Every year, I take a girls’ trip with my three best friends from high school — we met in 7th grade and have stayed in touch through college (we all went separate ways), and then many of life’s moments (some of us went to grad school, some lived abroad, some got married, some had kids, etc.). Even though we now live all over the country (NYC, Albany, San Jose, and Cleveland), we have recently made it a priority to reconnect with an annual getaway. Past trips have taken us to fun places like Santa Barbara, New Orleans, and Chicago, and this year we chose Sedona, Arizona for our annual girls trip. Here’s what we loved and recommend if you’re planning your own trip to Sedona:

Where We Ate

Sedona has no shortage of amazing dining options, and here are a few we tried a few that we loved:

• Elote Café – A must-visit for upscale Mexican cuisine with bold flavors. Reservations are essential (book early!), but this place had the BEST food I had on the trip.
• Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill – Known for its beautiful views during the day, and fun even after dark. Features South American-inspired dishes and drinks (I got a glass of mezcal). Perfect for a special night out.
• Coffee Pot Restaurant – A classic breakfast spot famous for its 101 omelets (yes, there are 101 omelets on the menu, including a PB&J omelet!) It is perfect for some greasy diner breakfasts, and they have a cute gift shop where they sell their cute coffee mugs! Great way to fuel up before a hike, or before spending hours at an airport.
• Indian Gardens Café & Market – A cute stop along Oak Creek Canyon with a beautiful shaded patio. We visited on our scenic drive and loved the food and beautiful garden patio!

Hiking Adventures

Sedona’s red rock trails are breathtaking. We started our mornings with hikes to beat the crowds and enjoy cooler temps – and even catch the changing light on the rocks/mountains as the sun rose!

• Coffee Pot and Teacup Trails – Scenic and moderately easy, leading to the Coffee Pot Rock. We extended the route for about 5 miles round trip. We were so lucky to be able to walk to the trail head from our Airbnb!

• Marg’s Draw Trail – A peaceful trail with sweeping views of Sedona’s red rock formations. Also about 5 miles round trip with some extra exploring. And a great way to view the famous Snoopy Rock! This trail was pretty much empty when we were there and featured some different landscapes/flora throughout, which was amazing – highly recommend! Definitely a hidden gem!

Tip: Start at sunrise or shortly thereafter for magical lighting, fewer people, and perfect hiking weather.

Shopping

• Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village – Cute shopping area if you want to walk around. So many charming art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.

• Oak Creek Overlook Vista Native American Artisan Market – We stopped here during our scenic drive along Highway 89A. You can stop for a scenic overlook/walk and then enjoy an open-air market where Native American artisans sell authentic jewelry, pottery, and crafts. Shop and then take photos of the Oak Creek Canyon.

Something Unique

• Crystal Magic Psychic Center – We splurged on aura readings, and it was such a fun, unexpected experience! Even if it’s not your usual thing, Sedona is the perfect place to try something new. Related – Don’t forget to read or ask about the vortexes before you go to Sedona!

Stargazing

• Evening Sky Tours – Sedona’s dark skies are incredible! We booked Evening Sky Tours for a guided astronomy experience. Our guide Wes was fantastic – he was so knowledgeable about stars (and science in general) and passionate. We saw planets (got a great telescope view of Saturn and its rings!), the moon, and even two shooting stars!

Sedona truly has it all: natural beauty, great food, gorgeous outdoor hiking and unique experiences. I kept thinking how magical our hikes were – they were so beautiful and I never got over how breathtaking they were. I highly recommend you check Sedona out!