Jeremy & Misty · Sedona Anniversary

Day One

The Journey Begins

Friday, November 20, 2025

3:00 AM 🚗 Drive

Drive to Lafayette Airport

An early start — head to Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT) in the pre-dawn quiet. Pack your coat in your carry-on; Flagstaff will be cold when you land.

3:30 AM ✈ Check-In

Check In — Lafayette (LFT)

American Airlines check-in and security. Check in online at aa.com up to 24 hours before to lock in your seats together.

5:39 AM ✈ Departs

AA5360 · Lafayette → Dallas (DFW)

Your first flight — a short hop to Dallas, roughly 1 hour 40 minutes. Arrive DFW at 7:20 AM with about 2.5 hours before your connection.

7:20 AM ⏳ Dallas

Layover at DFW — Grab Breakfast

A comfortable 2.5-hour layover at Dallas/Fort Worth. Find a good airport breakfast spot, get comfortable, and find your gate for Flagstaff. AA6465 departs at 10:09 AM — DFW is large, so check the departure board early.

10:09 AM ✈ Departs

AA6465 · Dallas → Flagstaff (FLG)

The flight into Arizona — about 2.5 hours. As you descend into Flagstaff you'll catch your first glimpse of the high desert landscape. Arrive 11:51 AM.

📌 On Arrival

Flagstaff sits at 7,000 feet — it will feel noticeably cooler than home. Have your coat ready before you step off the plane.

11:51 AM 🌵 Arrive

Land in Flagstaff — Pick Up Rental Car

Welcome to Arizona. Pick up your rental car at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport and get on the road toward Sedona. You're about 45 minutes from the red rocks.

📌 On the Road

Keep lunch simple today — airport food, a drive-through, or a quick stop in Flagstaff. You want to be in Sedona by 3:00 PM to have time to check in and be ready for dinner at 5:00.

~1:30 PM 🚗 Drive

Drive to Sedona — Oak Creek Canyon

The drive south on AZ-89A through Oak Creek Canyon is one of the most spectacular in the country — towering rust-colored canyon walls, pine forests, and the sound of Oak Creek running alongside the road. Your first real taste of what this landscape is all about. Pull over if something catches your eye.

📌 Note

AZ-89A can have icy patches in November — take it easy through the canyon curves.

~3:00 PM 🏨 Check-In

Check In — Sunset Chateau, Sedona

Your home base for the next two nights. Settle in, freshen up, and step outside to take in the red rock views. You've got about 90 minutes before dinner — enough to feel human again after the early morning start.

Sunset Chateau

5:00 PM ♥ Dinner

Dinner — Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill

Your first evening in Sedona, and it begins here — Chef Lisa Dahl's acclaimed Latin-inspired restaurant perched on a hilltop with 360° red rock views. A 5:00 PM reservation puts you at the table with a glass of wine in hand as the canyon walls turn gold and rose in the last light of the day. Sunset in late November falls around 5:15–5:30 PM — you'll watch it happen from your table. This is exactly how an anniversary dinner in Sedona should feel.

♥ For the Evening

Smart casual — this is a special dinner, dress the part
Ask specifically for a window or patio table with canyon views
The wine list is exceptional — lean into it

Mariposa Website & Menu Book on OpenTable

Day Two

Balloon at Dawn, Red Rock by Afternoon,
Creekside by Evening

Saturday, November 21, 2026

6:00 AM ♥ Adventure

Hot Air Balloon — Northern Light Balloon Expeditions

The alarm goes off before the sun does — and it's absolutely worth it. You'll meet the crew as they lay out the envelope and fire up the burners in the pre-dawn chill, then lift silently off the desert floor as the first light touches the top of the red rock formations. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and the mesas emerge from shadow, lit gold and rose. For roughly an hour you float over one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, just the two of you and the quiet. A champagne toast after landing closes the experience. Allow 3–4 hours total.

♥ What to Wear

Dress in very warm layers — 6 AM in November is cold, and colder still at altitude
Closed-toe shoes only
Bring your camera — you will want every photo you can take
Northern Light will call the evening before to confirm weather and launch site
Back at Sunset Chateau by approximately 9:30–10:00 AM

Northern Light Balloon Expeditions

~10:00 AM 🍳 Brunch

Brunch at Sunset Chateau

Back from the balloon and floating on a different kind of high — settle into brunch at your own hotel. Unhurried, comfortable, and right at home base before the afternoon adventure. A restorative moment between two very different kinds of magic.

