24 hours in Sedona

A few weeks ago we ventured outside of California (a first for us as a family of four!) and headed down to the Phoenix area for a long weekend with the in-laws.  We spent most of the time catching up with family (my brother in-law lives down there as well) and took an overnight trip to Sedona with my husband's parents. If you haven't been to Sedona, it is a beautiful place to relax and well worth the detour!

We arrived in Sedona mid-day and after some amazing tamales at Tamaliza Market and a quick stop at the neighboring Whole Foods, we were on our way to Briar Patch Inn. Upon check-in at the main lodge we grabbed some complimentary fresh cookies and apple cider and then eagerly went to check out our respective cabins. The Inn is nestled at the bottom of a canyon along Oak Creek and includes 19 cabins spread out across the 9 acre property. Each cottage has a unique layout and is tastefully decorated with southwestern touches.

We spent the afternoon exploring the property which sits at the base of the red rocks and alongside Oak Creek. The grounds of the Inn exceeded all of my expectations. There was so much to do and easily enough to keep the kids engaged for the afternoon. Our first stop along our walk was to visit the resident Sheep, Lilly and Wooly, which of course was a big hit with our girls. From there the kids alternated between running in the nearby meadow and relaxing on the wooden bench swings, followed by a hike along the creek.

Despite visiting in late Fall, the creek head a steady flow of water (a stark contrast to most of the dried-up water sources in California). We carefully maneuvered our way along the rocks that lined the creek, coming across a swimhole (complete with tire swing!) and the occasional glimpse of the red rocks through the fall foliage. 

This is the look my little one gets when I tell her to be careful :) Not exactly reassuring!

After throwing up on the car ride into town, my oldest ended up in all stripes and exclaimed "i'm a zebra!"

I suggested that she use her hands to help her balance, which she then applied to walking on level ground :)

After a home-cooked meal (the cabins come equipped with full kitchens), we all settled in by the fire, enjoying some good wine, playing cards and sharing laughs.

The following morning we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast buffet in the main lodge before checking out. We said goodbye to our cozy little cabin and took off for Crescent Moon Picnic area, which is set inside the Coconino National Forest. Known for it's amazing views of Cathedral Rock, this area is the most photographed spot in all of Arizona!

Making "soup"

After crossing the large picnic area, we hiked along the creek, frequently stopping to admire the views of Cathedral Rock. The trail was relatively level, with a few obstacles and the occasional river bed to cross. The kids loved tossing pebbles in the creek, admiring the stacked rock formations made by hikers before us and finding the perfect walking sticks. This was definitely a wonderful way to spend the morning and stretch our legs before the drive home.

Our last stop of the day was for lunch at Mariposa, a latin inspired grill with breathtaking views. Everything we ate was delicious (burger, quesadilla, carnitas tacos and margaritas!). Definitely somewhere I would eat again and the perfect end to our 24 hours in Sedona.

Have you been to Sedona? Any recommendations for future visits?

Details: Sedona is about a two hour drive from Phoenix. The Briar Patch Inn is located just a few miles from the main shopping area of Sedona. They require a two-night minimum stay, but will waive this when booking only 14 days prior to arrival. I highly recommend staying at least two nights if you can. After returning home from our trip, we were excited to see that Sunset Magazine just named Briar Patch one of the West's 37 Best Cabin Getaways! Rooms range from $200-$400 and not all cabins are available to those traveling with kids. The super Tamales at Tamaliza Market are filled with fresh and organic ingredients (no processed ingredients at all - everything is from scratch) and cost $8 fully loaded with meat, guacamole and sour cream. Seriously SO GOOD. Admission to Crescent Moon Picnic Site is $10/vehicle.

Cabin Camping at Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Since beginning our family travels about a year ago we have made several trips to the Point Reyes National Seashore and each visit has left us longing for more. On our most recent trek to West Marin, we capped off our full day of exploring the area with a stay in the Samuel P. Taylor cabins. Located just 15 minutes from the town of Point Reyes Station, the cabins are the perfect option for those looking to spend time in the area without breaking the bank.

After our morning in Point Reyes Station, followed by an afternooon hike at the Tule Elk Preserve, we picked up some pizza to-go at Cafe Reyes in Point Reyes Station and headed on our way. Fifteen minutes later we were checking in at Samuel Taylor State Park and enjoying our pizza on the picnic table outside our lovely little cabin.

The cabins, which were built in 2012, come equipped with electricity, platform bunk beds with mattresses, wood floors, covered porches, and a small electric stove. There are 4 bunks (one full size mattress and three single beds) and the top bunks have rails, making them pretty safe for kids. All you have to bring is your bed linens and you are set! Our kids were ECSTATIC about the bunk beds. They must have spent the first thirty minutes bouncing around on the beds and squealing with joy.

After settling into the cabin we set out for a hike before the sun went down. I originally had grand plans of hiking to the top of Mt. Barnabe, but our earlier hike and excitement of "camping" was enough for one day, so we opted for an easy walk around the park. The cabins sit on the hillside across the street from the main campground area, so we started our hike by crossing Sir Francis Drake and following the path alongside Lagunitas Creek. The combination of the towering redwood trees, fresh air and rambling creek made for a very peaceful and enjoyable experience.

After exploring the grounds, we made our way back to the cabin and got a nice fire started (you can bring your own firewood or purchase a bundle for $8 at the entrance to the park). We gathered up some good sticks for roasting marshmallows and made s'mores while we enjoyed the warmth of the fire.

Bedtime is always a challenge when we travel, and this trip was no exception. The initial enthusiasm over sleeping in bunkbeds wore down as bedtime approached and it quickly became clear that we would be snuggling up together in the bottom bunks. After sleeping on a deflated air mattress on our recent trip to the Steep Ravine Cabins, having a mattress pad was a major luxury. If I didn't have a squirmy 2 year old spinning around the bed all night, I am sure it would have been a great nights sleep!

