29 Must-Do’s in Beautiful Sedona, Arizona
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
21. Treat yourself to breakfast on the patio at Indian Gardens*
Indian Gardens is without a doubt the best breakfast & lunch option anywhere in this region. In fact, it is always my first choice pre and post-hike. Expertly crafted espresso drinks (with beans from local Flagstaff roaster Firecreek), delicious breakfast fare (all homemade), and a beautiful garden patio with lots of trees and shade, all combine to make Indian Gardens the absolute winner in Sedona. The patio is so relaxing and natural, really the perfect fit for a nature oasis like Sedona. The casual ambiance is perfect either pre or post hike.
Try the Grains and Greens Bowl, the breakfast burrito, or one of the homemade pastries (the pumpkin muffin and coffeecake are delicious!). Or pick up a pre made sandwich or salad and take it on the go for a fuel boost during your hiking adventure!
I absolutely love this place so much that I am here at least 4-6 times per month!
22. Stroll around the Village of Tlaquepaque
Like Uptown, the Village of Tlaquepaque is another great gathering area with all sorts of fun touristy activities like shops, galleries, and restaurants. This area is a bit fancier than Uptown and features attractive landscaping and fountains with a charming Old World Mexico vibe.
While most of the restaurants are a bit overly touristy, I love the Najaco pizza at El Rincon and the creative fare and beautiful patio at The Secret Garden. All the restaurants within the Village have lovely patios which are just perfect as soon as the milder spring and fall seasons roll around. Overall, The Village is just the perfect place to unwind after a long day on the trails.
Numerous events are scheduled throughout the year including flamenco dancing and art walks. If your visit happens to fall around the holidays, you are in for a real treat as the Village looks spectacular with all the lights, in an event known as “Red Rock Fantasy.” In addition to lights you will find a whole lineup of festive activities including classic holiday films in the courtyard, ice skating, and more!
Tlaquepaque directory & events lineup
23. See the red rocks dusted with snow
The spectacular & relatively rare sight of the red rocks capped with snows was once of my favorite experiences while living here. While Sedona is no stranger to the snow (the city typically sees a few storms each season), the snow melts incredibly fast, and thus, you have to time your visit perfectly to enjoy this enchanting sight.
Right after a winter storm is the best time to take a leisurely winter cruise down Oak Creek Canyon. Seeing the trees, red rocks, creek, and cacti all covered with snow truly transforms the area into a magical winter wonderland not found anywhere else. Be sure to plan for a stroll along the West Fork- most of the trail closed, however, the first 1/2 mile or so is absolutely stunning in winter! I love seeing the creek surrounded by snow.
24. Challenge yourself to the steep climb up the Cookstove
The Cookstove is one of my favorite trails in all of Northern Arizona, both for the stunning panoramic views of Oak Creek, and for the quiet non touristy vibe. This hidden gem is one of the few places where you can get out there and explore this beautiful area of the country without dozens of tourists all doing the same thing. Fortunately, this trail barely receives any traffic due to a semi hidden location (it’s easy to miss) and the intense popularity of nearby West Fork. In an area so overcrowded with tourists, it really is a treasure to have a trail this fantastic remain so underused.
After a very steep climb of just over a half mile, your reward is the most stunning overlook of the ponderosa pine forests. Due to this hike’s picturesque location, you will be looking out at mountains of pretty pine forests as opposed to the red rocks – quite a drastic difference in scenery, and a refreshing change if you are seeking something different after several days of red rock hiking.
The trail is very shady, making it a good summer choice, although you must be prepared for a moderately hard trek uphill in a high altitude area (4500 ft).
My guide to hiking the Cookstove
25. Hike to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain*
The combined Teacup/Sugarloaf Summit trail is one of the most picturesque, relaxing, and least crowded hikes. It’s’ super close distance to town is another plus. This trail is one of the best bang-for -your-buck options as so little effort is required to take in such grand views.
Your journey begins with an easy stroll along the Teacup trail until arriving at the short, steep climb (just 0.3 miles) up Sugarloaf, where you will then be treated to 360 degree views of the entire area. The views are so amazing that you will want to laze around here all day. The entire trail offers great red rock scenery, particularly of the famous Coffeepot Rock formation. Lush greenery including tons of prickly pear cacti & diverse plant life make this a particularly picturesque hike.
