The Gratts on Vacation: Sedona Sisters 2011

In 2011, Ann and I spent three wonderful days at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona to celebrate our birthdays. I came across my old blog of this trip recently, and decided to add it here -- it was a great trip and we had so much fun!

This is a picture of the beautiful resort where we stayed -- the prices have tripled since 2011, and it turns out we were very lucky to have been able to stay here!

This trip is one of the first ones for which I can remember doing alot of research and planning. Looking back, I think Ann and I did a great job!

Our trip started with a flight to Phoenix and we then picked up our Ford Escape SUV, and hit the road for our two-hour drive to Sedona. An hour later we arrived at Rock Springs Cafe for a delicious lunch and headed to our first stop on the drive, Bell Rock.

I remember being so in awe of the beautiful scenery as we made our way to the famous Sedona landmark, Bell Rock.

Next on our drive was one of Sedona's "can't miss" destinations, the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Completed in 1956, the Chapel of the Holy Cross sits high atop the red rocks in Sedona. We took pictures before hiking up the trail to enter the beautiful Chapel. It was lovely and serene and many people were sitting in the Chapel, silent.

We saw lots of beautiful homes in Sedona but next to the Chapel was one so magnificent that we had to take a picture of it!

We stopped at the little shopping village known as Tlaquepaque. I can't believe this picture is 10 years old -- we haven't aged a bit!

We made it to our Junior Casita at Enchantment and got settled.

I remembered I really wanted a room with a view but we were so busy, we were never in our room!

We ended the night with dinner at the resort and a massage at the spa -- do we know how to plan a trip or what?

The next day was our spa day at Mi Amo Spa. We had treatments and relaxed all day at the spa and it was so wonderful!

That night was Ann's birthday dinner at the Cowboy Club steakhouse in downtown Sedona.

We both got the filet and shrimp.

And Ann got free dessert for her birthday!

On our last day, we took a Pink Jeep tour to the Grand Canyon. Ann had already been to the Grand Canyon but graciously devoted a day of our trip so that I could see it too--she said she didn't want me to be that close and not get to see it. It took the entire day and we were tired after, but it is something I still remember 10 years later as a highlight from all the trips I've taken.

We started the day by trying to catch sunrise at the resort but we didn't quite make it!

This is a picture of our wonderful tour guide David. David was a very knowledgeable tour guide and an experienced hiker and climber. His love for the Grand Canyon was clearly evident.

When we arrived at the South Rim, David had us look at the ground as he led us to the rim so we could all stand at the ledge and look up together to get our first glimpse.

I think Ann took all of these pictures and every one of them turned out great. Pictures can never fully capture the beauty of the Grand Canyon though!