Sedona: A Journey Through Red Rocks and Relaxation

Travel Day: Getting There

Our trip started on August 29, 2024, with a drive to Dallas, stopping at Buc-ee's along the way. It was my first time going to Buc-ee's, and it was exciting to see the size and scale of it. After that, we enjoyed some amazing barbecue at Terry Black's—a must-go if you are ever in Dallas—before catching our American Airlines flight out of DFW.

Unfortunately, our flight was delayed, and then we had a touch-and-go landing where the pilot attempted to land, hit the wheels on the tarmac, and then took off again. It was very intense to experience. The touch-and-go delayed us by about 30-45 more minutes, which meant we had to split up to get our rental car from Enterprise. Enterprise was located off-site of the airport, so I waited for the bags while Julia went to take care of the car. She got there just before they closed and was able to get the car and come back to pick me up from the airport in our bright red Kia Soul that would be our Red Rocket for the remainder of the trip.

On the way from Pheonix to Sedona, we ate at a Mexican restaurant called Plaza Bonita in Cottonwood—nothing too special. I broke my carnivore diet with a salad, which I had been following strictly for two months at that point. It would be such a headache to eat carnivore only during the trip.

We stayed at the Wyndham Resort in Sedona. The room was very spacious and had the basic amenities, including a full kitchen and washer/dryer. We didn't spend much time in the room except to sleep, but overall, we had a good experience staying there. We arrived at the resort late at night, so it was pretty great experience to be greeted by the views of the surrounding mountains when we woke up.

Day 1: Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon

The first full day of our trip started with a drive to Antelope Canyon, where our guide, Yellowman, did an amazing job showing us around. He was incredibly knowledgeable and helped everyone line up their photos, pointing out the best spots for the perfect shots. We almost didn’t make it on time, though, because our stop at Chick-fil-A off Route 66 in Flagstaff took much longer than expected. It was honestly the worst Chick-fil-A experience I’ve ever had—over 30 minutes waiting for breakfast in a nearly empty lobby. Definitely not recommended.

As we traveled from Sedona to Antelope Canyon, we passed through a few Indian reservations. Interestingly, Arizona doesn’t observe Daylight Savings Time, but the reservations do, so the time kept changing by an hour as we drove. It added a bit of uncertainty about whether we’d make our scheduled tour on time. We booked through Dixie's Lower Antelope Canyon Tours, and after a three-hour drive, we made it just in time for our 9:30 AM tour.

The Antelope Canyon offers some of the most stunning colors and views I’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely a must-see if you’re in the area. From the surface, it looks like nothing special, but once you descend into the canyon, the sunlight hits the walls and illuminates them in a unique way. Looking up, the bright blue sky contrasts beautifully with the canyon's warm hues, making the entire experience truly unforgettable.

Later in the day, we headed to the Grand Canyon. I bought an annual National Park Pass for $80, which came in handy when we went kayaking later in the trip. Our first stop was at the Desert View Watchtower on the way into the park. The Grand Canyon was a sight to see, and it was tough to really get my head wrapped around the vastness of it all.

After the lookout, we drove over to the Yavapai Tavern for lunch. The weather was beautiful, and the food was surprisingly good. We stopped at several viewpoints along the way before heading back to the resort. The day ended perfectly as we walked to dinner at Pisa Lisa in Sedona, which was a great way to wrap up an unforgettable day.

Day 2: Devil's Bridge and Doe Mountain

We started the morning with a hike to Devil's Bridge. Parking was limited, so we had to park further away and start from a different trailhead than planned. The hike included an ATV path at the beginning and a steep climb at the end that involved a manageable scramble. There were a ton of people at the top waiting to take a picture on the bridge. We were told the wait was over an hour, and we weren't interested in waiting. As we made our way back to the parking lot, we saw an older couple at the base handing out water and scolding those that didn't carry enough. If you are planning on going on this hike, I'd suggest getting there as the sun comes up to avoid crowds at the top.

Afterward, we had brunch at 101 Omelets, which had about a 25-minute wait to be seated. The menu had, you guessed it, 101 Omelets listed. The one I got was pretty tasty, and all-in-all was a pretty good breakfast spot. After breakfast, we returned to the hotel to plan our next outing and take a quick break. We then set out for Doe Mountain Trail.

Doe Mountain Trail was about a 15 minute drive from the resort. There weren't many people on the trail. I think we saw 2 groups the entire time. It was a great climb, and we had the top all to ourselves, giving us time to take in the view and snap some photos. We sat alongside the cliff for a about 30 minutes overlooking Sedona in the distance before making our decent back to the car.

From there, we went to hike the Seven Sacred Pools, though it ended up being the least impressive hike. The parking lot at Soldier Pass was closed, so we had to take the shuttle there. We were nearing the end of the day, so we did a speed-run on this one to make sure we didn't miss the last shuttle back to our car. The pools were just small puddles, and it was honestly underwhelming. I wouldn't recommend this hike as there are plenty of better alternatives out there.

