Engagement Proposal - Sedona
 

Hello all! I would appreciate any comments, advice, or opinions that anyone can give.

My long-time girlfriend and I are going on vacation to Phoenix/Sedona/Vegas for a week. During the time in Sedona I am planning to ask "the question" to her. I have been doing a lot of researching on the web for the best place/view to do this and have come up with a couple of options. #1 The airport vista view at sunset. #2 Sunset view on Schnelby Hill. #3 Sunset dinner at the restaurant at Enchantment Resort. So far I am thinking that the airport vista would be the place, but I have heard many great things about the views at the Enchantment.

This is the best place I have found in regards for actual "talk" regarding traveling and thought I would give it a shot here. Give any ideas that come to mind! Thanks!

P.S. Yes, I am going to be nervous. :)

Chris

Best wishes and good luck!

(I can't make a recommendation, haven't been since I was very young).

how about sunset at the non demominational chapel....forget the name, famous architect.One sunset years ago really glowed - really. Not overly religous, however it adds a sense of sprituality to the commitment of two. Then dinner at Enchantment, the other french place to stay or Rene's if it's still there.
Or you could do the sunrise horsebackride with breakfast at a river and ask her there.....hell, if you know her answer, hire a private guide...best wishes

Wow, what a great romantic way to propose. Are you proposing soon after you get to Sedona or later in the stay in Sedona? If later, and you will have seen alot of the red rocks already and done some hiking, I can suggest something a bit different. There is a good restaurant at the Junipine resort, 10 min. up the road from Sedona proper in Oak Creek Canyon (it is sometimes not open all winter every day, but is open all spring and summer). It is on Oak Creek, and you can go out in back of the place after dinner and right there is the creek. Depending on time of year, you can put your feet in and walk on the rocks if it is light enough. Nice place to pop the question I would think- there isn't much water in Sedona but there sure is alot in Oak Creek. Also, there is a GREAT overlook further up the canyon road on the right (another 15 min.) that looks over an incredible vista down into Oak Creek- it is high elevation there and just beautiful (you can tell I like Oak Creek as well as Sedona).
But if you want to stay in the Red Rocks adn it soudns liek you want sunset views, there is also Shugrue's, very good food, very nice, good service, and friendly- I bet they would do something nice if you wanted (like bring the champagne when you wave your hand after she says yes). Shugrue's has a stunning view of the red rocks; sunset is amazing if you can get an outside table- it is perched high up. Yes, Enchantment has a nice venue being in the red rocks, but I have had some very snotty service in their restaurant more than once (I didn't go back because I wanted to- I was there onb business a few times and others wanted to eat at the hotel). I know others disagree and like Enchantment. But sunset is not always the best there as it is down in the rocks, instead of up high lie Shugrue's where you can see the whole sky. Another good place for the dinner is L'Auberge. Exquisite food, more intimate. Also on the creek, but it is in town (no view of the red rocks since it is down on the creek, but you could go to a vista area to pop the question after dinner...) The airport vista can get pretty crowded at sunset, you won't have much privacy there.
Whatever the place, she'll be impressed in Sedona- and it will be a great romantic story and memory. Report back plese!

ooops, forgot to mention, Phoenix/Sedona/GrCanyon/Vegas was our honeymoon!!!! Best wishes...G

That's Chapel in the Rocks on gyppielou's post. Also a nice idea. Great views from there, but again, lots of tourists and buses coming and going, maybe hard to get privacy.

gyppielou, where did you do the sunrise horse ride and breakfast ont he river? I have only done one horse ride in Sedona and it was out by red rocks state park, and they didn't offer a breakfast sunrise ride. that soudns fun, i'd like to do it

I have no idea, it was our 1st anniversary, returning with my sister/brothinlaw and neice. We took the bfast ride, then babysat while they took the dinner ride. Hope it's still available, really a lovely experience for all....try a search....I'll look into it. L'auberge was the place I was thinkin

Thanks for the great ideas everyone. We are going in the end of March and Sedona is going to be near the end of the trip. She has already been to Phoenix/Sedona a couple of times as she has family there. I have never been there, reason being it is a little more difficult for me to plan this.

Emd, you are right. I am wanting a little privacy and that leaves me wondering if dinner might be too busy. Or even one of the more popular spots (airport vista, etc). If I could, I would love to go hike somewhere with a backpack (including the ring, champagne, etc) and watch the sunset alone. Do not know how possible that is.

We are staying two nights in Sedona and I am planing to ask on the first night. Just hopefully the weather will co-operate. Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming. If you need more information, just ask!

