Hanna G
#BYGRACETHROUGHFAITH
Amara Resort: Sedona
Posted on December 17, 2019
Sedona Before Christmas
December Travel: Last week, we stayed at Amara Resort & Spa in the beautiful Sedona, Arizona. Sedona’s majestic red rock backdrop everywhere you turn just leaves me in awe of its beauty. I had visited the area once before years ago, and it’s even more breathtaking than I remembered. It’s absolutely one of my favorite places in the US.
Travel Tips: Getting to Sedona isn’t difficult. I usually find quite a few options for inexpensive flight options to the PHX airport (Phoenix, AZ) and then we rented a car to drive north (under two hours) to Sedona, AZ. The whole mountainous drive is gorgeous and it feels more like 25 minutes! For reference, we stayed for two nights, three days in Sedona. We then drove back to Phoenix after check-out to enjoy an afternoon and evening there before the next morning’s flight home!
Stay: We were so grateful to be hosted by the urban chic, Amara Resort & Spa, situated along the banks of Oak Canyon Creek and surrounded with red rock beauty. I was so excited to be visiting before Christmas time; I just knew it would feel extra cozy with the holiday decor and Edison lights. We were in the heart of Sedona and a 5-10 min drive from everywhere we wanted to go! Uptown Sedona, made up of little cafes, restaurants and shops, felt like a Hallmark Christmas movie with all the holiday cheer and festive feels!
Property Amenities + Special Touches: Upon arrival, we truly felt so warmly welcomed by both valet and concierge. The valet had our vehicle out in seconds each time we walked out front. Check-in was so smooth, and the kindest woman working at the front-desk made sure we knew all that we needed to on the events taking place on the property, how to get to our hikes, and what we may be interested in during our stay.
A few of my favorite resort details:
Heated Infinity Pool & Hot Tub With a View (Acceptable to walk to in robes 🙂 )
Complimentary Yoga in the Studio: Daily 7:45a & 8:30a
Illy Coffee Bar in Lobby: 5:30a-9a
Daily Wine Hour in Living Room: 5p-6p (white & red and SO perfect)
Spa Services Available Upon Request, Gym Access, Comfy Robes & Yoga Mat in Room
Adorable Post Card-Writing Corner: Amara takes care of postage
Top-Rated Saltrock Kitchen Southwestern Restaurant off Lobby: Also had seating on the gorgeous and heated patio overlooking the red rocks, with water falls + lawn seating)
Comfortable, Spacious Suites with Balcony Seating: Clean, up-dated, mini-bar, turn-down service, the shower products smelled amazing!! Need to find out the brand they use!
Saltrock Southwestern Kitchen: Tasty and Fresh Southwest Inspired Flavors, quickest, and superb service. Our dinner server was awesome and so friendly!
Itinerary Suggestions:
SaltRock Kitchen: at resort brunch/lunch/dinner/drinks
Sedonuts: the name- it’s a must! coffee, donuts
Creekside Coffee & Bakery: breakfast sandwiches/avo toast
Creekside American Bistro: Breakfast
THE HUDSON: Lunch/cocktail/burgers/pasta
MARIPOSA: Epic View, sunset drinks, dinner
Devil’s Bridge Hikes 1.8 miles-3 miles
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping: great art, shopping, and jewelry
Airport Mesa: Solid scenic lookout in our opinion
Bell Rock Hike: Easy hike
Helicopter Ride: Various time options, we used Sedona Air Tours
Pink Jeep Tour: They also have Grand Canyon
ATV Tour: $299 four hours around the ruins
Golf: Hilton Sedona Bell Rock Course
Tennis: Enchantment
Javelina Leap: Vineyard and Bistro
DA RANCH: Newer winery, beautiful, good wine
Page Springs: Winery (could be crowded in peak season)
Day 1:
Exhausted after an early six-hour flight from JFK followed by 2-hour drive from PHX, we checked in and kind of planned out what we’d be doing the next day with the front desk’s map help! We then explored the property and enjoyed the lawn’s views along with the heated pool! It was time for wine hour conveniently so we just got to relax and get settled in Amara’s cozier than cozy couch area of the lobby!
