Arizona

Turning 40 felt like the perfect time for a reset—an opportunity to step away from the everyday hustle and gift myself a little space to reflect, move my body, and soak up nature’s beauty. When my husband needed to be in Arizona for work (and since I could fly for free thanks to his companion pass—woohoo!), I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and turn the trip into a personal wellness retreat.

For four days, I focused on slowing down, moving intentionally, and soaking up Arizona’s stunning landscapes. Here’s a recap of what made this solo trip such a refreshing escape.

Day 1: Hiking & Sunset Views at Piestewa Peak

Nothing sets the tone for a trip like a good hike after a long travel day, and Piestewa Peak did not disappoint. The climb was a challenge, but reaching the summit and taking in the panoramic views as the sun dipped below the mountains was absolutely worth it. There’s something about standing at the top, watching the sky transform, that makes you feel both small and limitless at the same time. It was the perfect way to kick off my time in Arizona—just me, (and several other hikers), the trail, and that golden-hour glow.

Day 2: Exploring the Neighborhood, Hot Yoga & A Private Oasis

I signed up for unlimited yoga at a nearby studio, which offered a variety of hot yoga classes. Before class each time I laced up my running shoes and went for a morning run, winding through beautiful neighborhoods with stunning mountain views. There’s something so peaceful about running in a new place, letting the scenery unfold, and viewing the achitecture and landscaping as you go.

Hot yoga was a regular practice of mine when we lived in Wilmington, NC and recently I reincorporated it back thanks to the amazing studio I found locally. Each session here in Arizona felt like a reset—sweating out tension, deep stretching, and grounding myself in the present. There was also something so freeing about not knowing a single sole in the studio for class.

Part II of Day 2: A Private Oasis & Total Relaxation

One of the highlights of this trip was my micro boutique hotel—a true oasis tucked away from the busyness of the city. With a pool, hot tub, fire pit, and even a cold plunge, it felt like a spa retreat all on its own. I spent time simply being—reading by the water, listening to music on the Bose speaker they provided, taking refreshing dips, and soaking up the Arizona sun. It was a reminder that rest is just as important as movement, and this space gave me the perfect environment to fully unwind.

After my time by the pool, I went to The Henry for dinner. Adam and I had eaten here a couple years prior when we visited a few national parks and Scottsdale, AZ. We loved the ambiance of the restaurant and were blown away by the food that is prepared in their craft kitchen. They have a great happy hour menu, robust menu offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They truly are the neighborhood restaurant. Just look at their website and you’ll see why we talk about it to this day.

Day 3: A Day in Sedona – Hiking & Red Rock Magic

When Adam and I traveled out west in April of 2023 to visit Bryce, Zion National Parks and other bucket list stops, we passed through Sedona at the end of our trip but didn’t have time to explore. Knowing I’d only be 2 hours away on this trip, I made it a priority to incoportate it into my itinerary as an adventure day. I got coffee for the road at Black Riffle Coffee Co (which i was excited to know was walking distance from my rental) and made the drive to Sedona. I spent the day hiking three different trails, each one offering something special—red rock views, peaceful forested paths, and that unmistakable Sedona magic.

The landscape here is breathtaking, and I could feel the grounding, calming energy with every step. It was the perfect way to wrap up my wellness retreat, feeling strong, clear-headed, and deeply refreshed.

If you have one day to spend in Sedona, just know that it is an easy day trip from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. I’m sharing a simple itinerary if you want to squeeze in hikes and see the area.

12 hours in Sedona:

Leave Phoenix by 6AM. If the timing is right, you can catch the sunrise as I did at Aqua Fria National Monument along the way. It was right off of an exit.

Arrive at Devil’s Bridge via Mescal Trailhead around 8AM and hike the beautiful trail. There is some rock scrambling as you get closer to the bridge but it wasn’t too difficult for a seasoned hiker. I would feel comfortable if our 3 sons were to hike it at ages 10, 8 and 4. Be sure you also check out the short trail that leads you to the underside of Devil’s Bridge. Allow 2 hours for this hike. During peak tourist season, you may need to allow more time if there is a long line to take picture on Devil’s Bridge.

*It’s not as narrow as it appears in pictures. It’s a wide area to walk across and again, I would be okay with our boys going on it but they would, of course, be holding our hands.

Drive to Fay Canyon Trail (10 Minutes) – This is a shorter hike. You can not miss the offshoot trail that leads to another arch. It is more scenic than the trail end of Fay Canyon. Allow 1.5 hours total for this hike.

Stop in town for a quick bite to eat or enjoy snacks you bring for the hikes as I did. I wanted to hustle to get in as much in as possible.

Drive to Cathedral Rock – 18 minutes from Fay Canyon. Pit stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross that’s along the drive.

