When you receive a last minute press trip invite to Sedona, Arizona on 11/11, you go. Those in alignment numbers represent a powerful opportunity to connect with your inner self and begin some kick ass spiritual growth. It also signifies that a period of change is about to start within you. And literally earlier that week, the shift was already in motion. So I delved into the energy vortex abyss that is the high vibe of Sedona for a magical weekend!
But first we had to swing by the brand new Cove Mesa Vineyard in Cornville, AZ to enjoy a wine tasting and meet the owner, Cindy Molin, ironically (or not) also from Pennsylvania by way of Pittsburgh. In the heart of Cornville, AZ and only a half hour from Sedona, it’s an easy way to spend the day enjoying the rainbow of flavors while a singer croons at the other end of the tasting room.
Outside the brand new Cove Mesa Vineyard, come and sit a spell.Welcome inside the brand new Cove Mesa Vineyard!
My absolute favorite was Cindy’s Cuvee all day at Cove Mesa Vineyard. I loved it so much she sent me home with a bottle!Cindy is certainly a feeder as she started brining me out snacks straight away at Cove Mesa Vineyard.You HAVE to get the duck pate at Cove Mesa Vineyard, it is comparative to French style and so satisfying.The rose and reds were also delicious, there are multiple flights you can sample to find your favorite at Cove Mesa Vineyard!
After spending all afternoon chatting with Cindy, the singer, staff and making fast friends, I was on the road again with a full belly to my lodging for the weekend at Arabella Hotel Sedona. The locals told me to take the back roads next time as I did get snarled in traffic as Sedona only has two main roads around the central hub. Also fill up your gas tank at the Circle K too, it was so cheap comparative to the valley!
Arabella Hotel Sedona is walkable to many attractions in Sedona and has stunning views.
Arabella Hotel Sedona has bicycles available for guests to use as well.Checkin was smooth after I met the team and entered my second floor room, I was greeted with this view at Arabella Hotel Sedona.My room was clean, comfortable, warm and spacious at Arabella Hotel Sedona.Literally right behind me was a hiking path to the sunset trail at Arabella Hotel Sedona.I made it just in time to capture that sunset glow at Arabella Hotel Sedona.A romantic fire pit and views were on the first level of the trail at Arabella Hotel Sedona.Talk about an outstanding perk to the property at Arabella Hotel Sedona!Pull up a chair and grab a blanket for some stargazing and a snuggle at Arabella Hotel Sedona.Catching a glimpse of the pool at sunset, make sure to pack a bathing suit for the hot tubs at Arabella Hotel Sedona!
Soon it was time for dinner and I was in for a country western treat! Stagecoach Sedona is fine dining by day, bull riding and getting rowdy by night. With an impressive steak list and huge smoker out front, it was a no-brainer for this carnivore to get the meat board to taste my way through the smoky haze.
Dark skies make the sign glow at Stagecoach Sedona.One of the first things I see when I enter, this bull just planted in the middle of the dining area at Stagecoach Sedona.There’s a nice relaxed bar area off to the left at Stagecoach Sedona.I am addicted to these blood orange mezcalitas… like literally couldn’t stop!A live country musician plays at Stagecoach Sedona.Artichoke dip with thick wedges of bread was especially decadent at Stagecoach Sedona.Portabella mushroom fries with a glaze sauce were a nice spin at Stagecoach Sedona.Chicken wings with the perfect not too sweet or spicy sauce were outstanding at Stagecoach Sedona.This lavender gin Purple Rain cocktail was visually stunning at Stagecoach Sedona.Passion fruit sparkler(tequila) and Sedona sunset (mezcal) at Stagecoach Sedona.A salad because greens are good for you!Blackberry sparkler hit the spot at Stagecoach Sedona!Deconstructed mashed potatoes were a carb lovers dream at Stagecoach Sedona!The butcher’s board is a meat eaters paradise at Stagecoach Sedona.A side of asparagus for good, healthy measure at Stagecoach Sedona.The cookie on a griddle smelled like a bakery and tasted like gooey heaven at Stagecoach Sedona.And the grand finale, this young man dressed in a suit with his wedding party family ready to ride at Stagecoach Sedona.The guy in charge took it easy on this kid at Stagecoach Sedona, later not so much with the adults. It was amusing to watch and cheer on all the good sports who signed a waiver first of course.
