings | Hiking Shoes
Funnel Neck Sweatshirt | Cargo Shorts | Hiking Shoes for Him | Off-the-Shoulder Sweatshirt | Sunglasses | Hiking Shoes for Her
I can hardly believe I’ve been with this man half my life! He honestly gets better-looking every year, and life with him is an adventure. I can’t wait to check more spots off our Bucket List. Especially now that he’s wearing some good jeans! #youknowwhatImsaying
Have you visited Sedona? Did we hit all your fave spots? Check out more of our Travels here.
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*This post is created in collaboration with Nordstrom, but all styles, opinions and mad hops are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors!*