Itineraries for Your Trip to Sedona
3 Days in Sedona for Foodies
The daughter of a tour guide head over heels in love with the American Southwest, I spent childhood summers road-tripping through the four corner states: Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. I recently returned to Sedona with the intention of tasting my way through the desert town.
The food scene reflects the town’s colorful personality. There’s a delightful mix of cowboy joints, New Age eateries, and strong Mexican-American restaurants—and, surprisingly, some of northern Arizona’s most sophisticated wineries. On my first night, I headed straight for the Cowboy Club, a local favorite serving cactus fries, bison pot roast, and rattlesnake sausage. And it's only the start of your 3-day trip.
Sedona is at elevation and cooler than expected, though summer brings high temps.
If you only have time for one thing, make it Cowboy Club Grille & Spirits for cactus fries, bison pot roast, and rattlesnake sausage.
Tourist-friendly uptown Sedona is full of shops, galleries, and restaurants along North State Route 89A. Start here to get oriented and check out the local foodie scene. After dining at the Cowboy Club, take a wine and beer tour that makes it as far out as Cottonwood.
Back in Sedona, end your first night on a magical note with a custom sunset picnic that includes stargazing, sightseeing, sacred Native American sites, and visiting some of Sedona’s desert energy vortexes (yes, they exist).
Rise early and dress for a day exploring outdoors. But first, fuel up with breakfast at the Southwest meets Mexican-American eateries on Sedona’s West Side—Casa Sedona and Cafe José are two local favorites.
There are endless ways to explore the outdoors in and around Sedona. Take a 30-minute ride to Cottonwood on the Verde Shuttle, which departs from the Sedona Municipal Parking Lot in uptown every hour. On arrival, combine kayaking with wine tasting along the Verde River or try a Jeep wine-tasting tour.
A visit to Sedona isn’t complete without heading to northern Arizona wine country. With your own vehicle, you can stop at wineries scattered between Sedona and Cottonwood. Travelers who prefer letting someone else drive can try day-long wine tours or splurge on luxury transportation.
Once you’ve seen the wineries, try something more rugged at the Blazin’ M Ranch, a kitschy cowboy-themed tourist attraction located north of Cottonwood. The highlight of the western stage show is the chuckwagon supper-style meal with barbecue, cowboy beans, and prickly pear coleslaw.
