Sedona - Day 5

Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa has been our home for the past 2 nights.  Manager, Daniel Carillo has been an exceptional host in spite of being very involved in the Sedona Film Festival.  The Sedona Rouge is a proud sponsor of the festival and not only have transformed their meeting room into a theatre they also host an evening event and run a shuttle bus to other film locations. It's a busy place during the Festival days and the hotel is humming with excitement. 

The hotel rooms are comfortable and they are stocked with fabulous amenities.  These great products are used in their on site spa.  Lucky us, we are going to experience some of their spa treatments.  The location of the hotel is on highway 89 so it is easy to find and the hotel is set back from the roadway so it is nice and quiet.  The gym, fire pit, pool and whirlpool area is tucked away behind the building, creating a quiet tranquil area to relax. 

They also have a rooftop area with tables and chairs and wonderful view of the red rocks.  From the rooftop you have a birds eye view of the hotels private wedding area. The garden setting offers a romantic area for an outdoor wedding.

Saturday evening we had a delicious dinner at Reds Restaurant.  The wait staff are friendly and the atmosphere inviting.  Most evenings you can find local musicians performing in the lounge area and the sounds of their music can be heard in the dining room.  Reds Restaurant also offers an extensive breakfast and lunch menu.

Today we had the opportunity to meet some of Sedona's business owners.  We browsed through the local shops and spent some time admiring the wonderful artwork at Linda Goldstein's gallery. The centre of town is surrounded by the natural beauty of the red rock, a clear river and wildlife.

In the evening we returned to Sedona Rouge Hotel to enjoy a spa treatment.  Relaxation was on the menu. Right from the moment I traded my clothing for the soft plush robe, I knew this was going to be a real treat.  The lounge area is very inviting with comfy chairs and soft music playing in the back ground.  I settled back in a comfy lounge chair until my attendant Robin called me name.  She escorted me up stairs to the large treatment room and prepared my for an hour of bliss.  I had an amazing body treatment, first a complete body sugar scrub topped off with a shea butter rub.  Robin wrapped me up into a nice warm cocoon and proceed to massage my feet, hands, face and head.  She could have shut off the lights and left for the evening and in my state of bliss I never would have noticed.  I could have slept in that cocoon all night long.  This is a treatment I highly recommend.  Thank you Robin, that was amazing!  

This morning we were picked up from the Sedona Rouge Hotel by the Red Rock Western Jeep tour company.  Our driver Taz greeted us and we hopped into the little red jeep to begin our Vortex tour
We had company on this tour, Judy and Jan from Nova Scotia.   It was great to experience this with fellow Canadians.

The vortexes of Sedona are named because they are believed to be spiritual locations where the energy is right to facilitate prayer, mediation and healing. Vortex sites are believed to be locations having energy flow that exists on multiple dimensions. The energy of the vortexes interacts with a person’s inner self. It is not easily explained. Many people come to these areas to meditate and align their chakras.
In the late 70's a psychic by the name of Page Bryant channeled a being named Albion who told Page there were seven energy centers here in Sedona. She wrote a book on four of those places - Boynton Canyon, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock and Airport Mesa.
This is also a well known spiritual ground for the Native American Indians who believe this to be the centre of the earth. They also refer to this area as the Blood of Mother Earth, a sacred medicine ground for the circle of life.
We begin our tour at Overlook point to experience the energy of the vortex.  From the top of Overlook Point, more commonly referred to as Airport Mesa, you can see Bell Rock, Coffee Pot Rock and Courthouse Buttes. Taz, our local tour guide hands each of us some desert white sage and instructs us to rub it in our hands and smell the aroma. This is supposed to help us to meditate and get in touch with the energy of the vortex. We each head off to find our spot to sit and take in the sights and to get in touch with our senses.

Our next stop is Bell Rock located in the Seven Canyon area. This massive valley has a spectacular view of Boynton Canyon.,  There is a sacred knoll here which has been blessed by many shah men and behind this area the Indian's believe this to be the centre of the earth where an Indian legend gave birth to the forth world. Our guide asked us to find a quiet spot to take in the scenery and view the rock formations to allow our creativity to emerge.

Our final stop is Cresent Moon Ranch National Forest, also known as Red Rock Crossing.  The energy of this vortex is known to enhance love.  There are stumps which have heart shapes in it's formation and a rock that has a natural heart shape within.

Taz took us to the edge of Oak Creek to have the best view of Cathedral Rock, which is one of the most famous sites of Sedona.  Beside this river, Taz performed a white sage ceremony for each of us to offer us protection from negative energies. It was quite an experience with the warm sun shining on our faces, the river trickling beside us and the view of Cathedral Rock in the distance.

This afternoon we begin with a delicious at the Heart Line Cafe. All foods are made with healthy natural products.  I had a fabulous BLT on whole wheat bread.  The bacon was delicious and they included their fresh creamy home made mozzerella cheese. Delicious!

We hopped into our Ford Escape and headed down Hwy 89A to visit the ghost town of Jerome. 
Located high on top of Cleopatra Hill (5,200 feet) is the remnants of the copper mining town of Jerome. Once known as the wickedest town in the west, Jerome was a copper mining camp, growing from a settlement of tents to a roaring mining community. Four disastrous fires destroyed large sections of the town during its early history, resulting in the incorporation of the City of Jerome in 1899. Founded in 1876, Jerome was once the fourth largest city in the Arizona Territory. The population peaked at 15,000 in the 1920's. The Depression of the 1930's slowed the mining operation and eventually the demise of this once vibrant town. 

