Sedona or Flagstaff Dec. 25-26th?
 

Hello!
I posted recently about where to eat for Christmas dinner in Sedona, and now my husband is questioning why we are going to Sedona in the first place. I didn't have the best answe for him, other than it was a place I had heard of a lot. Our original plan (and we have made hotel reservations, but they are fully refundable at this point) was to drive to Sedona on the 25th from Mohave in the AM and have Christmas dinner, spend the night and explore in the AM/afternoon before heading up to Flagstaff and spending a night there (and going out to the Museum Club). Is that a good plan, or would you suggest spending two nights in one or the other? Why? Thanks!

This was posted before but in case you didn't see it..have him go here and watch the video and look around. It will tell you everything about Sedona.It's a great site and they have a ton of great links.

sedonablog.blogspot.com

I'm partial to Sedona and would stay both nights there and wouldn't even consider Flagstaff unless I was a skier and loved the snow.

To be that close to Sedona and not go there would be a shame. It is beautiful!

Good luck!

Thanks a lot. We have decided to stay in Sedona for both nights :)

After you get back could you post a message. I would love to hear what you think of Sedona.

I'm excited for you to see Sedona!

Enjoy!

Sedona is probably one of the prettiest places in the world!

My own personal opinion.

Spend your daylight time around the town and not in the town.

It's the "setting" and not the town.

Exactly Myer..
I have been to Sedona around 20+ times and I never go into town..well maybe to go to Oaxaca's for lunch and marg's..

Sedona, I agree! The year we stayed in Flag instead, I was a bit disappointed. Not that it isn't nice, not that there wasn't a lot to do, but the scenery in Sedona is awesome, incomparable even.

Thanks a lot! We are excited to be spending two days in Sedona, and I will definitely make sure to post a trip report and how we liked it when we get back.

It will be insane to try to eat dinner in Sedona on Dec. 25/26th. You better get reservations for both nights to eat somewhere pronto. We were there two yrs ago for the week btwn Christmas and New Yrs and every dining establishment (from Pizza Picasso to Shugrue's to Thai Spices to Dahl and Delucas and everywhere in btwn.) was so crowded every night it was crazy. 2 hr waits to get seated. Get reservations at one of the good places that take reservations RIGHT NOW if you can. They might all be booked already. I am not kidding.

Just to add to my post.

My favorite, scenic, easy hikes.

Boynton Canyon Vista (not the complete Boynton Canyon Hike) - this is in Sedona west and quite short. Very scenic.

Bell Rock and/or Bell Rock Pathway.

Broken Arrow. Beautiful scenery.

Go to the Cresent Moon picnic area (just below Sedona West) to see Cathedral Rock across the creek at sunset. Magnificent. The Rock reflects in the Creek.

We have already made dinner reservations for the 25th at Bistro Bella Terra. I have read good things on here and other forums about the Cowboy Club. Would you recommend that for the second night or is it too similar? I saw a lot of good things about the Coffee Pot Restaurant on here; would you recommend that or the Airport Restaurant (which is right near our hotel) for breakfast? I think we will definitely go on the Boynton Canyon Vista hike on the 26th. Is it easy to locate once we get to the area? Also, does anyone know if Tlaquepaque will be decorated still on the 26th, and would it be worth a stroll through? Thanks!

I'll try to answer the questions I can. The Coffee Pot restaurant is packed and it is local's favorite so I would think it has to be a good place to eat. I'm Vegan so I have never been there but they are supposed to have the best omlettes.

I am sure that Talaquepaque will still be decorated til after the first of the year. It's such a pretty shopping village. You'll love it.

Here is some info on the Boynton Canyon Trail. It is easy to find.

Enjoy! I can't wait to hear about your trip!
http://www.onedayhikes.com/Hikes.asp?HikesID=110

themasons,

I found the Boynton Canyon hike rather boring after the first half mile.

The Boynton Canyon Vista on the other hand is a short detour close to the start of the Boynton Canyon Hike. The scenery is spectacular. The bang for the effort can't be beat.

