Family Friendly Hotel at the Foothills of Red Rock Country

The gnarled fingers of a red rock formation pierce the vast desert sky, as if an earthen giant had reached for the sun and turned to stone. Smaller orange buttes also speckle the vistas from the private guest-room balcony, one of many vantage points from which to admire the dramatic landscape surrounding Los Abrigados Resort & Spa. Stationed at the foothills of Red Rock Country along the banks of Oak Creek, this 22-acre property abounds with outdoor pleasantries, from its manicured walkways to cobblestone water fountains and groves of leafy trees that flourish in stark contrast to the arid peaks.

Plush, white loungers fringe the year-round heated saltwater pool, encouraging a head start on summer reading reports. Elsewhere on the Mediterranean-style property, tennis courts, bocce courts, and an 18-hole mini-golf course offer up hours of diversion. One-bedroom suites come with homey amenities such as well-furnished partial kitchens and spacious dens filled with natural light.

At the onsite Stakes & Sticks Sports Bar and Grill, wood-fired ovens bake pizzas golden brown in the company of 20 flat-screen TVs. Decidedly quieter afternoons are spent at the spa, where a variety of body wraps, massages, and aromatherapy treatments usher in tranquility as pleasantly as a flock of doves cooing Perry Como.

Sedona: Majestic Red Rock Formations Inspire Thriving Arts Center

When the sun rises and sets over Sedona—which enjoys an average of 330 sunny days per year—the surrounding red rock buttes radiate a phosphorous glow. The mountain trails and rugged canyons of Coconino National Forest offer an abundance of hiking, biking, and climbing opportunities. A hike along Airport Mesa Trail, 2 miles south of the hotel, affords panoramic views of this fiery silhouette punctuated by the spindly towers of Cathedral Rock and the slopes of Capitol Butte. Sedona's striking landscape has attracted an eclectic community of artists, many of whom display their work in Tlaquepaque. Modeled after a traditional Mexican village, this vibrant, cobblestoned arts district boasts more than 40 specialty shops and galleries, all within a mile of the hotel.