Oak Creek Getaway
Snow falling on the rocks near West Fork in Oak Creek Canyon in March
Oak Creek Canyon March Getaway
You know, sometimes a gal just needs to hit that refresh button, and let me tell you, this past weekend was no exception. I found myself yearning for a getaway, and on a whim, I checked the weather in Sedona, my own personal utopia. It's become my go-to spot to seek shelter from the craziness of life and recharge my batteries. Believe me, it works wonders on my soul, and even benefits the rest of my family. It's the perfect way to connect and unplug in this overly digital world we live in.
So, Friday afternoon, my family and I hit the road (early enough to avoid the traffic, of course) and made our way to the Junipine Resort, just north of Uptown Sedona. We usually stay in or around Uptown, but this time I wanted something different, a place nestled in the woods, where we could get in touch with nature and really relax. Junipine Resort was just the ticket, a lovely oasis in Oak Creek Canyon, far from the hustle and bustle of the touristy areas. And with a family that adores the snow, I knew this was the perfect place to create some winter memories that we could tap into during the summer months.
Let me tell you, Sedona has a way of affecting me in the most positive way. As we drove along SR 179, I could feel my body, mind, and soul finally starting to relax. And even though Uptown Sedona wasn't covered in snow from the night before, the further north we headed on 89A, the more we found ourselves oohing and ahhing at the beautiful winter scenery in Oak Creek Canyon.
89A through Oak Creek Canyon
Listen, I know the road to the Junipine Resort like the back of my hand, but let's be real here, 89A in Oak Creek Canyon can get a little tricky at times. That's why I had my GPS on, just to be safe. I mean, I don't want to miss my turn and end up driving in circles. Plus, with a car trailing so closely behind me, I needed to make sure I slowed down and gave plenty of notice before making that left-hand turn. Safety first, am I right?
But let me tell you, when we finally pulled into the parking lot, the snow was coming down hard, and my boys (including my husband 😊) were ecstatic. Me? Not so much. Sure, it was beautiful and all, but I had forgotten my coat at home, and the chilly weather was starting to get to me. So, I made a beeline for the lobby to warm up a bit.
The lobby was small but very cozy and inviting, setting the tone nicely for the entire resort. The snow falling outside and the quaintness inside reminded me of a romantic scene in a Hollywood blockbuster that one could only dream of recreating. As I stood there while being checked in, I couldn't help but smile and realize how lucky I was to be there at that exact moment and how truly blessed I was. Even one of the wonderful ladies behind the desk remarked at how beautiful the snow looked. As I was given our room keys, by the way they are REAL metal keys that you must return, I felt all giddy and couldn't wait to see our creek-side accommodations for the night.
When we opened the door, it was clear the kids were awed as they quickly made their way through the two-bedroom villa. Both my husband and I were also impressed, and we wished we had reserved it for two nights, instead of just one. I knew there was a fireplace in the main living room area but was pleasantly surprised that there was also one in the master bedroom. The deck out back was covered in snow, where the kids took to making a small snowman while my husband and I unpacked for the evening. Since there was a full kitchen, I brought plenty of food just in case the coming snow shut down Sedona. Trust me...It happens. About a month prior to this trip, my sister and I traveled here, and a snowstorm shut everything down for a day and a half. With two growing boys in tow on this trip I wasn't taking a chance. Besides, I'm a mom and I always overpack! "Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it", I always say!
Snowman on back deck at Junipine Resort
Sedona's Popcorn Emporium in Uptown Sedona
Beware.... It's super addictive!
That evening we went back into Uptown Sedona, and ate at the Sedona Pizza Company. Since it was after 6:00 p.m. parking along Main Street was free (paid parking along Main Street is required from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week) and we were lucky enough to find one close to the restaurant in Sinagua Plaza. As we walked to the Sedona Pizza Company we were seduced by the amazing aroma of freshly made caramel popcorn emanating from "Sedona's Popcorn Emporium". This place has popcorn that is dangerously addictive... So BEWARE! After giving into temptation and purchasing a bag of their caramel popcorn with almonds we got back on course and headed to get our pizzas. As we calmly strolled along, we noticed there weren't that many people walking around. It was actually quite a nice change, and we stopped whenever we wanted to admire the rocks as a few rays on sunlight filtered through the clouds here and there. As the sun slowly descended the strip began to glow from the lights spilling out of the many shops. Sedona is a low-light community so you won't find super bright street lamps anywhere, which lends even more to it's charming atmosphere.
We arrived at the Sedona Pizza Company and were lucky to be able to get a table for my family of four right away. The restaurant appeared to be hosting a private gathering of some sort, and about half of the space was reserved for the special event. Even though this limited the available seating, the background buzz of laughter and happiness reverberated throughout the restaurant. I had been feeling relaxed since our arrival in Sedona, but the added layer of contentment present seemed to enhance my sense of tranquility even more. And before you get any ideas... No, I had not been drinking. The boys ordered their usual of one kids cheese pizza and one kids peperoni pizza, while my husband and I ordered the "Buttero" for the first time. The pizza was delicious and hit the spot.
After dinner we headed back to the resort to wind down for the evening and have dessert. Since I knew, when I booked our villa, that it had a fireplace I planned ahead and brought the items needed to make s'mores. My oldest loves s'mores and would eat them till he made himself sick, my youngest however, like me, likes to eat some of the ingredients separately (Did somebody say chocolate?). So, once we got back to the villa and got comfortable I set to making a fire. Now, this place has a real log burning fireplace, so you have to watch the fire or it will go out on you. I am the firebug of the family, and once I got it good and hot my oldest and I put some of the kitchen chairs in front of the fireplace and went to work. The atmosphere was so relaxed and jovial. It was exactly what I had envisioned when I made the reservations. I sat there and appreciated the joy of the moment. Not all of our trips go the way I plan, but in my book, day 1 of this trip was a massive success. Now, all we had to do was get the kids to come down off their sugar highs from the s'mores, and get them tucked into bed without much fussing. I was looking forward to a good night's sleep and to enjoying the fresh snowfall that was predicted for day 2 of our trip.