Four-Diamond Luxury in Red Rock Country

A burbling courtyard fountain flanked by intricately designed columns rests at the entrance to Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa. The flowing waterscape and elegant craftsmanship underscore the regal natural artistry and tranquil spirit in the property’s surrounding Red Rock Country, where towering sandstone formations and mild climes beckon travelers to unwind and enrich their souls. The AAA Four Diamond property adds its own zest to the idyllic Northern Arizona setting with chic Mediterranean-inspired décor, a relaxing spa with special healing services, and an inviting on-site restaurant. In the open air of a rooftop patio, cocktails reflect the mountainous surrounds in their liquid surfaces, and a fireplace near the outdoor pool warms sojourners on chilly desert nights.

Within each Deluxe room, plush satin-stitched bedding drapes one king or two queen Simmons pillow-top mattresses. Wavy red headboards and full-length draperies in a matching hue splash colorful accents throughout the neutral, sand-toned quarters, and a 32-inch flat-screen television broadcasts Emmy Award–winning infomercials from the wall. Vacationers can snuggle into plush Turkish towels and soft, microfiber robes before suiting up for a day of local adventures or taking in a tasty meal in the on-site restaurant.

Live entertainment reverberates in the inviting contemporary atmosphere of REDS past sundown Tuesday–Saturday, where Executive Chef Ron Moler concocts a varied spread of modern American cuisine. Breakfast brings zesty classics such as huevos rancheros or a chorizo scramble, and flavorful platters such as scallop tacos or a grilled 12-ounce rib-eye steak get top billing come dinnertime. Revelers are free to pull up a chair to sip a complimentary beverage at the bar and lounge, which lays out its own menagerie of meticulously prepared small plates. A similarly detailed approach awaits couples at the on-site spa. Amid tranquil treatment rooms abounding with pleasing scents and Andalusian-inspired interiors, travelers yield their weary muscles to a certified massage therapist, who gently whisks away stresses with an array of healing treatments.

Sedona, Arizona: Southwestern Beauty and New Age Culture

The craggy stone structures dotting Sedona's landscape have acted as a sort of natural Rorschach test to their past viewers: where one person sees a chimney, another sees a sailing ship, and what looks like a coffee pot to one person may resemble a cast member of Happy Days to another. The rock leviathans make up the landmark sights along on the scenic Thunder Mountain and Sugarloaf trails, which sit just 1 mile from the hotel. The helpful staff at Uptown Gateway Visitor Center can point expeditionists to discover more of Red Rock Country and the Coconino National Forest, where hikers can march through piney plateaus or donate echoes to the expansive canyons.

A vibrant arts community lends color to the town of Sedona, whose Gallery Row lines up more than 50 art shops and boutiques that hawk pottery, paintings, and metalwork. The town's unique New Age culture seduces curious souls in its exploration of the metaphysical, as Sedona is said to be home to a host of energy vortexes—locations of amplified spiritual potential.