Sky Ranch Lodge (Review) Sedona, Arizona

The Sky Ranch Lodge is located on top of a mesa and has some of the best views in Sedona. This was our favorite spot for hiking and watching the sunset.

It is conveniently located across the road from the airport, and close to shopping and sightseeing.

A short walk puts you at one of the most popular overlook in Sedona. This area gets crowded, especially at sunset.

The location is very convenient for hiking to the airport vortex. The trail head is located at the back of the parking lot just across the main road.

The property features an outdoor pool with waterfall and a large hot tub.

The grounds are beautifully landscaped with walkways, bridges, sitting areas, and fish ponds located throughout.

There are many choices for accommodation options. We chose one with a kitchenette at the back of the property with a garden view.. We would have loved to have had one with a mesa view at the front of the property, but they were all booked when we made reservations. 

We loved everything about the lodge, but the views from the patio were amazing!

Relaxing on the patio and watching the sunset is the main attraction at the lodge. It's easy to understand why that is by this photo I took on our last night there. 

Address:

 1105 Airport Rd

 Sedona, AZ 86336

Happy Travels! 

Airport Mesa Vortex and Hike– Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is a special place not only for it's beautiful red messes, but also for it special energy. Every year, thousands of people travel from all over the world to experience these vortexes.

Sedona’s vortexes are areas of concentrated energy rising from the earth in a swirling pattern similar to a tornado.

This vortex energy is also reported to be found at sacred sites such as Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid.

It is said that the vortex causes the twisting of juniper trees in places where this energy is strongest.

There are four main Vortexes in Sedona. We hiked to the Airport Vortex.

We started our out from the parking lot next to the airport vista overlook. It is a little over half a mile from the vortex.

The lot is a large parking area on the left up Airport Road from the vortex parking. There are only eight spaces to park close to the vortex and they are always full. The lot is across the road from the Sky Ranch Lodge where we were staying. I highly recommend staying there! It is a beautiful place! I will make a post about it later.

Be sure a check out the overlook across the road from the parking lot. The view is amazing!

The views from the Airport Mesa Overlook are worth the hike, regardless of rather you feel the energy or not!

Happy Travels! 

Video of Hike ↓↓↓

Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch ( Review) Tucson, Arizona

I was looking for a place to stay in Tucson, Arizona when I came across the Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch. The front entry had me hooked immediately! I read on about the accommodations and amenities, which all sounded good, so I made reservations. 

I have been disappointed many times when I was expecting a place to be how it was presented and it wasn't. But let me tell you, this place exceeded my expectations! It is amazing!

The Hacienda Del Sol is one of Tucson's oldest and most prestigious guest ranch resorts with a very interesting history. Read about the resort's history here.

The resort offers lodging in an older section or in the new area. We chose the newer area.

The adobe buildings and grounds are beautiful!

We stayed in #52, which is at the top of these stairs.

Besides being incredibly beautiful, our room had everything we could possibly need. We even had soft robes to put on after getting out of the shower!

Brightly colored tile work is throughout the grounds and buildings.

There are walkways, gardens, and courtyards connecting the old and new sections.

The door to our room

One of two pools on the property. This one is an infinity with a hot tub connected located in the new section. We had this one to ourselves the whole time we were there.

The second pool is located on the side of a hill in the older section. The view is breath taking from the pool and hot tub both. Both pool areas are great places to watch the sun set.

The perfect place to watch the sun set on a chilly day.

I noticed a rainbow as we were loading the car to leave. The perfect ending to a perfect stay! I hope you enjoyed the tour around the Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch.

Happy Travels! ~ Sherri

   

Exploring the Best of North Carolina's Outer Banks: Nags Head & Duck

The Outer Banks are barrier islands off the coast of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Nags Head is one of the most popular place for tourist. I was surprised to find so many fun things to do in such a small area. Some of the small business were closed for the season, but the trade off was that it was not crowded.It is also very windy and cool this time of year. I am planing a trip back in the summer months to enjoy everything. 

Here are six great place to visit on your trip to the Outer Banks:

1. The  Beaches

With more than eleven miles of beautiful sandy shorelines, the beaches are everyone's favorite place to be in Nags Head.

Public Beach Location access:

 E Hargrove St

 Nags Head, NC 27959

2. Jennette's Pier

Built in 1939, Jennette's Pier is one of the oldest structures left on the Outer Banks. It has encountered a lot of damage from nature over the years, but is newly remodeled and a very popular spot. Fishing is great from the concrete pier that extends 1000 feet out into the ocean.

Hours are:

The hours change based on season. Check here.

Fees:

Daily Fishing:  Adult $12   Child $6

Walk-on:  Adults $2   Child $1

Location:

7223 S Virginia Dare Trail

 Nags Head, NC 27959

3. Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse stands 125 foot tall and is located at the northern end of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Address: 

8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road

Nags Head, North Carolina 27959

4. Duck Boardwalk & Park

The Duck Boardwalk runs for about a mile along the Currituck Sound. Along the boardwalk are quaint boutiques, a candy store, bakery, and a park area. Duck is located about 15 miles north of Nags Head.

The Duck Town Park is a beautiful landscaped park that includes a walking trail, picnic area, playground, water fountain, kayak launch, and an amphitheater.

5. Dirty Dick's Crab House

Dirty Dicks is a “must eat at” place in Nags Head.  Their food is amazing! I normally don’t care for seafood, but I thought the snow crab was delicious! It is definitely a fun place to eat!

Location:

2407 S. Croatan Hwy

 Nags Head, NC 27959

6. Jockey's Ridge State Park

Jockey's Ridge is a unique park containing the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. It’s a popular place for flying kites, hang gliding, or just climbing atop a dune for a spectacular view of the ocean and bay. 

We loved Nags Head and I know you will too!

Happy Travels!