As we drove, the landscape morphed before our eyes. The lush San Diego hills gave way to bolder-strewn peaks and sand dunes in Imperial county, and just past Yuma, we turned north and were rewarded with miles of saguaros, seemingly standing guard over the Sonoran plains.
After hours spent whizzing through the kaleidoscopic desert landscapes, the majestic red mountains and forests of Sedona suddenly appeared like the lost city of Shangri-La.
Various Native American tribes have considered Sedona a sacred site since 8000BC. Drawing tribes from across the Southwest, it was a peaceful meeting place where spiritual ceremonies took place in “the land where Mother Earth’s energy comes out.” Residents there today believe the town was built on something called a vortex, meaning a place where the earth pulses with a healing energy that is especially conducive to meditation, revitalization, and self-exploration. The distinctive place now draws over three million visitors from around the world each year.
I don't pretend to know a thing about vortexes, but as a lifelong city girl, I can tell you that a long weekend in Sedona at the tranquil L'Auberge Resort was perhaps one of the most immersive and restorative sojourns in recent memory.
It's a long drive, but the miles felt like a meditative pilgrimage, adding weight to the immersive experience of truly getting away from it all.
Friday: Road Trip Time
Head east on the I-8 and drive through a wind farm and sand dunes before you reach the boarder town of Yuma. Stop there for gas and to stretch your legs before heading onward to Gila Bend, a dusty town that looks like a post-apocalyptic vision of a once thriving midcentury tourist destination thanks to aging roadside attractions, like Space Age Lodge motel and restaurant, which opened in 1963. Cut north towards Phoenix, bypassing the city along the scenic 303 loop that will take you through miles of saguaro forests on your way to the 1-17N. There the landscape becomes more mountainous.
The drive into Sedona is slow, which you will be grateful for, as it affords the opportunity to take in the spectacular views of the red rock formations and picturesque adobe structures.
Friday Evening
As you pull into town, stop at the award-winning Elote Cafe for the likes of braised buffalo short ribs served with guajillo sauce, homemade flour tortillas and guacamole; pumpkin seed encrusted crispy goat cheese drizzled with arbol honey; duck carnitas; and, of course, the namesake roasted corn with spicy mayo, lime, and cotija cheese. Executive chef and owner, Jeff Smedstad uses sustainable, local, organic ingredients in all his inventive dishes.
Ten minutes down the road, L'Auberge de Sedona is located in the heart of town. Tucked away at the bottom of a long hillside drive on the banks of Oak Creek, the wooded oasis feels incredibly remote.
Enjoy a glass of their excellent prickly pear cactus lemonade while you check-in.
The property has lodge rooms, suites, and cottages. The stand-alone river view cottages feature fireplaces, large porches, lush bedding, a modern bathroom appointed with L'Occitane toiletries, and a special surprise: an outdoor shower.
The leafy walk to your cottage winds through manicured gardens, sculptures by resident artists, and meditation ponds.
Once you are settled in, take a long, leisurely soak under the open sky in your private cedar wood shower. Then, wander back to the main building to take advantage of the area's extensive bottle list at the wine bar before turning in for the night.
Saturday
Order room service and enjoy breakfast and coffee on your oversized deck overlooking the river.
Start your day with a peaceful, guided forest bathing session. Booked through the spa, this is a low-key version of the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku. The certified facilitator will walk you down to the duck beach and guide you through a series of of prompts to enable you to let go of stress and enjoy a total sensory immersion in nature. The friendly guide will direct you to listen to the sounds around you, from the soft buzzing of insects to the babbling of the river in a fun, and truly calming practice.
When the session is over, take your shoes off and go wade into the stream where you will find rows of zen rock formations that other guests have built. The water is bracingly cold, but under the hot Arizona sun, it feels wonderful. Build your own masterpiece before heading back to the cottage to get dried off.
Spend the afternoon exploring the iconic backcountry of Sedona on a Pink Jeep Tour, take part in a Native American ceremony, or pay a visit to the architecturally stunning Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is built directly into the side of the mountain. The front desk can help to arrange local experiences.
Make a reservation at the hotel's signature restaurant, Cress on Oak Creek for dinner. With candle lit tables set along the river, the location could not be more stunning. The menu incorporates locally foraged and sourced ingredients into clean, artful dishes like a delicate beet salad composed of pickled red cabbage, beet infused crème fraiche, roasted beets and toasted pistachio crumble. Entree options for the prix-fixe meal include a stunning dish of kalamatas olive encrusted lamb chops served with feta pomme Dauphine, and desert honey glazed game hen served with roasted brussels sprouts, local honeycomb, and bee pollen salt.
Sunday
Take advantage of a complimentary morning yoga session before having a lavish riverside brunch, or enjoying a lighter breakfast of complimentary, fresh-baked pastries and coffee.
Before you check-out, head to The L’Apothecary at the spa to select herbs, oils, and local botanicals, like rosemary, piñon pine, and juniper, to mix into a custom bath soak or body scrub to take home with you.
Enjoy the diverse landscape on your drive back to San Diego.
Getting There: The drive from San Diego is roughly seven hours of primarily open highway. It is long, but scenic. Alternatively, you can fly to Phoenix and then drive two hours north to reach the property. Once at the hotel, you can take advantage of free shuttle service into town.
301 Little Lane, Sedona, AZ
Property Highlights:
L'Auberge de Sedona is located in the heart of Sedona. The luxury, boutique resort offers 88 luxury accommodations and cottages across 11 acres of manicured grounds. The creek side cottages feature river views, outdoor cedar showers, and wood-burning fireplaces. There are three dining options onsite, all of which boast amazing river views. The L’Apothecary Spa offers a variety of holistic services, and the resort can arrange bespoke experiences from Red Rock hikes and guided trail running to yoga, meditation, and forest bathing. The property is also pet friendly and has onsite upgrades for your furry friends as well.
Elote Cafe in Sedona
Address: 771 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86336
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm-9pm
What to Order: Elotes and lamb adobo
*Pro tip: Be prepared for a wait as the popular restaurant does not take reservations.
Cress on Oak Creek
Address: Onsite at L'Auberge de Sedona
Hours: Daily, 5pm-9pm
What to Order/Style of food: Chose from three course, four course, or chef's tasting menus featuring locally-sourced or sustainably sourced ingredients. The menu changes seasonally and can be found online.
Etch Kitchen & Bar
Address: Onsite at L'Auberge de Sedona
Hours: Breakfast, 7-10:30am; All-Day, 11:30am-10pm; Sunday Brunch, 10am-2pm
What to Order/Style of food: The more casual of the dining options on-site, Etch serves clean, locally sourced options ranging from grain bowls to hamburgers. Eat on the patio overlooking the forest.
Location: 204 N State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
Hours: Daily, 6am-10pm
Located at the top of the hill, just above the resort, Pink Jeep Tours offer partial-day and full-day off-road tours of the surrounding areas. The resort can help you arrange a tour, and a pink Jeep will pick you up.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
780 Chapel Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
Opened in 1956, this church still operates as a place of worship, while drawing tourists from around the world who come to view the spectacular architecture of the building, which was built directly into the side of one of the red rock mountains.
Forest Bathing & Natural Beauty Products at L'Apothecary Spa
Book exclusive activities like the guided natural immersion class and natural bath scrub mixology at L'Apothecary Spa.
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