Along with the ceremony, the winning couple receives a reception with flowers, cake, a romantic suite for the night, photographer, champagne toast and breakfast in bed.

To enter, visit GoGayArizona.com and download the official rules. The deadline to enter is September 15, 2010 and the winner will be announced October 2, 2010 at the Pride Guide Booth at the Rainbow Festival in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

Additional services provided by Sedona Cake Couture, VanDamme Weddings, Sunfellow Photography and Bliss Extraordinary Floral.

Located along the beautiful Red Rock Scenic Byway, Sedona’s gateway to world-famous red rock country and Arizona’s first All American Road, Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa, a 219-room property is only 90 minutes north of Phoenix. Guest accommodations feature two-room suites with separate living rooms and private patios or balconies, with breathtaking views of Sedona’s majestic red rocks or the Sedona Golf Resort. In-room amenities include fireplace, flat screen televisions, minibar, high-speed Internet access, microwave oven, coffeemaker, and iron/ironing board. Additionally, the resort boasts three heated pools, two restaurants, and has the area’s largest conference facilities in Northern Arizona with 20,500 square feet of meeting space. Complete meetings packages are available.

Reservations: Call 1.877.2REDROCK. Or book online at www.hiltonsedonaresort.com.

Call or go online to make your reservations during Kokopelli Suites’ 48-hour sale August 24th and 25th for almost any travel dates through 2010.

During this sale, suites will be available for Sunday through Thursday travel dates at 50% off rack rates and a 30% discount on Friday and Saturday nights through the end of the year.

Guests can book online using promo code 50 or by calling the hotel directly at 800-789-7393.

There are a few rules you have to follow in order to get the deal, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. First, you have to book between 12:01 am on Tuesday August 24th and end at midnight on Wednesday August 25th – it’s a 48-hour sale, after all. The sale excludes the holiday weekends of Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas weekends, but there are tons of other dates of which you can take advantage. And you’ll have to pay for the balance of the stay in full at the time of booking, and the reservation is non-cancelable and non-refundable… no biggie since we know you’ll be so excited to get outta town and explore Sedona that nothing will get in the way of your vacation getaway.

Upscale Sedona Lodging On Sale 50% Off

Now, about the hotel itself: Kokopelli Suites, a AAA three diamond rated property located in West Sedona, has undergone a four -phased $2 million renovation of the hotel, which was completed this year. The hotel won the 2009 “Best of Sedona Hotel Management” award and prides itself in offering upgraded amenities such as plasma TVs, down bedding and organic bath products. In addition, guests receive complimentary snacks at check-in and a buffet breakfast each morning included in the price of their suite.

For more information, visit www.kokopellisuites.com or call 1-800-789-7393.

We plan a trip for our honeymoon in August to stay in Sedona for 1 week but want to drive to Phoenix and or Flagstaff. Can you suggest the best flight to take into what airport and then renting a car?  We will be flying out of a different location than where we fly in to, but do not know exactly where yet as we want to be flexible. We have a time share in Sedona for the week, but can you recommend a romantic place for a dinner or two?

Thank you,

Sandy and Bob

Photo credit: SMercury98 CC by 2.0

Hi, Sandy and Bob. Best wishes and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

If you’re coming from or through Los Angeles (LAX) you could look for a flight on Horizon Air (horizonair.com) into Flagstaff – just 40 beautiful minutes from Sedona. (Note to readers: Sadly, Horizon Air will no longer service the Flagstaff and Prescott, Arizona airports after August 22, 2010. However, US Airways Express continues to fly into Flagstaff from Phoenix.)

However, most people – and I recommend you do the same – fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), rent a car at the airport, and drive 90 minutes up to Sedona. You’ll see a bit of Phoenix when you fly in… you could even pop over to Old Town Scottsdale for lunch and a bit of walking through air-conditioned shops and galleries (although do be prepared for “seasonably warm temperatures!”) Drive on up to Sedona and anytime that week, you can take a beautiful 40-minute drive up 23 miles of Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff for a great day trip.

