Last month my hubby Mike and I spent a lovely five days together in Sedona relaxing and soaking up the red rocks. He had a planned business trip to Scottsdale so after learning we’re expecting, we extended the trip and had ourselves a little Sedona babymoon. I love hiking so I was thrilled to get on some of the trails, particularly in the red-rock oasis that is Sedona. Hubby is more of a “let’s relax on vacation” kinda guy but we struck the perfect balance. It was a truly incredible trip.

Scottsdale

I gallivanted around Scottsdale for a few days while Mike attended his business conference before we headed to Sedona together. I’ll briefly touch on Scottsdale since it proved to have a lot to see.

Where We Stayed:

We stayed at the Hyatt at Gainey Ranch out of convenience because that was the location of the conference. No complaints about the hotel. The downstairs bistro was good, the gym was well-appointed (including a Peloton, yay!), the location was convenient. We had a rental car so during the day I got out to see what Scottsdale was all about.

What I did:

Pinnacle Peak hike – An easy 3.8-mile out & back hike. I did this hike with a friend and it was a nice leisurely hike with decent views. (I use alltrails.com website and app to research and plan hikes.) The trail was a bit crowded but it was still a nice trail to get my feet wet in Scottsdale.

Tom’s Thumb hike – A difficult 4-mile out & back hike. I did this hike the following day and I’m not gonna lie, it was a little tough. The baby and growing bump tire me out a bit more these days so I stopped to rest and hydrate often. However, the hike was gorgeous and worth it. The switchback trail winds into the mountains with several scenic lookouts along the way and eventually leads to a 140-lb granite rock known as Tom’s Thumb.

Old Town Scottsdale – Super cute village with a western vibe great for dining, shopping and nightlife. We spent one evening at the Rusty Spur Saloon enjoying some live music.

Where we ate:

The Mission – Fantastic Mexican restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale with amazing tacos. The tacos are mini (read: adorable!) but don’t be fooled – they’re filling and delish.

AZ88 – Modern and trendy restaurant in Old Town with a nice patio. We had lunch at the bar and I have no complaints.

Hash Kitchen – Super cool spot for breakfast or brunch. An amazing menu full of comfort foods and a unique spin on breakfast including a cinnamon roll served in a cast-iron skillet, fun cocktail options like a cereal flavored shooter flight and the largest bloody mary bar in Arizona, apparently. Definitely recommend.

Our Sedona Babymoon

Finally, hubby was done with his business obligations so we hopped in the car and took the 2 hour trip to Sedona enjoying gorgeous sprawling views of desert along the way.

Where We Stayed:

We stayed at the L’Auberge de Sedona. The hotel was so lovely and perfect for our Sedona babymoon. It’s right in town and we opted for a private creekside cottage. The hotel doesn’t skimp on perks and activities. There’s an evening cocktail hour with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, evening smores, stargazing with an astronomer, and morning yoga just to name a few. Our villa was nicely appointed and had heated bathroom floors (which we’re now convinced we need when we do our master bath remodel), a jacuzzi tub, a fireplace an outdoor shower (a bit too chilly for us to take advantage of, but a fun option). The hotel offered a driver that would take you anywhere within a couple of mile radius, which made dining outside of the hotel in the evenings super convenient. They have a no-tipping policy to keep things super chill. We visited the spa on a few occasions and while it wasn’t overwhelmingly impressive, it was sufficient. We woke up to the sound of the creek flowing and the very spoiled resident ducks quacking, enjoyed evenings by the fire, walks along the creek, room service and breakfast in bed. The staff was incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

What We Did:

Devil’s Bridge Trail (via Chuck Wagon Trail) – Moderate 4.2-mile out & back trail to the largest natural sandstone arch in the area. There were steep moments but nothing too crazy. We didn’t walk on the actual bridge due to ice but the views along the hike were gorgeous! I recommend taking Chuck Wagon Trail to Devil’s Bridge Trail as opposed to the 4×4 trail that is laden with vehicular traffic.

Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point – A 4.3 moderate out & back trail to a lookout point called Chickens Point. You can also do the trail to Chapel of the Holy Cross but we skipped it after seeing the cross in the distance. The trail is rated as moderate but was pretty easy. We hung out at the lookout point for a bit enjoying some snacks.

*For hiking gear or advice, definitely visit the Hike House and talk to the owner Greg. He and his wife were super helpful in planning our hikes and we purchased a few essentials from their shop as well.

Spa Treatments – What is a Sedona babymoon without some time in the spa? Sedona is known for its spas and unique treatments. We spent a lot of time in the spa enjoying a couple’s massage, body scrubs and my first cranial sacral treatment which was interesting.

Fly Fishing – Mike has always wanted to go fly fishing so I thought this was a great opportunity. I actually really enjoyed it as well. We didn’t catch any fish but learning the techniques and being in the river was super cool. It’s very relaxing. We used Sedona Fly Fishing and our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable.

Tlaquepaque Village – A super cute arts and shopping village whose namesake translates to “the best of everything.” We spent the afternoon strolling around, admiring the architecture and shopping for local pottery and gifts. Be sure to stop in for a chai tea at the Chai Spot.

Where We Ate:

Hideaway House – Casual, fun restaurant with great pizza and mussels. We went back twice. Friendly service and good quality food.

Elote – AH-mazing Mexican food. Get the signature “elote” corn appetizer and thank me later. They do not accept reservations but it’s worth the wait. Mike kept saying he wanted to go back!

Indian Garden’s Cafe – A little outside of town but easy if you have a car. Cute spot for lunch. You order at the walk-up counter and sit outback on their cute patio. A guide told us they have the best Reuben sandwiches so that’s what we went for. It didn’t disappoint.

Cress – Cress is the creekside restaurant at the L’Auberge. It’s upscale but worth the splurge.

Cowboy Club – A Western-themed restaurant complete with waiters in cowboy hats. The cornbread was fantastic but the ribs were not amazing. I’d probably pick somewhere else over this restaurant…but I’m biased since those ribs gave me nearly 2 hours of the worst pregnancy heartburn I’ve had to date.

Red Rock Cafe – Good for a casual breakfast. It’s a bit outside of Sedona proper but worked perfectly in conjunction with the Little Horse Trail hike.

The Hudson – We enjoyed a casual, light lunch on the patio with a view of the red rocks. The interior of the restaurant looked so nice and I wish we would have done dinner here.

Rene’s – This restaurant and wine bar is located in Tlaquepaque Village and was perfect the perfect spot for us to have a bite while exploring the village and shopping. Very reasonable prices and good food. Service was a bit slow but we weren’t in a hurry.

For Next Time:

What to do:

There is SO. MUCH. we didn’t do that I had on my list. I thought I’d include those if only to help me remember for when we go back 😉

• Explore Gerome – An old copper town that is allegedly haunted. Have lunch at the Asylum hotel and stop in Cottonwood for shopping on the way.
• Wineries – I obviously couldn’t partake in any wine tasting but Sedona has quite a few wineries. We’d love to explore this a little more next time.
• Soldiers Pass hike
• Fay Canyon hike
• Red Rock Crossing hike

Where to eat:

• Dahl & Di Luca
• Creekside Cafe
• Sedonuts
• Wildflower Bread Co
• Mariposa – So many recommendations by locals for this Latin restaurant. We tried to get a reservation but didn’t have any luck.

There ya have it, our Sedona babymoon recap! It was an amazing and relaxing vacation and I think we’ll definitely go back to visit someday. The red rocks are so gorgeous and Sedona has such a laid back, relaxed vibe. It was perfect for our babymoon or anyone needing to recharge.

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