I may be a biased person but if you were to ask me flat out, “Where is your favorite place to vacation in the US?” I will always reply with “Sedona, Arizona.” They say it’s the Red Rocks. They say the minerals give off a positive energy. Look, whatever it is, whether you are spiritual or not, in the two times I’ve been to Sedona I distinctly remember simply being in a great mood the entire trip. The air is incredibly crisp and even on the truly hot days it’s tolerable simply because of how magnificent the scenery is. Simply walk a mile in any direction and you can climb a mountain, drink from a stream and even see some wildlife. This city is rich with culture yet has some amazing restaurants and an endless supply of things to do. For a better look at the city as a whole we’d recommend you take a look at Visit Sedona and Sedona’s Chamber of Commerce. While most people think of the Grand Canyon as a part of the Arizona visit, we’ve left it out because it’s located in Flagstaff, about a two hour drive from Sedona (and well worth the trip if you plan on spending the day there…and take a helicopter ride!). Anyway, let’s take a closer look.

Accommodations

#1 - Adobe Grand Villas

Given that we’re a couple and given that this hotel comes up virtually everywhere as a crowd favorite, we decided to give Adobe Grand Villas the number one spot. Nestled at the base of the majestic Thunder Mountain and cocooned by red-rock formations in Sedona, this hotel has an amazing blend of both scenery and location. Everything you need to do is located within 3 miles of the hotel. In addition the Adobe Grand Villas features 12 uniquely decorated private villas. Thematic decor includes Tuscan, Spanish, pueblo and a fantasy garden. Don’t take our word. Check out a full description at Hotels.com as well as read the countless positive reviews from Trip Advisor. I honestly couldn’t find a review that rated the hotels appearance as anything but spectacular. Every person couldn’t wait to get back. Also to view more photos you can check out their website as well as see guest taken pictures on the Trip Advisor link we provided.

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# 2 - L’Auberge de Sedona

Ready for a romantic getaway? I guess you have to figure on that with a French name like that right? Just kidding….or am I? Seriously though, when we researched this hotel we must have seen the word “honeymoon” 100 times. Be sure to check out their website as well as some Trip Advisor reviews. If it’s just you and your special someone, the L’Auberge is a solid choice.

#3 - Enchantment Resort, Mii Amo Spa

From their website: “Arizona’s beautiful red-rock country, Mii amo takes its name from the Native American word for Journey…reflecting the life-enhancing experience of achieving a transformation in physical health, emotional well-being and spiritual renewal.” Travel and Leisure readers rated this the number one Destination Spa in the world. Enough said.

#4 - Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa

It’s pretty tough to go wrong with a Hilton…well unless that Hilton begins with Paris. Me and the Travel Girl actually passed by this place while driving in Sedona and after doing some more research it’s worth the reservation. Here is their Sedona Website. We’ve also heard the term “best massage ever!” if that means anything!

* Had enough? We didn’t think so. As if this article hasn’t made you fall in love with Sedona yet, there are plenty of gorgeous places to stay at. Here are a few more places to look for lodging in this fantastic city. Check out Trip Advisor’s List and Sedona.net for your fill.

#5 - Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa

If you pony up the funds, might I suggest one of their four Andalusia suites. If not, one of the 77 other rooms will more than suffice. Here’s their website for more info.

Restaurants

Like many Southern states, Arizona is no exception when it comes to steak. If you go to any “meat oriented” type of restaurant you can be rest assured that you’ll be getting a good cut of meat. However, we were surprised at the amazing quality of Italian food located in Sedona. I can’t deny that our featured restaurant is a Steak House, but let’s just say there’s some good eats in this city!

#1 - Savannah’s

Our featured restaurant is Savannah’s. We, I repeat we went to this restaurant and both of us agreed that it was far and away the best Filet Mignon we’d ever had. To get a look at their menu and to find out more about the restaurant be sure to check out Savannah’s Website. And don’t just take our word for it. Read some of these reviews.

