13 Fun Things To Do in Sedona, AZ for Spring Break

Why look for fun things to do in Sedona for Spring Break? If you have ever been to Arizona in the SUMMER, you know that it gets HOT!!! Even Sedona, which is at an altitude of 4350′, can reach temps of 90° to 100° in the summer months.

If you plan to enjoy the great outdoor adventures in Sedona, that’s hot. Especially if you are traveling with kids and searching for things to do with kids in Sedona.

If you choose to travel to Sedona in the Spring, you’ll find temperate days between mid 60° to mid 70°. Those are perfect temperatures for hiking, exploring, going on desert jeep adventures, and enjoying a little down time by the pool.

13 Fun Things to do in Sedona, Arizona

You can find so many amazing activities and fun things to do in Sedona Arizona and the surrounding area. Known for its magnificent red rocks that create stunning canyons, brilliant mountains, and striking landscapes in the desert, you’ll be planning your trip back before you even leave!

While some believe that the red rocks rich in iron have a restorative, calming energy, many simply recognize the beauty they create in nature.

1. Buy your own “Dirt Shirt”

First things first on your list of things of things to do in Sedona: take home a little bit of Sedona with your very own “dirt shirt”.

A dirt shirt—a shirt dyed red like the rocks and washed in dirt to give it color—can be found with sayings such as, “Life’s short. Play dirty” or “Older than dirt.” Don’t leave Sedona without one.

2. Listen to the GuideAlong Sedona Audio Tour

If you haven’t checked out GuideAlong Audio Tours (formerly known as GyPSy Guide) yet, now’s the time.

The GuideAlong App is a downloadable app that provides narrated audio tours for your road trips and scenic drives. It is like bringing your own tour guide along for the ride.

There is a GuideAlong Sedona audio tour available. Add this to your list of fun things to do in Sedona, sit back, and enjoy.

3. Plan for Easy Hikes in Sedona

Hiking in Sedona, or any location in the world, requires preparation and planning. For example, how many times have you been hiking and you pass people on the trail wearing inappropriate footwear? Heels even!

Take some time to read The 10 Essentials for Your Best Day Hikes to be sure you have the gear you need and are prepared for your hikes in Sedona, Arizona.

There are a lot of hikes for different activity levels as “fun” things to do in Sedona. Hike safely and be sure to take advantage of the shade as you are hiking.

If you are hiking with kids, you need to scout out some of the best easy hikes in Sedona that are tailored to their skill level.

3 Basics Tips for Hiking Safety:

• Be sure to apply sufficient sunscreen
• Bring plenty of water. Invest in a Camelbak water reservoir
• Bring snacks. If you are traveling with kids and teens, this is extra essential. Built Bar protein bars are perfect for your hiking adventures.

If you have easy hikes in Sedona on your list of the things to do in Sedona, you will need to purchase a Red Rock Pass in order to hike in Sedona. This pass provides for the care and maintenance of the awe-inspiring red rock landscape as well as visitor information so that your experiences in Sedona are memorable.

You can purchase day passes or week-long passes. Consider a yearly pass if your bucket list of things to do in Sedona is long and you plan to come back again and again and again.

You may also access the recreational experiences around Sedona with your America the Beautiful National Park Pass.

When you are looking for things to do with kids in Sedona, check out the Fee Free Days that are offered each year as well.

What are the benefits of having the Red Rock Pass?

• Access to trailheads and hiking trails
• Use of picnic areas
• Access to informational and interpretive signage
• Maintained roads
• Personal and family recreational opportunities

During your visit to Sedona, be a considerate tourist and practice the Leave No Trace Seven Principles:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
   © Leave No Trace: www.LNT.org

4. Hike to Devil’s Bridge

The hike to Devil’s Bridge is one of the highly recommended things to do in Sedona.

It may seem as though you have to go off-roading a bit to even get to the trailhead. That’s the road.

If you believe you have reached the parking lot after two miles once you turn off the Boynton Pass Road and think, “Hmmm, that wasn’t too bad!”, think again. You have arrived at the Devil’s Bridge “Trail” parking lot. From here, you will have to walk in another two miles.

Parking here is an option if your vehicle is not a 4×4 and will not easily maneuver the additional two miles to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead parking lot. Getting your car fixed is NOT one of the desirable nor fun things to do in Sedona!

Drive for about two more miles over bumpy, crazy roads and you’ll finally came upon the Devil’s Bridge “Trailhead” parking lot.

Consider the kind of car you are driving while in Sedona before you take this road. Some low-clearance vehicles may not fare so well. The signage should be a warning.

As the Devil’s Bridge hike is so popular among all of the things to do in Sedona, you will want to arrive early. The parking lot at the trailhead fills quickly. Think “arrive before 7 am” at some of the most popular times of the year. It is one of the easy hikes in Sedona that kids should be able to easily complete.

Spot the Indian’s face carved in the wall of the canyon. Can you see it under the branch of the tree?

