One of the most popular activities at Red Rock State Park are the naturalist guided, Moonlight Hikes. The next Moonlight Hike is Friday, May 24, 2013. These interpretive hikes give people the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sunset and incredible moonrise from an overlook on the hike. Then they return by the light of the moon, all the while learning about Sedona and its surrounding areas; Verde Valley and park history, as well as the riparian wildlife information, geology, botany and archaeology, all by a knowledgeable guide. The hike lasts up to two and half hours, and covers almost two miles.

Hikers should arrive about 30 minutes before the hike starts.  No late arrivals are allowed and reservations are required!  Call for reservations and the start time, as they  vary andy are adjusted monthly due to the moonrise! Call 928-282-6907 for reservations and additional information.

Hikers need to wear appropriate clothing and shoes (prepare for cool nights) and bring water, a flashlight and insect spray. There is a $5.00 per person program fee and it is charged at the time of the reservation. There is also a $10.00 entrance fee to the park for a car of four adults. (The program fees are non-refundable unless the park cancels the hike after you arrive). Red Rock State Park, 4050 Lower Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, AZ

Red Rock State Park is less than 10 miles from El Portal Sedona Hotel. El Portal is the natural place to stay, we are a pet friendly hotel located in the heart of Sedona. We offer our guests personalized concierge services for Sedona and area; we can make you Moonlight Hike reservations for you and pet sit while out hiking.

After your amazing moonlight hike, relax back at El Portal’s private courtyard with a cup of tea or a glass of wine!

Call El Portal for your Moonlight Hike accommodations in  Sedona. Check out our Sedona hotel specials online too. El Portal Sedona Hotel 1.800.313.0017.

So you know the David Grisman FolkJazz Trio will be headlining the Sedona Bluegrass Festival this year at Los Abrigados – Creekside.  And we’ve told you the Matt Flynn Trio will be a main draw…but who else will be performing at the Festival?

None other than Peter McLaughlin & The Sonoran Dogs!  They play a collection of traditional bluegrass standards, “new-grass,” and original compositions. With Peter McLaughlin on guitar, Mark Miracle on Mandolin, Tyler Walls on banjo and Brian Davies on stand-up bass, their improvisations make for energetic and fun performances.  These guys are scheduled to play Saturday and Sunday, June 8 & 9.

Peter McLaughlin and Mark Miracle will also be performing at the Bluegrass BBQ at the Segner Ranch, just outside of Sedona, on Wednesday June 6.  The BBQ is from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. For tickets visit Sedona Bluegrass Festival 2013, and scroll down!

The Segner Ranch is home to El Portal Sedona Hotel owners Steve and Connie Segner. Each year they open up their beautiful Ranch to the Sedona Bluegrass Festival for a wonderful BBQ Benefit.  Join friends for a delicious evening of music and food.  Chef Barron Unger will be cooking up his signature sausages and BBQ along with his delectable sides! (For directions to the Segner Ranch click here).

Take a trip to Sedona for the Bluegrass Festival and stay at pet friendly El Portal Sedona Hotel – we are just steps from Los Abrigados – Creekside!  Call for your Bluegrass room – 1.800.313.0017.

For more information on the Sedona Bluegrass Festival; tickets and performers visit Chamber Music Sedona.

Good news – we just found out Shadow was adopted!!! Yeah!

But there are other wonderful dogs and cats and other animals at the Humane Society of Sedona looking for homes!

Please visit them at 2115 Shelby Drive, open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

This is Shadow and he is looking for a “furever” home!

He is a seven year old black lab mix (neutered).  Shadow is a very sweet boy and well behaved. He’s obedient and gentle too!

Shadow is a good boy and will make someone a wonderful pet!  Here’s Shadow’s video!

You can visit Shadow at the Humane Society of Sedona located at 2115 Shelby Drive. It’s open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

El Portal is a pet friendly Sedona hotel. We love pets and love helping pets find their “furever” home.

Bearizona is a “Drive-Thru” Wildlife Park in Williams, Arizona. It is a wonderful place for a family outing and  just over an hour’s drive from El Portal Sedona Hotel.

The park allows visitors to see the animals in their natural setting, from the comfort and safety of visitors’ own vehicles. The animals roam around, and even up to the cars!  There are bison, big horn sheep, dall sheep, mountain goats, wolves, and of course – the stars – black bears!  The two-mile drive allows visitors the unique experience of witnessing wildlife the way it was meant to be, in a natural environment.

There’s Fort Bearizona which is a walk through area at the end of the driving tour, with an educational center and neonatal viewing area, and more animals!

Bearizona is home for the High Country Raptors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting raptor conservation through education.  There are “flight” shows where visitors come face to face with hawks, owls, falcons and other birds of prey; with demonstrations, information on history, conservation and some fun facts!  There are three flight shows a day:  11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm, all are free.

The park has concessions with umbrella seating and beautiful views as well as a gift shop and spacious clean bathrooms.

For Mother’s Day Bearizona is having a Weekend Special!  Half price admission for moms & a free Wild Ride Open Air Bus Tour. Valid Saturday May 11 and Sunday May 12, 2013  Load up Mom and the fam and explore this incredible park!

To make the day even more special, reserve a room at El Portal Sedona Hotel, a pet friendly Sedona hotel. Stay Friday night at El Portal and take in Bearizona Saturday, or stay at the boutique hotel Saturday night – you can visit Bearizona Saturday or Sunday. Call 1.800.313.0017 for your trip to Sedona and Bearizona!

Park Admission:

Children age 0-3 years – Free

Children age 4-12 years – $10 + tax

Adults – $20 + tax

Seniors 62 and older  – $18 + tax

(Up to a maximum of $100/car load; does not include motor coaches…)

First Friday Sedona’s finest galleries (including Renee Taylor Gallery, Azadi Fine Rugs, Eclectic Image Gallery, Vue Gallery, Mountain Trails Gallery, Rowe Gallery, Andrea Smith Gallery and Kuivato Glass Gallery) host this monthly event featuring special visiting artists or special events. The galleries will be open until 8:00pm. Enjoy music in the courtyards and peruse art. This month, enjoy the musical talents of Divom in Patio De Las Campanas from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. This is a free event!

Calico Critter Day at Tlaquepaque Toy Town is Saturday May 4, featuring Mrs. Cat. There will be coloring, pictures with Mrs. Cat and visitors can put their name in Mrs. Cat’s basket to win their very own Calico Critter House – the Deluxe House with extras – no less! You don’t want to miss this fun event at Toy Town. All Calico Critters are 15% off on Saturday, May 4, 2013!!

Cinco de May is an opportunity to take the plunge and celebrate the colorful Fiesta that salutes this rich heritage, Saturday, May 4 at Tlaquepaque. Enjoy the festivities, the vibrant music of mariachi musicians, clap to the steps of folklórico dancers and savor traditional Mexican foods at Tlaquepaque’s famed El Rincon Restaurante. As well as live entertainment and food, there will be face painting for young and old for free from 11:00am-5:00pm.

Great Sedona Chili Cook-Off! Come, taste and vote for your favorite chili! The tasting starts at 11:00am on the Calle Independencia and ends at 4:00pm. This is organized by the Rotary Club of Sedona and proceeds go to the Polio-Plus-Rotary International’s project to eradicate polio worldwide! Winners will be selected for two different awards: the People’s Choice Award and the Judge’s Award based on best flavor, consistency, aroma, and appearance. The Beer Garden is sponsored by Oak Creek Brewery & Grill. This event is $5 for kids and $10 for adults.

Take a trip to Sedona this weekend – you won’t want to miss any of the wonderful festivities! For more information on the weekend, or to reserve your Sedona accommodations, call El Portal, Sedona’s pet friendly hotel 1.800.313.0017. We will pet sit  your four legged friend for free as you take in all the fun this weekend, May 3 – 5, 2013. Visit El Portal Sedona Hotel online for Sedona hotel specials! El Portal is just steps from the beautiful Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village.

Ritson has 30 years experience in outdoor exploration, over 25 years of guiding experience, with 12 years in the Sedona area.  He has a gift of determining people’s wants and desires and developing an experience they feel is unique and special to them.