[Another aside to readers: Sandy and Bob have their lodging squared away with their Sedona timeshare, but if you're looking for a romantic bed & breakfast or resort in Sedona for a once-in-a-lifetime trip like your honeymoon, I recommend El Portal Luxury Hacienda (elportalsedona.com) Sedona Cathedral Hideaway Bed & Breakfast (sedonacathedralhideaway.com), Canyon Villa Bed & Breakfast (canyonvilla.com), the Enchantment Resort & Mii Amo Spa (enchantmentresort.com), and L'Auberge Resort (lauberge.com)]

You two will find romantic dining at Savannah’s (savannahssteakhouse.com) and L’Auberge (lauberge.com). For an alternative take on romantic dining, swing by New Frontiers Natural Marketplace (1420 West Highway 89A – no website) and pick up some of their yummy prepared foods and a great bottle of wine (with a twist-off) and head up Oak Creek Canyon or Schnebly Hill Road for a romantic picnic for two overlooking some of Sedona’s best scenery. Also, don’t forget there’s great dining in Flagstaff, too! Try Tinderbox Kitchen (tinderboxkitchen.com) or Pasto (pastorestaurant.com), both located downtown.

Again, best wishes for your wedding and marriage. Take care,

– ChristinaToo

Dear Arizona Travel:

I plan on coming to the Sedona area late June/early July. Love the area, want to go see the Grand Canyon. I need help planning my stay with resonable [sic] prices and inside information on the “must see” stuff while I am there. I will be in the area for a week… Thank you.

–Leslie L., North Carolina

Hi, Leslie. No problem. I have a couple clarification questions, though:
Are you traveling as an individual or with a group? What do you consider reasonable as far as pricing for an overnight stay in a Sedona hotel or bed & breakfast, and for a tour of either Sedona or the Grand Canyon (or both)?

Lodging prices in the summer range from $100/night for a budget motel up to $300/night for a luxury resort hotel or bed & breakfast. Most lodging is in the middle… about $200/night. As an alternative, would you rather have a timeshare rental or a vacation home since you’ll be here a week?

If you’re thinking of staying a few nights in Sedona and a night or two at the Canyon, let me know. There’s little chance you’ll get a room inside the National Park, but I can recommend some places to try outside the park in Tusayan or Williams. As an alternative, you can stay the whole time in Sedona and just do the Grand Canyon as a day trip/tour.

Tour prices range from ~$65 – $150 per person for a Sedona tour, and about $200 – $300 per person for a Grand Canyon tour. You can take a really comfortable van tour of both areas and let someone else do the driving for under $200 per person.

What are your interests? Are you more of an individual hiker or a Jeep tour participant? At the Grand Canyon, do you imagine yourself just doing a walking tour, taking pictures from different viewpoints, etc. or taking a helicopter tour or something like that?

You love the area… have you been to Sedona or the Grand Canyon before and want to do something different this time? Tell me what you’ve experienced before so I don’t duplicate anything.

–ChristinaToo

…Reasonable pricing–there is 2 of us; so two beds or a king would be good. We have both been to Sedona on a long mother’s [sic] out weekend. But neither of us have been to the Grand Canyon.

We will be traveling from Phoenix (Mesa to be exact) and both of us are on a fixed budget. We don’t need “fancy” but a good comfortable place to relax and enjoy some down time. We were discussing two nights in Sedona, then moving onto the Canyon (I believe that means the South Rim–but I am not the expert!).

Not sure about the tours, but she and I are not into hiking and getting heat exhaustion—and the time line is the only time we have. We plan to be in the area June 29th or so to July 5th or there abouts [sic].

We would like to see some of God’s wonderfulness he created in both areas. We don’t need a hot tub or pool, but somewhere to wet our whistle and feet would be nice. We are pretty easy to please.

As much as I would love to take a mule ride in the canyon, I believe the heat will be too much. I would love to know about a helicopter tour through some canyons, but am not sure that will fit in our budget.

We do not need a tour in Sedona, as much as we would like some pointers to go see on our own. As for the canyon, we would like to have at least one tour where we can both relax and let someone else be the expert tour guide. Tusayan or Williams could be interesting–I am not familiar with them. I… know that there is tons of things you can find if you find someone willing to surrender the good information.

I thank you for your time and attention, and I am real close to making the plane reservations. Thanks!!! for all your help—I look forward to making plans every year to come do something nice in the West.

–Leslie L.

Okay, great! That gives me lots of insight as to what you’re looking for.

In Sedona, check out this article I wrote on doing a driving tour of the area… kind of a nice way to go, in order, and hit all the great spots around town for almost no cost… you will need to get a Red Rock Pass parking permit at the first stop in the Village of Oak Creek.

