High Desert, High Design: A Luxury Loop through Arizona

The Loop at a Glance

Route: Phoenix -> Sedona (2 hrs) -> Jerome (45 min) -> Prescott (1 hr) -> Phoenix (2 hrs)

Best Time to Go: Late fall through spring for mild temps and clear skies

Pro Tip: Keep your playlists slow and your schedule looser than you think. In the high desert, the best design is nature’s.

There are two types of travelers in Arizona: those who barrel through the high desert on their way to somewhere else, and those who know the real magic is in slowing down, staying awhile, and letting the landscape do the work.

This winter and spring, swap the freeways for a loop through Sedona, Jerome and Prescott, where the vibe is all about quiet luxury: adobe-meets-modern interiors, chef-driven menus heavy on local produce, spa treatments inspired by the red rocks, and the kind of desert light that makes you want to linger on a terrace just a little longer.

This three-day itinerary takes you from red rock panoramas to hillside art enclaves and Victorian-era charm, all at a slow-travel pace that lets you savor every glass of Verde Valley wine and every perfectly designed guest room.

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Jeff Zaruba

Ambiente Dawn Exterior

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L’Auberge de Sedona

L’Auberge Cress on Oak Creek

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Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

Sedona canyon

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Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

Sedona Landscape

Sedona’s Red Rock Glow

The approach into Sedona never gets old. Those sandstone buttes rise from the earth in shades of rust, rose and gold, changing by the minute with the shifting sun. The best way to match that drama is with a stay at Ambiente: A Landscape Hotel, a collection of sleek, glass-walled atriums elevated on stilts to minimize impact on the land. Inside, it’s all clean lines, muted desert palettes, and views so cinematic you might just skip the curtains entirely. Step onto your private deck at dawn, coffee in hand, and watch the light paint the cliffs in a color show no filter can capture.

For dinner, make your way to Cress on Oak Creek at L’Auberge de Sedona, where candlelit tables sit beneath a canopy of sycamores and the sound of rushing water becomes your soundtrack. The menu is seasonal and French-inspired, with a Southwest soul—think seared scallops with prickly pear beurre blanc or mesquite-smoked duck breast with local citrus. It’s as much an atmosphere as a meal.

If time allows before turning in, drive up Airport Mesa for one of Sedona’s most sweeping sunset views. Locals and visitors alike gather here to watch the horizon blush pink and violet before the stars take over.

The next morning, trade speed for serenity with a sunrise yoga class at Seven Canyons, framed by towering red rock walls. Or book a treatment at Mii amo, the legendary destination spa recently reimagined with warm contemporary design and a focus on Native healing traditions. A day pass includes access to their crystal-filled meditation spaces, steam rooms and quiet pools, perfect for easing into the slower rhythm this trip is all about.

When You Go

Sedona, visitsedona.com

Ambiente, ambientesedona.com

Cress on Oak Creek, lauberge.com

Mii amo Spa, miiamo.com

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Nate Loper_CC BY 2.0

Sunset near Mingus Mountain

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The Clinkscale

Clickscale Hotel exterior

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Grace Stufkosky

Caduceuc Cellars

Jerome's Artistic Ascent

From Sedona, it’s a winding, view-filled 28-mile drive up Mingus Mountain to Jerome, a former copper mining town turned bohemian art colony. The roads are narrow and serpentine, but every turn offers a new vantage point over the Verde Valley. Park once as you’ll be exploring on foot along steep streets lined with galleries, tasting rooms, and cafés that wouldn’t be out of place in much bigger cities.

Check into The Clinkscale Hotel, where exposed brick, brass accents and jewel-toned velvet blend industrial grit with boutique-hotel polish. It’s the kind of place where you drop your bags, open the windows, and let the cool mountain breeze roll in before heading downstairs for a craft cocktail at the lively bar.

Spend the afternoon browsing the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery, housed in a 1917 high school building and packed with local works ranging from pottery to oil paintings. Then pop into Pura Vida Gallery for artisan jewelry, hand-woven textiles and ceramics that make for beautiful, packable souvenirs.

Wine lovers should plan a tasting at Caduceus Cellars, owned by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, whose passion for Arizona viticulture is evident in every pour. Sip a deep, earthy red on the patio and take in the valley views—it’s a reminder that the high desert can surprise you at every turn.

As evening sets in, splurge on dinner at The Asylum Restaurant, perched inside the historic, and allegedly haunted, Jerome Grand Hotel. The cuisine is contemporary American, with a few playful nods to the building’s ghostly reputation. Try the chile-rubbed filet mignon or pecan-crusted trout, then linger over dessert as the lights of the valley twinkle below.

When You Go

Jerome, visitarizona.com/places/cities/jerome

The Clinkscale Hotel, theclinkscale.com

Pura Vida Gallery, puravidajerome.com

Caduceus Cellars, caduceus.org

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Gaylord; Michigan; U.S.A._CC BY 2.0

Courthouse Plaza

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Nicky Hedayatzadeh

Farm Provisions

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The Motor Lodge

The Motor Lodge Room

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Marvin Pitts

Women Artist Wall

Prescott’s Courthouse Charm

An hour’s drive south delivers you to Prescott, where Victorian-era architecture wraps around the historic Courthouse Plaza and locals greet each other by name. There’s a sense of place here that feels both timeless and quietly sophisticated.

Stay at Hassayampa Inn, a 1927 landmark with elegant period details like stained glass, carved wood, vintage tile, paired with modern comforts like plush bedding and upscale amenities. The lobby’s fireplace is an invitation to linger with a glass of wine, while the on-site Peacock Room serves refined, seasonal fare in a setting that feels like a page from history.

If you’re in the mood for a different kind of design inspiration, swing by The Motor Lodge for a coffee. This mid-century roadside motel, reimagined with bold colors, retro-modern furniture and locally sourced artwork, is a local favorite for its easygoing vibe and friendly hosts.

Stroll historic Whiskey Row, then make your way to the Phippen Museum, showcasing Western art with contemporary flair. Or, if the weather’s mild, take a slow loop around Watson Lake, its granite boulders and mirrored waters are pure Arizona poetry.

For lunch, Farm Provisions delivers farm-to-table plates with an upscale twist, like citrus-brined chicken with roasted root vegetables. If you’ve still got daylight, end your loop at Thumb Butte Distillery for a tasting flight of locally made spirits.

From here, it’s a scenic two-hour drive back to Phoenix, the desert fading behind you, but the calm, unhurried rhythm of the trip will linger longer.