Cathedral Rock is considered difficult on Alltrails and I would agree. There is a lot of rock scrambling to get to the top. I pushed through the uncomfortable and challenging path to get to the top and I’m glad I did. The views were worth it.

Drive back to Phoenix and enjoy the views along the way. If you’re lucky, you’ll see hot air balloons in the sky near Sedona.

Day 4: A Travel Day – But first, Get. Those. Steps. In.

Given the time I needed to be out of my rental, I had time to make a cup of coffee, relax in my private Oasis, then head out for another scenic run before I had to shower and prep for the airport.

It’s kind of wild that Adam and I traveled so far together and didn’t spend much time, just the two of us, in Arizona. I did get the best surprise on the last night when he wrapped up work early and was able to join me at my rental for the night.

Final Thoughts: Why This Trip Was Exactly What I Needed

Stepping away from my normal routine and gifting myself these four days was one of the best things I could have done. Movement, nature, quiet moments, and intentional rest—this trip reminded me how important it is to carve out time to reset. So, thank you to all my friends for encouraging me to go when I almost backed out.

Whether it’s a solo getaway or just taking small moments in everyday life, prioritizing your well-being is always worth it. This is something that I have learned to not feel guilt over the older I get. At the end of the day, I know carving out this time will, hopefully, allow me to be present and live a healthier life so I can be here for our family.

If you’ve ever thought about taking a solo trip, let this be your sign to go for it! Everything you you normally have to do will be waiting for you when you get back. So, go on that trip. Take the time. Miss your family. Let them miss you. Then go back with a refreshed mindset and core memories that you’ll hold with you forever. (Especially if you’re celebrating a milestone birthday like I was). 💛

Would you take a solo trip for a wellness reset? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

After two amazing days in Bryce Canyon National Park, we were so excited to head to our next stop, Under Canvas – Lake Powell Resort & Glamping.

If you missed the previous two posts, start here to see our trip overview with links to separate posts on each portion of our trip.

Travel day: Leave our AirBnB in Tropic, UT and head toward Page, AZ.

Itinerary:

Drive to Coffee at The Shop Coffee Co (which I found in a search for best local coffee shops)

Belly of the Dragon

The Sand Caves

Lunch in Kanab

Explore downtown Kanab

Continue drive to Under Canvas for our one night stay.

If you find yourself driving between Mt. Carmel and Glendale, you have to stop at The Shop Coffee Co. They are more than just coffee and have fresh baked goods, salads, açaí bowls and more. If you’re looking to book a tour via UTV, Jeep, horseback, or canyoneering slot canyons, East Zion Adventures is also located within the coffee shop and can help you take your adventures exploring to the next level.

With coffee in hand, we made our way to Belly of the Dragon. While it’s not much of a hike, it is a really neat place to stop. You can say, “I’ve been there.” It’s a manmade tunnel carved under the highway and is used for drainage from the upper canyons.

We hiked all the way through and then explored a trail that was on the other side before making our way back toward the entrance of the Belly of the Dragon. You could hike as much as 4 miles on the trail to a slot canyon. See map, here.

Next stop, The Kanab Sand Caves. You’ll see signs along the highway as you near the parking lot which is just off the highway.

When we parked, a local was nearby unloading his UTV. We talked to him and had a lovely conversation. He gave us confirmation on which way we needed to hike to get to the sand caves but also told us there are other sand caves located just down the road that aren’t touristy. In conversation, he invited us to join him, his son, wife and grandkids on their UTV adventure after we toured the caves. While I do regret not taking him up on their offer, they were all so incredibly kind, we ultimately decided we wanted to spend more time at Under Canvas since we would only be staying there for one night.

After hiking the 1.2 mile trail, you do have to scale a pretty steep rock to get to the sand caves. If you’re curious, check out the photos shared on AllTrails. I highly recommend shoes with good grip.

After checking out the popular Sand Caves, we did drive down the side road to visit the other sand caves the locals told us about. They were hard to get to as the trails are not very clear but we made it. The views were amazing. Our local friends told us we would see remnants of an old Disney movie that was filmed there, The Apple Dumpling Gang. Sure enough, we saw the old tracks and weathered set props on the side of the mountain.

Tip: travel with an open mind and talk to the locals. We have always taken this approach when we travel and love to take the advice of the locals which has always lead us to hidden gems.

Next stop: Downtown Kanab. Kanab is a popular destination for those who are visiting Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. In fact, my parents stayed in Kanab and drove into Zion on their trip. It’s only about a 30 minute drive to Zion. We could have easily spent more time in Kanab as there are so many things to do. Most popular attractions are Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Buckskin Gulch (UTV or 4-wheel drive vehicle required to get there), Little Hollywood Museum, Toadstool Hoodoos, Old Prairie Ghost Town, and Moqui Cave. Check out the best 10 trails and hikes in Kanab on Alltrails.