Chris

Chris, if it was me, the backpack w/the hidden champagne or good vino(and maybe a little pate and bread and cheese) and a spectacular hike to watch the sunset would be the hands down winner for a proposal. You can have the great dinner some other night. The hike idea would get you two alone where you can really say what you want without others around and make it your moment.
I can recommend a few hikes that would fit your bill. But you might want to pick one out yourself. Get a copy of "Sedona Hikes" by Richard and Sherry Mangum which lists 135 hikes in Sedona. This book breaks down the hikes by time to hike it (they are all day hikes, some a half hour, up to several hours- you obviously need to time it to be out at sundown so don't want to be too far from trailhead for sunset), level of difficulty (ALOT of hikes in Sedona that are beautiful are easy to moderate and you could do the return after a few glasses of wine or champagne just fine), "Wow" factor (menaing the views on the way and general impression of the hike). This is a great resource book. That way you can pick a hike that is just right and it will be your special place that you picked out. Do not be intimidated regarding picking out a hike even though you haven't been there. This book is incredibly accurate and you will have no problems w/finding a good hike, just right for what you want to do.
I could recommend some hikes for your situaiton but I think it is better if you have a chance to make this your own. If you find some hikes and want feedback on them as possibilities, then repost and I and I;m sure others will give you feedback.
Another good resource is the Tourist Center in Sedona. They have alot of hiking staff there. You can call them ahead of time and they will get someone on the phone to help you if you need it. Get them to send you the US Dept. of Agriculture map of Red Rock Country hikes, so you can visualize the hikes on a large map.
How fun and exciting. GOOD LUCK!!

The hike idea sounds best to me but another idea you might consider is to take a pink jeep tour at sunset (hopefully just you two and the driver). The scenery is incredible and the driver would be able to pull over and you two could take a short hike. Good luck!

one more thing-- that book also rates how crowded the hikes are lists the author's "personal favorites". I have never been disappointed by any of their personal favorites, and I agree that most of the ones that are their favorites are the nicest ones. Very accurate info in that book. End of March is the absolute best time to go, perfect weather. You usually can't get a room in April if have not reserved early-- if you don't have a room, I suggest getting one now.

ok, I know I am going on here, but this is a favorite place of mine. If you don't propose on a hike, you should know that if you stay a bit outside Sedona at the places in Oak Creek on the east side of town (esp. at Junipine resort- they have creekside townhouses that are very nice and some have hot tubs- 10 min. up the canyon from Sedona proper), or a bit away form the city on the west side of town (although there are more lights ont he west side so it's not as good as east) you could also propose at night under the most incredible star-filled skies. When I stay at Junipine (a friend of mine owns a place there so I go often) I go out on the deck and it is like the whole milky way is just right there, wall to wall stars. Incredible. Shooting stars everywhere. Amazing to watch from the hot tub.

Thanks for the help! We have a room reserved for a couple nights already, so that is already taken care of. Thank you!

Continuing the search...

Chris

Another nice spot is the 'vortex' mesa just before the airport lookout. There is a small pull over parking lot about halfway up to the airport. From here it's a 5-10 minute climb up to the top of the mesa, which is often deserted, and has a spectacular view of the town and the red rocks. Since it's a vortex, it's supposed to emit energy (another bonus if you are into this kind of thing). The airport lookout is also spectacular, but it's often well populated with people with cameras, binoculars, chanting, etc, espeially at sunset.

Excellent advice everyone. I am not sure if I am going to be able to pick up that book so if you could help with any trails it would be greatly appreciative. Otherwise I will see what I can do.

Thanks again everyone.

Chris

K9: What is your level of hiking? Easy (not much incline, not many loose rocks underfoot, easy walking), or moderate (more incline but certainly not "climbing"; may use your hands to need to pull yourself up at some points, need good knees to come down at some points) or strenuous? Do you have or will you have hiking boots or are you going to try to hike in athletic shoes? Aside from that, you'll need to consider what you want in the way of round trip timing for a hike. And views- Is a great vista point at the top a huge deal, or do you like to hike to places that have a pay-off at the end aside from a vista (like a hike to some of the arches) or hikes that have great scenary all along the way but no vista or special thing at the end.
I could recommend alot of different hikes, but I feel it needs to be your own expereince and you will have a better experience if you get that book. It has all the above features of any particular hike spelled out so you can pick what is best sutied for you on any particular day regarding timing, level of effort, views, etc. The book is inexpensive. I bet you can even order it and have it sent to you by Amazon.com It's worth it.
If you don't get the book, then go to the Sedona tourist office, everyone knows where it is in town, so just ask (it is close to the "Y" in the road which is used as a reference point by everyone). As I said in the previous post, they have very helpful people there regarding hiking and they will give you a map of the trails and recommend hikes if you still need that. But beware- they once sent me to Cathedral Rock and said it was great. Well, it is great but it is much more difficult and strenuous than I could do; the first half hour was ok but then I had to turn around. The bummer was that it was my last morning in Sedona and I had asked for a hike to watch the sunrise, so I missed the sunrise since I had to turn around. If I had had the book, I would have had better info on how strenuous the hike was. ALso, the trails in Sedona are nice but can be tricky finding and staying on the trail sometimes- people have posted cairns (piles of ricks) to help you decide which way to turn when you need to decide, but sometimes you really need the book to know which way to go and to find your way back. I once got lost on the West Fork trail and needed the book to get me back on the trail.
I just checked amazon.com, the book is $12 and the reviews echo what I have said to you.