Back to Sedona

On November 20, 2021, Inna and I revisited Sedona, Arizona. We last visited Sedona on November 28, 2019 (before COVID-19) and were eager to revisit some of our favorite hikes.

Since the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock was much more expensive, Inna and I decided to try the Lantern Light Inn instead. We also booked Southwest Airlines Flight #2316 from SJC to PHX, departing at 07:35 PST.

Saturday, November 20, 2021

With my iPad alarm ringing at 05:15, we woke up and dressed. I ordered a Lyft standard car at 05:40 instead of UberX (UberX price went from $28 to $72 for the short drive from our home to San Jose Airport). Our Lyft driver arrived at 05:48, and we quickly loaded the car. We packed two suitcases and two backpacks for our short flight to Phoenix.

When we arrived at the San Jose Airport, there were very long lines to get through security. We printed our two Southwest Airlines boarding passes and then joined the long queue to get through security. After a lengthy wait, we proceeded to our departure gate.

Our Southwest Airlines Flight #2316 departed on time at 07:35; we landed earlier than expected, at 10:10 in Phoenix. After deplaning, we ordered UberX to take us to the parking lot where the BMW GT was parked. I specifically requested to pick up the BMW at the airport, but my Turo guide told me that this was not possible (at the last minute).

Our UberX Blue Prius arrived at 10:40. We drove to the designated parking lot where the BMW was parked. However, on the way there, Leslie (our UberX driver) had to pull over because she ran out of gas. Thankfully, this was a short delay.

I reserved the 2014 BMW 328i GT for our trip using Turo because reserving rental cars was challenging due to their low availability and high price. Rental car agencies stopped renting cars during the COVID-19 epidemic, and few rental cars were available.

The BMW 328i GT was unique, and I needed time to adjust to its peculiarities. The first item I noticed was the lack of a rear backup camera. The lack of a rearview camera makes parallel parking more challenging.

We arrived at Lantern Light Inn in Sedona around 13:35. Usually, Lantern Light Inn allows check-ins from 15:00 - 19:00. However, Inna called the phone number and checked in earlier. We brought our suitcases to our room and decided to hurry to lunch.

The first lunch place we tried - Sedona Crepes - was supposed to be open on Saturday until 15:00, but when we walked over, we noticed that lights were out, which was obviously closed. We decided to walk over across the street to try Layla's Bakery-Cafe. Unfortunately, the kitchen at Layla's closed at 14:00, so we could not order any sandwiches. We decided to try Cafe Jose, which was highly recommended by our Lantern Light Inn host.

We were quickly seated in Cafe Jose and ordered the following items:

• Boris: Denver Scramble, Coffee
• Inna: Rio Grande, Coffee

I really liked my Denver Scramble. It reminded me of when my mom made me a Denver Omelette at Neal's Oyster Bar (the restaurant my mom and dad owned). 

After we finished our lunch at 15:00, we decided to try hiking the West Fork Oak Trail (an easy trail highly recommended by our Lantern Light Inn host). Encountering heavy congestion, we eventually reached the West Fork Oak Trailhead at around 15:45, parked (paying an $11 fee), and began our hike.

Here is the Strava log of our West Fork Oak hike.

It was a beautiful trail with many water crossings and beautiful scenery. We hiked for 3.52 miles, returning to our parking lot at 17:45. The hike took us 1:45 (elapsed time) with an elevation gain of 147 feet.

We decided to eat dinner on the way back before returning to our Lantern Light Inn. Being a Saturday night, all the restaurants were bustling. We were eventually able to get seated at Open Range Grill & Tavern. We ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Cornbread (shared)
  
• Boris: Blonde Draft Beer, Chicken Fajitas
  
• Inna: Prickly Pear Margarita, Quesadilla

The Fajitas were delicious but not at the same level as the ones served at Carmelitas in Laguna Beach. I was slightly disappointed about cornbread - I expected something comparable to what Black Eyed Peas serves in Houston.