📌 Note

Confirm brunch service hours with Sunset Chateau at check-in. If unavailable, Coffeepot Restaurant nearby is a beloved Sedona institution and a short drive away.

~12:00 – 4:00 PM 🏜 Adventure

4-Hour Can-Am Rental — Sedona CanAm ATV Rentals

A 2-seater Can-Am Maverick — just the two of you — out into the red rock wilderness on the Western Canyons network, right in Sedona CanAm's backyard. The shop programs your GPS before you roll out, so navigation is effortless and you can focus entirely on the landscape around you.

🗺 Your 4-Hour Itinerary: The Western Canyons

Hour 1 — The Outlaw Trail: Roll out of the lot and down a short stretch of paved road to Forest Service Road 525. Classic, rugged Arizona desert opens up around you — towering red canyon walls that look exactly like an old Hollywood Western set. The trail brings you to the Honanki Heritage Site, where you'll park, stretch your legs, and take a short walk to see 800-year-old Sinagua cliff dwellings and ancient rock art hidden inside the canyon walls.
Hour 2 — Honanki Ruins: Switch off the engine, explore the cliff dwellings, take your time with the rock art, and pull out the water before climbing back in.
Hour 3 — Diamondback Gulch: The "switcheroo" hour — swap into the other driver's seat and tackle the rolling dips, sandy washes, and deep ravines of Diamondback Gulch on the way back. A few steep descents and climbs that'll have you both laughing, with wide-open views of the distant red rock formations from the ridgeline.
Hour 4 — The Cruise Back: A smooth run out of the dirt road, back to the paved section, and a hassle-free return to the shop. GPS tracking makes the whole loop low-stress — you'll never feel lost.

♥ For the Two of You

Wear clothes you don't mind getting dusty — red sand gets on everything
Bring sunglasses and sunscreen — the November sun is still intense out on the trail
Pack a small cooler with water and snacks for the Honanki stop
Camera or phone in a secure pocket — the views from Diamondback ridge are stunning

Sedona CanAm ATV Rentals

~4:00 – 5:00 PM 🏨 Back at the Chateau

Freshen Up Before Dinner

Back at Sunset Chateau with an hour to clean up, change, and shift from adventure mode to anniversary dinner mode. The contrast of dusty trail in the afternoon and creekside fine dining in the evening is exactly the kind of day Sedona was made for.

5:30 PM ♥ Dinner

Dinner — Cress on Oak Creek at L'Auberge de Sedona

One of the most romantic dinner settings in Arizona — an intimate creekside table at L'Auberge de Sedona, with Oak Creek running right beside you. The menu is prix fixe with à la carte options, built around locally foraged and Arizona-sourced ingredients with French technique. Saturday evenings feature live music. The transition from the last of dusk to candlelit evening beside the creek is the perfect close to a day this full.

♥ For the Evening

Dress code is resort casual — a step up from the trail, a step down from black tie
Saturday evenings feature live music — a beautiful touch for an anniversary dinner
The wine list is distinguished — ask your server for a pairing recommendation
Creekside tables have heaters for cool November evenings, but bring a light wrap just in case

Cress on Oak Creek

~9:00 PM ♥ Evening

Stargazing — Evening Sky Tours

Sedona is a designated Dark Sky Community, and on a clear November night the sky above the red rocks is staggering. Evening Sky Tours brings professional telescopes and expert guides who'll show you Saturn's rings, distant nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies — things that are genuinely hard to believe you're seeing with your own eyes. After a day that started before sunrise in a balloon basket, ending it under the stars together feels exactly right.

♥ What to Bring

Dress very warmly — November nights in Sedona are cold and you'll be standing still
Heavy jacket, hat, gloves, and warm socks are not optional
Wear dark clothing — it helps your eyes adjust to the darkness faster
Bring a blanket to wrap around yourselves — it's more comfortable and more romantic
Tours run approximately 1.5–2 hours

Evening Sky Tours

Day Three

Farewell Sedona & On to the Grand Canyon

Sunday, November 22, 2026

~8:00 AM 🍳 Breakfast

Breakfast at Sunset Chateau

A final morning in Sedona — take your time over breakfast before checking out. Step outside one last time to take in the red rocks in the morning light. The drive north awaits, but there's no need to rush this moment.

