SCOTTSDALE
My best friend Raymond and I traveled to Scottsdale to celebrate our birthdays together. We stayed at an Airbnb in the heart of Scottsdale which wasn’t too far from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and conveniently located near a lot of great restaurants.
Our first night there we went to Hush Public House, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! It’s a little gem in Scottsdale and we were lucky to get seated without a dinner reservation since they are very popular. It was tough for us to find since Google Maps led us to a strip mall, but it’s right next to a store called Arizona Leathers and the windows are blacked out.
On the 4th of July, we grabbed brunch at Arcadia Farms Cafe before heading to Sedona. We called the day before to check if they were open on the holiday and luckily they were. Parking was easy to find and we were again seated right away without a reservation. Later that evening we drove to Westworld of Scottsdale where we watched the fireworks show.
The next day we got brunch at Butters Pancake & Cafe and the food did not disappoint! They’re definitely known for their specialty pancakes so we tried their apple cinnamon and blueberry danish pancakes.
Afterwards, if you’re ever looking for a spa day to get a facial and massage, I highly recommend checking out New Serenity Spa in Scottsdale. We got the Serenity Facial & Massage package for 2 hours ($199/person) and both services were very high quality. I get frequent facials and massages and this was an incredible experience and well worth the price.
If you’re looking for a good shopping district for gifts and souvenirs, I recommend checking out Old Town Scottsdale. It’s a small shopping district filled with boutiques, candy stores, western-themed gifts, etc.
For another night out, we went to Sophia’s Kitchen for a nice Italian dinner. I recommend getting their bruschetta variety sample and their shrimp scampi!
Last but not least, before leaving Scottsdale we ventured to Hash Kitchen for our last brunch. It has a fun atmosphere with a live DJ and it even has a Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar!
SEDONA
Sedona is about a 2 hour drive from Scottsdale, so we decided to take a day trip there on the 4th of July since most places were closed. Even though it would have been nice to go hiking in the early morning when it was cooler, the dry heat made it bearable. We left Scottsdale at around 10am and arrived in Sedona by noon.
Our destination in Sedona was Devils Bridge Trail, one of the most popular trails there. One thing to note is that if you’re not driving a 4x4 vehicle like a Jeep, you’re actually parking further from the trailhead so it adds another mile to your hike. In total our hike took about 3 hours and it was roughly 4.2 miles roundtrip. Hiking in 115 degree weather got rough, so we took plenty of breaks , replenished with water and fruit, and cooled off in the shade with a cooling towel. The hike itself was easy and pretty well-guided so you won’t get lost.
Heights don’t freak me out so walking out onto Devils Bridge wasn’t scary at all. It looks a lot narrower than it really is, but as long as you stay in the center you’ll feel comfortable. Overall this was a beautiful hike and would highly recommend this trail if you’re stopping by in Sedona or looking for something to do!