Also, you will walk right in front of Chachina Woman rock formation and is the location of one of the famous (infamous) Sedona Vortex sites.

You can see my photos of the Sedona area at:

www.travelwalks.com

Select the Bryce, Zion, GC & Sedona trip on the lower right side of the page.

Unfortunately you'll have to go thru Bryce Canyon, Zion & Antelope Canyon before getting to Sedona. But that's life. Enjoy.

Sedona's setting is absolutely gorgious!!!

Myer Your Pics are amazing! I hope you are a professional photographer or you have missed your calling in life!

Thanks for sharing!

JJJJ

JennyJJJ,

Thanks. No I am not a professional. Far from it.

It's a hobby.

A reasonable camera, some effort and a bit of post-processing can do wonders.

Hi Myer!

Well, you are just being humble. It takes more than just a resonable priced camera. I have one and I am not getting pics like you so.

You are a very gifted photographer :)

Thanks for sharing them.

themasons,

Hopefully we'll get a foloow-up (trip report) on the trip.

With photos?

Yes, we would love a report. How did the Christmas dinner turn out, where did you go?? I am going back to Sedona in April (many prior visits, but have not been there in a year) for a week and really would like a preview!

I hope themasons are not a hit and run.

Hi EMD! So good to see you :)
Don't want to hijack this thread but what exciting plans do you have for yout trip? Any new hikes discovered or planned? New restaurants? You're truly a STELLAR sedona expert so will be excited to read your report! boohoo, i wanna go again, too :(

Hi Ellen! Takign my oldest and best friend of 32 yrs with me, her 1st time to Sedona. Looking forward to introducing her to the place.

Staying at Sky Ranch as it is harder to get a house for a week now- Sedona passed an ordinance that houses can't be rented for less than several months, no weekly rentals. There are some private owners who will still do it, but not the rental companies.

Probably will hike, drive thru the canyon, verde valley railroad trip, and may try a few new restaurants like Bistro Bell Terra (jazz music on fri and sat nights), Barking Frog Grille, Ken's Creekside (in the old Robert's Creekside space), and then some old personal favorites like Minami, Thai Spices, and Junipine Grill for fresh trout caught in the creek.

I broke two foot bones in Mexico in Nov. and am praying it heals for hiking by April.

Do you and Clark post on cruisecritics? I saw Clark's name there while planning a cruise last year...

Hope we hear from themasons...

emd..had to laugh at the 'hit and run' comment you made..
themasons hopefully will post a report but when in her post she mentioned that her husband is questioning why they were going to Sedona in the first place, I had to comment and ask if they were trolls..of course they are not but it's one of those classic comments that you think has to be a troll!
Sky Ranch..everytime I drive by up there, it seems so rugged and so of need of a renovation..for years I thought it was a boy scout camp!
I have never stayed there and its at the top of an incredible vista but do the rooms get the views?
Just my two cents..I go to Sedona at least once a year and we have had great luck at Sedona Rouge Resort for cheap on Expedia..
I am going in March to the Hyatt and got a great rate of $119..
Wishing you all the best!

The pics of the views of the "rim" rooms at Sky Ranch are amazing. I much prefer being up high in Sedona. All of the houses we have ever rented in Sedona have been in the airport area, up high, where we can get the full vista of the red rocks below us from our main living area and right outside the house- I love having coffee and watching the sunrise from the house. And I like being close to west Sedona as that is where we hike mostly.

Personally, I can't stay in uptown where the Hyatt is. That's just me. I really don't like uptown. I've stayed at Junipine many times also, but it is up in the canyon.

Look at the traveler's photos on tripadvisor of the "rim" rooms at Sky Ranch (see in particular the photo, "view the morning we woke up" and :view from our room")- those are like the room we have booked, w/private balcony overlooking the incredible vista below. I really want the view for this trip. Sky Ranch offers that, at a good price.