I did my research ahead of time when it came to restaurants and sights! Between consulting with some of my AZ friends and TripAdvisor, I decided we’d just stay at Amara and enjoy a dinner at the SaltRock our first night. We had an amazing dinner! From their hand-crafted cocktails ( I had a seasonally-spiced margarita) to the chips and queso and steak mini taco appetizers! We loved every bite. I think we shared a chilean sea bass entree that was also noteworthy! It was early to bed after a long travel day!
Day 2:
Due to the convenience of the location and the delicious-sounding menu, we decided to grab breakfast back at SaltRock. We surprisingly caught the sunrise behind the rocks, enjoy a delicious farm -to-table style big breakfast, and grab a coffee in the lobby before we were off to our first hike: Airport Mesa! I was told this was the best view of Sedona and it was all of a 5-minute drive from the resort. Parking can be tight there, but there are lots of options to park on your drive up the hill. Once you’re there, you can venture around the 3-mile trail or just take in the sights from Airport Mesa! Absolutely gorg.
Initially, we had planned to hike Devil’s Bridge, but since it had snowed the week prior, we also had some concerns with slipping and decided to just forego the risky trail and revise ze plan over some very large pieces of toasted zucchini bread and iced oat milk lattes uptown in Pink Cafe.
We somehow managed to sign up for a helicopter ride whilst strolling around the Christmas town haha, so ventured over to Bell Rock to hike until our ride time.
If you only have about an hour and want a beautiful and easy trail- Bell Rock Hike is your best bet! Friendly to hikers of all ages, we truly enjoyed this one. Every few minutes I would find myself just turning around looking out, saying “WOW!” I do that a lot in Sedona. Every painted sky (and mountain) is a canvas of God’s Grace! (One of my very favorite songs: “So Will I” by Hillsong United)
It was time to check-in near the runway which was at the top of Airport Road (not ironic lol) for our helicopter ride! It was both Tony and I’s first helicopter experience and it was fantastic. We were reminded that Walt Disney had a house in Sedona for a very long time, and he even created Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom modeled after this very place. We flew through canyons and valleys; the pilot pointed out Cathedral Rock, Snoopy Rock, and more. The rate was decent too, and it was under 20 minutes so it didn’t take up too much our time that we wanted to explore. I believe the company we used was Sedona Air Tours. This company also does Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon as well. If we were in town longer I definitely would’ve loved to adventure to either of those spots by car but we just didn’t want to spend the entire trip en route!
Thanks to my AZ friend, Carissa, we made reservations about a week in advance at the fan-favorite: Mariposa, which is a latin-inspired grille. Folks enjoy the epic views from Mariposa for afternoon cocktails, as well as probably their most popular time: sunset. The surrounding rocks LIGHT UP before the sun begins to set AND there was a full moon brightly lighting up the sky as we sat outside in wonder. The entire property was stunning and there were a few other groups beside us who had the same idea. We then were taken to our table which was right next to their floor-to-ceiling glass windows, still gazing out at the incredible scene. At Mariposa, you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. In addition to Mariposa, Chef Lisa Dahl also owns Butterfly Burger and Dahl & Diluca, offering the freshest cuisine whether it be Latin, Italian, or American! Even if it’s just for cocktails, go around sunset to Mariposa–no regrets!
Everyone said Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village was a must, and they weren’t wrong. Authentically fashioned after a traditional Mexican village, Tlaquepaque, meaning the “best of … Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village is that very special place. Most stores closed at 6, however, we were able to catch a few jewelry stores (with pieces crafted from Africa and Spain, OMG I found the cutest bracelets!) to wander around, and the Christmas decor and lights were just so merry! This village was so magical, I loved it.
Day 3:
Since we had to make the trek back to Scottsdale, we packed up and headed back over to Tlaquepaque to see it during the day, grab a coffee from the famous Cake Couture Coffee & Desserts, and a bite to eat at the warmest, Pump House Station (Urban Eatery and Market). Their portobella benedicts- UH-mazing. The Christmas decorations were ON POINT, and I appreciated every detail. Before hitting the road, we strolled around seeing the Christmas trees with chai lattes and some treats from the bakery!