After dinner, we returned to Room #111 in Lantern Light Inn. I lit the fire pit on our patio and talked to Steve Stolper (who left me a message). I started reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles on my Kindle Paperwhite.

We didn't sleep well at night because the room's heater kept turning on very loudly and waking us up until Inna had the good sense to turn it off permanently.

 

Sunday, November 21, 2021

In the morning, I woke at 07:00 to my alarm playing music. However, both Inna and I were still very tired, so we continued sleeping until 08:40. I took a shower, shaved, and dressed for our morning hike. Inna also woke up reluctantly, showered, and dressed. 

Initially, we thought of stopping for breakfast before our hike. I considered eating at nearby Sedona Crepes and called to confirm it was open. However, my phone call was re-directed to voicemail, so I assumed it was closed. However, Inna tried again and got to a live person, who explained that the restaurant was open for breakfast.

We walked to Sedona Crepes and noticed a few people waiting to be seated. Inna put our name on the list, but the wait was 20 minutes. At this rate, we might not be able to make much progress with hiking at Bell Rock, so we decided to skip breakfast and drive directly to the Courthouse Loop South Trailhead, which we prefer for hiking to Bell Rock.

On the drive, my BMW 328i GT started complaining about low tire pressure. I stopped by the nearby Shell Station and pumped up both tires, resetting the TPM monitoring system afterward. It worked, as I saw no new warnings (but only time will tell).

Encountering heavy traffic, we eventually reached the Courthouse Loop South Trailhead and tried to park. Initially, we could not find any open parking spaces, but ultimately, we found an available parking space as a Jeep pulled out. I purchased the weekly parking pass ($15) and parked the BMW.

Since it was already quite warm, I decided not to bring a warm jacket. Inna got her backpack with a water bottle, while I just wore the fanny pack. Our plan was to follow the Big Park Loop trail.

Initially, we walked North and then East counter-clockwise, following the Bell Rock Pathway, the Courthouse Butte Loop, Bell Rock Climb, and Bell Rock Pathway. The hike was 6.00 miles long and took 3 hours (with a few rest stops). We were exhausted after the hike and decided to eat lunch.

At first, we tried lunch at Creekside American Bistro, but it was fully booked and had a 90-minute wait for seating. We decided to try the Hideaway House (where we dined 2 years ago), which had a 20-minute wait. 

We were seated outside (with beautiful views of surrounding peaks) at around 15:00 and ordered a few items:

• Boris: Gnocchi Vegetable soup, Nathan's Harvest Ginger Beer
• Inna: French Onion soup, Prickly Pear Lemonade
• Share: 14' Peach & Panchet Pizza
• Dessert: Peach & Pecan Cobbler

I liked the Peach & Panchet Pizza, while the soup was tolerable. The Peach & Pecan Cobbler was delicious.

After lunch, we returned to our room in Lantern Light Inn to rest. Both Inna and I were very tired and took a short nap. After the nap, we quickly dressed for our dinner at Cucina Rustica. Since we were running late (our dinner reservations were for 17:54), Inna called to warn the restaurant. We arrived around 18:15 and promptly sat at our "usual" table.

After looking at the new dinner menu and the wine menu, Inna and I ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Bruschetta
• Boris: Firestone Walker 805 Blonde Ale, Gnocchi Della Nonna
• Inna: BTG Eroica Riesling, Chilean Sea Bass, Hot Tea
• Dessert: Apple Budino

Inna's Chilean Sea Bass was marvelous, and I liked the Apple Budino dessert. My gnocchi was delicious, but I wasn't in the right mood to enjoy them.

After dinner, we returned to our room, stopping at Whole Foods to pick up yogurt, water, and snacks.

I lit the fire pit on our patio, and Inna enjoyed sitting outdoors, enjoying the warm flame and the fresh evening air. I sat outside for some time, but as I got cold, I moved indoors. Inna sat out until 23:30, listening to her meditations. I continued reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles on my Kindle Paperwhite.

