Researching your epic adventures pays off – don’t skip the planning!
As I have mentioned in prior posts, we try to put a lot of research into the places we visit on vacation. Doing research WILL pay off! We have found that picking restaurants, hotels, attractions and excursions ahead of time helps ensure that we get the very most out of the time we spend together. And this is a refining process, as it often happens that options we add at first do not survive to make the final list.
When preparing, everyone has a say…
This research and preparation is something we do together, as a family. Despite our varied tastes and interests, we somehow manage to reach consensus by the time we take off. We work hard to find something for everyone. Today’s itinerary was a perfect example.
Devil’s Bridge in the Coconino Forest
Our plan was to spend the morning hiking up to Devil’s Bridge in Coconino Forest – an enormous sandstone arch with precarious heights and stunning views. Our path was the Dry Creek Road up to the Devil’s Bridge Trail, which made for about a 3.6 mile roundtrip. The terrain was rocky, dusty and very much a desert hike. With a 400-foot elevation gain on a very hot day ahead of us, we were excited to tackle what lay ahead. The last portion of the hike, the Devil’s Bridge Trail, was particularly strenuous with several steep, vertical portions. In other words, it was a perfect hike for the Benz family!
An Epic Breakfast!
Epic hikes require epic breakfasts with epic carbs and proteins, and so we decided to visit two breakfast spots from our pre-trip research – Sedonuts and Berry Divine. Sedonuts is a locally-owned donut and coffee shop that was highly recommended on several travel videos we watched. It definitely did not disappoint and, after round one, we had to go back in for round two. The mint-chocolate and chocolate glazed devil’s food were among our favorites. However as much as we wanted to fill up at Sedonuts, we had to try to save room for the highly-recommended Berry Divine.
Berry Divine – Magic in a Bowl!!
Berry Divine specializes in Acai bowls . . . a flavorful, tropical concoction of Acai soft-serve, fresh fruits, nuts, fruit juices, seeds, zest, oils and protein. Now we had heard of the superfood Acai and had wanted to try a bowl ever since our Hawaii trip. Still, I believe we were all a bit skeptical as we walked into the store.
Simply put: Berry Divine is magic in a bowl . . . there is just really no other way to describe it. Soft serve for breakfast just seems counterintuitive, but not one of us was remotely hungry, despite a strenuous hike, for up to six-hours. We literally felt stuffed all day. If you have a chance to try out Berry Divine, whether in Sedona or their other locations, do not miss out!
Tlaquepaque – the best of everything!
After Devil’s Bridge, we visited another spot which we had decided upon during our research: The incredible arts and shopping community known Tlaquepaque. This authentic Mexican-inspired village was originally conceived to be an arts and crafts community.
With it’s stone arches, fountains, cobblestone streets, and stunning art galleries, it’s a must-see location in Sedona. The intimate live music venues, impeccable landscaping, artisan food offerings and unique culturally-inspired shops are not to be missed. Tlaquepaque means “the best of everything” and it certainly was that. All of us – and especially Chandler – remember Tlaquepaque as one of the favorite places we visited on our Southwest Adventure.
And here are a few more of our favorites . . .
A couple of our favorite experiences included drinking Chai tea while reclining on the patio at the middle-eastern inspired Chai Spot. We also sampled ice cream and dessert delicacies at Cream and Cake Couture. You don’t often come away from a shopping experience feeling like you have been immersed in romance, but that was certainly our takeaway. It truly seemed that every next corner we turned in Tlaquepaque was more beautiful than the one before.
On to our next destination
As much as we loved being at Tlaquepaque, we did have to begin making dinner plans. After a stroll through another, more commercial shopping area called Uptown Sedona, we settled on pizza, at a restaurant we discovered during pre-trip planning called Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen. Picazzo’s was probably the best pizza we have eaten and we cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. The ingredients were so fresh, the crust was baked to perfection and the sauces were perfectly seasoned on the three pies we tried. We had the Meaty Meaty, the Puttanesca and the Elote. Of these three, we could not get enough of the Elote paired with Prickly Pear Margaritas.
A Return Trip in the Works!
We cannot wait to get back to Sedona to enjoy another meal at Picazzo’s. After they rolled us out of the restaurant, we made our way back to the resort where we wrapped up our evening with some time at the hot tub, pool and pool-side fireplaces, a perfect way to end our exciting day.
Let’s Get to the Point!
Also, here’s a link to the step-by-step process that we followed to see places that I once thought were completely untouchable for an average family of six, like mine! As well, please follow along on my social media channels, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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Looks like a great trip, and all the food looks amazing!
Thanks Amy! It was a beautiful place with lots of delicious food!