There’s no better place to wet your feet than Oak Creek. Definitely go wading in Oak Creek at Slide Rock State Park. It’s well worth the parking fee and it’s a fairly easy hike/climb down to the creek banks. The water is fantastic in the summer and you’ll see lots of folks enjoying it down there. Directions on how to get there are included in that article above.

If you like spa treatments, I think the best insider secret I can give you is to go see one of these two “one-person” spas versus the mainstream resort or day spas in town. I have personally experienced both and think these two small spa/holistic therapists are the way to go in Sedona. Go to either Stillpoint…Living in Balance (better if you both want treatments at the same time) or A Spa For You (great if you can go one at a time or only one of you wants a treatment.) Feel free to tell them I personally sent you.

For your overnights, I recommend the Sedona Real Inn & Suites in West Sedona… again, tell them I sent you. I always stay there when I go to Sedona because it’s comfortable and reasonably priced at around $120 per night in the summertime on special (look for their Sedona.net special offer. Ask them if they’ll book a summer rate for you now and mention rate code SWM (so they’ll know I sent you!)

There are tons of restaurants in Sedona… My faves: breakfast: Coffee Pot Restaurant or Ravenheart Coffee Shop (in west Sedona.) Lunch: Red’s at Sedona Rouge Hotel or Oak Creek Brewing Company (in west Sedona.) Dinner: The Hideaway or Rene at Tlaquepaque (in uptown Sedona.)

At the Grand Canyon, I think you would both absolutely love the Grand Canyon Railway. True, it’s costs money (starting at $140 roundtrip per adult) – but it’s the same as a helicopter tour ($139/adult) and it’s a whole day of sightseeing versus 30 minutes on a helicopter. Nice, cool, air-conditioned, comfortable… you can’t go wrong. And you’ll have plenty of time (11:45am – 3:30pm) to do the easy Rim Trail (mostly paved, mostly flat walk/hike) and stick to the Grand Canyon Village where you can attend free Ranger Talks (there’s no better way to relax and have an experienced guide educate you… find specifics here and here) then eat lunch, go to the various visitor’s centers, take pictures, etc. Because the train departs around 9am and returns to Williams in the early evening, you’ll have the opportunity to drive up from Sedona that morning (leave about 7am), maybe have dinner in Williams (try Pancho McGillicuddy’s Mexican food or the Red Raven restaurant) and drive back to Sedona that night or stay overnight at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel or one of the hotels / bed & breakfasts in Williams.

You’re traveling over a very, very busy weekend at the Canyon, so definitely call now to reserve your rooms. You likely will not be able to get a room at the Grand Canyon National Park itself; reservations there usually require a year advance reservation. But you’ll find a great place in Williams (the GCR hotel would be my first choice if you can get in; then you can book your hotel and train tix together and possibly save $$) or I’ve also stayed at the Lodge on Route 66 and its sister property, the Downtowner, across the street. Both are vintage motels that have been renovated and fit your description of “not fancy but comfortable” and even a bit kitschy… very cool and affordable.

If you do end up being in Williams over the 4th of July, Williams does a really cute “Old Fashioned Small Town Fourth” celebration every year.

Enjoy your trip, Leslie…you’re going to have a great time!

Photo credit: thales on Flickr.com - CC BY 2.0

Imagine floating over Sedona as the sun peeks out over the crimson towers that line the eastern horizon. As the sun crests in the sky, your morning hot air balloon ride gives a bright perspective on what the day might bring. End your ride with a gourmet champagne brunch amidst the famous Sedona red rocks.

Things to Know Before Hot Air Ballooning in Sedona:

• Afraid of heights?  Not to worry.  People who normally fear heights tend to feel very comfortable in a hot air balloon because there is no sensation of motion. Balloon flight is smooth; in fact, if you close your eyes, you can’t feel it.
• Safety checks.  Better than a parachute, the balloon is inflated on the ground and checked thoroughly before going up.  Within minutes, passengers feel secure and comfortable and are able to relax and enjoy the spectacular view in every direction.
• While its true that you’ll generally drift along with the wind, which is part of the reason ballooning is such an adventure, balloon operators have precise vertical control.  The wind direction varies at different heights; we can change our altitude to achieve some variation of our direction.
• The balloon company’s chase crew will follow on the ground and take you back to the launch site.
• A traditional champagne toast follows your flight once upon return to the launch site.
• A balloon flight is typically three-to-four hours from the time you arrive until you’re ready to go home. Flight time is 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on weather conditions.
• What should I wear for my hot air balloon ride? It’s actually warmer in the balloon than on the ground because we’re moving with the wind instead of against it so there’s no “wind chill”.  We don’t go to altitudes where it’s cold and we get some radiant heat from the burners above us. Dress for your comfort on the ground, keeping in mind that a sunrise takeoff may be chilly on the ground.  Wear  casual clothing in light layers.  When considering footwear, you’ll usually land in a pleasant spot but, on rare occasions, we may have to hike out so wear appropriate hiking boots or athletic, closed-toed shoes.
• Hot air ballooning is a colorful experience so you’ll want to bring a camera or video gear. Just bring a soft bag for your equipment to protect it and other passengers on landing.