Monday, November 22, 2021

Workday!

I woke up at 07:00 but was still sleepy and slept until 08:00. I showered, dressed, and ate a small cashew vanilla yogurt. I also made coffee in the room using the Lantern Light Inn's Keurig coffee maker. I lit the fire pit and drank my coffee while working on multiple work-related items.

Inna woke around 08:40 and decided to try hiking the Boynton Canyon Trail. She would try trekking 5 miles to visit the Birthing Cave. 

She packed a few essentials, including yogurt, crackers, and water. It was her first time driving the BMW 328i GT, and I hoped she would get used to it.

Inna enjoyed a long hike, taking over 6 hours to traverse multiple paths on the Boynton Canyon Trail. 

When she returned at 16:15, she was exhausted but proud of reaching the subway caves and completing such a long and arduous hike.

After resting a bit, we spent the rest of the day drinking wine and eating cheese & crackers on our   Lantern Light Inn patio, with the fire pit providing heat and illumination. We tried to make dinner reservations at multiple restaurants and eventually succeeded in reserving Dahl & Di Luca Italian Restaurant for 20:00.

We arrived at Dahl & Di Luca Italian Restaurant at about 20:00 and waited a few minutes before being seated close to the piano (no one was playing). After looking at the dinner menu (which seemed to mirror Cucina Rustica), we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Burrata Special, Bread with Olive Oil
  
• Boris: Classico Bolognese, Hot Tea
  
• Inna: Pesce Reale (Chilean Sea Bass), Hot Tea
  
• Dessert: Luscious Lemon Cheesecake
  

The Burrata Special was delicious, and Inna's Chilean Sea Bass was well prepared. 

I liked my Classico Bolognese too. The Luscious Lemon Cheesecake with Lemoncello was exquisite. We liked our dinner at Dahl & Di Luca and plan to return for Thanksgiving at 17:45.

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Workday!

I woke at 07:30 in the morning, showered, shaved, and dressed. Inna and I ate a small breakfast at the nearby Layla's Bakery Cafe (closed on Sunday and Monday). There was already a long line When we arrived (a 5-minute walk from our Inn).

We ordered the following items from the menu:

• Boris: Small Mocha, Cheese Danish
  
• Inna: Butterbeer Latte, Apple Danish, Ham & Cheese Croissant

All of the pastries were extremely well-baked and delicious. They were superior to our Los Gatos' Fleur de Cocoa Patisserie. We hope to return to Layla's again!

While I worked on the patio with the fire pit, Inna attended to her appointments. She visited the Crescent Moon Ranch and crossed some deep streams.

I had lots of work to do. At around 10:00, light showers started to come down, but I was dry on the patio with the plexiglass-covered roof and continued to work.

For lunch, I reheated Inna's quesadilla leftovers in the microwave. 

At around 15:30, Inna returned from her activities, and we decided to try coffee at the Starbites Coffee Cafe. There was hefty traffic on 89A, and it took us 20 minutes to drive 3 miles! Eventually, we parked near the cafe and ordered a few items:

• Boris: Mocha, Apple Fritter
• Inna: London Fog, Egg Sandwich

The mocha was really delicious, and I liked the Apple Fritter. Since the coffee shop closed at 17:00, we left and explored the nearby Visions Fine Art gallery. We especially liked the colorful sculptures of Dramocha and other animals by Nano Lopez and the fascinating paintings of Octavio Ocampo.

For dinner, we decided to try Pisa Lisa, a few minutes away from our Lantern Light Inn. We arrived at around 17:30 and were added to the waiting list. We gave our cell phone numbers and were told that our table would be ready in 30-40 minutes. We returned home and waited but never received the text message. Thus, we decided to return to Pisa Lisa and stay there. 