Needless to say, we had the best time. We look forward to returning again soon, Sedona. Thank you for your partnership, Amara Resort & Spa. Hosted by Amara Resort & Spa.
About
Posted on May 15, 2019
I’m Hanna! I’m a business owner and professionally published model. As a former division I athlete, I continued a career into sports as I worked in Media Relations, Video Production and Game Operations for two NBA Teams: Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers, and then as a Social Media and Account Manager for a sports branding company involved with artwork and branding for NCAA, NFL, and NBA, and now own my own design business. I met my cuban bf while on a shoot down in Miami at a gym he owned (so funny!) We both have a heart for travel, service, fitness, food, people, faith, new cultures, laughter, wine (more me than him), The Office, and so forth! My other love is my rescue, Simba, a pitbull mix who just happens to be the most loving pup! Most of the time I’m most likely exploring new cities, somewhere outdoors #doingthings, cooking up fun, healthy recipes, and creating media and fitness videos to help inspire others to get up, get out, and simply move! A few of our favorite recent trips consisted of spontaneous birthday weekend trip to Paris, a week roaming around Rome, the crystal blue, dreamy waters of Bimini and recently, Exuma, and a few salsa dances in Havana! I also wrote a fun guide for my time in Nashville.
I’m just here in attempt to spread light from the content I create. Through my blog, my vision was to offer my help with cities I’ve traveled to, lifestyle items and ideas that I have worked with so that I can share my input and personal understanding of them. The platform I’ve created has given me the chance to hopefully only speak life.
I partner with brands that I feel share a similar outlook on life as I do, value integrity, and are overall just clean and healthy.
My worldview came into focus when my focus shifted to Him, Jesus. God changes our point of view when we understand just how blurry our vision really is without Him. “My hope is that my vision would move further away from my own thoughts, opinions and interpretations- and closer to the way God sees things.” I love these words from Elisabeth Hasselback in a book I recently read because it’s always a prayer of surrender that by the power of the Holy Spirit, “I line up my point of view behind the lens of the gospel in order to see myself, others, and all that is happening as God wants me to see it.”
Romans 12:2 | Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.
A Weekend in Cuba | Havana Style
Posted on June 5, 2018
Travel Tips for Havana, Cuba
In case you were ever looking to visit Cuba, NOW is the time to go! We flew out of Miami, FL via Delta Airlines — it was a piece of cake, not to mention, affordable. (Speaking of cake, a passenger on board lost an arguing battle between himself and the flight attendants about a whole box of CAKE he had on his lap, while seated in an emergency exit row. Beyond random, and better question would be, how in the world did he get a cake through TSA security? I guess we will never know. After 45 minutes in the air, we had arrived to our destination of Havana, Cuba, our home for the weekend.
- Walk Around Old Town – walked around Old Town and learn a bit of the history of the city. Some of the highlights to see are Cathedral de San Cristobal, Neoclassical Capital Building / El Capitolio, Great Theater, Plaza del Cristo. If you don’t have a guide, there may be walking tours but it was a nice way to get our bearings the first day.
- Malecon – this is the sea wall that stretches for quite a while, but it’s a gorgeous walk. We started around Plaza de Armas and walked northwest for a while. Highly recommend at sunset! (Sit outside the Hotel Nacional for drinks and sunset views)
- Classic Car Ride – we had a driver with a beautiful red car for the classic car experience and photos. If you don’t hire a driver, there are still plenty of classic cars all over Havana! You can either pay them like a cab to take you places or pay them a little bit for a photo. You’ll see a ton of them on Paseo de Marti by the Capital building or there is a lot where they park near Malecon / Plaza de Armas.
- Fusterlandia – this is an outdoor public art space by an artist who was inspired by Gaudi (the guy who did all of the cool art in Barcelona). The art is all around the streets, on houses, on fences, etc., and then you can walk into his house which is decorated in all of these mosaic tiles.