We stopped at Wild Thyme Cafe for lunch and enjoyed the outdoor dining area. It’s a small batch kitchen where everything is made from scratch. We would recommend eating here, although it was a pricier lunch spot.

Walking distance from Wild Thyme Cafe, I stopped in Asana Juice after lunch to get something for the road. We met the owner and she helped me pick out a fresh juice. There were so many other options on the menu ranging from juices, smoothies, açaí bowls, fresh salads, toast, seasonal soups and protein bites.

As much as we were enjoying our leisure day, we were anxious to get to Under Canvas and to see if it lived up to all the hype. Spoiler alert, it did.

Kanab, UT > Under Canvas Lake Powell – Approximately a 55 minute drive.

We arrived and immediately saw the allure for the glamping experience UnderCanvas is known for.

There are designated parking spaces for your vehicles. From there, they load up your luggage on a golf cart and a staff member drives you to your tent. They have handicap accessible tents as well if that’s an accommodation you need.

This particular location has it’s own slot canyon and area to hike and explore. After we checked in, we set out to explore the property.

On this particular day we felt like we needed a nap before dinner. We made our way back to our tent and had the best breezy nap with only the screens zipped.

Under Canvas has a restaurant on property, they offer complimentary s’more kits at night, and will provide warm blankets to you while sitting by the fire pits. Their common areas were designed to encourage you to meet and talk with others, which we loved. We had the best time getting to know other couples visiting.

Horseshoe bend is a popular area to watch the sunset at night but we decided to stay on property and saw a beautiful sunset over the canyons.

The night got cool enough to light the wood burning fireplace in our tent. We kept it on long enough to cut the chill in the room while we stargazed from the porch. On the dates we were at Under Canvas it was shortly after a new moon so a few planets were visible.

I grew up camping with my family and it was often in lieu of hotel stays. Our time at Under Canvas was both nostalgic and also nothing like the camping I was accustomed to. Adam is not a big fan of camping but our experience at Under Canvas was one he loved and was grateful I booked. It also lead him to looking up all of their locations across the country to investigate for a future trip.

Checkout was mid-morning which allowed us to have a slower morning. Sad to leave our perfect little glamping rental, we had more places to visit and a scheduled tour at the Upper Antelope Canyons.

On the road again and stops along the way:

Scenic viewpoint overlooking Wahweap

Scenic overlook of Glen Canyon Dam

Horseshoe Bend

Scheduled tour at Antelope Canyon with Adventurous Antelope Canyon at 11:05AM.

One important thing to note about our tour time is that we actually had an extra hour with the time change from UT to Arizona. We also booked one of the more popular times as the light in the canyons is ideal.

We had the best experience and were in awe of the amazing beauty behind the canyon entrance. From the outside, you’d never guess the slot canyons were inside, shape shifting formations that have been given names by visitors. Your guide will point them all out to you on the tour.

Below are some of the highlights for us:

Our week was full of adventure, long hikes, great food and amazing experiences. When planning the trip, I knew we would both love time to relax poolside, possibly book a spa appointment or play golf so we added a 2 night stay in Scottsdale, Arizona at The Boulders Resort & Spa. We love the Scottsdale and Phoenix area and always welcome the opportunity to go back. I booked our stay though a 3rd party site and got a really great deal plus Adam had points with Hilton that we applied making our stay very reasonable.

Our room was a little chateau with beautiful views of the foliage and surrounding areas.

The property had a hilly and scenic nature path that we ran daily before spending the remaining hours of our days poolside.

The first night, we made reservations at The Spotted Donkey Cantina which our resort shuttled us to and from via golf cart.

On our second night, we went to The Henry in Phoenix that had been recommended to us by friends who’d recently been. It was a meal we both still talk about. The ambiance was also idealic.

Look at this outdoor space.

I was happy to discover they have multiple locations in the US and am hopeful someone will open a location near us in NC in the future. If you’re reading this, maybe it’s a sign it could be you.

Our return flight out of Phoenix was around 2PM which gave us another leisure morning before a long travel day back to RDU.

Our Southwest adventure was a trip we will remember forever and one in which we talk about taking the boys to when they are older and physically able to hike longer trails day after day. We were also reminded of how much we love traveling, just the two of us. Before kids, this was always a priority. Traveling as a couple and as a family are equally as important experiences.

Advice: book the trip. Don’t wait. Experience new adventures. You will recharge and gain new perspectives for this beautiful world we live in.

Here’s a brief look back on the destinations we visited: