Grand Canyon

Dear Blog

 

Day Four Grand Canyon Trip

 

This morning we left Williams and headed for Sedona, a place we’ve heard about for years but never seen for ourselves. We’d hoped to take the scenic AZ 89A drive through Oak Creek Canyon, often called one of the Southwest’s most beautiful routes, but with construction and rockfall repairs the two‑lane highway was closed so we had to go back toward Flagstaff and then down I‑17 to Sedona.

 

Jay was disappointed; he’s flown over the canyon many times and remembers how stunning it looks from above. I looked forward to it too although I’ll admit, part of me felt that familiar flutter of nerves. I’ve been on enough narrow mountain roads in Greece and Africa to know that “scenic” can also mean “white‑knuckle.” Gorgeous, yes—but when you’re the passenger staring straight down a canyon wall, hoping no one comes around a blind curve too fast, it’s hard to fully relax and enjoy the view.

 

We decided to stop at a winery before checking into our hotel in Sedona, since check‑in times these days are rarely early, especially during peak tourist season when rooms take longer to turn over. DA Ranch Winery, just about twenty minutes outside Sedona, made for an easy and perfectly relaxing first stop. The “DA” stands for Delta Alpha, a nod to the original cattle bred on the ranch back in the 1800s. Today, the property operates as an estate winery, meaning every grape is grown right on their own land and they handle the entire winemaking and bottling process themselves. They proudly highlight how this approach gives their wines a consistent Verde Valley character—ripe fruit, warm‑climate aromatics, and bold, expressive reds.

 

DA Ranch felt laid‑back. Wide green lawns stretch beneath towering cottonwoods, and the vineyards roll gently toward the red rock hills. The historic ranch buildings and quiet pond give the place a warm, rustic charm. And of course, the wandering goats add a playful touch. This reminded us of our favorite winery ever... Goats Do Roam in Paarl, South Africa where we sat outside on the patio and sampled wine and cheese while watching the goats roam, climb, or nap around us.

 

The moment we arrived, the whole place was alive — a fishing derby on one side, live music drifting through the air, a food truck parked nearby, and wine tasting everywhere you turned. They were also running an Arizona‑style event called the Cottontail Cotton Candy Experience. We watched the cotton candy being spun like magic and tried wild flavors like whiskey‑inspired and Earl Grey. Forget that cotton candy is basically pure sugar with artificial dyes and zero nutritional value. It doesn’t matter — the fun was the point.

 

Once the sugar rush hit, we made our way to our hotel in Sedona. At our hotel El Portal we reserved the Garden room. El Portal is an adobe boutique hotel in Sedona that feels more like a private, arts‑and‑crafts–style residence than a traditional hotel. It’s known for its warm Southwestern architecture and courtyard gardens. Of course, the best part is 2-minute walk to Tlaquepaque (Tiock-a pock-ee) an artsy little shopping village packed with Mexican charm, fountains, courtyards, upscale boutiques, restaurants, jewelry and boho clothes; all the unique gifts you don’t need, until you see them and suddenly you can’t leave without.

It’s Saturday night and the place is jam-packed and 93 degrees. Too hot for a full meal but not too hot for Oak Creek Brewery’s famous fries and trio of sauces, horseradish, chipotle ranch and ketchup. I mean, what else do you need?

Tomorrow we will explore some of the local trails.