Inspo for the Best Sedona Experience

June 12, 2024

Vacations are great, but sometimes the planning can become a headache. Let us take away the stress of making lists of what to do with these itinerary ideas, designed for a variety of interests and activity levels. Consider it our gift so you can get here and set your clock to Red Rock time.  

24 Hours in Sedona

In town for a day? Here is how to make the most of it!

Hot-Air Ballooning: Start your day at dawn with a mile-high panoramic view of the beautiful high desert. Local outfitters offer a variety of packages, some of which include breakfast, a champagne toast, free pick-up and drop-off and complimentary photos. 

Wine-Tasting: Curate a day of wine-tasting with sips from local vineyards. Sedona Adventure Tours offers a number of ways to indulge with local vitners – including kayaking and e-biking. Now that’s a glass of wine well deserved. 

Play a Round of Gorgeous Golf: Sedona boasts a number of breathtaking golf options, including the 18-hole championship Oak Creek Country Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones Jr. Or book our Stay and Play package with Sedona Golf Resort for a seamless stay with a day on the green followed by sips by the pool.

Peruse Famed Art Galleries: Sedona’s sublime natural scenery has long inspired artists of all mediums. A few of our must-see galleries: Kuivato Glass Gallery, Geoffrey Roth Gallery, Kaufman Clark Gallery, and Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village (where there are countless dining and shopping options, too). And take a 5 minute walk to Exposures Gallery and Hillside Galleries, just north of the Resort. These galleries offer original works from many world-renowned artists.

Wine Tour Weekend 

If visiting one winery visit sounds, nice – but not nearly enough, make it a wine weekend. Move over Sonoma … try on Sedona for size. Wine connoisseurs have discovered the fruits of the Verde Valley’s abundant sunshine, cool evenings, rich volcanic soil, and organic water source. Estate vineyards border Oak Creek and the flanks of House Mountain, in a verdant greenbelt that may make you forget you’re near a desert. A number of companies offer driving tours, so you’ll never have to worry about transportation. Choose from limo, jeep, or even kayak. 

A few of our favorites include

Alcantara Vineyard

Page Springs Cellars

D.A. Ranch Estate Vineyards

Map the Vortexes 

Seeking spiritual enlightenment? Checking in with your chakras? You’ve come to the right place. Spend your Sedona gateway mapping the various vortexes for which Red Rocks country is renowned. Self-guided tours are available – we love this insightful map – as well as guided explorations with area experts who can unveil the mystical secrets of each type of vortex. Check out One Tribe Tours and Red Earth Adventures for a variety of customizable itineraries to Sedona’s sacred settings.  

Sedona’s Secret 7

If you love to explore off the beaten path, check out Sedona’s Secret 7 hike. Use this interactive map to discover lesser-known gems throughout the region, from the best places to stargaze (try Jim Thompson-Brins Mesa Trailhead) to ancient trails through Tuzigoot National Monument to biking on the beautiful Girdner Trail. 

Sedona Food Tour 

Foodies love Sedona, where every meal awakens your senses. Various food tours area available that introduce you to delicious treats from our most iconic culinary establishments, from authentic Mexican flavors to American classics. Savor farm-to-table offerings next to a historic water-pumping station at Pump House Station. Indulge in Italian – and jaw-dropping views – at the Hideaway House. Sample olive oils, balsamics, and local spirits at Spirits & Spice. Enjoy authentic Mexican fare at the oldest restaurant in Tlaquepaque – El Rincon – or at our own Molé Fine Mexican Cuisine. Traveling with Fido or seeking a Culinary Class? Try one of these unique food tours in Sedona

See You Soon 

Can’t get enough? Check out these other creative itineraries that help you delve deeper into the best of Sedona. Come back to The Arabella after your adventure and let us know what you found!