For a high desert city with a population that hovers just under 10,000, Sedona punches way above its weight when it comes to things to do. The fantastical red rock formations are only the beginning. Outdoor enthusiasts, wellness seekers and artists are drawn to Red Rock Country for adventure, metaphysical and new age spirituality, and the ethereal quality of the light. Others come for the chance to relax and recharge in an inspiring landscape. Throw in fine dining, wineries, shopping, festivals and cultural experiences, and you’ll wonder why you aren’t here too.

Stay at Ambiente, a landscape hotel, to be in close proximity to all the fun, yet feel luxuriously cocooned in private atriums with views of the red rock landscape and evergreen forest.  

We’ve gathered below a short list of some of the best things to do in Sedona. Yep, youʻre going to need another day to pack it all in.

Red Rock Adventures 

The Coconino National Forest surrounds the city of Sedona, offering 400 miles of trails that lead hikers through Ponderosa pine forest, up red rock buttes and mesas, and through steep-walled canyons. Hiking is one of the top things to do in Sedona, you’re never far from a trailhead. Right next to Ambiente is the Adobe Jack trailhead, an easy trail thatʻs just under two miles out and back. Whether you want a meditative walk in the woods, an invigorating trail run or a challenging hike, thereʻs a trail for every skill level. 

Mountain bikers have 200 miles of dedicated single track and sandstone slickrock to ride. Sedona is a mecca for mountain biking due to the grippy red rock, porous red dirt and year-round riding conditions. Like hiking, there are trails for every skill level, from the beginner to those seeking extremely difficult, double black diamond rides. 

For a different kind of adrenaline rush, book a 4X4 off-road adventure. Open-air Jeeps take you where other vehicles can’t, climbing over red rocks, around sink holes and into rugged terrain. You’ll see spectacular sites, maybe some wildlife, and learn a lot about the area’s geology from the driver guides.

Ambiente offers guests two exclusive 4X4 experiences. The Ambiente Soldierʻs Pass is a 2.5-hour excursion with Sedona Jeep Tours to one of the most beautiful and iconic trails, Soldierʻs Pass. Youʻll visit the Seven Sacred Pools, Devilʻs Kitchen sinkhole, and enjoy a private picnic. The Ambiente Adventure Seeker ups the ante by adding a helicopter flight with Apex Air Tours over some of the most popular red rock formations and canyons.

Once the sun sets over the red rocks, the night sky sparkles with billions of stars. Sedona is a Dark Sky Community, a designation that recognizes the townʻs efforts to preserve the night sky by eliminating light pollution. With a high elevation and usually clear skies outside of monsoon season, Sedona is an exceptional place for stargazing and the number of celestial objects visible to the naked eye is revelatory.

The rooftop deck atop each of Ambienteʻs guest atriums was designed with stargazing in mind. Loungers and a gas fire pit transform the space into an outdoor living area with an elevated, unobstructed view of the sky. The concierge can arrange for a private, guided stargazing experience through Universal Access Tours with a professional astronomer.

Explore the Supernatural

Sedona is the place to channel your woo. The positive vibes, spiritual energy and vortexes, said to have transformative powers, attract skilled alternative healers, intuitives, and wellness practitioners from around the world. There is an abundance of talent here to help heal your body, soothe your soul, find a new path, or just feel reinvigorated. 

Some of the many offerings include sound therapy, chakra balancing, psychic and intuitive readings, crystal therapy, Reiki, Qigong, cranial sacral, and meditation. There are also multi-day retreats, workshops, and day spas. Maybe you just need to destress with a deep massage. You donʻt have to be a guest to visit Velvet spa at Ambiente, which offers a full menu of massage therapies, body treatments, facials, couples rituals and more. Indulge yourself and relax.

Art & Culture

Make this the year you acquire a work of art in Sedona. More than 80 galleries and shops, many within walking distance of each other, represent a wide array of artists working in a variety of mediums and styles to suit many budgets and tastes. The Southwest is an inspiration for many of the artists, evident in landscape paintings, wood carvings from local trees, and bronze sculptures so huge you’ll need a crane to place them in your garden. 

Ambiente has partnered with two art galleries worth exploring in town–Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art and Renee Taylor Gallery.  Several galleries specialize in art handmade by Native American artists. Garlandʻs has a fabulous collection of Navajo rugs and Indian jewelry; Kachina House has traditional and antique kachinas; Hoelʻs is known for antique and modern baskets; and Ninibah has a small, quality collection of pottery and jewelry.

Plan your visit to coincide with the first Friday of the month to attend “First Friday in the Galleries,” where you can meet the artists and mingle with other art lovers. Annual art festivals include Spring Open Studios, this year from April 25-27, 2025. The self-guided tour takes you to artist studios throughout Sedona and the Verde Valley. The Sedona Arts Festival is a two-day fall event showcasing more than 100 juried artists, and the Sedona Plein Air Festival brings master artists to town to paint en plein air (“in the open air”) like the nineteenth-century Impressionists. These artists set up their easels around town, and their final works are on exhibit and for sale afterwards.

The Performing Arts also have annual signature events, including the Piano on the Rocks International Festival, Chamber Music Sedona, Red Rocks Music Festival, and the International Film Festival.

Wine and Dine

Situated in the Verde Valley, one of the richest agricultural regions in the Southwest, Sedona harvests a wealth of local bounty from family-run farms, orchards, ranches, dairies and specialty crop producers who supply fruits, vegetables, pecans, natural beef, cheese and more for locavore dining. The result is a delicious culinary scene that appeals to a worldly clientele of locals and visitors from all over the world.  

The best thing is, culinary choices abound. You can carb up with a hearty breakfast for a day of adventure, celebrate with a candlelit dinner at a white tablecloth restaurant, sip margaritas on the patio by the outdoor fireplace, savor a steak, or go vegetarian. 

At Forty1, Ambienteʻs Southwest-inspired restaurant, the focus is on indigenous flavors and locally-sourced organic ingredients. Savor local flavors like elk strip loin with a corn polenta cake; or poblano relleno with a tomatillo-shishito relish, black truffle, and marinated apricots.

If you havenʻt tasted the local wine, don’t hold back. Arizona wine has come into its own, and the wineries along the Verde Valley Wine Trail are examples of why the region was named an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2021. Many wineries are small with limited production, so theyʻre not easily found out-of-state.  The nearby Verde Valley Wine Trail includes 19 commercial vineyards and 25 tasting rooms.  

Ambienteʻs Saddle & Sip adventure is a delightful way to explore the Verde Valley on horseback and taste some of the regional wines to boot. Partnering with Horsinʻ Adventures and Outdoor Professional Treks, theyʻve created a leisurely guided horseback ride through scenic Verde Valley terrain, followed by brunch at a local restaurant, and a wine tasting at several vineyards.

Another Ambiente experience is The Art of Wine presented by The ICON Wine Tasting. It features a personal sommelier who leads guests through a tasting of five wines paired with an artisan cheese board, followed by a blind tasting to test your sensory skills.  

Plan Your Sedona Adventure now

With stunning vistas day and night, outdoor adventures, a vibrant arts scene, and culinary delights, the best activities in Sedona offer something for every traveler. Whether youʻre the type to seek adventure, relaxation, or a little of both, Sedona is the perfect destination for a memorable getaway.