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#2 - Dahl and Deluca Cucina Rustica

Think “extremely inexpensive” and “lots of garlic.” I remember going to this place and getting an unbelievable meal with the Travel girl. Entrees, appetizers, two glass of wine and the bill was under 70 dollars. I’ll take that any day of the week! Check out these Yahoo! Reviews.

#3 - Heartline Cafe

The Heartline Café is located in the heart of Sedona Arizona, Red Rock country,
Heartline Café has the finest ingredients, affordable prices, breathtaking gardens, and delightful staff.” We’ll see about that! For more information here is their website.

#4 - Rene at Tlaquepaque

I just love to say “Tlaquepaque,” don’t you. Tuh Lock Eee Pock Ee! We’ll explain what this glorious village is in “fun things to do” but in the meantime they have a wonderful restaurant called Rene. Here is Rene’s Website. The only negative we’ve seen is that it might be a long wait, but it’s well worth it!

#5 - L’Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek

We’ve already gone over this hotel. Great hotel? Great restaurant. Here’s a closer look .

* We know that there aren’t only five restaurants in Sedona. We just found these these are five of the best restaurants in Sedona. There are plenty of Pizza Huts and Taco Bells for the mid day snack. There’s also a HUGE supermarket with very cheap meats if you end up at a hotel room with a kitchen. Here’s a list of 71 more restaurants for your perusal.

Fun Things To Do

#1 - Bell Rock

There’s an awful lot to do in Sedona and while it’s really tough to choose one activity above the rest, Bell Rock deserves this spot. We chose Bell Rock for a few reasons. When you’re in Sedona you can’t help but to be amazed by the scenery and even if you’re not too “outdoorsy” there’s this little kid in you that feels like being out there with the canyons and rocks. While in Sedona you’ll see tons of trails with difficulty levels, etc etc. So take the outdoors, rocks, incredible views, an easy trail and you’ve got Bell Rock. Here’s a great page dedicated to describing Bell Rock.

More Pictures: This is the Travel Guy and the Travel Girl from Bell Rock.

#2 - Hot Air Balloon Ride

There were two things said to us when we got to Sedona. OK maybe three. “Have you been to Sedona?” “Have you been to the Grand Canyon?” If we answered “yes” to the Grand Canyon the next question was “Have you been on a Hot Air Balloon ride here? Needless to say we did not but we’ve heard amazing things. There are a couple great companies that offer rides in Sedona. One is Arizona Balloon Works and the other is Northern Light Balloon.

# 3 - Energy Vortexes

Remember how I mentioned being in a good mood in Sedona? They say much of it comes from these Vortexes or specific points in the land. It’s actually quite interesting. Here’s some more Vortex Information. We highly recommend checking this out.

#4 - Helicopter Ride

When Travel Girl and I went to the Grand Canyon, we took a Helicopter ride and have to say it was probably the best thing we did in Arizona. It only felt like 30 seconds but when we flew over the Canyon is was such a rush. Now this article isn’t about the Grand Canyon but believe me, being in a helicopter amongst the red rocks in Sedona is something you must see for yourself.

# 5 - Tlaquepaque Village

We’ve talked about a restaurant here and now we’ll tell you about the village. Tlaquepaque is a beautiful little “outlet” if you will. There you’ll find countless art galleries and shops. It’s a great tourist place but at the same time you don’t feel too “touristy” when you’re there. Check out the main website.

Honorable Mention: Pink Jeep Tours

* Again, we didn’t mention the Grand Canyon because it’s technically not in Sedona. However should you be in Sedona for 5 days or more we highly recommend taking one of those days and spending it at the Grand Canyon.

Conclusion

Sedona is a phenomenal spot and we do hope that you visit there at least once. I’ve been there twice and fully intend on going at least another two times. I can’t explain it. There’s just something about that place. You just can’t be in a bad mood there. Hopefully this article will get you started on the right track. Happy trails!

More Photos of Sedona

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