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Top 5 Experiences in Sedona
Late fall and winter can be a great time to visit Sedona, with crisp blue skies, stunning fall foliage into November, and reduced crowds and rates at resorts.
Why Visit?
1) Great Weather
Cool, clear weather is ideal for hiking, photography, and observing the night sky. Sedona has a lighting ordinance limiting nighttime commercial lighting which enables viewing of at least as many planets, stars, galaxies, even satellites can be seen unaided!
2) Top local restaurants
Two of my favorite restaurants in Sedona are The Hudson, with creative cuisine, a sparkling, airy interior and generous food portions (I suggest sharing). There was a young French couple there when we were visiting, and the petite wife looked bewildered by the size of the meatball “appetizer” which she had ordered in addition to her entrée.
Also, worth a visit is the Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill – for the redrock backdrop alone, and dramatic outside torches. The cuisine offers a twist on Southwest cuisine.
Chicken Pot Pie at the Hudson Grille
3) Enchantment Resort
This hotel is a self-contained paradise located in the Coconino National Forest, at the foot of the Boynton Canyon which contains two vortexes the Kachina Woman which provides (feminine energy), and the Knoll (masculine energy).
The bucolic surrounding contains a wealth of outdoor activity options as well as native wildlife. The wildlife we observed which includeddeer and a family of javelina(which look like wild boars) barely looked up from grazing when we passed by them.
The hotel offers a range of restaurants, including a formal restaurant,and a spa experience dining with healthier options. Also, onsite are several swimming pools and Jacuzzis. The outdoor pools are heated, so can still be enjoyed in the cooler seasons.
The resort fee ACTUALLY provides added value by offering included experiences all day and into the evening, including: meditation sessions, exercise classes and presentations on a variety of new age topics, including aura readings, observing signs in nature, vortexes, and more contingent upon the day and season.
4) Top Destination Spa
The MiAmo spa which is contained within the resort offers both traditional massages and other services which span Native American and energetic healing modalities, and has been named a top destination spa in USA!
Sunset in Sedona
So people ask, can you feel the energy of the vortexes? Personally, I could feel the energy when all was quiet, it invoked a dizzy feeling. Also I experienced more vivid and memorable dreams while close to the vortex. You can often tell if you are nearing the proximity of a vortex as the energy emitted will twist the branches on any nearby trees.
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Psychedelic Wonderland in the Desert
Before heading to Phoenix, I asked a friend in the area what he recommended to see and do. He suggested the ‘Electric Desert’ art installation at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I love gardens and have always been fascinated by the majestic Saguaro cactus that punctuate the barren landscape of the Southwest. Though I was a bit skeptical about how enjoyable a light show in the desert would be. Though he heartedly recommended it, so I decided to check it out.
We visited during midday around Thanksgiving, the sun was brilliant, and the temperature was a perfect 75 degrees. Upon entering the garden gates, there is a Dale Chihuly sculpture, and following admission, the gardens meanders into numerous paths to explore. We decided to purchase our tickets for Electric Desert while buying our day-passes, which was a good idea, because when we returned after dusk, a sign flanked the entry way announcing that tickets were SOLD OUT.
We returned for the show after dark. Besides being incredibly cold – despite a sweater and down vest, it was an amazing experience. I was first struck by the otherworldly music that accompanies the exhibits. The installation is divided into zones – so that the garden is illuminated in different colors and patterns with accompanying music. The overall effect was mesmerizing. The designers incorporated the magnificent scale of the landscape by using the mountainside in a strobe display.
The experience was designed for the Desert Botanical Gardens by the Klip Collective, an experiential video shop that uses virtual reality, projection mapping, storytelling and soundscapes to create captivating, immersive sensory experiences around the world. The exhibit extends through – May 12, 2019 – DON’T MISS IT!
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Diane Lockwood specializes in experiential travel for enjoyment, enrichment, and relaxation. My travel adventures have helped me appreciate the diversity of cultures, history, food and overall character that help shape a region. I’d like to share my passion for travel with you, and help you design memorable experiences for you, your friends, or family.
I’ve travelled extensively across the USA, Canada, and Europe, and a received a travel certificate from Norwalk Community College.
If you’re interested in planning a trip, or if you have any questions, Diane can be reached at
Email: diane@dianesbucketlisttravel.com
Telephone:1.203.295-1084
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How to experience the romantic Venice of your dreams
It seems wherever you travel in Europe you will find an area –that bills itself as the Venice of fill in blank, “Little Venice” in London, “Of the North” in the Nyhavn area of Copenhagen, the “Venice of Poland” Wroclaw etc. The reason these destinations were named as such, was to convey the romantic beauty and waterfront locations of their “Venice”.
