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Monument Valley in 48 hours

shaunaaguirre — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 18:41:49 +0000

Our 48 Hour adventure in Monument valley. It’s iconic landscape of sandstone towers, buttes, mesas and dunes provide a view that is unparalleled. You could easily just spend a few hours here and see the landmark sites but there is so much to do and see here that you should spend at least 48 hours in Monument Valley. History of Monument Valley Diné – The People This land is the land of the Diné. They believe that their people journeyed through three worlds in various forms before emerging from Mother Earth into this word, the Sparkling World. Anthropologists hypothesize that the Diné Split off from the Southern Athabaskan and began migrating into the Southwest around 200AD. They developed a rich and complex culture that still survives today. For more info on the Navajo Nation and Dine people visit www.navajopeople.com Modern History Prior to the 1920´s this valley was virtually unknown except by the Native Americans who migrated thru here. In the early 1920´s Harry and Leone Goulding bought a substantial piece of land near the monuments and set up a camp ground & trading post. During the Great Depression which hit this tribal community hard, the Gouldings, looking for a way to help bolster the local economy reached out to director John Ford to pitch the idea of making movies in The Valley. The idea stuck and production came quickly. Over the years, this valley has become the backdrop for dozens of movies. For more of this history visit www.Goulding’s.com Room with a view We stayed at The View which has a hotel, cabins and camping/Rv (dry) hook ups. The first night we stayed at the hotel. Every guest room has a balcony facing The Valley. The top floor has a recessed roof for star gazing. At night they project some of the old movies that were made in the area on the side of the restaurant with seating on the terrace. Sitting amongst the monuments and watching them on the huge screen simultaneously was a unique experience. We stumbled upon it and thought it was pretty cool (BYOB.) The second night we stayed in a cabin, and the view from there was even better. These cabins are small but have everything you need. We loved the feeling of seclusion they had and loved experiencing both places in our 48 hours in Monument Valley. Best ways to experience the Valley We have never been much for organized or guided tours but in the case of this site it is a necessity. Monument Valley is within the Navajo Nations Reservation so any exploration of the geological, historical and cultural landmarks must be done with a Navajo guide. Rest assured this experience is going to blow away your expectations and be far more fulfilling on so many levels, than you could have ever imagined. These tours made sure we got the most out of our 48 hours in Monument Valley. Explore the Valley floor by Horseback Our first morning there we took a 2 hour guided horse ride with “Sacred Monument Tours. Our guide Lauren was born, raised and lives in The Valley. He left for a few years to attend college and learn a trade and then returned. This is his home. The Diné guides have an intimate relationship with this land. They were very generous in sharing all of their stories with us. He told us that his Auntie lives under the 3 sisters butte and many of his relatives live within and under the buttes and mesas. He took the time to stop at picturesque locations to take our photos! They have riding tours for all experience levels and are a short walk from The View. Check them out at www.sacredmonumenttours.com Driving Tour In the evening we did a 3 hour sunset tour. We had driven the 17 mile loop the day before to check it out but doing it with a guide was a completely different experience. Our guíde Sharon took us to sites like the Sun’s Eye arch and ancient petroglyphs (rock art), the Ear of the Wind arch, the famous Totem Pole and Yei bi chei rock formations, John Fords Point and many more. We visited a traditional Navajo Hogan. A Diné woman demonstrated how they make yarn out of the sheep wool and told us beautiful stories about their culture. After talking to her more we discovered she was Loreńs (our horse ride guide) Auntie. She was so excited when we told her we had ridden with him in the morning. The tour wrapped with precise timing at a lookout spot just as the sun was setting. https://www.monumentvalleytribaltours.com A couple things to bring: Insider tips: Check out our other blogs on Arizona, New Mexico and more at https://48houradventures.com/category/arizona-southwest/

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La Paz, Baja Ca Sur, Mexico ~ Seals, Whale Sharks and the Sea of Cortez

shaunaaguirre — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 07:00:00 +0000

