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Redefine Siesta
5 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat in Sedona
You’re in Sedona this summer and it’s hot in the middle of the day. Can you beat the heat and still do something fun? The answer, my overheated friend, is yes, yes you can! Here’s a curated list of midday activities to keep your vacation vibe hot and your body cool.
1. Nurture your creative side: make art!
Sedona is home to artists, craftsfolk and makers, inspired by the beautiful landscape. Many offer classes, workshops and demonstrations. Here’s a chance to spend a few cool hours making your masterpiece. Inspiration is everywhere.
Do you like working with your hands? Try a pottery class or ceramics workshop where you can create a personalized keepsake. Glassmaking is a fascinating craft to try while visiting Sedona. Did you know that glassmaking dates to ancient Egypt, and may have begun even earlier?
Are you the next Picasso or Van Gogh? Find out in a painting workshop or drawing class. Add in your favorite adult beverage with a sip-and-paint experience. Or if you’d rather appreciate the talents of others, watch established artists display their painting or sculpting techniques during art demonstrations at several galleries around town. See how art is made in real time.
Maybe you want to be Ansel Adams with the camera on your mobile phone, or you just want to take better pictures of your family. Find a class in iPhoneography. Yes, that’s a thing. Photographers take note of how light and shadows dance across Sedona’s red rock formations differently each day and throughout the year.
Browse all types of art in the several galleries along Sedona’s well-known Gallery Row.
There is no better way to stay cool on a hot day in Sedona than winding it all the way down with a spa treatment or wellness activity. Sedona has long been regarded as a special spot for relaxation, wellness of all types, unique treatments and personal reflection.
A handful of hotel resorts in Sedona have on-site spa facilities with treatments ranging from massage to skincare, mud wraps to aromatherapy. Go stress-free in their state-of-the-art facilities. Some offer services outside along the banks of Oak Creek under a canopy of cottonwood trees. Relax into the sounds of flowing water and wind-rustling the leaves. Discover resorts that include on-site or in-room spa services.
Find relaxed vibes at a number a day spas in Sedona, as well. These also offer extensive menus of services from traditional massage to various alternative healing modalities. Find specific offerings in our Spiritual & Wellness listings.
Sedona is also home to a host of wellness practitioners offering a vast array of therapeutic treatments. Reiki, sound healing, aura cleansing, chakra balancing, hypnotherapy, energy work, readings, aura photos… to name only a few! Find more information and a list of services on the Sedona Metaphysical Spiritual Association website.
3. Sample some summer sippers!
Winetasting is another great way to stay cool on a hot day. The winemaking scene in the Sedona area and across Arizona is growing rapidly and receiving recognition at the local and national level. Of special interest are wines made from grapes grown exclusively in Arizona. Discover for yourself what makes Arizona wines special. Enjoy a sip, a glass—or bottle!—during your visit.
Look for tasting rooms in Uptown Sedona and ask your restaurant if they serve local wine. Explore Cottonwood and Jerome for more winetasting opportunities.
While there are no vineyards within Sedona city limits, several are only a short drive away. The nearest area is Page Springs (Google maps), home to five wineries along Oak Creek. Drive yourself or sign up for a tour or car service.
What kind of cool vacation would it be without shopping? Summer is the time to beat the heat AND take home a fun memento. Find the perfect souvenir or gift while staying cool in an air-conditioned shop.
Uptown Sedona is the perfect place to browse all kinds of shops on foot. Step out of the heat to find your next favorite gift, artwork, jewelry, candle or crystal. In between shopping sprees, grab a bite to eat, a cold beverage, or a dish of home-made ice cream.
Walking distance from Uptown is Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. Styled after a city in Mexico with the same name, Tlaquepaque translates as “best of everything”. And that’s what you’ll find: art, shops, food, music, fountains and quiet walkways, all beneath a shaded canopy of sycamore trees, right on the banks of Oak Creek.
Walking distance from Tlaquepaque is the Hillside Sedona Shopping Center, offering the perfect blend of shopping, dining, arts and services. Find an art class, schedule a medispa treatment or healing session, stop by the blow dry and lash salon.
And just a short drive from all three is West Sedona, offering more shops and galleries of all types to explore while staying cool indoors. Try leaving your hot car at the hotel and travel around town on the Sedona Shuttle. Now THAT'S cool!
5. Soak it up poolside: pool hair don’t care!
Finally, the cool-it-off summer activity that has stood the test of time. Claim your lounge chair, spread out your towel, crack open your new favorite book and just lounge by the pool.
Many of Sedona’s hotels have swimming pools on-site. Finish your morning hike by 10 AM, fuel up on a delicious lunch in town, then hit the pool for a refreshing dip. Make a plan for your next adventure and do it all again tomorrow! Search our hotel listings for pool amenities.
If your hotel does not have a swimming pool, check out the Sedona Community Pool. There’s something for all ages during Open Swim: two dedicated lanes for lap swimming, a play fountain for kids, wiggle steps, inflatables, and a water slide – all with a great view of nearby red rocks! Make sure to check the pool schedule for fees, swim times and lessons. Or maybe the Splash Pad at Sunset Park is where your kids want to beat the heat.
Heat safety tips:
If you choose to recreate outside between 10 AM and 4 PM, keep in mind these important safety tips. Seriously, heat safety can be a matter of life and death.
Bring lots of water and electrolytes. When your water is half-empty, turn back to the trailhead.
Pack and eat hydrating snacks like fresh fruit and veggies. Hydrate well before and after each adventure for a full recovery.
In hot temps, bring a wide brimmed hat/sunglasses/cooling sun hoodie. Start before the sun rises and be off the trails by 10 AM. Or hike in the evening when the sun is less intense. Resting under trees to help regulate your body temperature can be helpful!
Pro Tip: bring a headlamp in case you are out after dark. Your cell phone isn’t bright enough.
Turn your phone on airplane mode to conserve your battery life.
Make sure you have the right shoes for the terrain and the soles and laces are in good condition.
Check the Forest Service fire restrictions, permits and trail conditions. Staying on designated trails will lessen the likelihood of getting lost and will protect the sensitive environment.
