Does your family love the outdoors? They will love a trip to Sedona, Arizona where they will experience majestic red rock scenery from everywhere they look. Check out this family-friendly travel guide to assist planning your next trip!
I am excited to share with you my Sedona Family-Friendly Travel Guide! Sedona, Arizona is by far one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. My first trip there was only for a day and it was so amazing that I wanted to stay longer. Our second trip we brought the kids with us and stayed for three nights. It was so much fun to see their faces and hear their expressions as we approached the red rocks. It is a view you never forget.
Where We Stayed
After flying into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport we rented a car and headed to the Hyatt Residence Club Sedona, Piñon Pointe. This property is incredibly unique and so Arizona. First of all the location is primo! You are right next to shops and restaurants and only a short walk to the center of old town Sedona which was extremely convenient. The views of the red rocks were breathtaking, even from the parking lot.
We stayed in a one bedroom studio with a pull out couch that the kids shared. It was just what our family required for our stay. The room was comfortable and very well equipped. It even had a kitchenette. We also took advantage of the onsite laundry room to wash our hiking clothes (red rocks = red dirt) before leaving.
Everyone’s favorite part of the hotel was the pool! The views from every lounge chair was just breathtaking. Watching the kids having so much fun as they swam and seeing nature’s beauty made for a perfect afternoon.
The hotel also had a fun game room and lots of activities for the kids. We were not at the hotel long enough to take advantage of many of these activities but the kids did enjoy playing lots of ping pong!
Where We Ate
The first evening in Sedona we were starving after a long day of travel. A friend had suggested we try The Cowboy Club in old town Sedona which was a just short walk from our hotel. What a great first night. We enjoyed cactus fries which the kids devoured. They also have rattlesnake on the menu but no-one was willing to try it that evening. Everyone had a great dinner and we were ready to hit the sack afterwards!
Another good restaurant near our hotel was the Wildflower Bread Company. This is a great breakfast/lunch spot. It reminded us a lot of Panera Bread Company. For lunches we always went to the Whole Foods. Other dinner spots we tried included Picazzos Italian Kitchen and ChocolaTree Organic Oasis. There are so many dining options in Sedona you are sure to find your favorite!
What We Did
There is so much to do in this beautiful town. Be sure to stop by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. You will meet the nicest and most knowledgeable volunteers! They don’t mind all of your questions and offer great suggestions based on how much time you have to spend in their amazing town. Thanks to them we had three great hikes.
If you love adventure the Pink Jeep Tour is a MUST! Our personal favorite tour is The Broken Arrow tour. The tour guides make this experience so much fun! The kids had the best time on this tour and will never forget it. This is the best way to see Sedona’s natural landscapes especially if don’t have the time to hike to all of the sights. Do not leave Sedona without taking a Pink Jeep tour!
Hiking in Sedona is a lot of fun and there are many trails to choose from! We choose two easy/moderate hikes. TIP: Never go hiking without water in Sedona. We had camelbacks for our trip that you can buy here. My family really enjoyed the Bell Rock Pathway hike and the Templeton Trail which tied into the Cathedral Rock Trail. We cannot wait to return to do more.
After our hike at Bell Rock we stopped by the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Being Easter weekend it was quite busy. We parked at the bottom of the hill and were lucky enough to ride up on a golf cart. Our driver aka tour guide gave us a quick history and shared many fun facts as we drove up to the chapel. This was a great stop.
Sedona Sunsets
Don’t miss the sunset in Sedona. One of the best spots to view is from the Airport Mesa. We viewed the sunset on our last day in Sedona and it was a great way to end our time there. Breathtaking. TIP: There is parking here and it does fill up. We arrived 20-30 min or so before sunset and were able to get a parking spot and a spot to stand. Make sure you have cash. I think it was $7 when we went but I have seen others say it was only $3. Regardless of how much it costs, it is worth every penny to see the Sedona sunset! You could also plan to hike the trail here and time it so you see the sunset.
One of our days staying in Sedona we took a day trip to the Grand Canyon to explore the south rim. It was a very doable day trip. Travel guide is coming soon!
We cannot wait to plan our next trip to Sedona. There is just so much more to do and we will never tire of the views. Have you visited Sedona? Where did you stay? Do you have any favorite restaurants to recommend? What were your favorite things to do?
If you loved this travel guide check out my review of The Lodge at Woodloch.