We arrived and parked our car in the small parking lot. We waited 10-15 minutes more before being seated at a communal table (where two other people were already dining). The big-screen TV showed the latest NBA game between LA Lakers and NY Nicks, with the Nicks leading most of the way. After looking at the menu, we ordered the following items:

• Boris: Ace Apple Cider, Greca (Greek Salad)
• Inna: Ace Pear Cider, Burrata Caprese
• Shared: Funghi Decadente (Mushroom Pizza)

I liked my Greek Salad, and the Mushroom Pizza was delicious, baked on a super-thin crust. We couldn't finish the pizza, so we brought a few slices home to eat later.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

I woke at 07:30 in the morning, showered, and dressed. Inna also woke up and dressed. It was chilly, with the morning air hovering at 40 Fahrenheit. 

We dressed warmly and walked over to the nearby Layla's Bakery Cafe. Surprisingly, Layla's was not busy at 08:15, and we quickly ordered the following breakfast items:

• Boris: Mocha (12 oz) + Whipped Cream, Apple Danish
• Inna: Latte (12 oz), Ham & Cheddar Croissant, Kouign-Amann

The mocha was delightful, and I especially enjoyed the chocolate-covered whipped cream. In addition, the Apple Danish was freshly baked, crispy, and delicious. Inna also enjoyed her Ham & Cheese Croissant and her mocha.

After breakfast, we returned to the Lantern Lighthouse Inn. I had to return to work while Inna decided to try a short hike on the Boynton Canyon Trail. She planned to return at around noon for lunch with me. During her hike, she ran into the guy who plays the flute. 

Inna returned home before noon and caught up with Alex in London using Apple's Facetime. Alex was doing well in London and was considering what to do during the upcoming weekend. A visit to York?

At noon, we decided to eat at Layla's Bakery Cafe for the last time (as it would be closed from November 25 - November 30. We both initially ordered Butternut Squash soups but did not like them. We thought they would be a paste, but they tasted like vegetable soups. Instead, Inna exchanged them for salads.

• Boris: Caesar Baby Kale Salad, Lemonade 
• Inna: Strawberry Salad, Lemonade, Bulletproof Coffee

After lunch, we decided to hike the Airport Loop Trail at Airport Mesa. The hike was supposed to be 3.2 miles long, but much longer - 6.0 miles. We saw many beautiful overlooks of the surrounding mountains. We rested and shared the Kouign-Amann from Layla's Bakery when we reached the highest point. 

After the hike, we drove to the nearby Starbites Coffee Cafe, where Inna ordered London Fog and an Earl Grey tea with a small snack. Since the coffee shop closed at 17:00, we returned to our Lighthouse Lantern Inn and rested. Since we were tired and dirty from the long hike, both Inna and I showered. I felt much better after the hot shower.

For dinner, we drove to Cucina Rustica (about 23 minutes away) for our 18:30. OpenTable reservation. 

After arriving, we were promptly seated., handed menus, and offered water. We ordered the following dinner items:

• Boris: Hot Tea, Greca (Greek Salad), Angelica (linguini with shrimp)
• Inna: Hot Tea, BTG Eroica Riesling, Burrata Plate, Vitelllo Saltimbocca (Veal)
• Dessert: Budino

On the return drive home, we stopped at the local Whole Foods to purchase fresh organic apples, yogurt, chocolate, crackers, and spring water.

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving!

I woke at 07:30, showered, dressed, and made coffee using Lantern Light Inn's Keurig coffee maker in our room. I lit the outdoor fire pit, and Inna and I ate a small breakfast consisting of:

• Freshly brewed coffee
• Greek yogurt with fruit (marionberry, passion fruit)
• Brioche rolls

After breakfast, we dressed warmly for our upcoming hike to Soldier Pass. After a short 5-minute drive, we were directed to park near the pool - because there was the 12th Annual Sedona Turkey Trot. There was a shuttle ferrying hikers to Soldier Pass Trailhead, but it was running relatively slow due to all of the runners.

