Sedona Recap + Guide

As Will and I were preparing to celebrate our one year anniversary, we knew we wanted to plan something special. Besides seeing my family in New Jersey, it would be the first trip we would take together as a couple, and we knew we wanted it to be somewhere in nature. Fresh air, grounding, and time together sounded like the perfect thing for us — so, we chose Sedona a few months back and it was the best decision we could have made.

After deciding on Sedona so many of YOU gave us incredible recommendations on where to go, eat, hike, etc., and I’ll be sharing all of these in this blog.

Sedona is truly a magical place, it is so grounding, healing and peaceful. As someone that is very much into the spiritual and the “woo” everyone told me it would quickly become my favorite place, and they were right. They also told me how quickly we would feel the energy – and we did. It’s hard to explain, but we felt this overwhelming sense of calm when we arrived. I just felt so connected to nature and the earth. And, we both got headaches, which we quickly believed was due to the energy as well (although, who knows, could’ve been from exhaustion or dehydration from our early morning, haha!). Also, when we hiked Cathedral rock, there are energy vortexes at the top. I started our first day with my right gland swollen and my throat felt pretty sore. Once we hiked to the vortexes and came back down the trail, I didn’t feel any sort of sore throat the remainder of the trip. That’s when I truly believed how healing this place could be.

The energy presence is palpable even through the vlog I made. There are so many clips where the light flares are incredible. I can’t wait for you to watch here and see! Another highlight was how quiet it was. During our hikes, especially the morning sunrise hike, all you could here was literally our footsteps, one step after the other, as if we were the only humans on earth. It truly made me feel so unbelievably grounded, a feeling I’ve been lacking for quite some time. Additionally, I loved how easy it was to eat fresh meals in Sedona. My gluten/dairy allergies were literally so easy to navigate, I was amazed. We ate at and stumbled across so many delicious cafes that offered vegan food, chocolate and cbd too. It was my heaven. I felt nourished when on this trip in every way. Lastly, I lived by the motto When in Sedona and tried explored a lot of spiritual offerings there, because I knew it would really be my true chance to try new things! I’ll be sharing those below as well.

While I know cases have heightened and restrictions have increased since, and being SAFE is the #1 priority when it is safe to travel again, I hope you find this list helpful as a guide to plan out your stay in Sedona! Will and I were completely on our own, staying in an airbnb, wearing masks, renting our own car and doing absolutely everything we could to be mindful about not only our health and safety, but also that of others too. I hope you love this and enjoy the vlogs as well!

WHERE WE STAYED

At this airbnb – and we loved it! Such a perfect, cozy space for the two of us that was extremely clean and in such a prime location. I wanted to share this link because I highly recommend this spot + the host was soo kind! It was simple and had everything we needed. Plus, it was so nice to be able to stock-up on some items at the grocery store and cook breakfast for ourselves each day.

WHERE WE WENT

FOOD/COFFEE

• Chocolatree – a completely vegan, magical little garden vibe. As the first place we stopped at, I was in awe of the charm and the great energy, and loved the ability to eat outside. Fast casual style, so it was perfect for an easy vibe. You can get items to go as well! Will got the chili and pizza, we shared spring rolls and I got a vegan quesadilla, which was a wildcard choice for me ;). They also sell chocolate, essential oils, homemade nut butters and more. This spot comes highly recommended. Reservations are not needed! Definitely a brunch/lunch spot.
• The Hudson – an American restaurant that faces the red rocks. We went for dinner after sunset, but apparently, the views outside are AMAZING! A great spot when you’re in the mood for a salad, burger, fries, etc.! Something for everyone here. I got the spicy margarita and it was to die for. We both got the Sedona quinoa salad, I got the ceviche and Will got a soft pretzel app. The portions are HUGE, we had leftovers to take home. We made reservations for this one. If going for dinner, I recommend booking before sunset!
• Local Juicery – Okay, we NEED Local Juicery in Chicago. I am manifesting this into existence. It is hands down the best smoothie/juice/avocado toast cafe I’ve been to in a while. We went back twice and also purchased juices and cookies for the road. The avocado toast is insane, there is a vegan chipotle cream on top to give it some unique spice. We LOVED the mint chip smoothie and the Mike smoothie, and our juices were amazing too. The menu is extensive so we could easily have gone even more and tried new things. The names of the drinks + the vibe of the space is great too. It’s a grab and go spot so no reservations needed, super easy!
• Synergy Coffee – this was across the road from our apartment, so we noticed it when driving by. The outside says “CBD and chocolate” so we were sold quickly. We got a mocha drink (made with real vegan chocolate) and a chai. The mocha > the chai in my opinion, but both were great and so were the chocolates we tried!
• Elote Cafe – A great mexican spot we went to for dinner! They didn’t have tacos on the menu, but when we asked they were able to make them for us which was soo nice! I got a prickly pear margarita that was delicious, and we of course shared chips and guac. Then, we got a prickly pear sorbet for dessert. We were STUFFED! The services was great and super quick, so I think we ate really fast and it caught up later haha! It’s more on the casual side and I definitely recommend.
• Hideaway House – This was one of our favorites! We sat on the outside balcony facing the mountains and it felt super “cabin-like” and was such a fun vibe. They literally make custom personalized pizzas and offer gluten-free crust…..and it was SO good! Pizza + wine and a view was definitely a peak of the trip. Will loved his too! We made reservations for this and also want to give a heads up that if you drive, the parking lot gets a bit tricky. The shopping center is great though and also housed our favorite cafe!
• Mariposa – This was by far the place we were recommended the most, so we saved it for last, added that it was our anniversary to the reservation, and it was so special. We arrived early to admire the sunset, because the views there are truly immaculate – a complete postcard. This place is truly stunning from the location to the ambiance, to the Latin inspired food offerings. It’s definitely the fanciest of the places we went to. I got the salmon and Will got the steak. They brought us an extra dessert when we had to wait for a little bit longer, so safe to say the service was impeccable, too. Will got churros for dessert and I got sorbet (apparently that was my thing on this trip?). All around it was incredible and completely lived up to the hype. Reservations are needed
• Creekside Coffee  – Our favorite coffee shop, located in the same shopping center as Hideaway House. We walked there after lunch and then ended up going back the next day! They have almond, oat, and macadamia nut milk which I loved, and it’s just such a simple, no-frills cafe with the backdrop and views of the mountains. The best part, though, is that they have little seats that face the mountains outside. This was honestly one of my favorite moments of the trip. We got oat milk matcha lattes and just sat there. It was just such a blissful, perfect moment. Then we repeated it the next day :).
• Creekside American Bistro – This was a bit of a last-minute booking and it was great! Once again, same shopping center to Creekside coffee + Hideaway House, so we were able to sit outside and enjoy amazing views! I got a greek salad and it was delish, and Will got a breakfast plate! We put our names in and waited about 20 minutes. A great lunch/brunch spot with a large menu.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS (Hoping we get to these someday!)

