Tucked away in the majestic Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona, L’Auberge de Sedona is a luxury resort and spa situated on eleven acres of serenity. While close enough to the action and main attractions, this resort feels worlds away from crowds and noise.

This peaceful piece of the Earth invites guests to leave chaos behind for the relaxing and calming sounds of Oak Creek, flowing behind the creekside cottages. This is where we soaked up two nights of the finest accommodations and service in what felt like a haven of zen.

Each L’Auberge de Sedona cottage includes a spacious bedroom and lounge area, spa-like bathroom with fluffy spa towels and complimentary robes, and a relaxing private outdoor shower. Here you can listen to the sounds of nature, while rinsing away any fatigue from the day and follow your gaze to the sky for a little star-gazing.

Featuring a generous patio at the entrance, our cottage was shaded by trees and overlooked the flowing creek. A perfect spot to sip a glass of wine or a hot cup of espresso and get lost in a long-awaited novel. This establishment’s attention to detail left a tasteful impression, with a delightful welcome tray of artisan cheeses placed by our wood-burning fireplace for our arrival. A bundle of native wood is even available outside the front door of each cottage for added convenience. In addition to the cottages, L’Auberge de Sedona offers a variety of lodging options to guests, including cliffside suites and lodge rooms.

Exploring the town or heading out for dinner? Valet service will retrieve your car upon request, or you can opt for the resort’s complimentary car service to your destination. If the weather is just right, and you’re feeling like a short hike, then you can easily reach Main Street Sedona by foot in less than a mile. When you are ready to return to the property, the car service is a simple text or phone call away. How uberly convenient.

L’Apothecary spa sits on the lush property of L’Auberge de Sedona and should not be missed from your itinerary. Sedona is well known for being a place of retreat and wellness and L’Apothecary Sedona delivers nothing less than stress-melting massages, refreshing facials and full body treatments—-offering the perfect remedy of relaxation.  We experienced Sedona Dreams, a body treatment complete with exfoliating scrub and essential oils native to the area, while sinking into a bit of Nirvana for ninety minutes. Wanting to take your spa experience to a more organic level? Try the “Feet in the Creek” spa treatment or a “Creekside Massage” to further delight your senses in pristine surroundings as you sink a little deeper into nature.

On-site fine dining at L’Auberge de Sedona is part of what adds to its appeal as a special occasion destination. Cress on Oak Creek and Etch both offer al fresco dining along the creek, letting you savor a five-star meal and service with a side of clean mountain air. Interested in locally sourced and hand-gathered ingredients from the property? Cress on Oak Creek features a fine dining prix-fixe option that brings the garden to your plate, for the freshest of culinary delights. Each restaurant offers an extensive selection of acclaimed wines, featuring both international sips and those derived from local vines in the nearby Verde Valley. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Etch offers an upscale, yet more casual, atmosphere where guests can fuel up for adventures such as the Pink Jeep Tour.  

L’Auberge de Sedona offers a variety of activities for guests to experience throughout their stay. Complete with lessons from a pro, photography tours provide moments for guests to perfectly capture the essence of the Red Rocks and their magical surroundings. Stargazers can view constellations, moons and planets from a high-powered telescope, while learning about the sky from an area astronomer. Early birds can begin the day with sun salutations at morning yoga, before stopping to feed a resident family of feathered friends. L’Auberge de Sedona is known for their resident ducks in the creek, and you will find their silhouette on signs throughout the property.

Whether planning a wedding, a honeymoon, girls’ weekend, family vacation, or solo retreat, you will find that L’Auberge de Sedona offers an authentic Arizona experience to every type of visitor. This oasis of nature is the ideal setting for your mind to hit the reset button and your body to unwind from the demands of daily life. A two-hour scenic drive from the Phoenix airport, Sedona is easily accessed by vehicle and only a day trip to the Grand Canyon. We left feeling rejuvenated and wanting to play a little bit of Van Morrison, because we had surely been somewhere “Into the Mystic.”

Cover: Sedona’s Red Rocks. Photo courtesy L’Auberge de Sedona. 

A native of Louisiana and graduate of Louisiana State University, Dana Kent Maass now hangs her hat in Round Rock, Texas. When not traveling and writing, Maass enjoys practicing occupational therapy, volunteering, supporting the LSU Austin Alumni, attending live shows and hiking.