Initially, we thought about going forward with the hike, but the strong, cold, gusty wind (gusting to 25+ knots) and the cold temperatures made us reconsider. We decided to try another hike with less wind and settled on the West Oak Fork Trail. After a 2-minute drive, we reached the trailhead and paid the $11 parking fee at about 10:00.

Although it was pretty cold - 42 degrees Fahrenheit - the wind was far less intense, and we started our 3.2-mile hike on the West Oak Fork Trail. Since it's rated as an easy hike, it should take 90 minutes each way. It took much longer because we ended up stopping quite often to take photographs of the beautiful scenery.

Looking at my Apple Watch (I used Strava to record the hike), it took us 4.2 miles to reach the very end (an area where the steep cliffs are narrow and only water continues, making hiking impossible). This portion of the hike took us about two hours. We had to cross streams 13 times and almost got our feet wet on multiple occasions.

The way back was much quicker, as we did not stop to take photos.

We reached our BMW 328i at about 15:00 (5 hours after we started our hike.) We were exhausted and a bit famished. Since it was Thanksgiving, most coffee shops and restaurants were closed. We thought to stop at any place that was still open. On the drive back to our Lantern Light Inn, we stopped at one restaurant - but it only accepted seating with pre-existing reservations.

After reaching our Lantern Inn, I lit the fire pit, warmed up the 3 slices of leftover Pizza Funghi (from Pisa Lisa), and brewed fresh coffee. It was a small, simple lunch, but it helped to make us feel better.

At 17:40, we dressed for our dinner at  Dahl & Di Luca Italian Restaurant. Although we could not sit in the main dining room, we enjoyed dinner near the bar. We ordered the following items from the Thanksgiving Dinner Menu:

• Boris: Soup of the Day(Yam Bisque), Salmone al Limoncello, Hot Tea
• Inna: Seafood Bruschetta, Agnello Scottadito (Lamb), Hot Tea
• Dessert: Classic Tiramisu

Our dinner was delicious, and I especially enjoyed the Tiramisu. The Salmon was delicious, but I could not taste any Lemoncello. Inna really enjoyed her rack of lamb.

Friday, November 26, 2021

I woke at 07:30, showered, dressed, and checked whether Sedona Crepes was open next door. I called the restaurant, but no one picked up the phone, and I was transferred to voice mail. While Inna was getting dressed, I walked over and found it closed.

I made breakfast in our room and brewed two cups of coffee using the Keurig Coffee maker. I lit the patio fire pit (it was pretty chilly outside), and Inna and I ate our morning breakfast, which included the following:

• Freshly brewed coffee
• Greek yogurt with fruit (marionberry, passion fruit)
• Brioche rolls

After breakfast, Inna and I decided to hike the Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point. The drive to the Little Horse trailhead was a short 12-minute drive, as there was very little traffic. I did have to stop by the Shell Station to pump up the front left tire of the BMW 328i GT (as the car's Tire Pressure System was complaining).

We had difficulty finding parking when we arrived at the Little Horse Trailhead. Eventually, a Jeep pulled out, and we were able to park. We started our hike, noticing the myriads of other hikers and mountain bikers on this trail.

As I recall, last time (2 years ago), when Inna and I hiked Little Horse, we were pretty tired when we reached Chicken Point. However, today, we could walk quickly to Chicken Point, reaching it in an hour. At the top, we enjoyed fantastic views of the surrounding cliffs. We sat on one of the giant boulders and enjoyed a quick snack of fresh organic Honeycrisp apples.

The return trip to Little Horse Trailhead was fast, with our descent taking less than an hour. On the way down, we saw many mountain bikers descending quite quickly. I could try this trail on a mountain bike.

We loaded our BMW 328i GT with our hiking boots, and I started the drive to Uptown Sedona. There was a lot of congestion, and it took us 40 minutes to drive a few miles. 