26. Cool off at a creekside swimming hole
The most famous summer cool off hotspot is Oak Creek Canyon’s famous Slide Rock State Park, made famous from the unique natural waterslides carved out of the sandstone. However, it is a bit pricey and insanely crowded the entire summer season, so if either a hefty price tag or lengthy wait bother you, then you might just want to check out one of the region’s many “secret” swimming holes.
From Midgley Bridge, you can take a short downhill trek along the Huckaby to a secret swimming hole. Other options include: the Templeton Trail, Grasshopper Point, and Red Rock Crossing – a popular scenic picnicking site.
27. Hike the amazing Airport Mesa Loop*
Not only is the Airport Mesa trail one of the 4 vortex hikes, it also offers some pretty fantastic red rock views. Tremendous red rock scenery is visible for almost the entire 3.5 mile loop, so you will definitely want your camera handy for this one! The lush prickly pear cacti which line the route set this trail apart from others being that they are the greenest and most alive I have seen on any trail.
This trek is relatively easy, although the beginning section includes a few very scary drop 100+ foot drop offs. The crazy thing is I have actually seen a ton of mountain bikers zip past me. I really don’t know how they do it with these super high drop offs and narrow nature of the trail. Avoid at all costs if you are squeamish over heights.
My guide to hiking Airport Mesa
28. Treat yourself to handcrafted chocolates from Chocolatree
Chocolatree is a local vegetarian restaurant which also specializes in homemade chocolates of all kinds – truffles, peanut butter cups, cakes, basically anything you could possibly think of. With an on-site chocolate factory, everything is totally fresh and delicious. Everything is gluten-free and several sugar free selections are available. They serve one terrific hot cocoa as well.
Asides from the sweet treats, Chocolatree is home to one of the best outdoor patios in town – lush and green with trees, fountains, and even relaxing hammocks! Also, the healthy burritos are awesome!
29. Stargaze
With sunny skies most of the year, low light pollution, and plenty of open space, Sedona is one of the top stargazing destinations in the Southwest. Sign up for a guided stargazing tour or simply go out on your own and enjoy the starry skies in the open desert.
A few more things to do…
*Hike Brin’s Mesa – Brins Mesa is one of the most gorgeous trails but it’s busy. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too overcrowded with tourists, and thus, would not be my top choice for visitors wanting to explore this beautiful area in a more remote setting. However, if you have the extra time, go for it!
*Enjoy a creek side brunch. Several restaurants in town offer nice views of the creek. Check out Etch Restaurant in the beautiful L’Auberage resort for a fine dining option, and Ken’s Creekside for a more casual ambiance. Indian Gardens is my top breakfast choices but these restaurants are great if your main goal is a pretty setting.
*Treat yourself to the best pizza in town at Pisa Lisa. Excellent woodfired pizzas, terrific homemade gelato, and an attractive casual ambiance make Pisa Lisa a great choice post-hike when you just want to refuel with some tasty carbs! I love the plain cheese and their vegan Semplice option!
*Try out some cactus fries at the Cowboy Club. It’s always fun to try out something new and interesting, especially anything made with regional prickly pear!
Daytrip destinations
*Day trips to Flagstaff, Jerome, and Cottonwood. Flagstaff should be the first consideration for a day trip as the hiking is so awesome here. There are too many trails to even list, but here’s my starter guide. Other attractions include: a world renowned observatory and a historic downtown with lots of local restaurants and coffee shops. Also the city is home to the gorgeous San Francisco Peaks – the highest mountain range in the state with a peak of 12,637 feet! You will be trading in red rock scenery for gorgeous ponderosa pine forests.
Jerome is a historic town which bills itself as “the largest ghost town in America.” Ghost tours, art galleries, restaurants, and a state park are the main attractions here. I love the historic architecture and haunted history. The Asylum is a pretty good restaurant with nice views of the Verde Valley. The Halloween season is pretty fun due to the many ghost tours and spooky parties around town.
Cottonwood is home to a tiny downtown where you can try out a few independent restaurants and enjoy local wine tastings. I really loved this quaint tea shop called the Wild Rose.
