Christmas in Arizona: Best of

Paul and I spent Christmas in Arizona this year (2010). We left on December 25, after a family celebration on the 24th, and returned on January 1, 2011.

It was really easy to come up with a ‘best of’ list about our trip, so that’s how I’ll share my experiences with you.

Best Hotel

Fiesta Resort in Tempe Hello priceline.com! We stayed for $40 (yes $40) per night for 3 nights. The place was stunning. Beautiful grounds, outdoor hot-tub and swimming pool, and richly comfortable and luxurious suites. I fell in love with the decor, which I’d describe as warm southwestern comfort inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. Sweet deal, perfect location and COMMMMFFFYYY beds!

Best Coffee

Java Love Cafe  in Sedona. Mmm coffee. With my MacBook and my journal. Mmmm. What more can I say?

 

Best Coffee Shop Atmosphere

Cartel Coffee Lab in Tempe.  Funky inspiring people, music, art and vibe. I got a lot of journalling done there and talked to some really out of the box folks. Oh and here’s some of the artwork done by Jayson Zaleski that’s hanging in the shop. I didn’t get to meet the artist, but I did get to chat with a friend of his.

 

 

 

 

Best Meal

Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurant in Tempe.  I actually don’t remember what I ate, but it was TASTY and Paul had a similarly yummy meal. I was kinda hoping their menu would be online so that my memory would be kick-started, but no such luck. You’ll just have to believe me, it was good.

 

Best Beer

Oak Creek Brewery in Sedona. We had a sampler of 7 of their various beers. (Small 3 ounce samplers, not full pints!). Favourite: Vanilla Porter. Smooth.

 

Best Grocery Story

New Frontiers Natural Market in Sedona

Fantastic salads for lunch and healthy snacks for the road.

 

Best Outing

Guided ATV adventure in Sedona!

Being told NOT to do something and then doing it… priceless. Guide: “Do not hold back and create a space between the vehicle in front of you and then gun it”.  So I do exactly that. On hills and everything. And it was FUN!

 

 

 

 

Strongest Connection to Nature

Sedona’s Energy Vortexes.  It’s said that there are places in and around Sedona where there is a powerful energy that has a positive spiritual impact on us.  It’s an invisible spiraling motion, similar to that of water going down the drain, that supports well-being. Did I experience this when visiting 3 of 4 of the vortex sites? Well, I saw with my own eyes that the trees closest to the proposed sites were twisted. And I gave my special Nia ring to those tree branches to charge it with some positivity. But I could not actually feel anything. Other than vigour, that is. Climbing those rocks and hills and getting my feet settled on the earth and my eyes connecting to natural beauty certainly filed my cup. Well worth the adventure.