- Grand Theater Tour / Ballet – we did a short tour of the Grand Theater during the day (where the Cuban Ballet performs)and ballet show in evening. $35 each for private box seats – and the performance is absolutely incredible.
- Cigar Factory Tour – if either of you like cigars, the cigar factory tour was really cool! There are a few of the factories that you can tour including Partagas, Romeo & Julieta, Habanos S.A.
- Beach Day – there are a few nice beaches a short drive away. We spent half day in Guanabo (30 minute drive away) and then stopped at La Terraza de Cojimar on the way back (another Hemingway spot with a famous blue drink). Kind of a touristy place but it was a cool little pit stop on the way back to Havana.
- El Cocinera – new, hip restaurant, menu changes based on availability, outdoor terrace area is beautiful; suggest making reservations online beforehand; right next to Fabrica de Arte Cuba (FAC) so recommend doing dinner here and then going to FAC around 10 pm on a weekend night
- Fabrica de Arte – this is art space / museum that turns into a club / party scene on the weekends; you buy a ticket and get 4 or so drinks included and wander around all of these cool art spaces; I thought it sounded weird beforehand but it ended up being so much fun! I think it’s only open Friday and Saturday nights
- Restaurante Trofeo – our guide took us there for lunch and it was the best Ropas Viejas (traditional Cuban beef dish) that I had the whole time in Cuba. We went all of the way the top floor; there seemed to be different levels with different restaurants.
- La Bodeguita de Medio – this was Hemingway’s favorite spot for a mojito in Havana; kind of touristy but fun to stop by for one drink when walking around the Old Town area
- Hotel Nacional – a swanky hotel for a cocktail and hanging out by the ocean; all of the famous people who have visited Cuba stay here; amazing views of the ocean and the Melacon from the back patio. We also stayed here and recommend it.
- Plaza Vieja Restaurants – we stayed in the Old Town area and could easily walk to Plaza Vieja. There were some cute restaurants with second floor patios that overlooked the plaza. We ate at one for dinner; I can’t remember the name but they all kind of looked the same!
- La Guarida – one of the upscale, fancier restaurants in Havana; suggest making reservations online beforehand; this is recommended by every American but was a bit over-hyped in my opinion; the building itself is really cool though
- Money: Cuba is a total cash-based economy and has two currencies – one for locals and one for tourists. Bring as much cash as you think you’ll spend. I think that we budgeted ~$100 per person per day for meals, drinks, activities, etc. If you want to buy cigars or rum to take back, that will be a bit more. In general, Cuba is inexpensive but bring a little buffer just in case. We exchanged currency at the airport (outside of the building at an exchange desk).
- Safety: In general, Cuba felt very safe. Chris and I were mostly with our guide or a driver, but at the times that we were alone, it still felt safe. Without our guide, we noticed that the locals heckled a little bit more (e.g. offering taxi rides), but never anything dangerous.
- Wifi: If you want Wifi, you need to buy a card at a telecom store. It’s fairly inexpensive, but the lines are long (we arrived at 8 am before it opened and had to wait outside the door for 30 minutes after it opened). You need a card even to use Wifi at an Airbnb. We just did most of our research / planning before we arrived, so that we didn’t have to look many things up while in country.
- Guides / Drivers: We organized our trip through a family friend who runs a Cuba travel service out of the US. She explained to us that under Trump’s latest laws as of November 2017, Americans needed a guide and driver to be compliant with the “Supporting the Cuban People” visa. It made the trip a bit more expensive ($400 per person for 4 days), but it also made things hassle-free.
- Visa: Regardless of what type of visa you’re traveling under, Americans need a Cuban visa that can be bought at the airport the day of your flight. Most likely, you are connecting through Miami. At the airport, they have special Cuba visa desks for the airlines before and after security. The visa is $100 and can be paid on a credit card.
- Customs: Both arriving in Cuba and coming back to the US were much less climatic that I expected! I thought there might be a different customs process, but it was fairly similar. We brought back some cigars with no issue.
- Websites:
Hanna G 