Two of us (my cousin and me) flew US Air from JFK to Phoenix on Sunday October 12, leaving at about 4pm on a Sunday afternoon. It's hard to compare flights to whatever the "new normal" is these days, but we thought this flight below-average. Even standard soft-drinks, coffee, and water came at a price of $2 each, and there were no snacks, only dismal-looking "Cafe΄" food for purchase. Luckily, we'd thought ahead and brought good deli sandwiches and water onboard, and so we were better-fed than most of the passengers. Seating was tight, and the pitch of the seat in front of me was well into my space.
We arrived about 30 minutes late at Phoenix, met my sister, who'd already picked up the rental car, and we were soon on the road to
Sedona (after getting lost in the airport roadways for a while.) Downtown Sedona is undergoing much road construction, and due to the detours, the lack of
signage, and the darkness, we were thoroughly lost in the Sedona outskirts for a while. We had no cell phone service either (during most of our time in
Sedona), but finally we arrived about 10pm.
We'd booked at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, based on
recommendations both personal and online. It's a member of Leading Hotels of the World, and it's a gem. The Enchantment has a variety of
accommodations, from rooms to villas. We were very happy with our semi-detached "casita" which comprised a bedroom with two queen beds, a large
bathroom, a kitchenette, a dining table and chairs, and a lounge area. Amenities included two flat-screen tvs, an outdoor deck, fresh fruit juices delivered to
the room every morning, and excellent room service food (though we had to wait a while).
The following morning we drove into town to join our two hour Pink Jeep tour. The tour we chose is called "Broken Arrow" and includes much time
in a desert conservation area. Sedona is known for its Red Rocks, striking, deeply-colored sandstone formations and cliffs rising out of the desert.
My only previous Arizona travel having been in Phoenix-Scottsdale, I was much impressed with the climate, natural beauty, and culture of
Sedona.
The Pink Jeep company also operates tours to the Grand Canyon and Hoover dam from Las Vegas.
We were very happy with the Pink Jeep tour we chose, but if we'd been there for more days we would have considered adding one of the
other tours because we thought it well-organized and a wonderful introduction to the beauties of the area. Our driver was from Oz, and still retained his
Aussie accent and sense of humor. Note: we dressed in jeans and sneakers, and were glad to also be wearing sweatshirts and jackets for our sunny but chilly 9am
tour. It was important to be wearing sneakers or hiking shoes, not because the walks were long or arduous, but because a certain amount of climbing up and down
rock ledges was required once you left the jeep at the various stops. Stiletto heels would not have worked. 
Most of the driving was off-road and wildly bumpy, especially for those of us sitting in the
back. There was a minimal amount of dust. The driver was expert and a bit of a comedian (maybe all the guides are). Seat belts were required, and quite
rightly. We never felt unsafe, just bounced around quite a bit.
When the tour ended, we visited the Tlaquepaque shopping area first, and
were unimpressed. It reminded me of Carmel, CA which as I recall, was one over-priced "antique" shop or art gallery after another, catering
distinctly to the tourist dollar.We browsed, yet were not tempted.
Back in town, we had a good lunch on the main street at The Orchards
(great soups, sandwiches, and salads, in a casual but quiet atmosphere) and bought a few souvenirs. We didn't go into that many shops, but suspect it would
be more of the same: crafts, souvenirs, sweaters, etc.
Back at Enchantment Resort (which we began calling The Magic Kingdom), we indulged in restorative massages at their well-known Mii Amo spa, which is a beautiful, professional, and extensive facility. Many people spend several days at Enchanted just to use the spa. Dinner that night was on the premises at their excellent Yavapai restaurant (collared shirts and long pants are required for men). The food was first-rate, the service excellent, the ambience both simple and sophisticated. Even if staying elsewhere, I recommend that restaurant or the café for a superb lunch or dinner.
Next morning my sister and I were out at 7:30 am for a morning walk around the grounds.
The resort is at 4600 feet altitude, and the grounds cover 70 acres. In sunny weather the sky is the bluest of blues (much bluer than the
pictures show), and a gorgeous backdrop for the red rocks. Enchantment offers many programs besides the spa: classes, guided walks, cultural presentations.
Because our time was short, we opted to do our own walk for only about 45 minutes, but it was lovely to see the morning sunshine on the rock faces above us,
and it made us regret again that we wouldn't be staying longer.
We were on the road to the Grand Canyon by 11am. To be continued
Orchards is very pleasant indeed. We stayed at The Orchards which is the motel type structure at the top of the hill there.
Great views, same pool as for the very much pricier L'Auberge below and often available for about $100 US per night.