~10:00 AM 🏨 Checkout

Check Out & Drive to the Grand Canyon

Load up and head north — back through Oak Creek Canyon on AZ-89A, then Highway 89 north toward the South Rim. The landscape shifts dramatically as you climb out of the red rock canyon into ponderosa pine forests and wide open plateau. Allow about 2 hours to the park entrance.

📌 Drive Notes

Grand Canyon South Rim entry: $35/vehicle — America the Beautiful Pass covers it
Download the Grand Canyon NPS app for offline maps before leaving Sedona
Gas up in Sedona before you go — options thin out north of Williams

~1:00 PM 🍽 Lunch

Lunch — Bright Angel Restaurant

A classic, unpretentious lunch right on the rim at Bright Angel Lodge. Hearty American comfort food — burgers, soups, and solid plates — in a casual lodge setting that's been feeding canyon visitors for generations. No reservations needed; walk right in, fuel up, and step outside to your first proper look at the Grand Canyon.

📌 Note

Bright Angel Lodge is steps from the rim — after lunch, walk to the edge together. The first view of the Grand Canyon never gets old, no matter how many times you've seen it.

Bright Angel Restaurant

3:00 PM 🏨 Check-In — Locked In

Check In — El Tovar Hotel

One of the great historic lodges of the American West — perched right on the South Rim since 1905. Drop your bags, walk out onto the veranda, and stand at the edge of one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The El Tovar is a bucket-list stay, and tonight it's yours.

El Tovar Hotel

~3:30 – 5:30 PM 🏜 Afternoon

Mather Point & Yavapai Point — Rim Walk at Sunset

A short, paved, and entirely unhurried walk between the two best classic viewpoints on the South Rim. Mather Point delivers the sweeping panoramic view that defines the Grand Canyon in the imagination. A gentle stroll east brings you to Yavapai Point — a rock promontory jutting out over the canyon with 270° views and the Yavapai Geology Museum inside for warmth if the wind picks up. Time your arrival at Yavapai to coincide with sunset — the canyon walls ignite in shades of orange, gold, and deep red as the light drops. November sunset is around 5:15–5:30 PM.

♥ For the Two of You

Dress warmly — the rim sits at 7,000 ft and the wind can bite in November
Bring your camera for the sunset — the canyon at golden hour is extraordinary
Stay well back from unfenced rim edges — drops are sheer and sudden
The walk is fully paved and accessible — easy after two active days

NPS Mather Point Info

~7:00 PM ♥ Dinner

Dinner — El Tovar Dining Room

Dinner in the El Tovar dining room is one of those meals you'll reference for years. The 1905 log-and-stone lodge room, white tablecloths, and refined American menu — prime cuts, seasonal Arizona ingredients, and an exceptional wine list — all within steps of the canyon rim. You're staying in the building, so there's no rush to leave. Order dessert. Have another glass of wine. Tonight belongs entirely to the two of you.

♥ For the Evening

Smart casual dress — the dining room has a refined atmosphere
Book through Xanterra as early as possible — El Tovar dinner reservations fill quickly
As hotel guests, mention your stay when reserving — may help with table preference
After dinner, step outside onto the rim veranda — the canyon under a November night sky is something else entirely

El Tovar Dining Room Reserve via Xanterra

Day Four

Slot Canyons, Horseshoe Bend & Lake Powell at Sunset

Monday, November 23, 2026

6:00 AM 🍳 Breakfast

Breakfast — Ranch House Grille

An early start fueled by one of Page's most beloved local institutions. Ranch House Grille is the kind of no-nonsense breakfast spot where the coffee is hot, the portions are generous, and the green chile makes everything better. A perfect send-off before the drive east to Page.

📌 After Breakfast

The drive from Grand Canyon Village to Page is about 2.5 hours east on Hwy 89 through the Navajo Nation — fill up gas before leaving and download offline maps. Cell service drops out through this stretch.

Ranch House Grille

~7:30 AM 🚗 Drive

Drive to Page, AZ

One of the most dramatic stretches of highway in the country — Hwy 89 east through the Navajo Nation. The landscape opens into sweeping painted desert plateaus, the blazing orange of the Vermillion Cliffs, and the vast red-rock mesas of the Navajo homeland. Arrive Page around 11:00 AM with time to settle in before the afternoon tour.

~1:00 – 4:30 PM ♥ Adventure

Combination Tour: Secret Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Overlook

Two of the most stunning natural landmarks in the American Southwest in a single afternoon — just the two of you with your guide. Secret Antelope Canyon is a narrow, winding slot canyon where shafts of light filter through ancient sandstone walls in colors that don't seem real until you're standing inside them. Then on to Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River makes its legendary 270° curve 1,000 feet below the canyon rim. Allow 3–4 hours total.

♥ What to Bring

Closed-toe shoes — sandy, uneven terrain inside the slot canyon
Camera essential — the light inside Antelope Canyon is genuinely unlike anything else
Bring lens cloths — fine red sand gets on everything
Stay with your guide at all times inside the slot canyon
November temps are mild (~55°F) — a light jacket is enough outside

Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours

~4:30 – 5:30 PM ♥ Sunset

Wahweap Overlook — Lake Powell at Sunset

The tour wraps around 4:30 PM and sunset in Page falls at ~5:15 PM — a perfect window for a quick drive to the Wahweap Overlook. The view of Lake Powell at golden hour is extraordinary — the red canyon walls reflected in the blue-green water, the light going warm and soft over one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Free, five minutes from town, and the ideal quiet moment together before dinner.

♥ Note

If staying at Lake Powell Resort instead of Hyatt Place, this view would be right outside your door. Worth the five-minute detour either way.

~5:30 PM 🏨 Check-In

Check In — Hyatt Place Page / Lake Powell

Modern, clean, and comfortable — exactly what you want after a full day of canyons and desert driving. Drop your bags, freshen up, and head out for a relaxed last dinner on the road.

Hyatt Place Page

~6:30 PM 🍽 Dinner

Dinner — Bonkers Restaurant

A Page institution with a loyal local following. Casual American dining — steaks, burgers, pasta, and comfort food in a relaxed, no-frills setting. After four days of fine dining and adventure, there's something perfectly right about ending the last road dinner with a cold drink, a good steak, and no agenda. You've earned it.

Bonkers Restaurant

Day Five

The Road Home

Tuesday, November 24, 2026

~6:30 AM 🍳 Breakfast

Quick Breakfast — Hotel or Local Stop

An early start — grab something quick at the hotel before loading up the car. The drive to Flagstaff is 2.5 hours and you'll want to be on the road no later than 7:00 AM to return the rental car comfortably before your 1:00 PM flight.

7:00 AM 🚗 Drive

Drive to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG)

The final drive of the trip — west on Hwy 89 back through the Navajo Nation and down into Flagstaff. About 2.5 hours. A good time to talk about everything you saw and did, and start deciding when you're coming back.

📌 Before You Leave Page

Fill the gas tank in Page before departing — stations thin out on Hwy 89
Allow 30 extra minutes at FLG for the rental car return and any shuttle to the terminal

~9:30 AM ✈ Check-In

Return Rental Car & Check In — Flagstaff (FLG)

Flagstaff Pulliam is a small, easy airport — security moves quickly. Check in for AA6200 and find a comfortable spot to wait. A good moment for a coffee and a last look at your trip photos together.

1:00 PM ✈ Departs

AA6200 · Flagstaff (FLG) → Dallas (DFW)

The flight back to Dallas — about 2.5 hours. Arrive DFW at 4:29 PM with a comfortable layover before the final leg home.

4:29 PM ⏳ Dallas

Layover at DFW — Airport Dinner

A comfortable ~5-hour layover at Dallas/Fort Worth. Have a proper sit-down dinner — you've just come back from one of the great Southwest adventures and it deserves a proper toast. DFW has solid dining options across all terminals. AA5362 to Lafayette departs at 9:30 PM.

9:30 PM ♥ Almost Home

AA5362 · Dallas (DFW) → Lafayette (LFT)

The last flight — a short hop back to Louisiana with five days of red rock canyons, starlit skies, hot air balloons, ancient ruins, and the Grand Canyon tucked away in your memories. Welcome home, Jeremy & Misty. Happy Anniversary.

🏠 Arrives Home

Lafayette Regional Airport · 10:54 PM