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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!