Soon I was snuggled in bed and cranked that heat up, it was freezing cold to me compared to Phoenix and 4,000 feet elevation so I was still acclimating. I fell asleep easily and woke up pretty groggy but refreshed. That morning I enjoyed the elevated and inclusive hot & cold breakfast at the hotel with fresh eggs, chicken sausage, berries, juice and coffee. It hit the spot and got me motivated for the next part of my adventure – energy work!
Welcome to the High Vibe Collective in Sedona, Arizona. The parking lot connects with Stagecoach Sedona and they were hosting an art show so I poked around there first since I was fashionable early!Stephanie, the owner of High Vibe Collective in Sedona, AZ was basking in the sunshine when I approached.The interior was relaxing as soon as I stepped inside.Very zen energy at Sedona High Vibes.A room meant for community at Sedona High Vibes.Another inviting space at Sedona High Vibes.Obsessed with this artwork at Sedona High Vibes, unfortunately the artist is no longer with us but this lives on in her honor.My reiki and Shamanic energy healer Deva Vidya who was taking care of me ironically (or not) used to go to the same yoga studio as me back in Manayunk in Philadelphia.Deva Vidya and owner of High Vibe Collective, Stephanie, glowing in Sedona, AZ.The room where we did about an hour of some not too intense energy work, I certainly felt about 10 pounds lighter when I left and shed a lot of what was dragging me down.Deva used all of these tools when working with me on the table at Sedona High Vibes.Afterwards we sat and talked for a few minutes, pulled this card and discussed its meaning at Sedona High Vibes. It was a sign I’m on the right path.
Right after this wonderful experience, it was time to hightail it to one of my favorite places in Sedona, the Buddha Stuppa to meet with Ray Anaya for a hike and vortex meditation experience. Because sometimes video speaks louder than words, please enjoy this YouTube video I made when I first moved to Arizona about this sacred space.
Ray and I arrived at the exact same time in the exact same parking space. Sedona has this magical way of embracing you into its loving arms and if you don’t relax into the vortex, it will promptly spit you out too. We became fast friends as well, instantly finishing each other’s thoughts and sentences.
The top of the Buddha Stupa zoomed in so you can see inside.Ray was an excellent, peaceful guide who also books AirBnb Experiences as well.When I first visited in 2017, the buddha was adorned with trinkets and offerings. Now clean as a whistle!You can see the stones glistening with crystal energy in Sedona.Off we go on a hike behind the Buddha Stupa.There is magic everywhere you look in Sedona.Chimney rock right above us as we keep going up the red rocks.Simply breathtaking in Sedona, every direction was outstanding.We climbed up and around until we came upon a flat slab to meditate on where Ray walked us through a mini meditation.It was a popular spot that day as we found friends shooting merchandise not far away!
Right after that, I was famished! My dinner reservation at Shorebird Sedona wasn’t until late that night but I bet on following my intuition and headed there during the early bird special time which worked out perfectly – and also with the sunset too. If you have time, visit the Airport Vortex for sunset, check the time beforehand and plan to arrive an hour early. If you stay at the Arabella, that option is included from the comfort of your hotel.