In the afternoon, we visited Winery 1912 for a charcuterie board and a tasting (I didn’t drink, but Julia does). The vibe wasn’t really for us so we didn't stay very long. After returning to the hotel to freshen up, we went to 89Agave for dinner.

At 89Agave, the hostess was either overwhelmed, or they just didn't want to seat us. There were a ton of open tables inside and out that we could see with customers finishing their meal and leaving, but we had to wait about 45 minutes to be seated. As for the dining experience, the tableside guacamole was probably the worst I've had, and the food wasn't anything special. The only thing that place really has going for it is their location. But all in all, we had a good time, and it was a great end to a long day of hiking.

Day 3: Running, Exploring, and Wineries

On day three, I went for a morning trail run, starting from the trailhead for Devil's Bridge and covering 5.5 miles. My route led me to Van Deren Cabin, an old, weathered structure tucked away in the woods. It was pretty cool to explore the cabin alone, feeling like I was in the middle of nowhere. That is, until I ventured behind the cabin and glanced over the fence—only to find a golf course right next to it. Talk about an immersion breaker! Still, I have to admit, the contrast between the red rocks and the lush green grass of the golf course was a sight to see.

While I ran, Julia slept in and grabbed some coffee and donuts from Sedonuts. She said they were amazing, and we went back the next day for more of the same. After I showered, we had breakfast at the Pump House Station—a great omelet and salad in a lovely atmosphere on the patio. This was my favorite breakfast spot. The food was great, and I liked the area it was in. We went to a little shop next door called BowWow Pet Boutique to pick up the dogs some toys while we waited to be seated.

We tried a hike in the middle of nowhere called Robbers Roost Trail. It was a slow, long drive on some gravel roads that were almost too much for the Red Rocket to manage. We got out there, and didn’t end up hiking because it was a pretty hot day, and there wasn't any cover from the brutal sun along the trail. But we got some exercise nonetheless. On the way back, we visited Oak Creek Winery, which had a nice charcuterie board.

For dinner, we went to Mariposa. Julia made reservations for us here before we even bought our plane tickets. Mariposa is known for its spectacular views of the mountains. Unfortunately, it was dark and we sat on the inside, but the atmosphere was great. The food was pretty good. I had steak and ratatouille, and we shared octopus appetizers.

Day 4: Kayaking Horseshoe Bend

On our final day, we drove to Flagstaff and grabbed a salad from Eat n’ Run Cafe before heading to Kayak Horseshoe Bend. We started at Lees Ferry Boat Launch and were towed upriver by boat all the way to Glen Canyon Dam. We were able to see the dam from the river, which was a pretty cool experience. We were then dropped off and kayaked 10 miles back from Horseshoe Bend. This was such a fun experience. We rented a tandem kayak, and the trip back only took 3.5 hours. We did kind of power paddle back at times, but we enjoyed ourselves along the way eating snacks and staying hydrated. The river water was almost as cold as my cold plunge, so we didn't try to swim, but we did get to see some Bighorn Sheep grazing along the shore as we floated by. We were a little concerned that 10-miles would be too much for us, but it turned out to be a perfect distance.

After kayaking, we had dinner at Creekside Grill in Sedona before heading back to the hotel to clean out the Red Rocket and pack for our trip home.

Travel Day: Heading Home

We left at 5:30 AM for the airport, only to find our flight was delayed. We grabbed breakfast at Hash Kitchen in Pheonix before dropping off the car and taking an Uber to the airport. Once we arrived back at DFW, we had lunch at Habanero's in Dallas and then drove back to Louisiana. We didn't quite make it back in time to do our first ever NFL Fantasy Football draft, so we ended up trying to figure it out from the truck on the drive back, which was an experience. After picking up the dogs, we finally got home, unpacked, and called it a night.

Reflections

Sedona was everything I hoped for and more. It’s not just the beauty of the place—although the red rocks and vibrant sunsets are certainly a major draw. It’s the sense of calm and connection that makes it truly special. Whether it was hiking to new heights, kayaking on the river, enjoying decent food, or simply sitting in awe under a sky full of stars, every moment in Sedona felt like a chance to reset.

If you’re considering a trip to Sedona, my biggest piece of advice would be to let go of any strict schedule. Leave room for spontaneous moments—whether that means road trip through the dessert or an impromptu meditation on a rocky ledge. Sedona will give you what you need, even if you don’t know what that is yet.

If you enjoyed this post and are looking to explore trails yourself, I highly recommend downloading the AllTrails app through my referral link. Not only will it give you access to detailed trail maps and user reviews to enhance your hiking or running adventures, but for every download through the link, two trees will be planted as part of a reforestation initiative. It's a small but impactful way to contribute to nature while enhancing your outdoor experience. Let’s make a difference, one trail at a time!