Eventually, we parked near the Hike House. We walked over to the Hike House and looked at their vast selection of hiking boots. I was hungry and did not want to wait for a sales rep (who was working with another customer). Thus, we left the Hike House and walked north toward Hideaway House. On the way there, we briefly stopped at the Pump Station restaurant (but did not like their lunch menu). 

Next, we stopped at Creekside American Bistro, hoping a lunch table would be available. Luckily, Creekside had a free table for indoor seating, and we sat down. 

After looking at the menu, we ordered the following lunch items:

• Appetizer: 5 Freshly-baked croissants
• Boris: Crab Cake Combo (with Brie Soup), Hot Tea
• Inna: N/A Prickly Spritzer,  Brie Soup, Eggs Benedict, Hot Tea

After lunch, we drove to the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park to see Buddha statues. After exploring the small park and looking at the statues, we decided to hike the Chimney Rock Pass. It was a trail with a significant ascent. We enjoyed the beautiful views of the surrounding vistas.

At about 17:00, we returned to our car and drove back to our Lantern Light Inn. We were both a bit tired and took showers to wash off the hiking dust and get refreshed.

For dinner, Inna made reservations at Cucina Rustica for 19:30. With the heavy traffic in North Sedona, we were initially concerned about the long drive required to get to Cucina Rustica. However, at around 19:00, the traffic congestion had vanished, and our drive to Cucina Rustica took only 22 minutes.

After checking in, we were seated at a table and offered menus. After reviewing the menu, we selected the following dinner items:

• Boris: Greca (Greek Salad), Don Quixote Pasta with Chicken, Hot Tea
• Inna: Zuppa di Giorno (Tomato Bisque), Ravioli Paradiso, Hot Tea
• Dessert: Sogno di Cioccolato

We enjoyed another lovely dinner at Cucina Rustica. I especially enjoyed the Greca (Greek Salad) and the Signo di Cioccolato dessert. Inna raved about her delicious Ravioli Paradiso.

Saturday, November 27, 2021

We woke at 08:00 in the morning, and I showered, shaved, and dressed. I decided to check whether  Sedona Crepes was open and walked over there. It looked empty, and the wait for a table was only 10 minutes long. However, I didn't like the way it looked inside, so Inna and I decided to eat our own breakfast.

I  brewed two cups of coffee using the Keurig Coffee maker and lit the patio fire pit (it was pretty chilly outside), and Inna and I ate our morning breakfast, including:

• Freshly brewed coffee
• Italian Fruitcake
• Yogurt 

After breakfast, we drove over to the Soldier Pass Trailhead but could not find a parking spot (it only has spots for 14 cars) despite waiting 30 minutes. Instead, we decided to park by the Sedona Community Pool. 

From there, we called Debbie at (928) 592-2011, and she arrived quickly to pick us up and take us to the Soldier Pass Trailhead. (We tried using UberX, but Inna could not find a car).

We started our Soldier Pass hike from the small car parking lot and, in a few minutes, arrived at Devil's Kitchen. It's a giant sinkhole in the ground. We saw many hikers strolling around and many mountain bikers and Jeeps.

From Devil's Kitchen, we walked North for about 1/2 mile and arrived at the Seven Sacred Pools. They were small pools of water and not very impressive.

We continued northward to the Soldier Pass Cave and Soldier Arch. This was not very well marked on the trail, and we only found it because Debbie told us to look for the "Wilderness Sign" and turn right, heading upwards toward the caves.

It was a steep ascent to the cave, requiring careful scrambling. Once we reached the cave, scrambling into the cave was quite a challenge. Once inside, the view was amazing. We carefully descended after marveling at the view inside and taking multiple photos.

The return trip to the Seven Sacred Pools was relatively easy, and then we continued to Devil's Kitchen and the parking lot. At the parking lot, we called Debbie, and she picked us up.

