Sedona, AZ
I ushered in the month of May with a “girlfriends’ getaway” in Sedona, Arizona with my BFFs Hope and Karen. We have been great friends ever since we met as freshmen in college. They came from South Carolina and Massachusetts; I had the shortest trip, traveling from Albuquerque.
It was the first visit to Sedona for all of us, and we were blown away by the majestic red rock buttes and towers looming in every direction. We stayed in a luxury villa with stunning views of Steamboat Rock and Wilson Mountain. It was wonderful to relax on the outdoor decks in the mornings and evenings, talking and goggling at the view. The villa was in a dark sky community, so the nighttime stargazing was spectacular, too. I can’t think of a more perfect setting to catch up with one’s best girlfriends.
We took a short drive to see the famous Chapel of the Holy Cross. Made from concrete and glass, the chapel seems to grow out of the red rock. The chapel site is said to be a vortex; it certainly felt spiritual in its beauty. After viewing the chapel, we hiked a good portion of the Huckaby Trail. At the trailhead, we had sweeping views of Mogollon Rim and Snoopy, Steamboat and Chimney Rocks. There was a group of artists with easels, painting en plein air. It was a beautiful day and a magnificent place for a hike.
After our hike, we stopped at Tlaquepaque (T-la-keh-pah-keh) Village for a bit of shopping and lunch. There were giant foxgloves and other gorgeous flowers everywhere, and it seemed to be snowing because of the towering cottonwood trees. After relaxing at the villa for a while, we dined at Mariposa, a “Latin inspired grill” which also happened to be in a spectacular location. After an outstanding meal, we were honored when Chef Lisa Dahl stopped by to talk with us.
The following day we drove west of Sedona to Clarkdale for a scenic ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad. To read more about that wonderful adventure, click HERE.
On the drive back to Phoenix airport (where we would catch our flights home), we took a small detour through the Sonoran Desert for a closer look at the giant saguaro cacti. Since saguaros grow slowly, and it takes 50 years or more to grow the first arm, this 20-footer must have been well over 100 years old!
Did you know that it’s illegal to shoot saguaros? There’s a story about a fellow who tried this, immortalized in song by the Austin Lounge Lizards (who happen to be Princeton alumni 😆). But I digress.
Although I always have a great time with Hope and Karen wherever we go, it was especially fun and memorable to discover Sedona together. It will be hard to top this girlfriends’ getaway!
