Experiencing Arizona
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“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost”
Scenic view of our drive from Phoenix to Sedona
Man, o man did we get lost in the scenic drive from Phoenix to Sedona, AZ! If you love driving along a mountainside; gazing at God’s beautiful creations, well welcome to Arizona! The view was amazing! Maybe because I have taken up photography as a hobby, so seeing the mountains and canyons touch the sky was something to always remember. Plus, there’s nothing like the open road to help you clear your mind from all the world’s trouble. It was a great opportunity for my husband and me to recharge and reconnect with each other.
The drive took us about three hours and if you’ve read my last post, that doesn’t bother us one bit. Your ears will also get clogged or pop from time to time but that’s because you're driving up a mountain. Once we got to Sedona, we checked into our resort, Bell Rock Inn. It is apart of the timeshare we once owned, (they’re trying to keep us, so we had one last presentation to go sit through).
We stayed in Sedona for three days and used that time wisely to relax and celebrate my 31st birthday!!!! Now, anywhere you stay in Sedona will have a picture-perfect view, so don’t worry if you chose to stay at a motel of some sort. Since we checked in mid-day, we used our first day to unpack and relax. We found a local bar to grab an easy meal and so that my husband could watch the football game lol.
Tip: if you're staying in a room with a kitchen like we did, or if the room has a fridge and microwave. Cut your overall trip cost by going to the local grocery store and pick some food so you don’t have to eat out all the time.
Day 2
We took a short drive uptown for some good eats and shopping. I have come to realize that Sedona is a very artsy town, filled with history, local sculptures and more for sale. Just take state road 179, once you get into town, do your best to find a good parking spot because it gets packed and it stays that way throughout the day.
Once parked, we strolled along with the shopping centers and stumbled upon a wine tasting spot. My husband did your standard flight board and highly recommends the Javelina Leap Merlot wine. After that, we headed next door to get me a treat since wine was out of the question for me. Black Cow café is a small ice cream parlor that carries the best-malted vanilla and prickly pear ice cream ever! And of course, I had to try their famous hot dog in a baguette and potato chips. So, we had full intentions of just walking around and we came across a jeep tour sign for $30!!! You can’t beat that price in a popular place like Sedona. The price got even better for us! It went down to $0 because there was a promotion to go listen to a Sapphire timeshare presentation with no obligation to sign up. Safari Jeep tour has over 10 different canyon tours which include a tour involving a horseback ride. Due to my pregnancy, I opted for the less bumpy and easy for all tour, the Vortex experience.
Once our tour was set up, we headed out to visit a local spot that I have been excited to see for a while now! Crescent Moon Ranch and Swimming hole. First off, the drive to this area is unbelievable, not a plain view in sight! Once there, we paid a small fee of $10 for parking. In the area, you are free to take a hike, set up a picnic to eat on the lawn or enjoy your packed meal while at the swimming hole.
When we got to freshwater swimming, you must walk thought the water to get the exposed rocks before jumping in the water. FYI, we did not part take in that part because it was freezing! We stayed for an hour and a half before heading back down to our resort. I wanted to leave before dark due to the limited streetlights.
Day 3
Today was the day for the sunset jeep tour!!! But first, we must go to the two presentations we signed up for. Ahhhhhh why did we do this again?! Oh wait, I remember! Due to our previously owned timeshare, we only had to pay a $50 resort fee and a $100 refundable deposit and by sitting in the second presentation, the jeep tour was free!
Now that we got those presentations out of the way, we headed uptown for lunch at the Cowboy Club Grill. Wow talk about hearty meals, this steakhouse was highly recommended, and I can taste why! I had a juicy prime ribeye with seasoned vegetables and mash potatoes and hubby had a burger called “Cowboy Up”. Which is an Angus Beef burger, House Onion Strings, Smoked Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Raspberry-plum BBQ Sauce, and Steakhouse Fries. Although everything on the menu did look so good, you can’t go wrong with anything you order.
Now for the main event! The jeep tour!!! The tour guide was very spunky and informative about the area. The jeeps were a little old, but Sedona isn’t a big place, so they are perfect for the small town. On the tour we got to see the outskirts of Sedona; dirt roads, of road camping grounds; which believe it or not a lot of people go out and camp. It’s completely free and no one bothers you. We stopped at what the driver called “Bradshaw Peak” wherein all directions it’s just scenic views. On our way back to town, where we started, we stopped on the side of the road to watch the sunset. You wouldn’t believe how beautiful the sun hits the rocks as it is starting to set. The tour was about 1 ½ hour and it was one of the highlights of our time in Sedona.
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