We booked this two-day getaway in La Paz, Mexico with a plan to swim with the whale sharks. Little did we know we would have one of our Best. Days. EVER! We checked into a corner room at Las Gaviotas Hotel. This hotel is a hidden gem. It has sixteen 1 & 2 bedroom apartments, fully furnished, great views and a block and a half off the Malecón (Malecón translates to “pier” in Spanish but is the common name for the boardwalk that stretches along the waterfront in Latin beach towns around the world.) Our hosts, the owners Linda & Chalo are incredibly gracious and offered a lot of local tips for us to pass on to you. They also have a stash of beach chairs and basic beach gear available to borrow. Just down on the Malecón at the end of the street is the restaurant Mariscos Los Laureles. The fresh whole fish and coconut shrimp are amazing. Honestly everything on the menu is divine. Swimming with seals & whale Sharks An early breakfast at Mariscos Bismarkcito fueled us up and we headed to the boat launch kiosk. There are many vendors that offer tours to swim with the whale sharks. You can get hustled by random guys on the Malecón but we chose to book thru one of the kiosks near the town’s Centro Plaza. We were able to book a “combo” that included an all day boat ride to swim with the seals, have lunch on an isolated beach and swim with the whale sharks for $150 each. We boarded the boat with about 10 other people and headed out on a 2 hour ride that was colder than we expected. Bryan’s pro-tip would be to make sure you pack some warm gear as being on the ocean all day can get chilly. Several people had dressed for a “beach” day and were caught off guard. Our first stop was Isla Espíritu Santo. There are several hundred seals that live on this Isla and we geared up and jumped in the water for a swim. It was an unforgettable experience and one we definitely recommend. Next stop, our captain pulled the boat up to Playa Enseñada Grande. This secluded beach ranks as one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever been to. Our Captain had made fresh ceviche and we ate tostadas on the beach and went for a swim. Top 5 beaches in La Paz, Mexico Playa Enseñada Grande: Access by boat charter. Secluded with no services. Turquoise waters for swimming. Playa Balandra: We took a bus out of the bus station in the center of town. R/T fare was $5 each. Unique beach with some fruit vendors and souvenir vendors on the beach. Minimal food and beverages available. Beautiful seafoam colored water and large sand bank so you can walk a hundred yards out into the water and still be knee deep. Playa El Coromuel: Just North on the Malecón, you come to a small bay with a pier where they have a couple of restaurants and bars. Nearby there are bathrooms and some little commercial spots where you can buy beverages and seafood. Caimancito Beach: 2 miles North of town. Hotel nearby for food and beverage purchases. Liked by the locals. Playa Pichilingue: 10 miles North of La Paz. Full services available. Beautiful swimming beach. Swimming with Whale Sharks Whale shark season is from October to February and planning a trip during this time will provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our guide was highly experienced in finding the Whale sharks and after scouting for less than 30 minutes she was able to put us up close and personal to a Whale shark. These docile animals are up to 20 feet long but be prepared to swim, it takes some effort to keep up with them. However, swimming next to them was an emotional and a once-in-a-life time experience. Top 5 restaurants in La Paz Mariscos Los Laureles: On the North end of the Malecón. Seriously some of the best seafood we’ve ever had. Los Bismarkcitos: On the Malecón with great view. Had an delicious breakfast here and the place is packed at night. Fresh seafood from local fishermen and reasonably priced. The Tailhunter Restaurant: Fresh seafood daily from local fishermen. You can also book day fishing charters here. Steinbeck’s at Costa Baja: Inspired by the award wining author who spent a lot of time in the Sea of Cortez. Great steak and seafood restaurant. A little pricey but worth an Uber trip to see this beautiful resort and enjoy a night of fine dining. Los Magueyes: Off the beaten path but great authentic Mexican food and some vegan options. La Paz, unlike Cabo still retains much of its small, authentic Baja Mexico town feeling. Day trips from here include Los Cabos & Todo Santos. We highly recommend you read two of the books written by John Steinbeck that are based on this quaint fishing town. The Pearl and Logs from the Sea of Cortez were written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and will give you a glimpse into what this area was like in the 1950’s when he was exploring here. Many of the places we visited are discussed in detail in these books. Be sure to check out our other blogs of places to visit in Baja, Ca. Sur.

