Escape the summer heat of the city by driving just a few hours north, where the temperatures are cooler and there’s a wealth of experiences to enjoy. Discover where to stay, dine, imbibe and partake in the best summer activities in Red Rock Country.
Where to Stay
Amara Resort & Spa
Amara Resort & Spa combines Southwest sophistication with contemporary energy, recognized as one of the “Best Hotels” by Condé Nast Traveler and U.S. News & World Report. Located near Uptown Sedona with panoramic red rock views, the resort features guestrooms and suites that blend with the local scenery. Amara offers an open-air courtyard, infinity-edge pool, outdoor fire pits, weekly yoga, stargazing sessions, an award-winning spa and the SaltRock Southwest Kitchen, which emphasizes modern Southwestern cuisine created with fresh and seasonal ingredients. www.amararesort.com
L’Auberge de Sedona
Located under a canopy of sycamore trees along tranquil Oak Creek, L’Auberge de Sedona offers spacious cottages, suites and rooms that accentuate different aspects of the property, including incredible red rock views, the peaceful creek and the onsite nature-inspired spa. With offerings including immersive experiences, focused healing, culinary excellence and more, L’Auberge de Sedona provides everything you need to relax, grow and connect. www.lauberge.com
TinyCamp
TinyCamp in Sedona offers a premium glamping experience with four custom homes in Oak Creek Canyon, featuring elevated decks, private hot tubs and gas fireplaces, all finished with modern Western details. Situated less than 10 minutes from uptown Sedona, it’s an ideal base for hiking, swimming, shopping and exploring the red rocks. www.tinycamp.com
Where to Eat & Drink
Cress on Oak Creek
L’Auberge de Sedona is home to Cress on Oak Creek. The restaurant redefines Arizonan cuisine by infusing French techniques, European influence and local ingredients into each dining experience. Cress offers breakfast, lunch, Sunday brunch, an à la carte dinner and chef’s tasting menus. The restaurant’s menu also features craft cocktails and a wine list. Guests can dine alongside the bank of Oak Creek. www.lauberge.com/dining/cress-on-oak-creek
Dahl & Di Luca
Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano fine-dining establishment that emphasizes high-quality, organic and sustainable ingredients in Sedona. Chef Lisa Dahl creatively reinterprets classics that draw from regional culinary traditions throughout Italy. The restaurant boasts a vast wine collection, earning the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 15 consecutive years. www.dahlanddiluca.com
Oak Creek Brewery
Stop by Oak Creek Brewing Co., Arizona’s second-oldest brewery and Sedona’s only combination production craft brewery and brewpub that has featured finely handcrafted brews for more than 25 years. Oak Creek Brewing Co. has a variety of craft beers on tap that guests can enjoy in a laid-back beer garden atmosphere with a fire pit and live music. www.oakcreekbrew.com
René at Tlaquepaque
Dining at René restaurant is like stepping back in time as you walk through lush landscaping with the sound of bubbling fountains and the peaceful Oak Creek that runs alongside Tlaquepaque. The menu includes many sharing plates from Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Italy and France. The restaurant is the recipient of the 2024 DiRoNA award (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) as well as the 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the restaurant’s wine list. www.renerestaurantsedona.com
Activities
Devil’s Bridge Trail
Don’t let the name fool you: Devil’s Bridge is a moderately difficult hike that is suitable for casual hikers to outdoor enthusiasts. The 1.8-mile roundtrip journey won’t leave you breathless, but the views from the top will. For information on parking and location visit www.coconinonationalforest.us.
Explore the stunning natural beauty and energy of Sedona with a fun jeep tour. Earth Wisdom Jeep Tours typically focus on vortex sites, which are believed to be powerful energy centers that can have a profound impact on those who visit them. The company now offers stargazing, full moon and outer-dimensions tours. These tours take guests into the wild to give them the greatest nighttime experience possible in Sedona. www.sedonajeeptours.com/vortex-tours
Red Rock State Park
Red Rock State Park is a 286-acre nature preserve and environmental education center with stunning scenery. Open year-round, this park features great wildlife viewing, meadows, Oak Creek and more adventures to explore. The park also offers a variety of programs for groups to partake in. At Red Rock State Park, there is a visitors center and store, five miles of trails, amphitheater, daily nature walks and picnic areas. www.azstateparks.com/red-rock
Sedona Hummingbird Festival
The Sedona Hummingbird Festival is the premier hummingbird festival in the world. This three-day event is held annually on the last weekend in July. In addition to presentations and viewing of at least six different hummingbird species, guests can partake in birding tours, hummingbird garden tours, hummingbird banding demonstrations, workshops, sunrise “hummingbird breakfasts” and shopping at the Hummingbird Marketplace. www.hummingbirdsociety.org
This story is from our special edition IN AZ 2024 issue. Read the full issue online here for more inside intel on where to stay, dine and everything in between IN AZ this season and all year round.
