Arizona
Phoenix's desert sprawl paired with Sedona's red rocks, an easy pairing of city comforts and otherworldly landscape an hour or two apart.
Sedona Hikes
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Devil's Bridge | Hike · must-do | The largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area, and the classic photo-op hike. Gets crowded, so go at first light. |
| Cathedral Rock | Hike · moderate to steep | A short but scrambly climb with some of the most iconic red-rock views in Sedona. Worth the effort even if you only go partway up. |
| Bell Rock | Hike · easy loop | A gentler trail around one of Sedona's signature formations, good for a warm-up hike or a sunset stroll. |
| Soldier Pass Trail | Hike · varied terrain | Passes the Devil's Kitchen sinkhole and the Seven Sacred Pools. Less crowded than Devil's Bridge and a good half-day option. |
| Slide Rock State Park | Swimming hole · seasonal | A natural rock water slide in Oak Creek Canyon, a fun cooldown after a hot hike. |
Sedona Eats
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Elote Cafe | $$ · dinner, no reservations | Inventive Mexican-inspired dishes built around corn, with the namesake elote dish a local favorite. Arrive early, it doesn't take reservations. |
| Mariposa | $$$ · sunset views | Latin-inspired small plates and cocktails on a patio overlooking Sedona's red rocks, especially good at sunset. |
| Coffee Pot Restaurant | $ · breakfast | A long-running local diner known for its enormous omelette menu. Good fuel before a morning hike. |
| Indian Gardens Cafe & Market | $ · coffee and lunch | A relaxed market-cafe along Oak Creek Canyon with a shaded back patio, good for a slower lunch between stops. |
Phoenix & Scottsdale
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Desert Botanical Garden | Must-do | A 140-acre garden of cacti and desert flora with themed trails. Especially good in the evening when lights come on and the crowds thin out. |
| Camelback Mountain | Hike · steep | The signature Phoenix hike, via either the Echo Canyon or Cholla trail. Steep and rocky but short, with sweeping valley views from the top. |
| Cafe Monarch | $$$$ · fine dining | A prix-fixe tasting menu restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale that regularly lands on national best-of lists. Book ahead. |
| Lolo's | $$ · brunch | A lively brunch spot known for chicken and waffles and its 'stupid fries'. Expect a wait on weekends. |