Sedona offers sunny skies, warm weather, and great vibes all year round. It is no wonder that this is one of the most popular vacation spots for tourists during the summer months. But sometimes, this means it can be crowded and overwhelming if you are here during the heat of the summer. Instead of coming to this beautiful and sunny state once it hits triple-digit temperatures, we have a better idea in mind! Why not check out the beauty and magic of Sedona, AZ, during the winter? No matter what you like to do, you can always find something to do in Flagstaff. Check out our ultimate winter Sedona vacation guide and plan an exciting winter escape among the red rocks!
Grab a Bite to Eat
Flagstaff has no shortage of great places to eat during your stay. It doesn’t matter if you are a vegan, vegetarian, or meat lover; the variety of restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops truly has something for everyone.
For breakfast, you can’t go wrong with starting the day with fruit and antioxidants. Talk about a healthy start to your vacation! Head to Berry Divine Acai Bowls to focus on healthy eating. We love the peanut butter and jelly acai smoothie or bowl, detoxification juices, and coffee with honey. No matter what you choose, you can feel good about eating healthy and light during your holiday. Top your bowl with coconut oil or flakes for even more taste!
If you are a real breakfast aficionado, then we think Pump House Station is THE best spot to check out—especially on a winter day when the wind is raging outside, and you are tired and cold from a tough hike. Pump House Station offers tons of breakfast options to choose from, such as croissants loaded with butter, filling quiches, and eggs benedict dishes that offer savory hollandaise sauce and your choice of toppings. Not to mention, Pump House Station doesn’t mess around with their drinks, offering a Bloody Mary station, strong pours of coffee, and mimosas.
The next spot that we love going to during a Sedona visit for a typical American meal that every person in your group is going to love is the Golden Goose American Grill. This popular spot has been a tried and tested choice among locals and visitors alike, featuring American dishes, Italian cuisine, and breakfast/brunch meals for you to choose from. We recommend coming here for lunch and splitting one of the Italian loaded sandwiches, cheesy pastas, and Greek salads with the table. Pair any one of these dishes with wine, cocktails, or beer for a great mid-day break from skiing, shopping, or hiking!
Not sure where to make a dinner reservation for date night? We love going to Mesa Grill! This casual and laid-back spot is just a short drive from most of our properties in Sedona, but we promise that getting in the car is going to be worth it. Mesa Grill offers Southwestern food that will leave you craving and talking about the flavors for days on end! Head here for a date night to split appetizers and have a few cocktails or bring your friends here for a filling brunch. You can’t go wrong with the loaded grits, smoked salmon benedict, fried fish sandwich, or the crab cake omelet!
Last but not least, you can’t visit Sedona without taking a trip to the Creekside American Bistro. For those who want classic dishes in a laid-back environment that is going to keep you full for hours on end, Creekside is your best bet. Plus, if you can get a window seat, or sit outside on their patio, then you can gaze out at the incredible Red Rocks as you sip on your coffee or beer in the afternoon. You can choose from an extensive breakfast, brunch, and lunch menu depending on when you head here to have a meal. The variety and flexibility of this bistro is what makes it a classic among tourists and locals alike, featuring large breakfast plates like pancakes with eggs, bacon, and toast, and healthy lunch fusion dishes, like bento boxes and Cajun shrimp plates. We recommend getting one of the seafood platters to split for an early dinner or a late lunch as you sip on a glass of wine from their full wine list.
Head Out on the Town for a Drink
The next thing that you should do during a winter Sedona vacation in this beautiful town is to head out on the town one night for a few drinks with your family or friends! You are on vacation, after all, so it makes sense to treat yourself. Fortunately, there is no shortage of fun bars and pubs for you to check out during your stay in this bustling town.
The number one spot on the list is, of course, an Irish Pub. If the Irish do anything right, it is to make a pub atmosphere and drink all night long! Head to Mooney’s Irish Pub and Restaurant to have a few pints of Guinness, dance with your new friends, and sing along to live music or tunes on the speakers. This late-night spot is open until 2 am on the weekends, so you can end your night here after having a dinner filled with Irish fare, like Guinness stew, jacket potatoes, or a Sunday roast. Make sure you head here on a night when there is Irish Music, as it surely will not disappoint!
