Authentic Travel: Sedona, Arizona, USA

Sedona's red rock formations draw visitors from all over the world.

Sedona’s red rock formations make it one of the most popular destinations in the American West. Travelers come from all over the world to watch the sunset turn mountains from red, to orange, to gold.

Some of these travelers are tourists, who arrive on group tours, poke around shops selling goods made overseas, take a few pictures of the scenery – and then move on to Flagstaff.

Other visitors are affluent enough to stay at Enchantment Resort, built on land that is sacred to Native Americans in a canyon outside of Sedona. They hang out in the resort’s spa, eat in the resort’s restaurants, and share the facilities with the large number of guests who are attending conferences and meetings.

And then there are the Authentic Luxury Travelers: you stay at L’Auberge de Sedona, an 87- room inn built on 11 acres on the banks of Oak Creek, where views of the renowned red rock formations are juxtaposed with the tranquility of the flowing river, and rustic exteriors give way to imported bed linens and modern amenities. I wasn’t surprised to learn that Amangiri refers guests to L’Auberge de Sedona.

ALT travelers also know that pink jeep tours are passé, and instead spend their time trying out the hundreds of hiking trails in the area. There’s a good reason why Sedona is known as “America’s day-hike capital”

Savvy hikers use the Sedona Trail Finder at The HikeHouse to find a route that is suitable to their ability and interest. The Hike House also provides private guided hikes (highly recommended), sells a complete line of footwear and accessories, and offers a pre-hike breakfast station and a make-your-own trail mix bar at their Hike House Energy Café.

Authentic Luxury Travelers also avoid Sedona's strip malls and browse through the shops and galleries at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village.

And one final insider tip: we picked up picnic ingredients at Euro Deli (EU) and enjoyed America’s Old West with a delicious Old World lunch.

Perfect combo!

The SedonaTrail Finder at The Hike House
 is an invaluable tool for finding the right path.