Watch for signage along the way or use the AllTrails App to keep you on track. The trail to Devil’s Bridge is fairly easy until you reach the end where you’ll have a steep ascent and a bit of a scramble.

Devil’s Bridge is the largest natural sandstone arch in Sedona. The arch is clearly visible in the landscape and is simply magnificent. Seriously, the pictures don’t do it justice.

With so many people visiting the arch, you may have to wait your turn to walk onto the bridge and take pictures (or have pictures taken of you). But, it is one of the popular things to do in Sedona, and you’ll love having an amazing photo to show your friends and family.

5. Hike to Seven Sacred Pools Sedona and Soldier’s Pass

Parking at the trailhead for this hike is limited. There are only 14 parking spots available and no restroom facilities.

Along the way to Soldier’s Pass, be sure to check out the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole just 1/4 mile into your hike.

Depending on the time of the year, the Seven Sacred Pools Sedona may be full of water or completely empty. This is one of the fairly easy hikes in Sedona that is only a half mile hike from the trailhead if you are hiking with young children. Pretty sure they will want to stop and explore the pools!

It might just become one of the favorite things to do with kids in Sedona!

After 1.3 miles from the trailhead, you will come to a fork in the trail. The path to the right takes you to the Soldier’s Pass Cave and Arch. It is a one mile there and back side trip off of the main trail.

Stay to the left if you want to continue on to Soldier’s Pass.

The hike on to Soldier’s Pass is relatively easy, but does take on a “moderate” hiking element as you near the pass. The trail levels out as you top the Brins Mesa. As a 4.5 mile there and back hike on a clear and cool morning, it offers plenty of the beautiful scenery Sedona is known for. This hike is another one of the top things to do in Sedona.

You do have the option to continue on in a loop along the Brins Mesa trail. Check that out on the AllTrails App.

6. Take a Jeep Tour

When you Google “jeep tour Sedona” as you make plans and search for fun things to do in Sedona to keep your kids busy, your online search will come back with a variety of options for jeep tour excursion companies.

This excursion may be a little spendy for your family but totally worth the splurge.

“A Day in the West” is one option for an adventurous tour with some extra outdoor fun. The company provides knowledgeable tour guides who not only drive the jeeps but also entertain you with pioneer lore, interesting movie history, and fun facts about Sedona, AZ.

If you are traveling with younger kids, the L’il Rattler Tour isn’t quite as aggressive as some but still offers some Jeep thrills. (Ha!)

If you happen to believe in paranormal activity and vortexes, Sedona is your place.

Get set for a lot of jostling during your Jeep excursion, interspersed with history and lore of the area. If you are driving along with your kids, they might just dub you a “bobblehead”.

Making memories along the way…that’s part of why you search for epic things to do in Sedona!

7. Visit the Lowell Observatory

Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ is just 27 miles north of Sedona.

With Mt. Humphreys in the distance, the drive along 89A is a visually stunning scenic drive with views of the mountain and beautiful Ponderosa Pine. And it will be almost 15° cooler than Sedona. This makes for one of your perfect Sedona day trips when looking for things to do in Sedona and the surrounding area.

The air simply smells wonderful.

Flagstaff is considered to be the gateway to Grand Canyon.

If you are a member of a local science center or museum that participates in the ASTC Passport Program (Association of Science-Technology Centers), you may be eligible for free general admission at museums and science centers around the world (some exclusions apply and benefits may vary).

So, for example, if you have a museum membership at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, your membership allows you free entrance to the Lowell Observatory.

A few facts in case you ever choose to visit:

• Lowell Observatory is one of the largest private astronomical research facilities in the world
• Their claim to fame was the discovery of Pluto in 1930. Check out the museum and take the Pluto Tour
• Lowell is the home of the Discovery Channel Telescope
• The Observatory was founded in 1894 to study Mars

And…if you are lucky, you may just find a glow-in-the-dark constellation t-shirt!

The Pluto Tour guides you along a 350-foot outdoor exhibit representing the scale of the solar system from the sun to Pluto. Pretty cool. The tour leads to the Pluto Telescope Dome which is home to the 13-inch Astrograph (a picture-taking telescope) that was used to discover Pluto.

Percival Lowell spent many a freezing evening recording the bodies of the sky as the astrograph took “one hour per exposure” pictures of the heavens.

8. Sedona Day Trips: Slide Rock State Park

Next on the list of super fun things to do in Sedona is Slide Rock State Park between Flagstaff and Sedona.

Slide Rock State Park has a variety of features to make this a perfect afternoon stop on your itinerary of things to do in Sedona. There are:

• Spectacular red rocks
• Swimming areas
• Hiking trails
• Scenic views
• Fishing
• Historic buildings
• A historic orchard that produces delicious apples each Fall.

You may wish to start at the Slide Rock Market for a quick lunch—sandwiches, hot dogs, and mac n’ cheese. You can’t be too picky.

If you come to play in the water, you’ll have a blast. Don’t forget to bring:

• Water shoes
• Goggles
• A towel
• Plenty of sunscreen
• A swim suit or clothes suitable for getting wet
• A whole lot of courage to cannonball off the cliffs. Cowabunga!!!