There are several hot air balloon companies in Sedona, Arizona.  Please visit our Sedona Outdoor Recreation page on Sedona.net to find and book reservations with Sky High Balloons or Red Rock Balloons, two of our favorite tour providers.

Hilton Sedona Cascades Pool

Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa is excited to announce the completion of its comprehensive $4.2 million renovation that included spa improvements, guest suite upgrades and enhanced meeting environments.

“During the past couple of years the resort has undergone extensive renovations that enhanced guest suites, meeting spaces and our world class spa,” said Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa General Manager, Edgar Lozoya.

Last fall Hilton Sedona Spa, a 25,000 square foot wellness center, completed interior and exterior upgrades, including new steam and sauna rooms, and modern pool area enhancements. The spa’s 25-meter outdoor lap pool was re-plastered and retiled, while its surrounding decking was resurfaced. The pool area was further updated with new umbrellas, lounge chairs and Sedona-inspired paint to both energize and relax guests.

Keeping luxury at the forefront of the renovation, each of the 219 guest suites received modern décor accents, large plasma flat screen televisions in both the sleeping room and living areas. Guest suite bathrooms were also improved with granite top vanities and curved shower rods.

And now, you can see the results of the renovation on the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa’s newly renovated website, www.hiltonsedona.com. Featuring vibrant photos that capture the resort’s upscale amenities and Sedona’s majestic beauty, the new website will allure first-time guests and remind returning visitors of pleasant red-rock memories.

Lozoya added, “Often times our website serves as our guests’ first introduction to the resort, so it’s only fitting that the renovations be reflected in our Web presence.”

Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa is only 90 minutes north of Phoenix, at the gateway to world-famous red rock country along Arizona’s first designated All American Road, the Red Rock Scenic Byway. Guest accommodations feature two-room suites with separate living rooms and private patios or balconies, with breathtaking views of Sedona’s majestic red rocks or the Sedona Golf Resort.

Dear Arizona Travel:

In the last ten years what has been the average weather conditions in Sedona from July 15 – 31? Would Sedona be good vacation location for a person with a heart condition who is unable to tolerate the high temperatures in July? I am hoping my friend will not have to stay in the air conditioned condo during our stay the week of the July 15th.

–M.E. Zapata

Greetings, M.E.!

Here is a chart of the average daily temperatures for July 15 – 31. I don’t know how large the sample of years over which these averages was taken (i.e. your suggestion of 10 years) but I used Weather.com as my resource.

Photo credit: BethinAZ on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/bethinaz/ / CC BY 2.0

In general, the latter half of July is rather warm and sunny. However, there will be plenty of daytime hours that should feel quite comfortable for your friend. I recommend you start your days early, around 7am, to take advantage of comfortable morning temperatures. I suggest a morning Jeep tour – there are several companies that can offer a tour that would be safe for someone with a heart condition. After about a 4 hour tour, you could have a nice lunch indoors or on a cool, shady patio like the one at The Secret Garden at Tlaquepaque. Your friend may want to return to the condo for a respite during the hottest hours of the day, between 2 and 6pm.

There are plenty of really great indoor activities beyond spending time at your condo. Perhaps a nice spa treatment, a movie, a visit to the Sedona Arts Center, gambling at the nearby Cliff Castle Casino, a scenic drive, a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad, a visit to an area winery, or a psychic reading. Also, you can get out of the heat by driving up Oak Creek Canyon for a shady walk/hike, or venturing down to the banks of Oak Creek to sit and relax with or even wade in the creek. There are lots of big trees, tall mountains and cool shade.

Another option is to take a half-day trip up to Flagstaff and visit Lowell Observatory or the Aboretum. Flagstaff is beautiful in the summer, with higher elevation and milder temps around 80 degrees at the peak of the day’s heat. Flagstaff is just 40 minutes from Sedona via Oak Creek Canyon (27 breathtaking miles.)