After we returned to our Lantern Inn room #111, we showered and rested for half an hour. Then, we dressed and initially headed for Pisa Lisa for a late lunch. However, Pisa Lisa was quite busy (with a 20-40 minute wait), so we decided to continue to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Center despite the insane traffic. It took us over 30 minutes to drive a couple of miles.

We parked our BMW 328i GT there and decided to eat lunch at Creekside American Bistro (as Inna was able to make online reservations for 16:30.) We sat down indoors and ordered the following lunch items:

• Boris: Ahi Tuna Burger
• Inna: Brie Soup, Beet Salad

I liked my Ahi Tuna Burger and shared half with Inna. Although she enjoyed her Brie Soup, she was not enthusiastic about her Beet Salad. 

She loved my Ahi Tuna Burger! The curly fries with the Ahi Tuna Burger were unique and tasty.

After lunch, we walked around the various shops in the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Center. We explored several art galleries, and Inna stopped by a few other shops. We stopped by the Chai Spot to order some Coconut Rose Chai for Inna and me.

Our aromatic Coconut Rose Chai is the favorite of many. This black tea is brewed in coconut milk with cinnamon and sugar, and garnished with nutmeg

We sipped our chai while sitting on a sofa, listening to multiple groups of Indians drinking tea. Since the Chai Spot closed at 18:00, we had to leave by 18:30. We wandered around Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Center for a bit and then drove to Shorebird for our 19:30 dinner reservation.

We arrived at Shorebird at 19:00, a bit earlier than expected, and waited to be seated at our table. Once seated, we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Avocado Fries (delicious!)
• Boris:  Prickly Pear Cider
• Inna: Tomato Soup, White Peach Sangria
• Shared: Lido Roll, Balboa Roll

The Avocado Fries were unique and delicious, providing a delightful start to our dinner at Shorebird. Inna also liked her Tomato Soup (which came with a lovely mozzarella sandwich). 

The two sushi rolls - Lido Rolls and Balboa Roll - were also delicious. Inna liked her White Peach Sangria, but I was not enthusiastic about the Prickly Pear Cider (from Corvallis, Oregon).

Sunday, November 28, 2021

We woke up at an early 06:20 to get ready for the long drive to Antelope Canyon. Inna purchased two tickets aboard Pink Jeep Tours for a guided tour of Antelope Canyon (located on Navajo land).

Take a bucket-list tour to Lower Antelope Canyon with a hike to Horseshoe Bend on this exciting day trip from Sedona. You’ll see the Painted Desert and Navajo Nation, have lunch at Glen Canyon Dam and shop at Cameron Trading Post.

Jessica, our Pink Jeep Tour driver, picked us up at our Lantern Lighthouse Inn at 07:00. We were the first couple to board the large Pink Jeep van. For the next 20 minutes, Jessica drove around various Sedona hotels to pick up the other participants, including Kristen & Cameron, Genie & Doug, and others.

Our first major stop was the hike to Horseshoe Bend, and on the way there, Jessica stopped at the Cameron Trading Post for restrooms and Navajo gifts. Inna purchased a lovely Owl figurine here and a couple of refrigerator magnets for Vladik.

About an hour later (at 11:00), we pulled into the Horseshoe Bend parking lot, where we hiked 1.5 miles (for about 20 minutes) to Horseshoe Bend. Many tourists were here, and we took multiple photos of Horseshoe Bend. The Colorado River looked very dry around the bend.

Our next stop was lunch at the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook in Page (which overlooks the man-made Lake Powell). Jessica purchased some delicious sandwiches for us, and we ate them while looking over the giant Glen Canyon Dam.

After lunch, we stopped for restrooms and drinks at Shell and continued to Lower Antelope Canyon. We had to wait until 13:45 for our Navajo tour guide to start the tour. We had to wear COVID-19 masks for the entire time and were not allowed backpacks. 

We descended multiple steep ladders deep into the Lower Antelope Canyon. Seeing the many shades of sandstone walls was just a fantastic experience. It was a photographer's dream! 

