Weekend Getaway - Sedona, AZ

Special Edition Weekender

This is actually our Christmas trip.  Instead of exchanging Christmas gifts we decided to go away for a weekend.  Paul did the research and picked the resort.

We checked into Sunset Château Friday afternoon.  It’s a charming place.  He picked the Bella Vista Suite which has a kitchenette, Jacuzzi tub and fireplace (pictures at the end of this entry).  It also has a private patio, some others are shared.  Our view from the patio overlooks the pool and garden area below and the famous red rocks of Sedona straight out. 

Relaxing at one of the many adorable spots on the property

We went Uptown to nosey around the shops a little before dinner.  We stopped at a visitor center along the way to get a map and see if there was anything to do that we might not know about.  Unbeknownst to us, it was a timeshare, tour tickets place.  The guy offered us a deal on a gentle jeep tour (as opposed to the bootie bouncers).  We declined. He offered us a $100 meal voucher to a specific restaurant if we first went to the timeshare schpeal.  We declined.  Paul asked if there was anything historical to visit and he again suggested the jeep tour because it points out places where westerns were filmed back in the day.  Then he got rude and said “that’s how I make my money, I don’t make money giving out free information”.  I said “okay well than we won’t waste anymore of your time”.  Paul asked if Uptown was out the parking lot to the right.  He said “yes, but there are 15 timeshare kiosk, I don’t recommend you go there”.  WOW!  He should probably change his monument sign from “Visitor Information, Free Maps” to say something like visitors buying things welcome, no free info to others. 

We went to Uptown, where, by the way, we didn’t see one timeshare kiosk!  We did see a few places for jeep tours and a couple of other place offering tickets to multiple adventures. We also saw the REAL Visitor's Center. We wandered around a little then stopped into 89 Agave Cantina for a Happy Hour Margarita.  M-M-Good.  Back to the room to change for dinner. 

We went to Dahl & DeLuca Restaurante Italiano.  The restaurant offers a free shuttle service so we decided to use that instead of driving.  It’s not far, but that way we could both enjoy adult beverages.  The food and service were both great, but… isn’t there always a but?  Half way through our meal the piano man and bass player duo started up and they were extremely loud. Unfortunately they were set-up right behind Paul’s seat. That was the end of any possibility of conversation. :sigh: Back to the food.  

I started off with a Cherry Vodka Lemonade

We split a Caesar Salad.  No picture but it was good.  
I had decided on the seafood pasta but we were both wooed by the specials.

He had the Veal Chop

I had Seabass topped with Lump Crab Meat

Both entrees were served with roasted fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus.  

We split a Lemon Lavender Cheesecake with Fresh Berries for dessert

If not for the super loud music it would have been perfect.  We waited about three minutes for the shuttle to pick us up and back to the resort. 

Saturday morning I enjoyed the in-room Jacuzzi before I showed, fluffed and puffed.  We went down to the lobby for breakfast which is included in the room rate.  

Little garden areas all around the property.
Here I am on my ass...
The photo is kind of dark so you can barely see the metal art donkey

The breakfast area is right off the lobby.  They had coffee, tea, juice, milk, hot and cold cereal.  The server came over and gave us each a bowl of fresh fruit and said breakfast was an omelet and showed us a list of things to choose from.  Onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, bacon, ham, cheese.  It was served with a super fresh and flaky croissant.  I’m not much of an omelet fan so I only ate a little of it.  I had a little bit of oatmeal to hold me over because I knew we wouldn’t be having lunch.

We left the resort and stopped at a little art fair. Paul bought me a silver bracelet with etching and inlayed turquoise.  It’s handmade (as opposed to pressed off an assembly line) and the nice Native American lady said the feather means it carries prayers to the great Spirit, etching are the keepers of thoughts and dreams as well as offering healing and protection.  He bought it for me because I liked it but WOW, if it does all that! :wink: Then we ventured Uptown and bought tickets for the Sedona Trolley.  We walked around for about 30 minutes until trolley time.  The trolley was fun.  The tour guide was great and very informative.  It was a 55 minute jaunt with two stops for photo ops.

Yes as a matter of fact that DOES say Deadmans Pass Trail...
Inviting aye?

Boynton Canyon is one of the four Vortex spots in Sedona.  You can read all about Vortex Energy here.

We went into Canyon Breeze and had Prickly Pear Margaritas.  

Then we went to the heritage museum that the trolley guide pointed out.  That was interesting.  They have a lot of memorabilia of the early settlers.  Back to the main drag for ice cream at the House Made Ice Cream place. It was good but not as good as I wanted it to be.

We left Uptown and went to the Tlaquepaque shopping area and mowsied around.  

This store sold specialty olive oils, vinegar, and whisky! 

I found a little piece of Italy at the Tlaquepaque!

We scoped out a restaurant for dinner.  

Back to the resort.  I went into the office got grab a coffee and talked to the owner for a while.  She bought this place 16 years ago.  She’s still renovating parts of it.  She plans on putting a rooftop patio over the lobby area someday where they will serve alcohol and appetizers.  That would be cool.

Back to the patio relaxing to enjoy the beautiful weather and the beautiful view.

We decided on Rene at Tlaquepaque for dinner.  We got a nice quiet booth. Yay.

We split the escargot appetizer

They were prepared traditionally with parsley garlic butter. They were nice and tender but truth be told I thought they needed a little pinch of salt. Paul also had wild mushroom soup.

I had Seared Scallops

He had Duck with Sun-Dried Cherries

 Both entrees were severed with wild rice and baby carrots.

We split the Chocolate Mousse Cake for dessert.

The food was good, the service was great, the ambiance was excellent. 

Sunday morning and time to head back to home-sweet-home.

Morning coffee on the patio... emmm, maybe not.  My weather app said 42. Not bad.  I put on my jacket and pashmina and headed out with my coffee.  Brrrrr.  I “opened” the weather app and it said 32, feels like 21. Hmmm 21? Back inside, turned on the fireplace and enjoyed my morning coffee without numb fingers and nose!

We went down to see what they are offering for breakfast because I didn't want eggs again. We decided if it was something eggy we’d skip the breakfast there, which is included in the stay, and go to the Coffee Pot.  I had breakfast there when I was in Sedona in August and it was good.  The resort's special de jour was a breakfast burrito.  When I said we were going to just check out the owner offered to make me French Toast.  That was nice but we checked out and went to the Coffee Pot.  I probably should have taken her up on her offer!  The Coffee Pot was busy but not too bad. I think we only waited about 10-15 minutes. While we were waiting I got a photo op with my twin!

FlashBackPhoto ~ This one from when I was there in August

The food was okay.  Paul had Eggs Benedict which is said was nothing special.  I had a short stack of Blueberry Pancakes and they were nothing special either. 

After breakfast I wanted to swing by the museum again.  I saw some jewelry in the gift shop that I liked but didn’t get when we were there. I’m having whatever the opposite is of buyer’s remorse.  It was handmade by local natives and reasonably priced.  The museum doesn’t open until 11.  We had about an hour so we decided to do the Sedona’s Walk Through Time.  It’s a pathway overlooking the canyon with 29 historical markers. Yes I counted them!  

It starts with the original settlers, then the western movie making years, through becoming the City it is today.  After we meandered our way down and back up the road, we zipped through the museum.  I bought earrings and a ring and then we hit the road for home. 

It was a great weekend.  I highly recommend the Sunset Château.  Here’s some pictures of our suite: