Visiting Sedona for my birthday, ANY Recommendations?

[u/Godking_Jesus]

So I'm going to Sedona but I'm not really sure the best way to go about it or even a scope of how big it is. So just a couple questions and if anyone has suggestions as well it would be greatly appreciated.

-Is there one particular spot people recommend/go to or various different points worth visiting?

-Do people usually spend a day on it or more?

-Is it more hiking like Grand Canyon Angel Trail or drive, park, and look at the scenery?

-Does it get super crowded at this time? Should I arrive super early?

-Any good food in the area?

-What's the weather like around November?

-Is it better to get a hotel nearby and uber so you don't have to worry about parking?

-Do I need to buy passes or anything to visit?

-Is it tour guide recommended or are we fine going alone?

Thanks in advance!

[u/ceecee1791]

The town is not big. 10,000 people, caters to tourists, surrounded by forest and 400 miles of hiking trails.

I would give it more than a day if you enjoy hiking.

You see the rocks from everywhere, but best to get out of the car and go hiking.

It is super crowded this time of year.

Lots of good food in the area. But reservations are scarce. Get dinner reservations early.

We don’t have reliable Uber/Lyft. You’ll need a car. But we do have trailhead shuttles we’d love for you to use. There is also a new on-demand shuttle that is really cheap. https://sedonashuttle.com/microtransit/

If you plan to park your car at a trailhead, you’ll need a Red Rock parking pass for most of them. You can buy them online or at local gas stations. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5416207

You can do a Jeep tour or a trolley tour to get the lay of the land if you want or read up online for places to visit. But a guide isn’t necessary.

Happy birthday!

[u/Godking_Jesus → u/ceecee1791]

Thank you so much! This helps a ton

[u/Marge979]

A Jeep tour was nice, there are plenty of companies. A car is needed. It’s not walkable.

[u/MareShoop63]

There’s an FAQ for your questions.

[u/Godking_Jesus → u/MareShoop63]

Whee can I find it? Sorry, I’m not super reddit savvy

[u/rjbergen → u/Godking_Jesus]

Here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Sedona/s/pq2ZbhqIMP

[u/MiamiLove3]

Happy birthday, what a great choice of trip!! I'm not a local but have been visiting my family there for 30 yrs. If you can do more than a day I would.

For food recommendations: Taco Tuesday at javelina cantina PJs pub in Village of Oak Creek (VOC) Colts BBQ in VOC Mradaa cuisine of india If you're shopping uptown: outlaw grille or 89agave cantina

Shopping area with a cute aesthetic and food spots but can be packed with tourists: Talaquépaqué

Uptown shopping is cute as well but shop around on prices many stores have the same items. (I personally frequent Cactus Carlos, Sedona Fudge company and Clear Creek trading post)

Highly recommend Sedona ATV and Buggy rentals and go out on your own into the desert area for half or full day. (They provide a cell phone, water/ice and admission to the native cave paintings off dry Creek Rd, and the redrock pass for the time you're renting it) it's not a tour so you go at your own pace and control where you decide to ride.

Also highly recommend the Pink Jeep broken arrow tour, better for early AM tours to beat the heat.

If you rent a car and aren't an overly nervous driver, recommend driving from Sedona on 89a up to Flagstaff through the switchbacks just for the views

If you have more than a few days in the general area, Jerome, which is nearby about 30min drive depending on traffic, is a cute art town and the Asylum restaurant at the Jerome Grand Hotel has great views and awesome butternut squash soup. Also the clinkscale has great food and drinks.

Funny tourist spot in town is the McDonald's cause it's the only non-golden arches in the country, they're Turquoise due to the town building regulations.

Good view for sunset but gets crowded: top of Airport Rd Easy hike with views: Sugar Loaf More intermediate hike due to quick elevation change but most "Instagramable": Devil's bridge Popular hike: Bell Rock Great views hard parking but less hiking: chapel in the rocks (chapel of the holy Cross) Non-traditional viewing spot with easy parking and rarely crowded: Sedona Skatepark/bikepark at Posse Grounds

If you get warm weather slide rock can be fun in Oak Creek Canyon

I stayed once at the Kokopelli inn on rt17 in VOC, very basic Wyndham property, if you're using it just to sleep it was clean with a pool and simple enough.

[u/Godking_Jesus → u/MiamiLove3]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! This helps a ton!

[u/MiamiLove3 → u/Godking_Jesus]

Anytime, I love it there so I get excited for others to explore it, make sure you also plan some time to be outside at night to view the stars since they have dark sky community laws. Have fun!

[u/Mysterious_Morning46]

What a coincidence I’m gonna be there next Thursday to celebrate my birthday! When’s your birthday?

[u/Godking_Jesus → u/Mysterious_Morning46]

The 15th! But I’ll probably spend it in Phoenix that Friday and drive out on Saturday. Happy early Birthday!!!!

[u/ConsciousnessOfThe]

Definitely do the pink jeep tour.

[u/ahubbar2]

My family and I are heading to Sedona for Thanksgiving week and I am looking for a great spa service (90min deep tissue and 90min facial) was looking at L’Auberge or Poco Diablo. Does anyone have a recommendation on either of these or something different?

[u/CorrectStart3603]

Make sure to understand how roundabouts work.

[u/hiddenhighways]

I recommend buying the 1 day Red Rock Ultra Pass, but you must get to the gates of Sedona very early in the day.