Arizona Mother-Daughter Trip Itinerary

Have the stars ever aligned for you to have the perfect trip with the perfect companion? Well, it happened for me when my mom agreed to join me on a November trip to Arizona. Our 5-night adventure to Arizona was the perfect blend of soul filling relaxation, outdoor adventure, and quality time together. Read all about how we filled our 5 days with all the good stuff we could get.

Day 1

After arriving at the Phoenix airport, our first order of business was a 2-hour drive north to Sedona where we would be spending the next 3 nights. Our accommodations were for the 3-day journey at Mii Amo Spa where we would choose from daily activities like hiking and yoga, while indulging in pre-selected spa experiences catered to our wants and needs all while eating an array of delicious meals and healthy snacks. To put it modestly, we were about to be pampered like crazy over the next few days and I was on the edge of my seat with excitement.

Upon arriving in Sedona, you are immediately in awe of all that surrounds you. Red rock formations captivate you from every angle and for me an inner peace came to be driving through the Sedona desert to the Boynton Canyon where we were staying. After arriving and checking into our casita we took part in our journey welcome and settled in for the next few days.

Welcome to Mii Amo

Day 2

One of my favorite things about traveling to western time zones is the fact that I can actually be an early riser. My internal clock sticks on EST and this trip was no different. An early morning wake up meant first to breakfast and early morning hiking. We had signed up for a guided hike (you could complete the hike without a guide easily) followed by an outdoor yoga practice. We hiked a section of the Boynton Canyon Trail which is so beautiful in November and had we not been in a group, likely would have completed the full trail. After our hike we were lead through a gentle yoga flow out on the lawn with picturesque red rocks all around us. Talk about Zen!

The rest of our day consisted of lounging by the pool in between our spa treatments; we each had individual treatments like facials, massages, and even experienced reiki for the first time.

Lounging by the pool, what a view!

Day 3

Sticking with our early to rise plan, we had an “off resort property” morning, driving to the Devil’s Bridge trailhead for an early morning hike. The drive took about 25 minutes and the trailhead was easy to find. Even with our early morning start (we arrived at the trailhead around 7am) there were still quite a few cars and I imagine this trail gets packed early during peak season. There is also no cover so in the hot months I bet it’s a bit toasty if you don’t get there before the sun is up. The Devil’s Bridge trail is rated moderate, and I would guess that is based on a few steep climb sections near the end. For the most part, the trail was flat and easy enough you could easily take in all the surrounding red rock views. The trail itself is about 3.8 miles out and back and the views of Devil’s Bridge are wonderful once you arrive. We hiked a semi-empty trail to find groups of people waiting at the top for their turn across the bridge. We snapped a few pictures and off we went, we had another spot to check out before a full afternoon at the resort!

Devil's Bridge Trail

Arriving back at the Boynton Canyon, we were just in time to visit the Kachina Woman via the Vista Trail. We were told that around 12 pm every day there would be a local playing the flute at the famed Kachina Woman. At her base you will find twisted juniper trees, indications of the energy vortex around you, and feel serenity enter your mind and body, or at least we did! The energy was apparent and a powerful experience!

Energy Surrounding Kachina Woman, Red Rock Hearts, and Twister Juniper Trees

Body wraps, massages, and more facials along with pool lounging and smoothie drinking was the tune our afternoon followed. TOTAL RELAXATION.

Day 4

It was time to check out and while it was so sad to say goodbye to Mii Amo, we still had more of Arizona to explore and were excited about our adventures to come over the next 48 hours. We woke up early, watched the sunrise next to Kachina Woman and said farewell to the Boynton Canyon.

Catching one last sunrise from the Boynton Canyon

Our next stop was to the town of Page, Arizona; 3 hours north of Sedona, right on Utah's southern boarder. After leaving Sedona and a long day of driving, we settled into our hotel, had an early dinner and called it a night.

Day 5

Knowing it was our last real day of vacation, we were up and at ‘em bright and early, watching the sunrise at Horseshoe Bend. The mornings are chilly in the Arizona desert and Horseshoe Bend is totally exposed. Luckily the short hike to the overlook had our blood pumping and as the sun came up we warmed up some, but I’m pretty sure you can tell we were quite cold in our chattering teeth photos.

Sunrise at Horseshoe Bend

While Horseshoe Bend was amazing, it was a quick stop on our list of to-dos for the day. Shortly after the sun was up we were headed to Antelope Canyon X for a guided tour of the spectacular slot canyon on the Navajo Reservation. We booked a slightly less crowded Antelope Canyon X tour and had a wonderful experience with our group and the guides! These canyons are truly remarkable in size and beauty. This natural wonder is a photographer’s dream, and we were able to capture a small glimpse of the beauty with our cameras.

Antelope Canyon X

While we knew it was going to be a short trip in Page, we were thrilled with all we were able to see. Next time I would love to visit Lake Powell for water activities like kayaking, cliff jumping, and boat rides. Our flight left Phoenix early the next morning so our plan was to head south, hike, and make it to our hotel just before bed – because let’s be honest why wouldn’t you want to soak up every minute possible in a beautiful place like Arizona?

Heading south from Page in about 45 minutes we found a spot on the southern end of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area covers over 1.2 MILLION acres of mostly rugged high desert terrain across Utah and Arizona and houses famous destinations like Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, and Rainbow Bridge. We wanted one more hike so we picked the Cathedral Wash Trail, knowing it was rated hard, but thought at 3.3 miles total it would be manageable.

This turned out to be one of the most unique hikes we had ever experienced. The trail was a mixture of hiking with rock climbing and scrambling, which we weren’t at all prepared for, but were able to manage together as a team. The entire out and back took about 3.5 hours to complete and the short break we took at the bed of the Colorado River was the perfect energy boost needed to head back to the trailhead to make our way back to Phoenix for the night. I would highly recommend checking out the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area if you ever have the chance.

Colorado River views and a celebratory we made it jump!

Day 6

Boarding our early morning flight and looking at the weather to find a snowstorm hitting Ohio gave us all the feels and gratitude for the amazing trip we were able to take together. We had the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure, exploring what seemed like ¾ of the state from Phoenix to Page. Some people may favor fall beach trips but the Arizona desert is high on my list and absolutely a destination I look forward to visiting again someday.