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Kaua’i, HI. ~ The best Local places to eat on Kaua’i

shaunaaguirre — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 03:30:37 +0000

There are many great places to eat on the Island. However, if you want to avoid the touristy places and enjoy some great Ono Grinds, we’ve done some extensive research (to the dismay of our waistlines.) Here, will share our favorite places to eat on Kaua’i. Our top 5 places to eat on Kaua’i Shrimp Station: With two locations on the Island, this place is the Bubba Gump of Kaua’i. Koloa Fish Market: Authentic Hawaiian food with an abundance of fresh local seafood. Kaui’i Food truck: This truck posts their GPS on social media and is worth the effort to find them. Kalaheo Steak & Ribs: Serving the best steaks on Kaua’i for over 30 years. This a must visit restaurant on the Island. Ishihara Market: Located in an Oriental grocery store, the deli counter in the back has some of the best Poke on the Island. Shrimp Station A locally owned and operated business sure to give you the true Aloha spirit. There are two locations on Kaua’i. One on the way to Waimea and one on the way to the North Shore. The coconut shrimp here is some of the best we’ve ever tried. This scratch cooking restaurant features spicy Thai shrimp, sautéed shrimp as well as garlic shrimp, shrimp burgers and shrimp tacos. There’s a small area for dining in or you can pick up some take out and head to the closest beach. Either way, this meal won’t disappoint. Koloa Fish Market In the heart of Koloa, is the Koloa fish market. This restaurant has been a mainstay for locals for years. This is a great place to pick up some food to take to the beach or eat on a bench in the park across the street. The menu has a lot of creative and authentic Hawaiian dishes as well as some amazing Poke and a great plate lunch. The food is always fresh and inexpensive making it a place you’ll want to come back to. Kaua’i Food Truck The Kaua’i food truck is one of the best plate lunches we’ve had on the island. In addition to the traditional Kalua pork plate lunch, they have some awesome fresh fish and a dynamite shrimp plate lunch. Typically found in Koloa, the burger with gravy (loco moco) and the Hawaiian Mac salad will make you do a happy dance. Kalaheo Steak & Ribs We’ve had our fare share of great steaks but this place ranks in the top. The atmosphere embraces the history of the Hawaiian cowboys “Paniolos” that dates back to the late 1800’s. Taking advantage of the abundance of cattle farms in the island, the aged beef is top notch. The interior harkens back to the old cattle ranching days. While we were sitting at a window seat on our most recent visit, a couple of guys on horses literally rode by on the sidewalk. After a day of exploring this side of the Island, this is the perfect place for an amazing dinner Ishihara Market This is hands down our best place to eat on Kaua’i. This hidden gem is an Oriental grocery store with an amazing deli counter in the back. It is the best poke we have had on the island. Choices range from spicy ahi poke to fresh shrimp poke and many more options. The garlic edamame is something we have tried to recreate at home to no avail. Do yourself a favor and pick up an assortment of deli containers and head up the road to MacArthur park for a picnic. This is a meal you won’t soon forget. For more tips on the best of Kaua’i, check out our blogs on the best 5 beaches and the best 5 sites to see.

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San Francisco, Ca. ~ The top 5 sites to see in 48 hours

shaunaaguirre — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 16:41:00 +0000