Here’s a list of 102 Things to Do in Sedona, many of which are perfect for staying cool in the summer.

So, YES! Sedona is a great vacation destination in July or anytime of year.

–ChristinaToo

Dear Arizona Travel:
I am planning a trip to Sedona in November 2010. I am traveling alone and do not plan to rent a car. I am trying to find a map that shows the locations of the shopping areas relative to hotels, spas. Where do I find this?
–Linda H.

Hi, Linda.

Your best bet is to secure a hotel in Uptown Sedona on in/near Tlaquepaque. I created a Google Map for you, showing where the most popular hotels (red beds) are in relation to spas (blue massage) and shopping (yellow $ signs).

I would suggest changing your plans and getting a rental car; Sedona, while a relatively small city, is spread out over about 18 square miles, and traveling on foot to some of the best parts of the area is highly impractical, if not impossible (i.e. Oak Creek Canyon, Boynton Canyon, nearby wineries in Page Springs, etc.) There are few taxicabs and the cost of cabs and an airport shuttle would likely equal or exceed the cost of a rental car. If you’re dead set on not getting a car, stay in Uptown at any of the hotels I marked on the map, or at the Los Abrigados Resort & Spa or El Portal, both of which share the grounds with Tlaquepaque (shopping village.)

View Sedona Hotels, Shopping & Spas Map in a larger map

Here are some links to helpful resources:
Sedona Trolley
Tlaquepaque
El Portal
Los Abrigados Resort & Spa
Sedona Main Street
Hillside Sedona

Photo credit: sciondriver on flickr.com

This month, come to Sedona or Flagstaff to experience gorgeous spring temperatures here and at the Grand Canyon, blooming flora, and a clear view of Saturn and Mars aglow in Sedona’s dark night sky. Here are some great Sedona and Flagstaff hotel deals that, like Arizona wildflowers in bloom, won’t last forever.

Radisson Woodlands Hotel (Flagstaff) April Special

Save on weekday and weekend rates

For the month of April, the Radisson Woodlands Hotel Flagstaff has reduced its rates to:

$89/night Weekdays and$94/night Weekends

Rates include a Free Breakfast Buffet!

Visit www.radisson.com/flagstaffaz for more details.

Kokopelli Suites (Sedona) 50% Off Sale – 2 Days Only!

Book year-long travel dates during Kokopelli Suites’ 48-Hour sale

Suites as low as $89.50!

During this sale, suites will be available for Sunday through Thursday travel dates at 50% Rack Rates and a 30% discount on Friday and Saturday night through the end of the year.

PROMO CODE 50

Visit kokopellisuites.com for more details.

Sedona in Spring Package from The Lodge at Sedona

April 1 – May 27, 2010, get $50 off each night in ANY room priced $259 and up.

Enjoy warm hospitality as you witness the blossom of spring from your private outdoor patio. Includes complimentary gourmet breakfast, afternoon snacks & appetizers, and AAA Four-Diamond luxuries.

Visit www.lodgeatsedona.com for more details.

$130 Regal Rooms, $150 Reãl Suites – April Savings from Sedona Reãl Inn & Suites

Sedona Reál is a small, independent Sedona hotel with 42 newly constructed, spacious Regal Rooms and 47 amenity-rich, freshly decorated Reãl Suites, many with private patios or balconies and hot tubs in the rooms.

PROMO CODE SWM

Visit www.sedonareal.com for details.

Dear Arizona Travel,
My wife and I will be visiting Sedona in April, and then will spend a few days on the South Rim.  I want to go ahead of her by a day to do some hiking and would like to find out if there is a bus or shuttle service from Sedona to the South Rim.  If so, can you please provide details on it or a web link?
Thanks,
Brian, Pennsylvania

Hi, Brian.

Sure! You can either pay for a “tour” from Sedona to the Grand Canyon and maybe not take the round trip back to Sedona, or you can take a shuttle from Sedona to Flagstaff and Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon.

For the “tour” option, we recommend All About Grand Canyon Tours (priced at $99).
For the shuttle option, we recommend Arizona Shuttle. You’ll pay $25 for Sedona to Flagstaff and $24 – $28 for Flagstaff to Grand Canyon (does not include the park entrance fee.)

Have fun!
ChristinaToo