The next must-visit bar during your fun-filled vacay in Sedona is Sundowner, a popular bar and restaurant that is a fan-favorite to grab a late-night cocktail or beer with your friends or mates from out of town. Head here to enjoy a nightcap or a post-dinner cocktail any day of the week until 11 p.m. Personally, we love coming here to watch a game on the TV and pairing a strong craft beer, like the local IPA, with a mouthwatering burger and French fries.
If you want to go out for the third night in a row, then we recommend going to the Full Moon Saloon in Sedona. This cool bar and restaurant is a vibrant and upbeat restaurant that offers everything and more that you could ever want in a bar. This exciting watering hole has events every night of the week and fun activities, like karaoke, live music, pool tables, dancing on tables, jukeboxes, greasy pizza, and yummy double-stacked sandwiches. And, if you are a person who loves to end a night of drinking with dessert, make sure you get the cheesecake before you leave!
For those who want to pair a drinking session and a late night with great views of the nearby area, then the Olde Sedona Bar and Grill is a popular spot to start your evening. If you can’t get enough of the red rocks and the surrounding nature, this bar is the ideal perch for you to check out the sunset on the upper-level deck. Head here before the sun goes down, grab a snack, and sip on a cocktail as you watch the sunset from the upstairs patio.
The last bar that we love going to on a cold winter night is PJ’s Village Pub. This well-known establishment is a classic for locals to go to most nights of the week, making it a great spot for you to get to know other people, meet people from the area, and potentially make lifelong friends. We love the chilled-out and laid-back vibe of this pub, featuring large TVs for watching sport, live music, and cheap beer.
Best Hikes Near YOU!
Just because it is the winter season, this doesn’t mean that you can’t go hiking! Sometimes, the snow doesn’t fall until late in the year, so you can go hiking with your trail runners or sneakers with no issue. Other times, you might need snow gear earlier on in the year. But even so, there are tons of trails that are fun for you to hike in the alpine conditions, and the snowfall often makes it even prettier than ever before!
First off, if you are an experienced hiker and you have the right snow gear, we love doing Bear Mountain in Sedona for a fun winter hike. Although this entire hike is just 5 miles long, which will take between two and three hours during prime summer conditions, it can take longer in icy and snowy weather. We recommend giving yourself around four to five hours to complete this hike, as it brings you more than 2,000 feet of elevation high up into the sky. But the challenge is well worth the reward! You will be able to gaze out at the pine forests, lit-up town down below, and the fir trees that dot the hills below the peak. Not to mention, you will be able to see the red rocks of the desert, steep slopes, and wildlife that make Arizona so magical.
For those who want something easier for new hikers or snowshoers during your Sedona visit, we can’t think of anything better than Devil’s Bridge. This easy hike is just 1.8 miles each way, making it a shorter couple-hour hike that offers great views of the red cliffs, green forests, and picturesque bridge that is a great photo opportunity for you and your travel companions.
Another great hike that won’t take long for beginners and new hikers is Cathedral Rock. This is one of the most popular hiking paths in the state, but with fresh snowfall, it can be less crowded than other times. We recommend doing this hike early in the morning so you can have the path to yourself. The path is super short but requires more time for scrambling towards the top of the rock, which offers great views of the nearby red rocks and forests. Those with lower fitness levels, or with small children, should take care in the gully towards the end of the trek.
Do you want a short hike that isn’t too taxing? Fay Canyon is a great choice! We love this winter hike for older adults and younger kids who are not expert hikes. Fay Canyon is a short and flat trail that takes just between one and two hours for the entire hike, while still providing far-reaching views, great scenery through the bright green forest, and rest points to chill out and have a drink or a picnic lunch.
A Winter Wonderland Sedona Vacation with Porter
Doesn’t this sound like the perfect spot for you to chill out, relax, and enjoy a winter getaway with your best friends or family members? We think so, too! Sedona is often overlooked as a prime winter destination, as it doesn’t have some of the big ski slopes you will find elsewhere, but that doesn’t make it any less special. In fact, it just makes it less crowded, which we love!
And when you stay with us at Porter, you never have to settle for less. We offer luxurious homes with pristine views of the red rocks in the desert. We also have modern properties in the heart of the city that offer walkability to all there is to do and see, like the mouthwatering restaurants and boutique stores. Plus, we offer cabins, cozy homes, and large condos that are great for family vacations, couples’ retreats, and solo winter getaways. Contact us today to get your winter vacation to Sedona started!
