Ryno and I have talked about taking this trip for about two years now and are so grateful that we finally set the time aside to go! We took our two dogs with us (Buckley and Rowen) which did limit us a little in terms of what we were able to do, but it was so worth it to have them along for the ride and the experience. We stayed at a Vrbo Rental in the heart of Sedona that had beautiful views in every direction, a grocery store right around the corner, parks and hiking areas within walking distance, and was in a quiet, low traffic neighborhood which helped make our trip extra relaxing. Our host was extra thoughtful and included a bidet in the bathroom, which was such a pleasant surprise! We loved it so much, we ordered some for our house and we've never looked back. They are SO easy to install and now we feel like a million bucks after a trip to the bathroom. (Use the link here to get your own and we will get a small commission from your purchase.)
Planning the day out in our rental and Ryno got some quick product photos. Our pups took advantage of this time to catch up on some sleep before hitting the roads again!
For meals, we knew we wanted to eat in as much as possible during our stay, so I packed recipes and anything I’d need to cook with, including our toaster oven which seems excessive, but it was so worth it! Being able to hit the grocery store on our first night was a plus in my book, not everywhere we travel is there a store so close. Money Saving Tip: Get the local grocery store member discount while you’re in town, then make sure to unsubscribe when you leave. We subscribed to the Safeway Fresh Pass (free for 30 days) which gave us great savings, especially on alcohol, cheers! Our meals included hamburger vegetable soup with biscuits one night, chicken alfredo another (recipe is below, I printed the recipe but didn't save the link like I did with the others but thankfully it’s a short one and was easy to type up), and our last night there we made a crescent taco bake. Along with the stuff we packed, our rental had a small fridge, microwave and provided a griddle and portable stove top to make up for not having a stove/oven.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Okay, now on to the fun stuff! During our trip we were able to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross which is ranked one of the top things to do while staying in the area. Parking is limited, as it is everywhere in Sedona, but if you can manage to find a spot to park close by, take a quick walk through and around for beautiful views and to get up close to one of Arizona’s top attractions in the state.
About 30 miles southwest of Sedona is the small town of Jerome. It is considered a ghost town with a population of only 464 people as of April 2020. In its prime it was a bustling copper mining town, but now it is known for its wineries, views of the valley, and evening ghost tours. You can easily spend the afternoon here visiting some unique shops, museums, bars and restaurants, plus it provides a nice break from the larger crowds typically found in Sedona.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Montezuma Castle National Monument is also just under 30 miles outside of Sedona and is a beautiful display of native ruins. Special note here: This is a national monument, so you will need to go through a guard station where you’ll pay to enter. Check out the link here for more information and to learn whether you’re eligible for a FREE park pass.
If you are looking for some epic views of the iconic surrounding landscape, with very little walking required, the Sedona Airport Overlook is a place you won’t want to miss. As you are driving up to the viewpoint, you will see a parking lot appear on your left (viewpoint will be on you right) that will have a parking attendant booth at the entrance. Instead of turning into this parking lot we drove past it, then parked for free on the west side of the helicopter tours parking area. By parking here, we were able to avoid the $3 parking fee, which was a lucky accident, but there were only a handful of these spots. From there we walked the less than 2 minutes to the overlook. Tip: Save this trip for sunset, the rocks have an extra beautiful glow this time of day.
Random sign along roadside in AZ.
Just south of Sedona you’ll find Crescent Moon Picnic Site that is situated under Cathedral Rock and is a very popular site for landscape photographers. This park had trails and paths all throughout and alongside the iconic Oak Creek. While we were there the creek was experiencing major flooding and the park ranger at the gate warned us by saying “Oak Creek is gone, it’s now a raging river!” and she was not kidding. Also, there is a park entrance fee ($11 p/vehicle) and limited parking on park grounds, so you may encounter a line of cars at the gate before entering. As one car leaves another is directed in, which makes this location a great place to escape the crowds if you can manage the wait!
Freshly rained on red rocks in Arches National Park, one of my favorite sights to see in the desert.
On our way home we stopped in Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, and Arches National Park which are all located in Southern Utah. These are some of our favorite spots to visit so I'll be sure to go over those spots in another blog post. I hope you find this article helpful when you are planning your next road trip and remember to always stay safe, enjoy the views, and have fun!