Sedona was the first trip I took since the pandemic started. It’s been on my list forever and with international travel halted / domestic travel limited, that gave me the perfect opportunity to explore this incredible destination. Seriously, Sedona blew my expectations completely out of the water. I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped multiple times. If you’re looking for an easy weekend trip where you can still socially distance, consider Sedona!
Check out my tips to stay safe traveling this summer here.
Guide to a Weekend in Sedona
Is Sedona safe to travel to as a solo woman traveler?
Sedona is incredibly safe for a solo woman traveler. The locals are extremely nice and helpful and it’s easy to meet people along the hikes. As always, don’t hike by yourself at unsafe hours. Though trails are well marked, there is spotty cell signal and it would not be good to get lost late at night.
Hotels and Airbnbs are both safe options to stay at. New to Airbnb? Get $20 off your first stay.
Know Before You Go
You have two options for airports to fly into: Flagstaff Airport (only 40 minutes away) and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (a little under two hours). Both are good choices and the Phoenix to Sedona drive is really beautiful.
I highly recommend renting a car. It’ll be easier to get to the hiking trails and restaurants and to/from the airport.
Be sure to pack sunscreen. The sun is super intense and even though I reapplied multiple times I definitely got an intense tan (not that I’m complaining).
Don’t forget your hiking boots. You’ll need them for this trip.
Take This Guide on the Go
Where to stay in Sedona
For this short weekend it makes sense to stay in the heart of Sedona so that it’s easy to get to all the hikes and restaurants. There are plenty of good hotel options. We stayed at the Arabella and it was the perfect location with easy access to everything.
Things to do in Sedona
Friday
Morning
Fly in by mid morning/early afternoon and grab your car rental.
Afternoon
Your first stop is the Alcantara Vineyard. You’re on vacation after all. Might as well start it off with a little wine tasting. This gorgeous vineyard is the perfect place to sit and stay awhile. You can grab a cheese plate and taste some of their incredible wine or grab a glass and explore the vineyard. As a bonus, they also are located next to the river so you can do a kayaking tour or just enjoy the water.
Evening
After you thoroughly enjoy the vineyard, it’s time to check into your hotel/Airbnb and get ready for dinner.
Head to Sound Bites Grill for a delicious dinner and an incredible view aka a great place to watch the sunset. I highly recommend the Pineapple Cachaça Martini which I was incredibly obsessed with and the burger which my friend could not stop raving about.
Before you go to bed, get your hiking gear and day pack ready because you have an early wake up call. You will be doing some of the best Sedona hikes this weekend! If you’re staying at a hotel, talk to the front desk and see if they can have your breakfast and coffee ready early.
Saturday
Morning
Rise and shine. If you aren’t a morning person, don’t worry this hike is worth it. The goal is to be at the trailhead at 5:30 to beat the crowds… and the heat. You’re headed to the Devils Bridge Trail today.
Drive to the Mescal Trailhead and park in the dirt parking lot. The entrance to the trail is on the same side of the street as the parking lot. We may or may not have made the mistake of crossing the road and entering the trail from the wrong side and hiking 30 mins in the wrong direction. Oops.
The Mescal Trail ends after just a short while and then you will continue on to the Chuckwagon Trail. Just keep following the signs for Devil’s Bridge. The trail up to this point is fairly easy but this next part is a bit steep making this overall hike moderate in difficulty. Trust me, it’s worth being a little out of breath for.
Once you’re at the top, take your time enjoying the view and of course, get the iconic photo on the bridge.
You’ll hike back down the exact way you came and head back to the Mescal Trail parking lot. If you still have some energy, cross to the other side and hike along the trail a bit more (the part that we accidentally did) because it is pretty beautiful.
Your next stop is a post hike coffee and a cheesecake bar because let’s be real, you deserve both (you can always sub the coffee for beer). Head to Creekside Coffee for some delicious iced coffee and one of their pastries. I had the iced rose latte and a lemon cheesecake bar. Heaven.
Afternoon
The nice thing about hiking that early is that you have the rest of the afternoon to just relax. We opted for a quick nap and then headed to Tamaliza for a casual lunch. This spot is family owned and has some really incredible, fast Mexican food.
After lunch, spend the rest of the day with a white wine spritzer (or two…or three…) in the pool. You earned it!
Evening
Get ready for dinner, because tonight’s spot is The Hudson – another restaurant with an incredible view and a perfect place to watch the sunset in Sedona. I highly recommend the four cheese spinach & roasted artichoke dip to start, the butternut squash ravioli, and the chocolate peanut butter pie to top it off.
You have another early start tomorrow so head to bed post dinner.
Sunday
Morning
Grab your morning coffee and it’s time to head to the Cathedral Rock trailhead. Again, aim to be there around 5:30. You’ll have to get a parking pass ($5) to park in the lot but it’s super easy. Just insert your credit card in the parking machine and place the receipt on your dashboard.
Unlike yesterday’s hike, this one is a lot shorter but much steeper. This hike is definitely harder than the day before but the views at the top are absolutely breathtaking. If you’re afraid of heights this may be tricky. You aren’t in any real danger of falling on the trail but it can feel a little scary at times. I’m absolutely petrified of heights and I made it through this hike with the encouragement of other hikers along the way who were super patient with me. Aka, you can do this.
Once you get to the top, just take a few minutes. Cathedral Rock has a certain energy about it and it’s incredibly calming to just take it all in. Plus, you’ll need a moment to take a break anyways.
After you’re done, be sure to walk around. There’s another spot around the corner that you can hike up to (don’t worry it’s very very short) and you’ll have another stunning vista.
The hike on the way down is much much easier and goes a lot quicker but don’t be afraid to take your time if you’re a little worn out.
Next up, head back to Creekside Coffee (it’ll be around 9 am) for another iced coffee and pastry. Hey, everyone needs a post hike ritual. The second time I opted for a lavender vanilla iced coffee…plus that lemon cheesecake bar again.
Take a moment post coffee and take a nap. Remember, you woke up before the sun rose and you’re on vacation.
Afternoon
After your nap, it’s lunch time. Head to the Hideaway House for another great lunch…with a view (do we see a theme here?) I recommend the Strawberry Basil Crostini and one of their soups which are served with a mini grilled cheese.
Walk off your lunch at the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village which is just down the street from the Hideaway House. While a majority of the shops were closed due to COVID-19, this was still a really cute area to walk around.
Evening
If you flew into PHX, it’s time to drive back to Phoenix. Be warned, you may sit in some traffic on the way back as many Phoenix residents like to go to Sedona on the weekend.
If you’re up for it, eat dinner at one of the many restaurants in Phoenix or grab something quick to take back to your Airbnb/hotel because you mayyy be beat after the weekend.
Monday
Take a morning flight out and head home after an absolutely epic vacation.
Bottom Line
Sedona is such a gem and it is completely doable in just a weekend. Follow this weekend guide for the perfect balance of an active and leisure holiday.
Like this post on how to have the perfect weekend in Sedona? Then you’ll love these:
How to Travel Safely this Summer
How to Manage Stress While Working from Home
5 Ways to Channel Your Wanderlust During COVID-19
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