Things To Do
Musical Instrument Museum
We went to the MIM on our first date and continue to love seeing shows here! A must for all music enthusiats.
Camelback Mountain (Echo Canyon Trail)
One of the most famous and challenging hikes (Emily insists it's a 'climb') in the valley. It can be strenuous, but once you've made it to the top you'll be rewarded with some spectacular views of the city. Be sure to bring plenty of water!
Wren House Brewery
One of Emily and Kyle's favorite breweries in the valley! Be sure to check out their 'Spellbinder Hazy IPA'.
Rusty Spur Saloon
The original Scottsdale Honky Tonk! This famous dive-bar has live music daily and PG-13 bar stools.
Goldwater Brewery
Another one of Kyle and Emily's favorite breweries! Be sure to check out their Desert Rose Ale (brewed with real Prickly Pear cactus) and Hop Chowda Hazy IPA!
Tee Pee Mexican Food
A Watson family tradition, this Mexican restaurant has been in business for over 60 years! It has served presidents, movie stars, and legendary musicians whose photographs are displayed proudly in its lobby. Robin and Mark Watson had their pre-rehearsal dinner at the TeePee, and Mark always makes sure to go back (usually more than once) whenever he visits Phoenix.
Pizzeria Bianco
Pizzeria Bianca has been ranked in the country’s Top 10 pizza restaurants several times. The founder has retired from making pies, but now speaks at conferences all over the world as a “pizza expert”. The place is small and they don’t take reservations, so make sure you have ample time if you’re planning on eating here!
Chapel of the Holy Cross
This Roman Catholic chapel built into the side of the Sedona Red Rocks is a must visit for anyone visiting Sedona! You have the option of either driving (parking can be tight) or hiking up on the Chapel of the Holy Cross trail.
Pink Jeep Tour
One of the most popular activities in Sedona! Embrace being a tourist and jump on a Pink Jeep for some pretty exciting offroading around Sedona!
Devil's Bridge Hike
This moderate trail is one of the more thrilling hikes in Sedona which takes you up to "Devil's Bridge". Once you've made it, you'll be able to walk across without anything to stop you from falling off hundreds of feet into the rocks below... PRO TIP: If you rent a a Jeep/4WD vehicle you will be able to cut 1.5 mi off your hike by driving to the closer trailhead only accessible by high clearance and 4WD vehicles.
Cathedral Rock Hike
This strenuous hike is a must-do in Sedona! The hike is difficult, but the views at the top are worth it. This is where we took our engagement photos!
Soldier's Pass Hike/Mountain Bike
Those looking for a more moderate hike with amazing views of Sedona should consider Soldier's Pass. This is also a trail that can be tackled by a mountain bike (there are several places to rent from in Sedona).
West Fork Trail Hike
This easy hike is great for those who want to experience the 'greener' side of Sedona. This trail primarily runs along a creek and offers lots of places to get in the water if desired! PRO TIP: Wear Chacos on this hike!
4WD on Schnebly Hill Rd
This is *the* road for 4WD in Sedona. If you rent a high clerance 4WD vehicle, you should do your best to squeeze this into your trip. PRO TIP: If you don't rent a 4WD car from the airport, there are lots of places in Sedona that will rent you street legal ATV vehicles (pictured).
Slide Rock State Park
This place sound familiar? It's where we were originally going to have our wedding ceremony and reception... BUT, it's still a great place to come another day to experience the natural water slide that is Slide Rock. Emily and Kyle came here on Emily's first trip to Arizona and loved it! PRO TIP: Try to find parking along Hwy 89A instead of paying the $20 parking fee for the state park.
Sedona Beer Company
This relatively new brewery is located just a half mile from uptown Sedona. Family owned and operated, we love to come here every time we visit Sedona!
Cucina Rustica
Located just south of Sedona in the Village of Oak Creek, this elegant Italian restaraunt is one of our favorites to eat at when we're in Sedona! PRO TIP: If it's not too hot, sit out on their patio as they have live entertainment most nights.
Hideaway House
This quirky treehouse Italian restaurant is just a few blocks from the Arabella and a wonderful place to eat. Not only does it offer great food and views of the Red Rocks, it also offers excellent service and most servers have... exuberant (?) personalities.
Lowell Observatory
Astronomy buffs should consider checking out the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff (only 45 min from Sedona). Flagstaff's high elevation (over 7,000 ft) allows for the telescopes at Lowell to capture some pretty incredible views of space.
Mother Road Brewery
Flagstaff is a craft beer mecca, so there are no shortages of breweries to chose from. However, there is something about Mother Road's beer that puts it above every other craft brewery in the area. Let's just say their Tower Station IPA is so good it made a cross country trip to AppState's homecoming! PRO TIP: Order a Tower Station IPA and pizza from Pizzicletta which shares a door with the brewery.
Humphrey's Peak
The highest point in Arizona situated at 12,633 ft.! Humphrey's Peak is either a strenuous all-day hike to the top, or a short drive to the scenic lookout point near the top (we recommend the latter!).
Grand Canyon South Rim
Drive 2 hours north from Sedona and take in the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon! There is so much to do at the Grand Canyon we cant list everything, but if you only have one day we recommend driving the south rim on Desert View Dr. (there are several scenic view pull outs) and having lunch at the Grand Canyon Lodge. PRO TIP: Reservations at the Grand Canyon lodge sell out several months, if not years, in advance. If you're considering staying at the lodge inside the park, we recommend making accommodations as soon as possible.
Grand Canyon Railroad
The most unique and fun way to get to the Grand Canyon! This remolded train takes visitors from Williams AZ (just over an hour from Sedona) up to the South Rim of the National Park. We recently took the train and highly recommenced it as an alternative way to explore the Grand Canyon! PRO TIP: Upgrading your train car to one with outside access is a must. They also offer 15% discounts for AAA members.
Antelope Canyon
The world-famous Antelope Canyon is the place you've seen plastered all over Instagram (we're guilty of this, too). Located just under 3 hours north of Sedona in Page, AZ these canyons are a must visit attraction for visitors to the area. PRO TIP: You must now take a native Navajo Indian guide to visit the canyons. You can find a Navajo guide company on Google (there are several) but they tend to all sell out on weekends. We used 'Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tours LLC' and had a wonderful experience. Keep in mind they are *strict* on check-in time.
Horseshoe Bend
Located 2 1/2 hours north of Sedona, Horseshoe bend is a spectacular overlook down onto the Colorado River. Tourists have been known to take selfies too close to the edge which has resulted in their ultimate demise, so please be careful.
RD's Drive-In
This old school burger joint serves the best old-fashioned burgers in town.
Big John's BBQ
This converted gas station and long time eatery in Page is the most popular spot in town because of its delicious meats and fun outdoor patio. They have a live country band outside on their patio almost every night!
Lake Powell
Lake Powell makes up the border between Arizona and Utah, and is a incredibly beautiful and popular lake encompassed almost entirely by undeveloped desert land. Rent a kayak, go for a boat ride, or find a swimming hole for a fun day on the lake!