On a recent trip to Italy in late June, I wanted to have the mythical perfect Venice trip experience with my husband. Late June is not the best time to visit Venice, as it can be quite hot, and crowded. However, summer is the best time of year for us to travel for a 2-week trip, so I thought this would be a great way for us to end our Italian vacation.
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Day:1
Non-stop Flight JFK to Seattle
Visit Pike’s Place Market, where you can see the legendary fish tossing, and enjoy a fresh croissant and café au lait to rival the best in Paris. Travel across town to cobblestoned Pioneer Park Place to learn about the history of Seattle on Bill Speidel’s Underground tour.
Hotel: Inn at the Market, Seattle
Day:2
Day trip to Bainbridge Island
Take the ferry from the downtown Seattle pier to Bainbridge Island. On a clear day the ferry ride offers a panoramic view of Seattle’s skyline. Visit Eagle Harbor for the unique shops, galleries, and restaurants, including Blackbird Bakery, a delicious bakery/coffee shop. On the north side of the island, you’ll find the peaceful and naturalistic gardens at the Bloedel Reserve, which includes a formal Japanese tea garden.
Hotel: Inn at the Market, Seattle
Day:3
Seattle Art & Space Needle/Chihuly Gardens
Visit the Seattle Art Museum with an impressive collection of contemporary art, glass, and First Nations artifacts. The museum shop offers local artisan created jewelry, blown glass and more. Also affiliated with this museum is the Asian Art museum located on trendy Capitol Hill, admission is free with admission to the Seattle Art Museum.
Hotel: Inn at the Market, Seattle
Day:4
Seaplane to San Juan Islands
Board a seaplane from downtown Seattle to San Juan Island’s Roche Harbor. The San Juan Islands are located northwest of Seattle and offer pristine vistas,wildlife, quaint harbors, with unique stores and gourmet restaurants.
Hotel: Friday Harbor House, Friday Harbor
Day:5
4th of July on San Juan Island – Sites & Vistas
Set up a chair on Main Street to enjoy the 4th of July parade. Following the parade, join the community picnic where you can enjoy music, a pie-eating content, and the best barbeque in town!
Visit the historic American and English Camps that were occupied by the respective military forces when the territorial ownership of the island was being contested in 1859. Lime Kiln Point State Park is considered one of the best places in the world to view Orca whales. Dinner at the Friday Harbor House, on a scenic bluff overlooking Friday Harbor, provides a perfect vantage for the fireworks display.
Hotel: Friday Harbor House, Friday Harbor
Day:6
Explore the island or Orcas or Lopez Islands
San Juan island offers a range of activities, including tours of San Juan Vineyard that produces red & white varietals.Pelindaba Lavender Farm is a great place to relax and sample lavender ice cream, pick your own lavender, or shop in the onsite store which offers a wide array of lavender products. At Krystal Acres Alpaca farm you can visit the herd, and browse products made from Alpaca wool.
Visit Lopez Island to cycle on flat roads, take to the sea on a whale watch, or visit Orcas Island where you can hike Mt Constitution and savor the views as well as visit the historic downtown with a selection of bespoke shops and fine restaurants.
Hotel: Friday Harbor House, Friday Harbor
Day:7
Vancouver – Mountains meet the water
Take a short flight from Seattle to Vancouver, BC to experience one of the most beautiful and dramatic
cities in North America, with a rich history.
Scenic Stanley Park, is a perfect place to explore by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage. The Vancouver Art
Gallery, contains the best collection of British Columbia based visual arts. Atmospheric cobblestoned Gastown, offers a range of contemporary restaurants and shops.
Also, the Museum of Anthropology displays a collection of traditional and contemporary art from Northwest Coast First Nations people, including totem poles, Haida houses, other artisan created displays.Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in North America and offers a rich history, which you can browse or arrange for a historical or food walking tour. Nearby Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Gardens offers a glimpse of a classic Chinese formal garden.
Hotel: Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
Day:8
Vancouver – Cultural Heritage
Overlooking the sea, the dramatic Museum of Anthropology displays a collection of traditional and contemporary art of the region, including totem poles, Haida houses, and artisan displays. The soaring glass building itself is an architectural gem, inspired by the post-and-beam architecture of northern Northwest Coast First Nations people. Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in North America and offers a rich history, which you can browse or arrange for a historical or food walking tour. Nearby Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Gardens offers a glimpse of a classic
Chinese formal garden.
Hotel: Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
Day:9
Vancouver – Home
Flight from Vancouver international airport.
