How do you plan a trip to Sedona?

1. Go Wine Tasting is one of the best things to do in Sedona.

   
   Sedona is home to some of the premier tasting rooms in Arizona. Hot, dry summers and volcanic soil are rich in nutrients for growing grapes.
   
   The Art of Wine in uptown Sedona is a great place to start wine tasting, representing at least 25 wineries—sample wine from makers like Merkin Vineyards, Bodega Pierce, Chateau Tumbleweed, and Laramita Cellars.
   
   One of the best things to do in Sedona, Arizona, is to conduct your wine tour by following the Verde Valley Wine Trail. Print your passport for the trial and take it with you as you go, earning prizes at each winery.
   
   If breweries are more your thing, check out the one in the Tlaquepaque shopping area, the Oak Creek Brewery and Grill. You can also visit the Sedona Beer Company and Belfry Wood Fired Grill and Brewery, to name a few more.

2. Nature and Wildlife.

   
   The season doesn’t matter in Sedona, Arizona, because the weather is always beautiful, with average summer temps in the 90s and low humidity. It’s a great place to spend time outside enjoying nature all year.
   
   The winter average temperatures are in the 50s. While Sedona does get snow occasionally, it’s usually just a dusting and melts off by lunchtime. Even in the winter, you can visit wildlife areas like Coconino National Forest and Slide Rock State Park.
   
   Slide Rock is like a natural waterpark, including a working apple farm. That’s how the area first earned its fame.
   
   If you want to enjoy nature more actively, you can even go rock climbing. Sedona is full of natural rock formations and climbing areas.

3. Shop for Arts and Crafts.

   
   Checking out the artistic offerings is one of the best things in Sedona. There are sculptures and other media. Be sure to visit shops like The Chai Spot, Clear Creek Trading Company, and the Sedona Arts Center.
   
   Spend some time hunting for souvenirs and art to take home during your visit to Sedona. The Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village has many boutique art galleries, shops, and upscale dining options. The quaint cobbled streets also offer plenty of shade if you’re visiting in the heat of the summer.
   
   El Picaflor and Hillside Sedona are other key spots to stop in for some shopping.

4. Horseback Riding is one of the best things to do in Sedona.

   
   One of the most romantic activities in Sedona is horseback riding through the red rocks. Catch a sunset or sunrise with your partner, and enjoy the natural landscape. You’ll find canyons and deserts, saguaro cacti, and other desert plant life.
   
   You’ll remember the iconic views for a long time as you look back on your romantic Sedona trip.

5. Verde Canyon Railroad.

   
   One of the top things to do in Sedona is take a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad. The sightseeing train is a slow, leisurely way to see the landscape. It has other perks, too.
   Rent out a caboose for your whole party, up to six people. Traveling in style with champagne and other gourmet eats in first-class cars is a great way to experience everything Sedona offers.
   
   Combine some of the other things on this list with the railroad tour to get the best of everything. For example, take the stargazing tour in an open-air car and watch the night sky while you ride. It’s a romantic way to tour, and you can also try a wine-tasting trek or a fall colors extravaganza.
   
   The railroad is a great way to experience everything Sedona offers, all in one excursion.

6. Jeep Tours is one of the best things to do in Sedona.

   
   Taking a Jeep through the canyons is a great way to see old standards like Ship Rock or Thunder Mountain. There’s a whole host of rock formations you won’t want to miss, some of which you can drive right past and some you have to view from across the desert. Be sure your list includes Chimney Rock, Coffeepot Rock, Capitol Butte, and Wilson Mountain.
   
   Different Jeep tour companies offer different trails. Ask about the options because some will be more remote and avoid the crowds. Others will take you to specific must-see locations, like the Honanki Heritage Site.

7. Enjoy a Festival.

   
   Festivals are among the best ways to experience Arizona culture when a pandemic isn’t in season. Enjoy everything from Flamenco in the Courtyard concerts at the Tlaquepaque Village to other themed festivals like food trucks, mountain bikes, and film festivals.
   
   If no festivals run during your visit, you can still find other cultural fun things to do in Sedona. Check out the traditional Mexican or Native American culture and décor.
   Southwestern-themed hotels or other buildings are famous for architectural features like wrought-iron railings or gorgeous flowerpots and vines adorning the buildings. These often accompany stucco walls and sloping archways.
   
   There are also ancient cultures to explore. Visit the Palatki Heritage Site, where you’ll find the cliff dwellings of ancient peoples like the Hopi tribe. You can find out even more with a quick stop at the Sedona Heritage Museum.

8. Go Stargazing.

   
   Sedona is a community that limits light pollution on purpose, one of only 20 US communities certified for their night sky views. The others are more remote places like Antelope Island State Park in Utah and James River State Park in Virginia.
   
   Take time out of your busy visit to explore the landscape in the dark on a night excursion. You’ll be able to see the stars better than most places in the nation. You may even want to study which constellations are visible during your visiting season.

9. Hiking is one of the best things to do in Sedona.

   
   Hiking is often free or very cheap if you buy a parking pass. It’s one of the first free things to do in Sedona that people will recommend. One place to start is Airport Loop Trail, which is only about 5k.
   
   It’s not challenging, but the path can get narrow in parts. Make sure you have the right shoes to embark on the journey because, without them, you could slip.
   
   The great thing about this trail is that it gives you an overview of the whole area in one short hike. You can see Airport Mesa, also called Table Top Mountain. It offers an expansive vista of the entire city.
   
   You can still enjoy the view if you don’t want to or physically can’t hike. Drive to the top, and don’t worry about parking. The lot is large enough for many tourists, although it’s incredibly empty at sunrise if you don’t like crowds.
   
   You’ll also find Cathedral Rock along the Airport Loop Trail, one of the natural energy sources known as The Vortexes. There are four specific vortexes in Sedona where you can feel the spiritual realm more strongly.
   
   Oak Creek flows by Cathedral Rock, too, near the Crescent Moon Ranch. It’s a 1930s farmstead home that the forest service restored. It’s now available to rent if you need a place to stay on your trip to Sedona.

10. Red Rock Scenic Byway.

    
    Check out the Red Rock Scenic Byway for hiking and sightseeing. You can also golf or ride bicycles there, and locals recommend stopping at the visitor center to get any maps or trail advice you might want before you start.
    
    Along the way, visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, crafted by Marguerite Brunswig Staude. She studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, and her fantastic craftsmanship is worth a visit.
    
    The byway has many other scenic overlooks and opportunities to soak natural beauty. You’ll find all must-see spots on this 7.5-mile “museum without walls.”

11. Do Yoga at The Vortexes.

    
    Bell Rock is another of the four vortexes, and doing yoga near any of the vortexes helps you capture spiritual energy. The Vortexes occur along natural ley lines. The red rocks in the area have iron deposits, which may contribute to the energy New Age visitors feel.
    
    There are also crystals as part of the natural landscape, another possible reason for the intense energy. Visit the Sedona Crystal Vortex shop afterward to have your aura read and get a massage. You can also try one of many local spas–most have proprietary treatments that include the red clay Sedona is famous for.

12. Natural Wonders.

    
    The things to do in Sedona revolve around the area’s natural beauty. The canyons and red rocks are unique and impressive, and the weather is never bad for hiking, Jeeping, or even shopping outside.