Whether you’re planning several days or a quick weekend getaway, we’ll show you our favorite San Francisco sites. San Francisco is one of our favorite cities to explore on foot. From just about anywhere in the downtown area, you can easily access all of these locations. Fishermans Wharf Plan on spending several hours at Fishermans Wharf, as there is plenty to see within walking distance. This landmark San Francisco site, and tourist attraction has the super touristy places like Ripleys Believe it or not museum and endless souvenir shops to world class art galleries, retail stores and a wide variety of restaurants and live music clubs. There really is something for everyone here. Ghirardelli Square is a short walk and a visit to the chocolate factory will satisfy any sweet tooth. The central location offers a great jumping off spot to so many San Francisco sites and adventures. Tours leave from here for visits to Alcatraz and bay tours. You can drop into the Blue Mermaid Chowder house for some of the best corn and crab chowder ever. A short walk up the street to The Buena Vista for an Irish coffee or jumping on the Powell-Hyde cable car are all easily accessible from the Wharf. Bike the Bridge One of the best experiences the Bay city has to offer is a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. You can rent an electric bike at www.blazingsaddles.com. The path from there is easy to access and has minimal car traffic. The electric bikes make the hills easier to navigate and make this ride available to all levels of athletic skill. The ride will take you past the marina, Fort Point and over the bridge into Sausalito. From here you can either grab a ferry ride back to the city. Or if you’re up to it, do the return trip over the bridge. Be sure to budget plenty of time so you can stop along the bridge to enjoy the view and take some pictures. Alcatraz Island So many people visit San Francisco and never make it to Alcatraz Island. Do yourself a favor and make this a priority for your visit. Not only is the historic component compelling, the view from the island looking back at the city offers a unique perspective you can’t get anywhere else. Alcatraz was once home to the likes of Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelley, and Robert “The Birdman” Stroud. The audio tour that guides you through the federal prison will give you the background of these criminals and allow you to experience what their lives were like in lockdown. There are lots of great places for a picnic on the island. One of our favorite spots is just across the “yard.” There is a small door with a walkway and the view of the Golden Gate Bridge from here is magnificent. La Misión San Francisco Mission Dolores is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco. The chain of Missions in California are such an important part of this states history. Located in the northwest area of the neighborhood, the mission was founded on June 29th, 1776 by Father Serra just days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The culture and history are incredibly rich in this neighborhood. And then, there’s the world class Mexican food! A favorite is the 50 year old La Taqueria, they basically invented the local taco and burrito style found here. One of the more emotionally moving sites in all of SF is here in Clarion Alley. Located between Mission and Valencia Streets and 17th and 18th Streets, the murals are painted by the Clarion Alley Mural Project. This space of free expression is a grass roots project started in 1992 and produces art that is socially engaging, controversial and powerful. Chinatown One of our favorite hotels in SF is the Hilton Financial District. Not only because it has a foot bridge to Portsmouth Square in the center of Chinatown but also because of the views of Alcatraz, the San Francisco Bay, and Coit Tower. It’s less than a mile from the Ferry Building, Union Square and Coit Tower. The Italian restaurants, the iconic City Lights book store and North Beach are just three blocks away. There is an unending amount of history in Chinatown, SF. The Golden Gate Fortune cookie factory is said to be where the cookie was invented and the machines used to make them are from another era as are the ladies working them. The buildings along Grant street still retain some of the magnificent Oriental architecture that built this community. The herb and produce stores feature items that are rare to see in an American city and the likes we’ve only seen in Chinatown, Honolulu. Dig deep and venture into the fish markets, food plazas and herb stores and you will get a truly memorable experience of this amazingly rich culture. Check out our blog on our favorite places to eat in SF!

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Puerto Peñasco, Baja Ca Sur, Mexico ~ 48 hours in a sleepy Mexican town

shaunaaguirre — Sun, 19 May 2019 03:44:42 +0000

One of our favorite Mexican weekend getaways is Puerto Peñasco. It’s about a 5 hour drive from San Diego and 4 hours from Phoenix or Tuscon. It sits on the Northeast corner of the Sea of Cortez directly across from San Felipe as a crow flies. Puerto Peñasco (or Rocky Point) was a town my father spent a lot of time in when he was young so it is really special to us. There are a dozen or so high-rise hotel/resorts to the north of the main town that are pretty much all the same place. They are all high-rise buildings with patios and ocean views. They have full amenities, restaurants, large pools, rental offices. You can book boat trips and rent beach gear at most of them. They all sit on a beautiful beach that goes for miles. There is snorkeling, swimming, shelling, and fishing. If you’re here for a beach vacation, they are perfect. The Dream Weaver Casitas Our favorite place to stay in Puerto Peñasco is the charming Dream Weaver Palapa Casitas. Their casitas sleep from 2-9 people. This little piece of paradise is located on of a small hill on the south side of Old Port and a block from the Malecón. Two of the casitas have a private balcony with a magnificent view of the Sea of Cortez. The location of the Dream Weaver puts you walking distance from restaurants, bars and shopping. The party on the Malecón at night emits the classic feeling of Old Mexico. Families line the walkway, mariachis play, street vendors with everything from souvenirs to elotes hawk their wares and the vibe is bewitching. Our favorite restaurants in Puerto Peñasco Max’s is on the Malecón and breakfast on the patio is a perfect way to start the day. The Point sits on stilts over the water. The fresh seafood is heavenly. Choices range from whole fish to shrimp stuffed avocado salad. The view is serene and it is a great spot to enjoy a delicious meal and a sunset. Pedros is a little hidden gem just off the Malecón. The quaint restaurant features fresh local seafood, great margaritas and excellent service. The Tekila bar is a tiki themed restaurants. There are a few tables on the back deck. Another great spot for a cocktail and sunset. We have two main things we love about Puerto Peñasco. Firstly, the fresh seafood. Secondly is the beaches. There are miles of them with easy access. There are many places to snorkel, swim and fish. Our 3 favorite beaches in Puerto Peñasco Sandy beach ~ There are a lot of activities available at this beautiful beach area, including swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, water skiing, parasailing, jet skiing, surfing, fishing and more. Tucson Beach ~ Located in Cholla Bay this small stretch of beach is perfect for wading and swimming due to its very calm waters when the tide is in. When the tide is down it will reveal its rocky landscape where it’s common to see families of sea lions relaxing on these rock. Playa La Joya/Playa Encanto ~ These two beaches lie next to each other and are about 12 miles from Puerto Peñasco. Both of them offer beautiful scenery and serenity. They are the perfect beaches to go for a walk, swimming, shelling and relaxing in the sun. These two beaches are less inhabited than the others therefore, they are much more peaceful. When you visit Puerto Peñasco, be sure to bring a cooler. You’ll want to take home some of the fresh Mexican prawns that are available at the outdoor fish market in the middle of Old Puerto. Dozens of stalls line this street and the local fisherman have seafood fresh every morning. They’ll pack it in a double bag and give you some ice to keep it fresh for the ride home. Be sure to check out our other blogs of places to visit in Baja, Ca. Sur.