We woke up the next morning and enjoyed some coffee and french toast (we cheated and bought the frozen french toast from TJ's!!) before packing up the car and heading home. I would have loved to take advantage of the wonderful location and done some more exploring, but that will have to be saved for another trip (possibly when the kids are a bit older!).

Have you ever been cabin camping? Any recommendations for other cabin/glamping options?

Details: Samuel P. Taylor State Park is located off of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in the small town of Lagunitas, just 15 minutes from Point Reyes Station and Tomales Bay. There are 5 identical cabins (2 of which appear to be exclusively for handicap users). We stayed in Hazel Haven which is the closest to the bathrooms (bonus!), but Wren's nest would be the best option if you are looking for more privacy (it's at the end of the row of cabin and furthest from the bathrooms). Cabins rent for $100/night. Each cabin has a picnic table, fire pit, barbecue pit and water spicket outside. There is a general store just down the road in Lagunitas where you can buy basics as well as a larger grocery store and restaurants in the nearby town of Point Reyes Station. You can eat your meals at one of the nearby cafes and get away with little to no camp cooking if that appeals to you!

Tule Elk Preserve in Point Reyes National Seashore

Do you have a happy place? For me, a happy place is somewhere that slows me down, where I am so happy in the moment that I am not thinking about what comes next or sticking to a schedule. It's also a place that I can think back to when I am in the midst of everyday life and it gives me that same sense of peace. While some of my happy places are not so easily attainable, like a rooftop deck in Sorrento, Italy where we vacationed years ago, or lounging in Vondelpark in Amsterdam, there are others that are closer to home like a trip to Point Reyes National Seashore. Visiting this area is like one giant deep breath for me. Even the kids, who are normally very happy, seem to become extra giddy on our trips.

There are so many things to do in this area that I feel like I could visit a dozen more times and still have new beaches to explore, hikes to take and food to eat! With that said, one constant with all our trips so far has been to start our day off at The Bovine Bakery in Point Reyes Station. The kids love their massive pastries and whether it's the fresh air or the fresh coffee, I can't get enough of the small open space next to the bakery. We usually settle in on this large bench made from a giant log and the kids eat their food while running around the picnic area. Despite there not being any play structures, swings or toys in this small outdoor space, the kids could entertain themselves for hours if we let them.

This is her new "go-to" face when she knows I'm taking a picture.

On our most recent visit, they had a small farm stand set up with pumpkins, tomatoes, strawberries and fresh herbs that you pay for on the honor system.

That is the look of someone who just realized she can reach the tomatoes and strawberries. Explaining that these weren't samples for her to consume was a task!

After our visit to the bakery, we walked the two blocks of shops, stopping in at Toby's Feed Barn for some honey sticks (a favorite for the kids), perusing the stalls at the Farmer's Market, and making a quick stop at Coyuchi.

The Farmers Market is open seasonally on Saturdays. Check hours here.

Coyuchi is an organic textiles company, based in Berkeley, with this lovely outlet/retail store in Point Reyes Station.

After our leisurely morning, we hopped back in the car and headed to the Tule Elk Preserve. The drive is about 30 minutes from Point Reyes Station and weaves through the National Seashore, passing by dairy farms and giving you occasional glimpses of the ocean. The kids enjoyed the drive since there were a lot of cows and horses to spot along the way. We had been preparing the kids for our Elk spotting adventure for the week leading up to our trip, so I was a little nervous that we might not spot any! Thankfully, we saw a huge heard of them along the roadside before we even got to the hike! We pulled over and I made sure the kids got a good look at them on the off chance that we didn't see any more during the day.

A short drive down the road we found ourselves in the parking lot of the Pierce Point Ranch, which is also the trail head to the Tomales Point Trail. On weekends from August through October, there are docents at both the Tomales Point trailhead and at Windy Gap (about 1 mile into the trail) that are available to answer any questions you might have about the Tule Elk. Before setting out on our hike, we took some time to explore the Ranch. It was actually a bit difficult to pull the kids away from the old barn when it was time to get moving!

As is the case with most of the Northern California Coastline, this area is known for being blanketed in fog. While this limits the amazing views of the ocean and rugged cliffs, it felt particularly adventurous to be walking in the clouds. Another bonus was our kids continually reminding us how "soggy" it was.

We hiked the first mile of the trail which led us to Windy Gap, where there was another group of docents to answer questions. They quickly engaged the kids with Elk horns they had for display and binoculars to view a herd of elk that were down below in the valley. These elk were considerably further away than the ones we had seen on the drive in, so the kids weren't able to spot them, but they still enjoyed the binoculars!

From here, we opted to turn back since we didn't have any carriers for the kids and everyone was growing hungry. On our walk back, the fog began to burn off a little, and we got a glimpse of the beaches and coastline below. It was beautiful with the fog, so I can only imagine what it must look like on a clear day.

We took one last tour of the Pierce Point Farm on our way back to the car.

Stay tuned for part two of our trip: Cabin Camping at Samuel Taylor State Park!

Interested in exploring more of the Point Reyes National Seashore? Here are some links to some of our favorite day trips in the area.

A short hike to Abbott's Lagoon and an afternoon at Limantour Beach.

What are your favorite places to explore in the area? 

Please share in the comments.

Details: Point Reyes Station is about an hours drive from Berkeley and the Tule Elk Preserve is another 30 minutes down the road. Admission to the Tule Elk Preserve is free. Pastries at Bovine Bakery are around $3, and coffee is around $2.50 with a free refill during your visit.