Sedona’s reputation as one of the most spiritual places on earth attracts all types of energy workers, intuitives and artists. So what better place for this aspiring healer to spend a long weekend!

The beauty of the surrounding red rocks makes Sedona the perfect place to get away from the daily grind, and the energies within this region are perfect for those seeking spiritual solace. I may have only had four days in Sedona, but I maximized them to the fullest.

Where to Stay: Amara Resort

Located right in the heart of Sedona, it’s easy to walk to shops and restaurants from Amara. Plus, the resort offers a free shuttle anywhere within a mile of its property (and there is a lot within the area). I’d opt for a creekside room if one is available, as most others overlook the pool or parking lot. The creekside rooms overlook Oak Creek, making the balconies a peaceful oasis for morning tea and meditation.

Saltrock, the restaurant at Amara, is amazing. Over the course of our stay, we had breakfast, lunch and dinner there. Try the handcrafted margaritas -- especially the West Fork!

Definitely hit the spa at Amara. The Winds of Change massage incorporates crystal healing, aromatherapy and a traditional Swedish massage - 90 minutes of pure bliss. We loved it so much, we went back the next day for additional services. This is also where I discovered VitaJuwels gemwater bottles, which I’m totally obsessed with!  

While the pool area area is small, we never had trouble getting lounge chairs and the view of the red rocks is beautiful. There is an outdoor bar and Saltrock serves lunch by the pool too.

We didn’t have a chance to see the nearby L’Auberge hotel, but it also looks like a great place to stay and dine.

What To Do:

SHOP: You’re in Sedona (and you’re reading this blog), so you’ll probably want to hit up some crystal shops. Be warned: while beautiful, most are very overpriced as they are catering to tourists. If you have a car, take a drive over to Crystal Magic. It’s a few miles from the center of town, but they have a great selection of crystals, essential oils, books, tarot and more. And the prices weren’t too outrageous. We also found some great crystals and a beautiful new Shungite pendulum at Crystal Vortex (which has two locations on the main strip), where we found the staff incredibly knowledgeable and helpful.

DINE: Chef Lisa Dahl owns four restaurants in Sedona and we were lucky enough to have time for two of them. The first one we tried was Dahl & DiLuca. Living in the Italian neighborhood of Boston, we were apprehensive about eating Italian food in Sedona, but Dahl & DiLuca did not disappoint! Everything we had was absolutely delicious and they have an impressive wine list too. We also stopped by Dahl’s more casual spot, Pisa Lisa, for lunch after a long hike. The fra diavolo pizza and kale caesar salad were both out-of-this-world delicious!

EXPLORE: When in Sedona, you must check out the Vortexes, despite the locals’ claims that they are just tourist traps. While you may not have any life-altering experiences, you can’t beat the views that the hikes to the Vortexes offer. There are several Vortex sites, but we opted for Airport Mesa given its close proximity to town. From the Vortex site, you get 360 views of the red rocks (I must have taken 100 photos from our hike, texting them to my family back in Boston). We decided to then hike the Airport Loop Trail, thinking it was going to be fairly easy, which it was. What we didn’t expect was that the hike had many narrow and sloping parts, so you really have to pay attention. And, we didn’t expect the loop to be so long - between the Airport Vortex and hike, we spent about three hours exploring. Note: if you do this hike, be smarter than us and bring water.

EXPLORE SOME MORE: When I planned this trip, I really wanted to make a point to see the Grand Canyon, which is a two-hour drive north of Sedona. That’s a lot of driving for a daytrip, but this had been on my ‘bucket list’ for as long as I can remember. We drove up to the Grand Canyon Airport, where we took a helicopter tour of the Canyon’s South and North Rims. This was one of the most spectacular things I’ve ever seen and was worth every penny, not to mention the long drive. We saw so much of the Canyon that we never could have seen from the car (and we still didn’t cover the entire thing). It’s hard to put the experience into words, but trust me - it’s something you’ll never forget!

Four days in Sedona was not enough for me and I can’t wait for my next trip. This is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway with girlfriends. Even if they aren’t super spiritual, there’s really something for everyone in Sedona. I’m already creating a checklist of things I want to do the next time I’m there, including:

• Work with a healer at the Gateway Cottage Wellness Center. This beautiful new healing center opened while we were in Sedona and was in walking distance to our hotel, but we didn’t have time for a visit. They have so many amazing services -- hypnotherapy, Reiki, past life regression sessions, psychic readings and more. I hope to plan my visit around one of their events or retreats.

• Take the Vortex/Medicine Wheel Tour, which concludes with a Medicine Wheel Ceremony ritual with sacred drumming and songs, smudging and aura clearing…the perfect Sedona experience.

• Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a church built into the red rocks. I have heard from many people that this is a must-do when in Sedona, so I definitely want to check it out when I go back.

• Experience Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park. I’ve seen such gorgeous photos of this Buddhist shrine and park in West Sedona, I need to see it for myself!

• Dine at Lisa Dahl’s other two restaurants - Cucina Rustica and the Latin-inspired Mariposa. And, because I’m ALWAYS thinking about my next meal, I’d also love to try Cress at L’Auberge.

• Take a Pink Jeep Tour. Assuming I’m with friends who have not yet been to Sedona, Pink Jeep Tours look like a fun way to see everything Sedona has to offer.

• Take another trip to Crystal Magic so I can spend more time looking around!

Have you been to Sedona? What are your top picks for things to do and see? Let us know in the comments below!