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Borrego Springs, Ca ~ Desert Wild flowers, camping & hiking

shaunaaguirre — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Borrego Springs, Ca is one of our favorite places to go for a day trip or a couple of nights. This desert town is a 2 hour drive from San Diego, Los Angeles and Palm Springs. It’s easy to get there and worth the journey. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. Five hundred miles of dirt roads, twelve wilderness areas, and miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California desert. The park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish name borrego or bighorn sheep. Everything from outback camping and off road trails to 4 star resorts, with luscious swimming pools, it’s all here! Our favorite places to stay in Borrego Springs There are some great hotels here. Depending on your budget, they range from motels to 4 star accommodations. Some of our favorites are: Palm Canyon hotel and RV Resort which has the feeling of an old western town. If you aren’t planning on being in the room much, it’s perfect, casual and has a cute bar/restaurant. The Borrego Valley Inn is lovely and each room has a patio/courtyard. This hotel is adults only so, very serene and picturesque. Our all-time favorite though is La Casa del Zorro. The accommodations here range from 1-3 bedroom casitas, many with their own pool to beautifully appointed deluxe suites with fireplaces. The restaurant and bar offer breakfast, lunch and dinner and sometimes live music. If camping is your vibe, Palm Canyon Campground has tent and RV camping. There is drinkable water, restrooms and coin operated showers. It sits at the entrance to Palm Canyon and the trailhead for one of our favorite hikes. This hike is 4 miles r/t and is easy for all ages. If you’re not into the campground scene, you can camp anywhere in the park. The best Wild flower viewing areas The peak season in Borrego early February thru late April when the desert wildflowers bloom. This is one of our favorite annual trips. The best flower viewing is usually in Henderson Canyon but it varies year to year and a quick stop at the visitors center in town will get you to the best bloom areas. Our favorite places to visit in Borrego Springs Some of our favorite places to go in Borrego Springs are Font’s Point, Slot Canyon, Coyote Canyon and the Pumpkin Patch, but you’ll need 4wd to get to them. If you don’t have 4wd, check out Palm Canyon, Henderson Canyon and all of the metal statues on DiGorgio road. As you drive around Borrego, you can’t miss the giant metal sculptures by artist Ricardo Breceda that are everywhere and have become a tourist destination on their own. We hope you get a chance to visit this special town.

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Santa Fe, NM ~ The Turquoise Trail