There were so many stunning shots of canyon walls, crevices, etc. Inna and I took hundreds of photos as we walked deep into the heart of the Lower Antelope Canyon. Our Navajo guide was extremely valuable; he took many photos of us and helped us compose pictures on Inna's iPhone. I was very impressed with the Antelope Canyon and wished I had more time to take more photos!

After we climbed the final ladder out of the canyon, we boarded our Pink Jeep and returned to Sedona, stopping at a Shell Gas station and Cameron for restrooms. We arrived at  Lantern Light Inn at about 19:15.

Since Inna had made dinner reservations at Shorebird for 19:30, she called the restaurant to warn them of our slight delay. We quickly changed our hiking clothes and drove to Shorebird, 7 minutes away.

After reviewing the Shorebird dinner menu, we ordered the following:

• Share: Catalina Roll (Blue crab, cucumbers, topped w/ yellowtail, avocado, pickled red Fresno chili, shaved scallions)
• Boris:  San Marzano Tomato Soup
• Inna: White Peach Sangria, San Marzano Tomato Soup, Halibut
• Dessert: Valrhona Chocolate Brownie

I really liked the San Marzano Tomato Soup with the accompanying mozzarella sandwich. The Catalina Roll was also quite delicious. Inna really liked her Halibut. The Valrhona Chocolate Brownie was also outstanding.

Monday, November 29, 2021

Returning back home to San Jose!

With a Southwest 21:25 return flight to San Jose, we needed to drop off the Turo-rented BMW 328i GT at the Airport Garage.

We woke around 08:00, dressed, showered, and packed our belongings, loading them into our BMW 328i. I returned the room's keys to the host and bid our wonderful hotel adieu.

For breakfast, we decided to try Theia's Coffee in uptown Sedona. We parked our BMW nearby and set up our laptops for our work. Inna ordered a London Fog for herself and an English Breakfast tea for me. She also ordered a bagel with cream cheese while I enjoyed a Bear Claw.

We continued to work at Theia until lunch, when we decided to try eating at The Vault (uptown nearby). Both Inna and I ordered the following:

• Boris: Chicken Salad Sandwich with Salad
• Inna: Chicken Salad Sandwich with Salad

We liked our sandwiches and the spectacular view of the surrounding red rocks from our patio. I had a headache and took two Tylenol (in the hope of relieving my migraine).

After, Inna decided to explore nearby shops while I returned to Theia's Coffee to continue work. Inna started our drive to the airport around 17:00, arriving in Phoenix at about 18:30. I dropped off the BMW 328i at the Airport Long Term Parking lot and took the tram to the airport terminal.

Our Southwest Airlines Flight #1468 took off from Phoenix at 21:25 (on time) and landed in San Jose at 22:20 PST. There was some surge pricing on UberX, and we paid $60 for the short ride from the airport to our home.

Sedona Trip Report

Day trips:

1. Lower Antelope Canyon (amazing!)

Hikes:

1. Little Horse Trail - easy hike with fantastic views from Chicken Point Overlook
2. West Oak Fork Trail. - an easy but long hike with fantastic views and stream crossings
3. Soldier Pass Trail (impressive cavern, natural wonders)
4. Bell Rock Trail (from Courthouse Loop South Trailhead)
5. Boynton Canyon Trail

Restaurants

1. Cucina Rustica (best food, best ambiance,  waiter service)
2. Shorebird (sushi, tomato soup)
3. Dahl & Di Luca Italian Restaurant (live piano on weekends)
4. The Vault (sandwiches)
5. Hideaway House (lunch)
6. Creekside American Bistro (ahi tuna sandwich)
7. Pisa Lisa (no reservations needed, thin-crust pizza)
8. Cafe Jose (fast service, American food)

Cafes

1. Layla's Bakery Cafe (best mocha, delicious croissants & pastries)
2. Theia's Coffee
3. Starbites Coffee Cafe