Last month, a few friends and I traveled to Sedona to celebrate my friend Abby‘s bachelorette party. For all of us it was our first time to visit, and aside from the beautiful scenery, we really didn’t know what to expect. What we discovered was a mystical, magical hippie wonderland that was — albeit sort of sleepy — loads of fun. We ate, we drank, we hiked, we loled — what more could you really want from a girls’ weekend?
Eat
Local Juicery. This was our first stop when we arrived to Sedona, and it was so good that we squeezed in a second visit before leaving. This place is a dream. With fresh juices and smoothies, tonics and elixirs for whatever ails you, and a delicious menu, we wish Local Juicery would open an Austin location like, yesterday.
Mariposa. We went to Mariposa for our “nice” group dinner. It was fantastic! We showed up early to sip on drinks at the bar, then enjoyed a delicious dinner with great service.
ChocolaTree. This place is hippie heaven. ChocolaTree serves up raw, organic fare alongside an all natural market and artisanal chocolaterie. I loved the spinach curry stew, and the heart love warm tonic is a must-try!
Cowboy Club Grille & Spirits. Soak in the spirit of the Old West and enjoy the restaurant’s “high desert” cuisine at this charming Sedona institution. We love this spot for lunch or an early dinner!
Drink
Olde Sedona Bar & Grill. We didn’t experience dinner at Olde Sedona Bar & Grill, but this bar holds a special place in my heart as it hosted one of our most epic nights of karaoke ever. Cue “Like a Prayer” in 3… 2…
Sound Bites Showroom. Hit up soundbites for a quintessentially Sedona view and great live music. We never ate there, but we hear the food is excellent as well!
Shop
Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. This totally unique walled village is a Sedona must-see. Spend a few hours wandering from one plaza to another, stopping in at any shop or restaurant that catches your eye.
Crystal Magic. No trip to Sedona is complete without bringing some crystal energy back home with you. There are crystal shops everywhere, but this one had a huge selection, and their staff was super nice.
Amara Resort and Spa. A number of girls from our group hit up the spa at Amara for a massage, and they raved that it was one of the best they’d ever had. Not a bad way to recover from a few days of hiking!
Do
Broken Arrow. On our first day, we hiked Broken Arrow. Since it was snowing, so we had the trail all to ourselves, making for beautiful uninterrupted scenic views. Highly recommended!
Cathedral Rock. We hiked Cathedral Rock on the second day, as we’d been told that if you’re going to do one hike in Sedona, this was it. It was definitely challenging, but reaching the top was worth it! They say that this vortex allows for heightened spirituality and deeper forms of meditation.
Buddha Beach. About 1.5 miles from Cathedral Rock is Buddha Beach. A number of us took the trail to check it out, and found a beautiful, shaded beach. It’s meant to be the site of a powerful vortex, where many can be found meditating or picnicking.
Devil’s Bridge. Because it had been snowing, hiking Devil’s Bridge (which lives up to its name!) wasn’t an option for our group. It looks amazing, though, and that photo opp might be worth the trip in itself!
Centennial Trail. We closed the trip by catching a beautiful panoramic sunset just off Centennial Trail. Just a quick jaunt down the path lead to a beautiful spot to sit and relax a while.
