Sedona, AZ Weekend Getaway

 Road trip!!

Friday July 7, 2023:  We got out of Dodge at 11:30 a.m.  Sedona is 1.5 to 2 hour drive north of Phoenix. Check in time isn’t until 3 so we went Uptown and walked around the shops and bellied up to the bar at Canyon Breeze. I got a Vortex Breeze which was pineapple juice, rum, and blue Curaçao.  Recipe also contains coconut something or other but I’m allergic so we left that part out. Refreshing.  

Paul had a local beer. We wandered around back to the car and headed to the resort. We got settled into our room and then headed to the grocery store to get beer and peanuts for him, water for us. Back to our home away from home for the weekend, we walked around the property, checked out the pool/jacuzzi area, which was a little too toasty mid day.

Then we relaxed until it was time to go to dinner at Dahl & DiLuca. We ate there last time. It was so good we decided to go back. It did not disappoint. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable. We ended up both getting the prix fixe menu. Paul got his with the offered wine pairing. 

Starter was a glass of “Liquid Love”. It was an Italian wine, crisp and not too sweet, almost like a palate cleanser. Very good. 

First Course: The Antipasti - Caprese d Amore. Tomato, mozzarella, basil, grilled portobello.  It was so good that Paul actually ate the tomatoes, and he doesn’t like tomatoes! The portobello was completely delicious. 

Primi: Tortellini Primavera - Cheese tortellini, lemon reduction sauce, fresh veggies, finished with pine nuts.  Scrumptious.

Entrata: there were two choices - Vitelli Marsala or Shrimp Fiorentina. Anybody who knows us would already guess that he got the veal, and I got the shrimp. The veal was in a classic mushroom marsala wine sauce served with orzo pilaf.

The shrimp were giant prawns, sautéed scampi style with lemon, wine, herb butter, served over orzo primavera pilaf.  

Dolce Decadente: there were two choices - Spumoni Bomba or Lemon Lavendar Panna Cotta. Again predictable. He got the gelato and I got the lemon.  The Bombo was strawberry, pistachio, chocolate gelato coated in a chocolate shell with fresh whipped cream.

The panna cotta was surrounded by blueberry sauce. 

Highly recommend.  

They had a nice ceiling game going on too but not a cool as Elvira’s in Tubac  

Saturday July 8, 2023

Not a very good nights sleep but what else is new?  My stomach was grumbling “what the hell” because I don’t normally eat like that.  Also had to wait an extraordinary long time for the coffee maker to do its thing.  On the bright side, it’s an absolutely beautiful morning on the balcony. Enjoying the sunrise, no birds chirping. I wonder what’s up with that?  It’s a delightful 68° with the slightest bit of a breeze.

We haven’t really planned anything in particular for today except breakfast here at the resort (included) and Paul wants to go to the heritage museum.  Now off to enjoy the jacuzzi before I SF&P (shower, fluff, and puff) and get the day going.  

 Jucuzzi experience looked like scene from I Love Lucy. *SOME*ONE* (whose initials are PS and it wasn’t me) got a little carried away with the bubbles. EiYiYi. 😝

Breakfast was fresh fruit and huevos rancheros. Meh. I did eat much of that. 

We went Uptown and dinked around for a while (I stole that from Connie). We drove by the museum and Paul said I was right. We were there last time. Excuse me? I was what?  We decided we didn’t need to do that again. We took a scenic drive thru Oak Creek where there is actually a creek. 

There was Native American Jewelry road side setup with lots of vendors. Support the locals.  Paul bought me a beautiful necklace.  It’s hand made in Sedona, silver swirl with a turquoise stone in the center. She said the swirl represents wind, which is energy rejuvenation, out with the old energy, in with the new. Turquoise is the symbol of protection. I guess that means I should be energized and protected.   

We continued up past Slide Rock. The parking lot was full and there was a big line of vehicles waiting in line to get in as vehicles leave. Good luck with that. It was not even noon.

We decided to get a light lunch since dinner reservations aren’t until 8:15. I don’t know if I can even stay up that late!!!  We went to the Golden  Goose. I had salad with 1/2 sandwich and he had soup with 1/2 sandwich. He got a Ruben and I got turkey with cream cheese and cranberry on grilled cranberry hazelnut bread. It was very good. Here’s a pic of the salad, cuz look how pretty and fresh. Paul said nobody wants to see a pic of my half sammy. 

 

Back to the room for some R&R. 

Elote Cafe called in the afternoon to confirm our reservation. I asked if they had anything earlier. After a quick check, she said we could seat you at the bar at 6:15.   No thank you. Then she said she could seat us on the patio at 6:45. It’s covered and has fans and misters. Okay. We left around 5 pm to knock around town before dinner.

I thought I met some new friends but it turns out they were pigs. But look how cute they are in their cute attire and check out their polished piggies.  Right before 6 I  received a text that our table is ready. Hmmm. I called and she said since I had requested earlier, they had a table open up so we could either go now or they would hold it until our 6:45. On our way.  The patio was really nice. It was well covered and shaded. The fans and misters were very strategically placed so it was actually perfect. No wind force, no water dripping. The food was amazing stating with incredible salsa with the chips. I ordered Smoked Pork Cheek served on grandma’s corn cake (like a pancake) with a buttermilk cumin drizzle. So delicious. He got the Brisket Enchiladas which he said were really good. For dessert the server recommended three of his favorite so we went with his top fav, the Pastel de Elote con Cajeta. It’s a sweet corn cake, which he said was like cornbread but not a gritty, served with goat milk caramel and vanilla agave ice cream. 

I had to take a second pic of this to see the pork.
 It was super tender and delicious. 

Totally understand why this is his favorite. 

While we were savoring dessert the chef/owner walked by the other end of the patio. I recognized him from the picture on their website when we were making reservations. Anyhow, I think someone wanted an autograph of his book. He chatted with them for a while. And then, as he was walking back, he stopped at our table and said “was everyone okay tonight?”  I said “excellent!” He said “thank you for coming in this evening”. I think the other people on the patio are slightly jealous!  🤣

Sunday July 9, 2023

Another beautiful morning, enjoying my coffee on the patio. It’s a perfect 68° again with the slightest of a breeze and incredibly quiet. I must find out why the birds do not serenade here.  Maybe they sleep in. 

Today is checkout day. We may or may not have breakfast here. They serve until 9:30.  

After we check out, we’re going to stop at the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. It’s a beautiful, outdoor, very Southwest, shopping mall. I think that is where the expression “Sedona Vibe” is all about. We will wonder around there for a while before hitting the trail back home. 

Plan B. Home Sweet Home. Neither one of us were hungry for breakfast and being early risers we were completely ready to leave at 7:30. Since the Tlaquepaque doesn’t open until 10 we decided to head home. 

Review of Accommodations. 

We stayed at Sunset Chateau, same place as five years ago, different suite. The property is beautiful and the suite was well laid out. There was also a table with chairs between the Living Room and Patio and a bathroom which I didn't photograph. 

Living Room

Kitchen

Bedroom

In room jacuzzi 

Patio

View from Patio

Bridge in the Garden

My only complaint about the Sunset Chateau, which is minor, is the bathroom lighting is not good so a lighted makeup mirror would have helped.  Note to self: purchase travel size lighted mirror before next vacay.  I already picked one out and will order it tomorrow when I'm on my computer instead of my iPad.  

Big thank you to my sis for taking care of the kit-kat while we were gone. 💖

Speaking of next vacay - next stop, girls trip to ALASKA in August.