Sedona recs

[marshmallowhands]

We're thinking about turning our Thanksgiving visit to my grandparent's house in Phoenix into a longer stay so we can head to Sedona. How long do you think we'd need there? I'll be in my 2nd trimester but I'd love to do some hiking and relaxing. Any hotel recs or must see/dos?

Thanks!

[justthetip]

Two to three days would be nice, depending on how much you want to do. The hike to Cathedral Rock has amazing views from the top, but it's a little scramble the last bit. I did it in my first trimester, but you should be fine. Depending on your budget, L'Auberge de Sedona is a beautiful, peaceful place to stay with little cabins along the river. If you can't afford to stay there, I'd recommend at least having dinner creekside. It's very romantic, and the food is delicious. It would also make a nice spa day. We've stayed at Sedone Rouge twice, and it's very comfortable and affordable. Jeep tours are popular, but sound awful in pregnancy. Chapel of the Holy Cross is beautiful at sunset, or anytime for a quick photo op. Have fun!

[sunny]

Agree with Chapel of the Holy Cross, drive up to Airport Mesa b/c it's a great scenic spot for far-ranging views. there is a bridge north of the shopping district on 89A and if you want to hike, you can hike down to oak creek from there. pink jeep won't allow you to do their fun tours when pregnant. just go and be amazed at the beauty ;-P. also if you have time to kill you can drive all the way to the top of 89A and there are some navajo craft shops set up at the national forest stop up there before flagstaff.

[mrsd2006]

We stayed at Amara, it's right off the main strip and it was awesome. We also did the pink jeep tour, but not sure that's for a pregnant lady.

[rubytue]

I LOVE Sedona. I would move there in a heartbeat!

Here is an email I sent to some family members who went there in January, Mostly she was asking about food, but it still might be useful.
1) Cafe Elote - really good! www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g31352-d670560-Reviews-Elote_Cafe-Sedona_Arizona.html
2) Barking Frog cafe - everyone will tell you to eat here. We were not impressed
3) Wildflower Bread Company - this is right at the Y, up with the hotel that is up there. Good Panera-type place.
4) Dan's Bistro - tiny place, but good food. Don't know if they are still BYOB, but they were then. HUGE portions though. Get an appetizer and main dish and split it.
5) Oak Creek Brewery - has a location in Talaqupaque (right across the parking lot from you). Decent brew-pub stuff.
6) There is a mexican place in uptown Sedona. Overprices crap. go to Cafe Elote instead.

Really, with regard to food, from what we have tried, its a lot of overhyped, overpriced, no-so-good stuff. So we generally stick to the brew pups, sandwich shop, and the kitchen in the room. Don't waste your time or money on most of the restaurants.

If you go up to the Y and turn left (I think its a traffic circle now), and go about 2-4 miles, there is a Safeway on your right. They sell wine in the grocery stores there. Typical Safeway stuff, but good to stock up the kitchen (if you have one). Prices are slightly elevated for Sedona, but not terrible.

In the shopping center with the Safeway, at the opposite end from Safeway, there is a little Mexican place that is good for breakfast. we weren't impressed with their lunch, but their breakfasts were good. Speaking of breakfast, everyone will say to go to Coffee Pot restaurant for omelets. We've never made it there, its always too crowded. That is actually how we found the omelets at the Mexican place.

Wineries - as could be expected, they are mostly terrible. But Page Springs is the exception. www.pagespringscellars.com/ They have a neat little deck and you can get some munchies and taste their wines overlooking the vineyard. Its a neat little stop on the way to Jerome.

Jerome is about an hour away, WAY up a mountain. Think Boone-type driving. www.azjerome.com/ I keep wanting to spend more time there, but we have only been once, and it was the end of the day. We went specifically for a wine tasting room there (something about the lead singer from the band Tool, DH likes Tool, his parents like wine, I was just along for the ride). But I definitely want to spend more time there. Its a cutesy shopping place.

Bell rock would be a good place to see the rocks up close, its a very short walk to the rock from the parking area. Also a nice trail around the rock, but you don't want to go hiking :-)

Chapel of the Holy Cross is also pretty cool. Sure, its a Catholic church, but it is really, really neat. And free. Take your handicapped parking pass though, then you can park at the top.

If you want to go out a see national park things and outdoorsy stuff, V-bar-V and Montezuma's Well are close together, short walks, and pretty cool.
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g31352-d1916599-Reviews-V_bar_V_Petroglyph-Sedona_Arizona.html

Out on the west side of town, two interesting places are the Red Rock Loop - just drive around and look at all the houses. Also, right across from Red Rock Loop is Cultural Park Drive. At the end of this is a short little loop trail that overlooks the valley. You'll also see Sedona Summit, which is where we usually stay.
Here is a map for that: visitsedona.com/uploads/document/Sedona_Map.jpg

That should be more than enough to get you going :-) Stop by the visitors center and they can tell you far more. Oh, and do be aware its a timeshare heavy place, so you just have to duck the timeshare sellers.

[rubytue]

As far as hiking - Bell Rock should be fine in second trimester. The hike out to submarine rock is longer, but really neat (Broken Arrow trail). We really loved Fey Canyon trail and West Fork is also really nice. Although, in November, I'd stick to the sunny trails. Boyton Canyon trail had snow on it last time we hiking it.

Here is an online trail guide: www.greatsedonahikes.com/default.html

[marshmallowhands]

Wow, these are great suggestions. Thanks everyone, for taking the time to respond. The more I look at pictures of Sedona the more excited I get to go.