What to do in Sedona | A Weekend in Arizona Travel Guide | Sedona & Grand Canyon

 

A Weekend in Arizona | Things to do in Sedona and Grand Canyon National Park

 

I spent a weekend getaway in Arizona. It was beautiful and just everything I thought it would be. If you’re looking for things to do in Arizona, things to do in Sedona, here is a guide of my weekend trip there.

DAY 1

Hotel:

Restaurant:

  • El Rincon

 Things to do in Sedona:

  • Tlaquepaque Shopping Center

  • Airport Mesa

We flew into Phoenix. We got a rental car there and drove to Sedona. Sedona was the main city we were planning to stay in. Sedona is about 2 hours from Phoenix. The drive to Sedona is absolutely stunning. Arizona landscape is something else.

When we arrived to Sedona, we went to Tlaquepaque Shopping Center. It is inspired by Mexican architecture. I loved the design and all the local shops here. If you’re looking to do some shopping, definitely check out this area.

We got food at El Rincon, located in the shopping center.

After that we checked into our hotel. We stayed at Hilton Vacation Club.  

After that, we made our way to watch the sunset at a lookout. Then ended our day at Airport Mesa to watch the rest of the sunset.

 

DAY 2

Restaurant in Sedona:

  • Wildflower

Things to do in Grand Canyon NP:

  • Hike South Kaibab Trail

  • Ooh Aah Point

  • Shop local vendors at Visitor Center

  • Desert View Drive

We got up early and drove to the Grand Canyon National Park. It’s about a 2 hour drive from Sedona. I suggest getting there early to get parking.

We parked at the Visitor Center and took the shuttle bus to the South Kaibab trailhead. The view of the Grand Canyon was absolutely stunning.

We hiked the South Kaibab trail just past Ooh Aah Point.

After that, we ate lunch and got to see some of the mules. Then we took the shuttle back to the visitor center to see the shop and local vendors.

We took the Desert View Drive back to Sedona. This is a scenic drive so highly recommend it!

We got dinner at Wildflower. The sunset view from here is beautiful. Highly recommend this place for lunch or a light dinner.

 

DAY 3

Restaurants:

  • The Vault

  • In-N-Out

Things to do in Sedona:

  • Soldier Pass Trail

  • Explore Uptown

Things to do in Phoenix:

  • Papago Park

We started our day hiking Soldier Pass to the cave. It was a great hike with beautiful views.

There is a park-and-ride parking lot that offers a free shuttle to the trailhead. You can also walk to the trailhead from the parking lot. It is a little over a mile.

Once on the hike, you’ll pass the sinkhole and the infamous Seven Sacred Pools.

When you get to cave, highly recommend climbing up into the cave. It was such a fun and cool experience. We stayed and took some pictures before heading back.

After the hike, we made our way to Uptown where we had lunch at The Vault. The food was amazing. We also walked around and shopped for bit before heading back to Phoenix.

In phoenix we made a quick stop by Papago Park to see the sunset. I tried In-N-Out burger for the first time. Then we headed to the airport!

 

That’s my weekend trip in Arizona. I didn’t expect to like Arizona as much as I did. The landscapes definitely blew me away. The views in Sedona and Grand Canyon were amazing.

Highly recommend visiting Arizona if you haven’t yet!

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