We wandered along the hillside streets, visiting the quaint artist and trinket shops and taking in the amazing view of the Verde Valley below.  Today there are some clouds in the sky and they have cast shadows which enhances the spectacular view of the expansive valley below.

We head back down the winding highway towards Cottonwood. We are off to visit the Alcantara Vineyard located in the Verde Valley and owned and operated by Barbara Predmore.  This tranquil setting is the perfect place to enjoy a wine tasting and Vince is a charming and knowledgeable host.  We had the pleasure of tasting five wines. It was difficult to pick a favourite as they were all excellent.

We drove back into Uptown Sedona for dinner at one of Sedona's oldest restaurants,  the Silver Saddle Room located in the Cowboy Club.  First we enjoyed a glass of locally brewed Oak Creek Ale then moved into the elegant dining room to enjoy a fantastic meal. 

 I had the marinated buffalo flank steak served with sweet potato mash and spinach.  Delicious!  Lori had the tender baby back ribs served with their home made coleslaw and baked beans.  I must admit, I ate most of Lori's beans as they were the best I have ever tasted.  Our meal was absolutely fabulous and I highly recommend this restaurant.

The view of the Red Rock at sunset is stunning.  This was an absolutely fabulous day!

Sedona Day 3

This morning we visited the 20,000 square foot Hilton Spa.  Manager, Toni LePoer greeted us and gave us a quick tour before we changed into our robes and settled in for a relaxing couple of hours.  The Hilton Spa has just launched their new Eforea program and have renovated the spa area and updated all products.  From the oils and lotions to the plush robes, the new line is luxurious and quite aromatic.

My first hour was spent with professional masseuse Donna for a relaxing aromatherapy massage.  Donna is exceptional and after she worked her magic my mind and body were totally relaxed. Upon exiting the massage room I relaxed in the lounge and enjoyed a refreshing glass of cucumber infused water. Once I was able to get my body moving I took a steam bath and then dipped into the whirlpool.  The spa is bright and pleasant and has an extremely relaxing atmosphere. 

The showers are all equipped with fabulous Eforea bath and body products that leave your skin feeling silky smooth.  The spa offers a wide range of services, a state of the art gym, out door lap pool, exercise room with various classes from yoga to pilates and a lovely cafe serving healthy snacks.

Time to check out of the Hilton and say our goodbyes.  We`ve truly enjoyed our stay at this fabulous resort and look forward to our next visit.








This afternoon we drove into the town of Sedona to visit with Luci at the Golden World Books & Music Store.  This is also the headquarters for the Sedona Metaphysical Spiritual Association.  We had the opportunity to meet with some members of the association. They told us a bit about the association and all they have to offer; healings, psychic readings, vortex tours and much more.  Sedona is known for its`spiritual essence and energy found in the vortexes.

Our next stop is the Sedona Rouge Hotel where we will be staying for the next two nights. This is a relatively new hotel, only 7 years old. We are greeted by Daniel Carillo, the sales & catering manager.  After getting settled into our rooms we met up with Daniel again for a tour of this lovely hotel.  There`s a charming rooftop terrace which overlooks the pool area and from here we can see the out door wedding area.  They also have a lovely spa which we hope to visit during our stay.
This evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Reds, located in the Sedona Rouge Hotel. Then off to bed as we have an early morning departure for our Jeep Safari Vortex tour with Red Rock Western Jeep Tours.

 

Sedona Day 2

This morning we met Amy Johnson, manager of the Hilton Resort.  She treated us to a delicious breakfast and told us all about the things to do and see in Sedona.  I'm very excited about the endless possibilities and look forward to working with the Hilton staff to create some amazing tours.

Next stop, Sedona Golf Resort to meet manager Jeremy Hayman. He treated us to 9 holes of golf on this spectacular course and were mesmerized by the stunning views of the red rocks of Sedona.  The course was immaculate, slightly challenging and the weather was perfect.  Clear blue sky and a comfortable 65 degrees.  Life doesn't get much better than this. Afterwards we sat on the terrace and enjoyed a cool beverage and delicious lunch in the warmth of the Arizona sun.

We took a drive into the town of Sedona.  The road leading into town goes through some of the most stunning scenery.  It's a good thing the speed limit is only 35 mph as it allows you to take in the sites without holding up traffic.  We made a quick stop at the Outlet Mall and plan to go back when we have a little more time to browse.

This evening Amy invited us to a special dinner and wine pairing provided by the Hilton Resort.
The chef, Salvatore Moscato prepared some amazing treats; grilled peaches with prosciutto and Gorgonzola cheese,  tuna tar tar, pan seared sea scallops with petite potatoes and barised elk chops.  Delicious!  The delectable food was paired with fabulous Alcantara wines; Sauvignon Blanc, Meritage, Syrah and Petite Syrah. We plan on visiting the winery on Monday for a tour and tasting.  Alcantara is the largest wintery in Sedona and is owned and operated by Barbara Predmore.