Our voyage of discovery began with a question. Where to go to relax in nature, yet be able to be pampered both physically and spiritually?

Descending into Sedona, you feel a sense of timelessness. Every curve of the road brings new vistas, that are in a word, awe-inspiring. Every direction brings incredible rock formations, jutting out of the desert, and captivating your gaze.

We stayed at El Portal: a hacienda that the New York Times calls “The place to stay in Sedona—‘godsend’.” The inn was designed with a traditional south-west flair containing both regional antiquities, as well as works by local artists and craftspeople. The rooms were cozy and private, each with a large soaking tub.

Although we didn’t travel with our pets this trip, we really appreciated that El Portal lovingly accepts pets. It certainly added to the ambiance of the inn for two
dog-lovers like us.

It seemed a pity that we didn’t have more time to enjoy the beautiful tranquility of the Inn, because we had so much we wanted to fit into each day.

We began our outdoor adventure with our guide Jim, from sedonahikingadventures.com. After hopping into his jeep with his fabulous dog, Summit, (by our request of course) we were taken to several of the world-famous vortexes, as well getting the best views of many of the rock formations. He completed the day with a guided hike to the saddle of chapel rock, (a climb easy enough for Summit, yet that left you breathless between the climbing and the views).

Jim was also indispensable in arranging trips with other guides, as well as giving great tips on where to go, and what to avoid. He arranged a great in-room couples massage from Heartofhealingsedona.com, to rub out the kinks from our hiking experience. If you make this excursion, you simply have to hunt down husband and wife team Candace & Marc Beringer because it was one of the best massages I have ever received.

We began our second day, pleasantly tired from the hike with a car tour of the area, driving the “loop”. We visited the ruins of Tuzigoot, and Montezuma’s castle, ancient cliff dwellings that impart a sense of wonder. During the heat of the dessert day, a trip to red rocks park, and a slide down the natural waterslide of the spring-fed creek are in order.

We were advised that the red rock slide was too touristy, but couldn’t resist the idea of a fun natural slide. And I’m so glad that we decided to go for it because the slide was a thrill to go down, and the sun-drenched rocks felt oh so good on your skin after being in the icy water.

Another great afternoon trip was the out of Africa wildlife park, Where you can watch Tigers at play (and feed them), kiss a giraffe, and admire many other animals roaming in large habitats.

We capped off the trip with a hot air balloon ride over sedona and parts of the verde valley. The views were spectacular, and tied all of the valley together as seen from above.

Where to eat…
L’Auberge topped the list with an amazing european flair, eating creekside, dining on unmatched food and wine.

For a more local feel, The Cowboy Cafe offered great steaks, as well as an appetizer of rattlesnake and alligator on a stick. Although a bit touristy, still worth having a meal there because of the interesting, local menu options.

For a great Retro feel The Red Planet diner, offered a 50’s atmosphere with an extraterrestrial attitude that we loved.

Shopping…
Sedona is rich in art and jewelry galleries. A walk down main street brings everything from local native crafts to amazing art and sculpture. Be prepared to wear comfortable shoes, you can spend quite a while window shopping.

By the time we were watching the magnificent rock formations in our rearview mirror as we left Sedona, we were still in awe of the beauty of the red rocks. We had met our journeys goal of relaxing in nature, with both physical & spiritual pampering, yet we knew it would not be long before our next return.

For more information on
El Portal Hacienda, visit www.elportalsedona.com or call them at 800•313•0017. Our highly-recommended personal hiking guide
Jim Reich is the Lead Guide/Owner of Sedona Hiking Adventures and
can be reached at
928-204-1473 or online at sedonahikingadventures.com.