Arriving at the perfect time to Shorebird Sedona.The interior of Shorebird Sedona glowing at night.A huge wine list available at Shorebird Sedona.Some of the best views are at the bar at Shorebird Sedona, no reservation needed at the bar but first come first served.If you can score outside seating with a reservation, even better at Shorebird Sedona.I imagine this will be me and a girlfriend sometime soon at Shorebird Sedona!Another perk of arriving early, I was able to spend time chatting and goofing off with Chef Anthony Gordillo who is the mastermind behind this space and Sunday’s brunch.One of the only restaurants in Sedona with a solid sake menu, it’s time for some tastings at Shorebird Sedona like this cloudy Sayuri.Oysters flown in fresh daily, these are from Boston and tasted like a piece of East Coast home at Shorebird Sedona.The tuna egg rolls are spicy and thick with the fatty fish that melts in your mouth at Shorebird Sedona.Crab cakes with all crab no fillers at Shorebird Sedona. Chef and I joked around how some are filled with what tastes like sawdust but not here!Salmon belly was deliciously slurp-able at Shorebird Sedona. I think I have a new fave!Blackened cod which was cooked through was a nice touch of that fire flavor at Shorebird Sedona.Sake has about the same percentage of alcohol as wine or beer, this Nigori was not too sweet but the cloudier the better in my world at Shorebird Sedona.Chef started just sending out delicious items like this oh so fresh yellowtail at Shorebird Sedona.Always a fan of a huge roll, the (Rocky) Balboa roll at Shorebird Sedona was more than enough for a meal.And for dessert, the bananas foster which I shared with my table neighbors as it was so huge at Shorebird Sedona.Also for dessert, this jelly shot sake which was like drinking jello with bubbles in it that you ate… it’s an experience to try for sure at Shorebird Sedona.
That night I took a hot bath, cranked up the heat and snuggled in the comfy bed with a full belly and vibrating high from all the energy work during the day. The next morning my only plan was to sleep in and catch up on rest as I had a late brunch to look forward to and driving back to Phoenix. After I woke up and grabbed some complimentary coffee, I went back to the lobby and got some more info about the hotel and learned there is a whole itinerary for the hotel. Make sure to check it out and keep your schedule open to allow fun things like S’mores night, sky-gazing with an expert, yard games, live music, local beer and wine night, doggie social and hiking Margs Draw. You could literally never leave the hotel if you wanted! And on that note, one of the best brunches I’ve had in a while…
Mole Cuisine, also a brainchild of Wild Thyme Group, intrigued me as soon as Chef Tony (from Shorebird) said he used his grandmother’s chocolate mole sauce recipe. Abuela always does it right! So I braced myself for a light brunch but yet again, the staff had other plans which meant I had leftovers for a week… not kidding.
The restaurant is to the right of the hotel and attached the the larger pool area and breakfast spot at Mole Cuisine.Mole Cuisine also has views of all the red rocks and outdoor seating.Forever in love with skulls, the decor was right up my alley at Mole Cuisine.The dining area looking beautiful and I as eyeing those boho chandeliers for ideas at Mole Cuisine.Frida looks over the dining area at Mole Cuisine.Views inside the dining area too at Mole Cuisine.The bar if you just want a delicious drink at Mole Cuisine.These were mocktails, I swear at Mole Cuisine! Here we have the mezcalarita, regular margarita and guava.The shrimp ceviche at Mole Cuisine was like delicious soup and those homemade chips were the best.Bone marrow elote is mind blowing, just make sure you mix it all up first at Mole Cuisine.Not usually on the brunch menu, the tostado layers of flavors slapped at Mole Cuisine.Steak and eggs (grilled carne asada) is one of my favorite protein-packed breakfasts at Mole Cuisine with a spicy kick.Had to try the braised beef enchilada at Mole Cuisine, the meat just shredded apart full of juicy flavor.The chicken chocolate mole was one of my many favorites as expected, I wanted to lick the plate with that sauce at Mole Cuisine.
After that huge brunch, I had to go walk it off before I heading back to Phoenix and stretch my legs (and belly). After an easy checkout, I headed over to the picturesque village of Tlaquepaque. During this holiday season, Arabella had a $50 gift card gifted to hotel guests. Stay tuned on their social media for additional deals!
Tlaquepaque (pronounced to lock your pocket) Village in Sedona is an artists mecca.I had to get a souvenir of this amazing experience and bought this Native American made bear paw & earrings in honor of my reading in Sedona at one of the oldest shops in the village.Now to hibernate like this guy for the rest of the winter.
