Sedona Travel Guide
By a family that traded city life for red rocks and starry skies
A Local Family’s Guide to Sedona
Welcome to Sedona!
Sedona offers a rare mix of breathtaking natural beauty, outdoor adventure, art, and tranquility — with stunning red rock mountains rising like sculptures from the desert floor, framing a small town known for year-round outdoor adventures, wellness, and galleries and boutiques. Whether your family loves hiking, exploring, shopping, eating or simply relaxing by the creek, there’s something here for everyone.
Our family has lived in Sedona for nearly four years now, and we can honestly say it’s our favorite place we’ve ever called home. From San Francisco to New York City, we’ve lived in and explored some amazing spots — but nowhere has captured our hearts quite like Sedona.
We’ve traveled all over the world both with and without kids, so we know how important it is to make the most of your hard-earned vacation days. We created this guide to help you experience Sedona like a local — from our favorite hikes and family-friendly activities to great restaurants, hidden gems, and the perfect photo ops. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, we hope this guide helps you fall in love with Sedona just as much as we have.
Geography & Local Info
Sedona sits in the heart of northern Arizona at about 4,500 feet above sea level, in what’s known as the “high desert,” and is nestled among towering red rock formations and lush canyons carved by Oak Creek — creating a dramatic landscape that feels both desert and mountain at once. Sedona has a population of 10,000 people, but with tourism the number of people in town doubles, seeing more than 3 million visitors annually.
Sedona is a designated Dark Sky Community, with local regulations limiting light pollution and making for spectacular stargazing. We regularly walk out of our house at night to look up and see the Milky Way.
Sedona enjoys four distinct seasons: mild winters with occasional dustings of snow, colorful springs filled with wildflowers, hot summers perfect for creek adventures, and crisp, golden autumns that are a local favorite. The altitude also brings clear skies and cooler evenings, but it’s worth noting for visitors with health sensitivities that the elevation can sometimes be a factor.
When To Visit
There is no bad time to visit Sedona — but depending on your priorities, some seasons are better than others.