The last destination of our spring break trip was Sedona, Arizona. If you’ve been following along, our first stop was Santa Fe. From there we visited Bandelier National Monument and the Museum of International Folk Art. Our second stop was the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. While in Arizona we stayed in Flagstaff, as it was a drivable distance from the Grand Canyon and Sedona. Check out some of the stuff we did and how to spend two days in Sedona.
Know Before You Go
Sedona is a fairly small city. The population is only about 10,000. There is essentially one two-lane road that goes in and out of town and everything is on that main road. Despite the influx of tourists, the city has remained small. No big hotel or restaurant chains. What does that mean for you? Hotels are in high demand, and are either sold out or very pricey. Parking is a major issue. It also means you have to really plan your activities or have alternatives. And be prepared to walk more.
What to Pack and Wear for Sedona
We visited mid March. Daytime highs were in the 70s but lows dipped into the low 50s at sunset. For day trips I would recommend dressing in layers and having a bag to hold the extra layers if necessary. This trip was with kids, so we didn’t do any strenuous hiking. Comfortable clothing and tennis shoes were appropriate for the hikes we took. For our days wandering around town, jeans and a long sleeve top with some casual sneakers work too. Affiliate links for outfits below, some are similar items.
Hiking in Sedona
Referring to above suggestion: plan your activities or have an alternative. Initial plan was to hike Cathedral Rock, however there was no parking available within a mile. Instead we visited Chapel of the Holy Cross and hiked the Chapel Trail. It offered beautiful views of Sedona’s red rocks, was much less crowded, and was appropriate for our kids.
Just north of Sedona are a few picnic areas in the Coconino National Forest. It’s different terrain than Sedona. It’s forests and cliffs with a peaceful creek running by.
Another enjoyable hike was Midgely Bridge Trail on the north side of the town. Again, not a hike on the actual red rocks, but it offered beautiful views of the creek and the red rocks.
Jeep Tour of the Mountains
Our family’s favorite activity was a Pink Jeep Tour to Merry Go Round Rock. Pink Jeep Tours has lots of options, so it can be overwhelming. We did the Scenic Rim 2.0 tour, which was a 2 hour drive up Munds Wagon Trail to Merry Go Round Rock. It was VERY bumpy, but my kids liked it. They are known for their Broken Arrow tour, but it was booked up at the time we went.
Tlaquepaque Village
If anything, Tlaquepaque is a beautiful place to take photographs. Modeled after a Spanish village, there are beautiful terraces and tiled spaces around every corner. There are lots of art galleries and boutiques to visit, even if just to window shop.
The Chai Spot Sedona
As a Pakistani family, I felt it was an obligation to visit the Chai Spot. Modeled after traditional Chai dhabas of Pakistan, the Chai Spot was a cute spot to relax and enjoy some real chai, and a portion of sales support families in need in Pakistan. Also a great place to get my kids used to Pakistani culture before we make a trip there. Their favorite was eating chai soaked cake rusk.
Those are the highlights for our two days in Sedona. And, that’s a wrap for our spring break trip! We were blessed to be safe and healthy the entire trip. If you have any questions about a specific destination, what to wear, or experience traveling as a brown family, reach out.
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