I love planning! Sedona looks like a great place to visit, it is on my list.
We took one trip where we didn’t plan anything!! It felt so haphazard to us and we didn’t see nearly as much as we should have!
I’m well known in my family for the travel planning. It saves us time and hassles. Plus it’s one of the things I enjoy the most about traveling, the planning.
Alexandra, I couldn’t agree more!!!
I do love planning out a trip! It’s crucial when accompanied by others.
Cindy, the difference between what we got to see and do when we planned everything out vs. when we didn’t was HUGE!!
Planning is so important to help manage expectations – especially for places like Devil’s Bridge (one of our favorite hikes!). We love Sedona!
Oh yes, Karen! Devil’s Bridge is one of our very favorites too! For those that like to hike, I’d say it’s an absolute MUST DO!
I am such a planner. I don’t know how people do without it. I feel like I want to get the most out of our time & money!
I completely agree Cynthia!
This looks like an amazing adventure for the family! And I agree with the planning part too! My daughter and I are embarking on a road trip in a couple weeks and I made sure to find lots of interesting things for us to do along the way and ran the options by her first so we could make a decision together!
Terra, it makes the adventure that much more exciting! Have wonderful time on your road trip!!
Oh that Margarita and pizza look excelllent!
My husband I were just discussing taking a “couples only” trip back to Sedona! I’m sure that Picazzo’s would make the list!!
Tlaquepaque sounds wonderful – I’ve not heard of it before, thank you! And Picazzos looks great – actually, all the food you mentioned sounds good – I think I’m hungry!
Altogether, a nice trip of exploration and discovery.
Thanks Suz! Yeah, we’re kinda foodies too! All the great food ends up in my blog!
I want to go to Arizona SO BAD! Thank you for the awesome info and tips! We LOVE to hike and Sedona is on our lists of places to visit!
Erica, thank you for your oh-so-kind words! As a hiker, you will absolutely LOVE Sedona!!
I love that “everyone has a say”. Before we start our vacations we ask our kids what they want to do and include them in our itinerary. That way everyone is excited!
SAME! Then if one of them isn’t too excited about one of our adventures, they know they have something else to look forward to. We ALWAYS hike though, which everyone loves!
I get my husband to give opinions when I plan trips too! I always like to make sure there’s something for everyone.
Tiffany, it certainly makes for a much better trip!!
It’s such a great idea that everyone chooses what they want to visit and experience. Look like a fun adventure. Being a family of 6, planning is the key for us too.
Exactly, Cecile! We large families have to make all the plans!!
Never heard about the place. Looks fun and yummy 🤤. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Larissa, for stopping by!
I love that you all plan together. That makes the buy in so much stronger! This Sedona trip looks amazing and the food delicious!
Oh Kristin – that’ a perfect way to put it! The buy in is SO strong!
Planning is one of my favorite parts of a vacation. I get so excited for the trip. My husband never lets me share the plans until it’s time to go.
Sabrina, I used to want to save all the adventures as surprises, but I’ve found that we get more accomplished when we make the plans and try and stick to them!
I love the idea of planning ahead with everyone’s input. The less stress while on the trip. And trying to make plans on where to eat when you are hot, tired, or hungry just stinks!
Those acacia bowls from Berry Divine look ah-mazing!
They were SO good! My husband literally wants to return so that we can have more acaia bowls!! (And of course they’re all over the country, but he wants THOSE!)
Yummmm!! Looks like a great trip. And since I am the trip planner in my family, I can totally relate to needing to be super organized and have a ton of forethought.
Marianne, I think the planning is almost as fun as the actual adventure!
My mouth started watering with the prickly pear margarita and acai bowls! Looks like it was so much fun!
Danielle, it certainly was!
I’d love to visit Sedona! I’ve been near there but never actually stayed there. And planning is essential, right?!
Cindy, make it a priority if you have the opportunity! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
You guys found a lot of great stuff to do! I love how you emphasized that everyone in the family is involved in the planning in some way.
Stephanie, we all like different activities and adventures, so if I include everyone, then we will all have a wonderful time!
Don’t they say failing to plan is planning to fail? I absolutely agree, we need to plan our epic adventures well.
It is so true!
Planning is the most important part of an exploration event! Without it…so many opportunities are lost!
I couldn’t agree more, Barbara!
I love Sedona. I’ve only been there once and then only visited the village of TLAQUEPAQUE when we went. I can’t wait to go back and visit more of the area.
Alice, there is SO MUCH to see. You won’t regret a return visit, especially if you like hiking and the beautiful outdoors!
Oh! I completely agree! One must research extensively to not miss golden opportunities or places of interest!
Barbara, exactly right!