• Tii Gavo– an incredible looking Mexican restaurant, but unfortunately was only open to Enchantment Resort hotel guests, so we weren’t able to dine here.
• Dahl and Deluca 
• Rustic Italian Kitchen
• Pisa Lisa
• Oak Creek Brewery
• Firecreek Cafe 
• Renee’s
• Briar Patch Inn
• Indian Gardens

HIKING TRAILS

*all hikes are free aside from parking. Also really recommend the boots I wore — linking here!

• Cathedral Rock – my favorite of the three we did, and probably the most challenging! It literally grows straight up, and even when you get to the top, I recommend you keep going to where the vortexes are. As a hiking newbie, I was SO proud of myself! There are some really narrow paths you need to crawl through and it was so fun! The energy at the top was truly a dream. Path is only 1.3 miles. We stopped at the top for a bit and were probably there for 1.5 total. The trail was pretty crowded, so definitely recommend going early.
• Soldier’s Pass – This trail was really unique! It was flatter than Cathedral rock and there were a lot of “landmarks” along the way, such as the sinkhole and the seven sacred pools, which was awesome. As far as the trail goes, we definitely got lost because markers weren’t as clear. It’s a bit of a longer hike, and if you get to the top there’s a cave as well! We didn’t end up doing that, but maybe next time! I loved how it felt more of a nature trail with dry river beds and some shaded parts. We were probably at this trail for about 2 hours.
• Doe Mountain – This is the mountain we hiked at sunrise! Will actually did it on his own the first morning (thanks to jetlag, he was up early) and it was amazing. Truly so peaceful and such a fun hike. It was windier with pretty narrow paths nearing the edge which gave it a bit of a thrill! We started the hike at 6:30 and hiked it in a half-hour to make it to the top by sunrise. SO worth it! We used our phones for light, but only really needed to for the first 15 minutes. Since we did this one quickly, it only took an hour total to hike, but we hung out at the top for a while and it was another top moment of the trip for me.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS 

• Devil’s Bridge – This trail looks AMAZING and definitely thrilling, it was the top of our list, but we heard it had been really crowded, with people waiting in line for photos at the top, so we decided to pass since we didn’t have much time the last day. Definitely go early if you go! Can’t wait to go back and do this one.
• Birthing Cave – Look this up and prepare to be amazed. Looks EPIC.

THINGS TO DO 

• Tilapaque Shopping Center – a really cool craft/art shopping center. We walked around here when we got to Sedona since we had time before checking into our airbnb. Loved seeing the local art work, and it’s a beautiful shopping center so a great place to walk around!
• Taychon Energy Chamber – We had extra time on the last day, so when I learned about this, I knew I had to try it. I just booked the half hour session and it was $70. It’s hard to explain exactly what it is, but I had never felt more calm in my life both during and after. The feeling reminded me of reiki, where you feel pulled to the earth, in complete stillness, while also feeling like you’re floating at the same time. Here’s some info from the website — a Taychon Chamber neutralizes and harmonizes ​the negative effects of harmful electro-magnetic fields (EMF) within and around our bodies. The Tachyon Chamber is a unique place where the energy of Tachyon Particles are concentrated in such a way causing the entire room to emit Tachyon energy at very high levels. Tachyons are faster than light particles that have a profound effect on the human body, energy field, emotions as well as the mental and spiritual makeup of a person. Tachyon works directly with your DNA to repair and upgrade the body’s template. Can’t recommend this experience enough!
• Crystal Magik – a HUGE selection of crystals, Will and I both purchased a couple and definitely recommend for anyone who loves crystals!
• Center for the New Age – Went here as it was recommended for aura photos, but the woman was out, so we walked around. Was a really cool store!
• Aura Photos at Sacred Elements Sedona – Stopped here on the way to the airport because it was high on yelp reviews for Aura photos. Truthfully didn’t LOVE the experience but thought the reading was really interesting. I had never had an aura photo taken where they break down my chakras and how my energy is distributed. It validated a lot for me, which I definitely took away as a learning tool! After being in Sedona’s energy, I thought that an aura photo would be an amazing memento to take home, so I’m glad I did it!

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS 

• Pink Jeep Tour
• L’auberge
• Mi Amo spa

OUTFITS I WORE AND PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE VLOG