shaunaaguirre — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Santa Fe is one of my top 5 favorite cities in the world. We flew into Albuquerque and took the Turquoise Trail road to Santa Fe. If you want the fast road just head straight up the I 25N and it will take you right into Santa Fe. If you want to do some exploring on the way, take the I 40E to Hwy 14N. This is the Turquoise trail and will take you to the backside of the Sandia mountains. The hippie town of Madrid, NM Once you turn on Hwy 14N, it’s abut 35 minutes ’til you arrive in the town of Madrid. Madrid was once a coal mining town turned ghost town turned hippie art town. It was featured in the movie Wild Hogs and still retains some of the sites from the movie set. There are lots of souvenir shops, art galleries and a few restaurants. Our favorite is the Mine Shaft Tavern. The food is fantastic and the people watching is world-class. They also have a beer garden and live music on the weekends. Santa Fe Plaza The drive from Madrid to Santa Fe is about 40 minutes and takes you past some beautiful farms, the State penitentiary and several look out spots. Once you arrive in Santa Fe, there is so much to see and do. There are hundreds of art galleries, magnificent churches and amazing food. Our Favorite restaurant and our first stop is The Shed for some green chili. The Shed has been in operation since 1953 and at it’s current location since 1960. The food is authentic New Mexican food and the margaritas are amazing. No trip to Santa Fe is complete without a Frito Pie. Featured on the Food Network as “one of the best things I ever ate.” You have to visit the five & dime on the Plaza. Head to the food counter in the back and get yourself one, grab a bench in the Plaza and enjoy. We spent hours strolling around historic Santa Fe Plaza. Here you can browse shops and art galleries and learn about New Mexico’s history and the Native American Southwest. Be sure to visit the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Loretto Chapel. If time allows, a trip to Georgia O’Keefe’s Ghost Ranch is a must. It’s about an hour drive from Santa Fe. This is where she lived and the subject of many of her paintings. You can make this a day trip or stay the night or a week! A world-class Japanese Spa By this time, we were ready for a massage and so we called ahead and booked a couples massage at Ten Thousand Waves. It’s about a 15 minute drive from Santa Fe and is a world-class Japanese spa. It has beautiful outdoor hot tubs, a cold plunge and some of the most serene massage rooms you will ever experience. Hands down, the hottest ticket in Santa Fe is Meow Wolf. This interactive art experience has become a national phenomenon. Be sure to book tickets in advance. For breakfast, we have two favorite spots. The French Pastry Shop and Creperie that has amazing pastries and crepes and the Burrito Company if you’re in the mood for more traditional NM food. We always stay at The Inn & Spa at Loretto. The pueblo style hotel has rooms with balconies, shopping and a world class spa. Santa Fe is an epic jump off spot for several day trips. Click here for the best 5 day trips. Check out our other blogs for exploring Northern New Mexico!

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Sedona, Az ~ Fishing, meditation & hiking in Sedona

shaunaaguirre — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 07:00:00 +0000

