WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK YOUR TRIP TO SEDONA

Sedona the most beautiful place in America is the perfect place as a base for your adventures of the southwest. Fly into either Phoenix or Las Vegas, or start in one and leave from the other; either will work when you visit Sedona.

Here is a list of highlights of what to see on your trip to Sedona:

1. Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon is an easy day trip from Sedona, if you leave around 8:00 or 9:00 am you can see all the great views, doing some shopping for mementos and still be back in Sedona by 6:00 pm. The Grand Canyon is a day trip or a one night stay at the most, it is absolutely spectacular to see and a must to visit, but the crowds can be intense. Sedona offers fine dining, incredibly hiking, much better lodging and more.

2. The Town of Jerome. Jerome is a must see old town just 28 miles from Sedona. It is an old mining town with a restaurant in the old asylum, beautiful views, and diverse shopping.

3. Hike Sedona. Hiking in Sedona is what it is all about with over 30 trails in the area; from easy to difficult, along water, with elevation change, canyon and mountain trails.   Hiking in Sedona is the same terrain as the Grand Canyon but is more horizontal rather than vertical, and there is a trail for everyone from a challenging elevated hike to a nice walk. Here are a few websites that focus on the hikes around Sedona:

4. West Fork Trail of Oak Creek Canyon. Touted as one of best trails in Arizona and one of the top 10 trails in the United States. It is only 6 miles round trip and rated easy with incredible views. There are a few parts where short uphill stepping stones are used, numerous stream crossings with stepping stones and logs.  At the end of the trail you come to a pool of water surrounded by cliffs.  Passage from this point requires wading in water.  It is possible to travel another 11 miles upstream but requires boulder hopping, wading and even some swimming.  This extended hike is an overnight adventure.

5. Jeep Tours of Sedona. Taking a jeep tour of the Sedona countryside is exhilarating, fun and breath-taking! The area has a number of jeep tour companies, with tours from 1 hour to a full day.

6. Golfing in Sedona. There are a variety of gorgeous golf courses in and around the Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon area, each one unique challenging and fair.
At elevations ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level, the northern part of the state presents golfers with a completely different set of challenges, landscapes, and (for the budget minded) price points.

7. Indian Ruins. (Palatki Ruins and Honaki Indian Ruins). These valuable ruins give us insight to ancient peoples of the area. See petroglyphs, pictographs and more.

8. Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, these are two areas of Northern Arizona not to be missed. The Painted Desert is barren, but filled with color. The Petrified Forest is a National Park, and features one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood. The park is also home to the Agate House, a Native American building of petrified wood reconstructed during the 1930s.

9. Second Hopi Mesa. The Villages are among the longest continuously inhabited places in North America.  Visit Hopi Villages, meet artists in their home workshops, enjoy unique Hopi food, and meet some of the friendliest people in the world – the Hopi people.   

10. Sedona Heritage Museum and Jordan Historical Park located at 735 Jordan Road, Sedona, AZ. Focuses on the lifestyles and works of the people who pioneered this community, from 1876 to the present, and offers history themed programs, events and activities.

11. Tlaquepaque Art & Crafts Village is located just a few steps from El Portal Sedona Hotel. It is home to art galleries, specialty shops, artisans and restaurants.

12. Montezuma Well & Montezuma Castle It’s not a castle and Montezuma was never here! This five-level, 20 room cliff dwelling “Montezuma Castle” nestled into a limestone recess high above Beaver Creek served as a "high-rise apartment building" for ancient Sinagua Indians over 600 years ago.

13. Red Rock State Park located in Oak Creek Canyon, offering Jr. Ranger Programs, guided walks; its mission is to preserve the riparian habitat associated with Oak Creek; to serve as an environmental education facility; and to provide limited passive recreational opportunities.

14. Slide Rock State Park situated in the middle or Oak Creek Canyon, featuring sandstone bluffs, a multitude of flora and fauna and the water of Oak Creek, multiple places to swim and wade, as well as the famous Slide. The Slide is an eighty foot slippery shoot that is worn into sandstone. There are hiking trails, wildlife viewing, fishing and more.

15. State Parks in general. There are a number of state parks in the area. Fort Verde State Historic Park, Dead Horse Ranch, Homolovi Jerome, Riordan Mansion, and Verde River Greenway are state parks in Northern Arizona.

16. Shopping in the area – from eclectic to touristy! Art galleries, artisan shops, everything Sedona!

17. Vortex/Spiritual Tours. Sedona spiritual counseling guides, vortex tour companies and psychics are here to help heal your mind, body and spirit!

18. Dining in Sedona. You will find excellent restaurants in Sedona and the Verde Valley, from coffee shops and breakfast to fine dining and desserts.

19. The Sedona Spa Experience. There are a variety of day spas, spas with fitness centers and alternative healing spas.

20. El Portal Sedona Hotel. Stay at this beautiful, boutique hotel located in the heart of Sedona. This is where your trip to Sedona begins and ends…These Sedona AZ accommodations have received AAA’s Four Diamond Award Rating. We offer our guests personalized concierge services for the Sedona area. We assist guests in planning day trips, jeep tours, hikes – including drop off and pick up. We will arrange helicopter rides, hot air balloon excursions, day trips on the Colorado River and more. If you need a spa treatment or in room massage we will look after it. We want you to get the most out of your trip to Sedona, and will help guests in any way we can.