Ritson joined the El Portal Sedona team to guide in an environment that has integrity. Segner and Ritson both have a love of people and their stories. Ritson has a broad knowledge of arts, literature, world events, technology, so he is able to translate the whole experience based on peoples’ world view and experience. It is really important to him to develop a rapport – it’s about the personal connection (what El Portal is all about), not just a hike in the woods. He is a birdwatcher, and naturalist, and will bring this into the picture. He’ll even do photo essays of peoples’ day in the outdoors using and provide them a photo file via a file sharing program as part of the experience (at no additional charge).

Ritson has found many incredible places where it is unlikely to see anyone else. To experience the Sedona hiking trails with someone who knows Arizona is big, bold and sometimes unforgiving is an adventure!

For a hiking adventure of a lifetime -call El Portal Sedona Hotel and hike with new team member – Stephen Ritson! 1.800.313.0017

Thank you to Susan from York, PA who wrote such a wonderful review of El Portal Sedona on TripAdvisor.

She writes this about her stay at the boutique hotel:

“El Portal Sedona is ENCHANTMENT and the ONLY place to stay!”

The best place to stay in Sedona, with or without your pet – by far!

My husband and I and our little corgi travel from PA to San Diego every year. We stop in Sedona on the way out and on our way home. We have always stayed at a well known resort and hotel. It has always been a great stay and quite dog friendly. We have never made reservations and have always been able to secure a room. Not so lucky this year. Or maybe it WAS lucky – because we stumbled upon El Portal. We were on our way home and only wanted to stay 3 nights. We ended up staying 7!
I fell in love with the rustic room we had…
The pet policy goes far beyond other hotels: no extra fees, no signing papers that say you can’t leave your pet, or that it must be crated, or telling you your beloved can’t snuggle up with you in bed…no, they actually give you a sheet and a little soft blanket to put on top of your bed so that your pup will be comfortable too. Also each room has a place for your dog to “go” that is convenient for both of you. You can tell the owners love dogs too. If you are lucky, you will meet the owners’ sweet little Basset Hound.
Because we stayed longer than we first expected to, we had to be moved to a different room on 3 occasions. (Each room is so unique that repeat customers often call and request a specific room).  Since I am a “nester” I thought I would be irritated, but…the owner and staff made it seamless so we kept extending out stay. And I’m glad. We got to experience 4 different rooms. All the rooms were beautiful and felt cozy and actually gave me decorating and remodeling ideas!

Okay. On to the owner – Steve. He really makes it a plus. There is nothing like having the owner around, making sure everything is running smooth, telling you stories, suggesting place to see and eat at, giving directions to places in Sedona, helping the staff, trimming the vines, and relaxing with you when he can. You can tell, and he will admit, that he loves his job! His wife Connie is also a shining star at El Portal. Her presence was also welcoming and helpful as was the entire staff. We were grateful for the familiar smiling faces every day.”

To read the review in it’s entirety visit TripAdvisor.com.

El Portal is a pet friendly Sedona hotel. There are only 12 guest suites, each uniquely decorated, each filled with all modern amenities.

Please drop in for a visit – we’d love to have you stay with us!

We are located at 95 Portal Lane in Sedona, Arizona.

“Dancing in the Moonlight” the Verde Valley Sanctuary’s largest fundraiser of the year. The event takes place on Saturday, April 20 at 5:00 pm at Sky Ranch Lodge on Airport Mesa. Tickets are  $100 and includes drinks, dinner, a live auction and dancing to the Latin rhythms of Mercy B’s C.A.B.  Call (928) 634-2511 or visit verdevalleysanctuary.org.

The Verde Valley Sanctuary is a 28-bed shelter for victims of family abuse and violence.  The Sanctuary offers a safe haven for victims of family violence, providing shelter, community outreach and legal advocacy services. It is funded by public and private grants that are supplemented by donations and fundraising.  The Shelter is their most fundamental service, and fundraising efforts are primarily dedicated to sustaining that service. All programs are staffed with trained, paid employees.

Residents and visitors alike can enjoy a night of wonderful food, music and dancing - all the while supporting a wonderful cause! So stay at El Portal Sedona Hotel,

El Portal Sedona Hotel.

and take in “Dancing in the Moonlight Fundraiser!” El Portal offers free pet sitting to our four legged guests to let our two legged guests get out and take in all Sedona offers. El Portal is a pet friendly Sedona hotel, centrally located in the heart of Sedona! For more information call El Portal Sedona at 1.800.313.0017.