Whoa, just checked Expedia and Sedona Rouge is $283 for rm w/ a view for our nights in April. Too high for me. Nothing on Expedia w/the space and view and balcony that I can get at Sky Ranch for $149 double queen w/full red rock view w/private balcony.

Hi emd..
I have never stayed at the Hyatt but for $119 and I am getting an upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite is a super deal..
Sedona Rouge is a great Kimpton style place and I have gotten a great rate of $99 last time I was there last year in Feb..
I have stayed at the BW of Sedona for $119 and Enchantment for way more..
I didn't mean to be so brash on the Sky Ranch but it just seemed so
'rustic' but in not the good way to me and maybe when I was up there I didn't see the right part of the ranch or the photos on the website and being you are a great poster on this board, I just wanted to make sure you are getting a great stay!!

Hey emd, sorry about your foot - ouch! Were they compound fractures? Hopefully you'll be in - at the most - a walking boot by then.

I'm surprised about the no weekly rentals deal. But in july 06 we talked with a few business owners who were growling about city stuff, including ordinances. They were doing major road work in town at the time that disrupted their traffic flow and they were not in the least amused. It still seems almost perfect for a second home someday. Or maybe prescott. Are you still working towards moving there?

And no lol, that wasn't 'my' clark. We have yet to do a cruise but if we did i'm sure yours truly would be doing the planning :)

And TTams, where did you find such a great rate for the hyatt? Thats wonderful! We prefer downtown too, just for the ease of walking to dining ect. When we were with kids especially, it was nice so they could do their thing on foot and meet us later. But i'd stay anywhere in sedona just to be there again!

Hi Ellen..
Found the rate for the Hyatt on Expedia for March for a studio for $119 and they have it on there direct website as well..
Place looks great for the price and the free upgrade will be nice too..
Looks like they have incredible views..love the kitchen and it will be weird to be so close to town but will enjoy it at night when we can walk to the Cowboy Club for drinks and app's without driving or having the shuttle guy take us..
All the best..

hyattpinonpointe.hyatt.com
expedia.com

Unfortunately, March and April are apples and oranges in Sedona. April, esp. late April when we are going, is prime time. Hyatt is $430 a night for a 2 bedrm the week we are there, and $275 for a studio suite, and no specials on expedia. No it's not an option for us. You are fortunate to be traveling in March instead of April.

I stayed at the Best Western Inn of Sedona last June. It had the look and feel of a new place. It had been redone apparently. The rates for a "Patio deck Level" room for mid-April is in the 175-190 range.

I had one of those rooms and and view was fantastic and the rooms were really quiet.

It's located just off the main highway directly across from the road that leads up to the airport.

You turn off the highway and go up a small hill that takes you about 100 yeards from the highway. By going up a hill that places the main level on the third floor. It goes down from there.

I had a room that had 2 doors. One side opened to the parking lot and the other to a large patio deck facing Chimney Rock.

Breakfast was included and it got me ready for a full day of walking. i couldn't have been happier with the place. Great location to go in either direction. Not a luxury place but clean, comfortable, relatively inexpensive, great location.

You can see my photos (link above). There are two, one daytime and one as the sun is setting facing Chimney Rock.

Wanted to tell Myer how amazing the pics are from their trip. Just wondering what time of year you were there. We are trying to plan a trip but not really sure how to do it. Any suggestions? Want to spend some time in Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Has anyone done the Grand Canyone Railroad out of Williams? That was a consideration also. Have about 1 wk so will start in Pheonix and probably end in Vegas.

Hi TahitiTams, thanks for the link. I remember it now, its in a great location and really nice. Obviously lol :) And the Wildflower Bread Company is right there too, sigh, you'll have a great time. I'm so envious!!

wregle,

Thanks. I'm glad you liked the photos.

My trip was during the first half of June of last (2007) year. The weather was great although it did snow a bit my second morning ar bryce and clouded over and drizzled slightly (for a few minutes) my last day in Sedona.