No doubt, your kids will remember this as one of the most fun things to do in Sedona and the surrounding area! It is still one of our girls favorite Sedona day trips.

9. Explore Tuzigoot National Monument in Camp Verde, AZ

Tuzigoot National Monument ruins are located in Camp Verde, AZ in the Verde Valley. It is approximately 33 miles from Sedona. If you are looking for more cool things to do in Sedona, plan one of your Sedona day trips here.

The Tuzigoot ruins were built on a hill surrounded by valley on all sides. Tuzigoot translates to “crooked water”.

You’ll have fun exploring the small museum and ruins. Amazing to think about living in such primitive conditions.

“Tuzigoot is an ancient village or pueblo built by a culture known as the Sinagua. The pueblo consisted of 110 rooms including second and third story structures. The first buildings were built around A.D. 1000. The Sinagua were agriculturalists with trade connections that spanned hundreds of miles. The people left the area around 1400. The site is currently comprised of 42 acres.”

NationalParks.org

You can purchase a pass online at Recreation.gov that includes Tuzigoot and Montezuma’s Castle.

10. Visit Montezuma’s Castle National Monument

Montezuma’s Castle National Monument is the sister site of Tuzigoot National Monument and is about 34 miles away. It is another among the many amazing Sedona day trips.

Visitors to the monument used to be able to actually climb up into the cliff dwellings to explore.

The Sinagua people who once populated these cliff dwellings, created a 20-room high-rise apartment, farmed, and fished in the nearby Beaver Creek.

This site is fascinating as a destination. Be sure to add it to your list of places to see in Sedona. It is similar to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.

11. Plan Sedona Day Trips to Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon is an adventure all on its own, but if you happen to be checking off your bucket list of fun things to do in Sedona and have time for Sedona day trips, a Grand Canyon day trip has your name all over it! (Not really. That would be graffiti. Don’t create graffiti at Grand Canyon!)

You reach the South Rim of Grand Canyon from Sedona by passing through the Kaibab National Forest. Leave the grand ponderosa pines behind then pass by scrub brush and…more scrub brush. It takes a little more than two hours for this road trip.

Pass through the south entrance and make your first stop at Mather Point Visitors Center, where you can watch a short movie about the formation of Grand Canyon.

Next, venture off to see the canyon. You don’t really see the beauty of Grand Canyon until you’re almost right next to it.

Similar to the rest of the numerous hosts of tourists, you will want to capture as many cool shots and see as much as you possibly can.

Check out this crazy stump covered in wads of gum. You might have already guessed. It is called “Gum Tree”.

Most areas have a safety fence to keep tourists from getting too close to the edge, but there are a few sections where you climb on the rocks. Be careful!

If you arrive close to lunchtime AND you are traveling with kids, you’ll want to make a lunch stop. Take a Blue Line bus to the Market Village where there are a few options. The nearest choice after disembarking from the bus is the cafeteria in Yavapai Lodge.

You can also peruse the Market Village gift shop for your Grand Canyon memento.

Want to take GuideAlong along with you to Grand Canyon? You’re in luck.

12. Hike Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon

Hop onto the Blue Line shuttle to Bright Angel Lodge and the Bright Angel Trailhead while on your Sedona day trips to Grand Canyon.

Depending on the time of year that you visit Grand Canyon, you may wish to hike the Bright Angel Trail. If it is later in the Spring season or in the Summer, you are going to have to use ice cream as motivation. For you and your kids!

The hike starts at 6,850 ft. From there it is ALL downhill!

Let’s not get too crazy.

You only need to hike to the “1 1/2 Mile Rest House” at 5,729 ft.

It is actually about two miles down to the Rest House (the signs tell you it is only 1 1/2 miles to suck you in).

Be sure to plan for the hike and wear the appropriate footwear, wear a hat, use sunscreen, and bring lots of water and snacks.

You can refill your water bottles and Camelbak water reservoir at the Rest House. And then you get to climb back up.

Don’t forget to make good on your bribe, or rather motivational promise of ice cream, at the Bright Angel Fountain.

13. Stay at The Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock

The Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock is a beautiful place to stay while visiting Sedona.

Spend some time at the pool, relax in the hot tub, or even play a round of golf. After a long day of seeing all the sights on your bucket list of things to do in Sedona, you’ll be more than ready for a little downtime.

Enjoy breakfast at the Grille at Shadow Rock before starting another day of adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts on 13 Fun Things To Do in Sedona, AZ for Spring Break

If you are choosing to experience Spring Break in Arizona and are looking for things to do with kids in Sedona, you’ll find there is plenty to keep you busy and many fun things to do in Sedona.

The easy hikes in Sedona along with the beautiful red rock landscape are sure to be a draw, but you might even just enjoy perusing the tourist shops in downtown Sedona.

If Sedona is a destination for a getaway as a couple, you’ll still be in for an enjoyable stay and amazing adventure.

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