After the whirlwind of the holidays, working, entertaining and enjoying this time, we decided on an impromptu road trip. One of our all-time favorite road trips is Sedona and so we decided to go there and then to the Grand Canyon! We were ready to do some hiking in Sedona! The abundance of outdoor activities and hiking in Sedona make it the perfect place to visit if you’re on a budget. I really love this place so I was thrilled to show it to Bryan for the first time. We had a bunch of back-to-back storms in late December and it snowed the night before. When we dropped into the Sedona valley and saw the palisades and red rock formations covered in snow, we were truly blown away. Even though I’d been here many times I had never seen it like this. The stark contrast of the white snow on the red soil was spectacular, creating a dramatic view. If you are going here with someone who has never been, make sure they are in the passenger seat as you arrive. There’s nothing quite like making the turn on the last bend and seeing the Red Rocks for the first time. We arrived a little before sunset and we were able to spend some time driving around. We checked into our hotel, the Hilton at Bell Rock and it was freezing outside. Fortunately, just adjacent to the bar, there were several outdoor fire places with comfy sitting areas and the fireplaces in the rooms make it super cozy. Dinner at The Cowboy Club is a must! By now, we were starving so we headed out to the Cowboy Club, formerly “Oak Creek Tavern.” Opened in 1946, this restaurant was a regular stomping ground for many of the Hollywood celebrities that shot western movies in and around Sedona in the 50’s and 60’s. The steaks are epic, the bar is super cool and really nostalgic. The restaurant is directly in the middle of town so there’s lots to see. We walked around and checked out some of the art galleries and souvenir shops in the village. We stopped in at Pink Jeep tours to get some off trail info. Due to the fact that we have a 4wd, we didn’t book a tour with them. However, if you are in Sedona and want to get into the off road areas, they have a lot of great tours to offer. The longhorns that hang above the bar are the second largest in history. Ask the bartender or server to tell you about how they came to be the focal point of this bar! Hiking Sedona Early the next morning we set for some Sedona hiking. Due to the fact that it is fairly easy and a great warm up, we chose the Little Horse trail. This trailhead was a short drive up US 179 and is a 4.3 mile round trip hike. The trail wraps up into the canyon has a plateau with spectacular views of the whole valley. The perspectives of Bell Rock & Cathedral Rock are stunning and it leads to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a landmark built into the side of the red rocks. As you will discover in Sedona, there are always several places to leave the trail that offer breathtaking views and almost complete silence. These places make for a perfect place for a morning meditation If you’re going to do a lot of hiking in Sedona, you’ll certainly want to buy the parking pass. It allows you to park at any of the trailheads. If you are only hiking one trail, you can pay at the trailhead. We highly recommend a stop at the Ranger Station where you can pick up maps and get all the park info you need. In addition, be sure to take plenty of water & sunscreen. Finding the right trails Due to the presence of snow, we weren’t sure which would be the best trails to hike so we headed over to Sedona Zen Trail to get some expert advice. The staff here is always super-helpful. We left with lots of maps to hike the front of Cathedral Rock. The bonus of this hike is that it is easy to access and has a substantial parking lot. A short climb provided some spectacular views of the valley. The face of the rock had some snow and ice on it which made it a little tricky but there were plenty of families and non-hikers on the trail indicating it wasn’t too difficult.. If you are hiking this area in the summer, regular hiking boots are fine. In the winter, be prepared for snow and ice. An memorable brief encounter After hiking the rock, we headed off-trail into an adjoining meadow. While I was exploring, I came across a man in his 80’s cross country hiking. I said “Hi” and he obviously didn’t hear me so to get his attention, I waved and it startled him. He stopped and I asked him which way I should go to get back to the trail. He described the washes and arroyos so I knew which way to go. Then, unexpecdetly he said “I hike here daily and I have never seen another person out here.” I said “wow, really?” and we had a nice chuckle about it. It was a brief encounter but a memory that will last forever. Our top 5 favorite places for hiking in Sedona: Bell Rock Vortex hike: There are numerous trails on and around Bell rock. Starting up the Bell Rock pathway you can blaze whichever way you want. Our favorite is to head up the face of the rock. Once you get up to the second or third plateau, the view is great. This hike can be a long or short as you want and the degree of difficulty ranges from easy to hard, your choice. Cathedral Rock : Moderate climb, 1.4. miles R/T 645ft elevation gain. Great Sunset hike. Little Horse Trail: Easy trail with stunning views of the valley, 4.3 miles R/T, well worn trail with minimal climbing. Boynton Canyon Trail: Moderate hike, 6 miles R/T, great vista views of Sedona. Fay Canyon Trail: Moderate, 2.4 miles R/T, waterfalls, natural rock arch, caves. One of the restaurants we visit every time we are in Sedona is Dahl & DiLucas Ristorante Italiano. The food is always amazing. Their choices of pastas, salads, grilled meats and seafoods will make this one of your favorite meals ever. The Caprese d’amore salad and the Pollo piccata are two of our favorite dishes! Our top 5 favorite restaurants in Sedona: Dahl & DiLucas Ristorante Italiano – Dinner – Traditional Italian Cowboy Club – Steakhouse – Lunch & Dinner Los Betos – Mexican drive thru – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – best breakfast burrito in town. Cafe Jose Restaurant – Southwest Mexican – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Casa Sedona Restaurant – Breakfast only, reservations required On the way back to our hotel, we acted on a whim and drove out the road to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Turned out to be a great call, it was lit up! It was hauntingly beautiful and because there is zero light pollution here, it is stunning! Slide Rock When we were kids we lived in Phoenix and so my Mom would take us up to Slide Rock in the summer. Back then, we would fish and play in the water and picnic. In those days, for the most part, the crowd was mostly locals. I went back a couple years ago with a friend and her kids in the middle of summer. There were so many people that you could barely walk without stepping on people’s towels. I could hardly contain my excitement to be going there with Bryan. I needed some sage and fortunately there are a lot of gem stores in the village making it easy to find. When we arrived at the parking lot we were happily surprised to find it was virtually empty! After a quick stop at the Ranger’s booth and chat with the Ranger, we were off to the creek for some fishing and meditating. We were the only people there… Bryan broke out his fishing pole and walked up and down the creek fishing. I took some private time to meditate and burn some sage and light some Palo Santo. We stayed for a couple hours, exploring the trail along the bank up and down the creek. This quickly became one of my favorite travel moments ever! After hiking Sedona and checking out of our room, we went to my go-to place Los Betos drive thru. They have the best breakfast burritos in town or anywhere ! Leaving Sedona is always very emotional for me and I always immediately begin looking forward to my next visit. On this day, I was eating a green chile breakfast burrito, listening to Natalie Merchant sing one of my favorite songs, “Thank you” and feeling so blessed. Goodbye for now Sedona, can’t wait to see you again!

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