Escape to Orchard Canyon

A serene lodge retreat near Sedona, AZ

Sedona—hands down, my favorite corner of Arizona. It's just under two hours from us, and the drive into town feels like the earth is showing off a bit, like, "Just wait until you see the view up ahead."

A little ways north of Sedona, tucked in the mountains above Oak Creek, is a picturesque lodge that’s basically our “serenity now” in Arizona. Shawn and I have been coming here for over a decade (back when it was still Garland’s Lodge).

The lodge itself is set on gorgeous grounds with orchards, gardens, and views that make you wonder if the universe is secretly trying to outdo itself. There are 17 cabins scattered across the property, each one with its own quirky charm—and NO WiFi. It’s like a digital detox retreat.

This trip, we stayed in Georgiana, a cozy cabin on the upper grounds near the garden. It was cold enough to use the fireplace, and for me to pretend I know how to start a fire. (Spoiler alert: I don't, but Shawn's a pro, so we're good.) We spent the evening sipping cocktails while listening to the crackling fire, feeling like we were in some sort of cozy cabin-themed Hallmark movie.

Now, let’s talk about the food. Dining at Orchard Canyon isn’t just eating—it’s an experience. They serve seasonal dishes that showcase their farm-to-table produce, and you actually choose your dinner options when you book your cabin. You can either have your meal delivered to your cabin (yay, room service!) or eat with other guests in the main lodge.

Breakfast is a farm-to-table buffet that can be as healthy or decadent as you choose, and includes eggs from their chickens and fresh-pressed apple cider from their orchard.

They were very willing to work with Shawn’s dietary restrictions and the chef even came out at breakfast to ensure he got what he needed.

We couldn’t go to Sedona without doing some kind of hike, gotta get those steps in, so we hit up a trail near Coffee Pot Rock.

I’m a little teapot at Coffee Pot Rock

And just to wrap things up with a bow—being at Orchard Canyon is like living in a nature-filled fairy tale, except with more cocktails and fewer talking animals. The only thing I didn’t love? The fact that Coffee Pot Rock didn’t actually serve coffee. Sigh. But hey, I’ll forgive it, because it still made for a great photo op.