Just Back From: Sedona, Arizona

Just Back From…Sedona, Arizona

Trip Duration: 2 days, 3 nights

Flight Plan: Direct to Phoenix from JFK, plus a two-hour drive to Sedona. I’ve been traveling in an Adidas track suit—my unofficial maternity wear—because it keeps me warm and is supremely comfortable. On the flight, I use a saline nasal spray at least twice to combat getting sick, Caudalie face mist to perk up and Elizabeth Arden 8 hour skin protectant to stay moisturized on my face and hands. I also don’t leave home without my Beats headphones.

Travel Crew: Just me, my husband, Steve, and my baby bump.

Where I Stayed: A chic, cozy cottage at L’Auberge de Sedona, complete with a fireplace, sweeping porch and a view of the creek, so you could listen to the babbling water as you go to sleep.

Best Thing I Ate: The three-course farm-to-table meal at L’Auberge served creekside under the stars. I started with a Hudson Valley foie gras, followed by a deconstructed bouillabaisse and ended with a pavlova. There’s also a wine pairing on offer—and just looking at their thorough and extensive wine list made me sad to skip it this time around. Also, you cannot leave Sedona without having ice cream from Black Cow Café; it’s all homemade and all delicious.

Courtesy of L'Auberge de Sedona

Best Hang Out Spots: Hideaways is a Sedona institution that’s great for a laid-back lunch. It's been around for 40-plus years, has a stellar view of the red rocks and the House of Seven Arches was once owned by Lucille Ball. 89Agave is a fun Mexican restaurant to hit up for fresh margaritas and their guacamole tasting flight.

Best Daytime Activity: It’s a tie between hiking to the vortexes and hitting up the cold spring. We did the Airport Loop trail which was about three miles long and seemed to have every view of Sedona—I suggest you go early to beat the heat. Cool down at one of the many magical hidden cold springs in Sedona. Steve and I drove a quick five minutes from L’Auberge to Grasshopper Point, the water was freezing–but so invigorating–and it’s fun to watch people dive off the cliffs into the deep water. It truly feels like something out of a dream.

Favorite Shopping Trip: I couldn’t choose the perfect one, but we were all about trying on every Stetson hat at Hat Rack.

Kerry Pieri

Trip Highlight: The Pre-Natal massage at L’Auberge’s spa. It’s not uncommon to hear a local barista or anyone in line at any store talk about the energy of Sedona. That same lightness and easy spirituality is embedded into the spa treatments at L’Auberge as well. I also created my own salt scrub featuring rose hips, rose petals and white sage at their on site apothecary as a way to bring a little bit of the spa life home with me.

Kerry Pieri

I Wish I Had… Taken one more outdoor shower in my in-room cedar shower–and gotten a photo of my aura at one of the many crystal shops scattered around Sedona; now how will I ever know?

Most Inspiring Moment: Seeing views of Cathedral Rock, Coffeepot Rock and more awe-inspiring mountains on our hike really helped lend a new perspective on viewing the world, especially coming from New York City.

Why Sedona? There really is an energy that’s different in Sedona, every local can’t be wrong.

What to pack: Hiking boots, yoga pants, easy dresses, a bathing suit and a jacket for chilly desert nights.

Courtesy of L'Auberge de Sedona

From left: Mother Denim jacket, $485, net-a-porter.com; Fleur du mal dress, $1,064, fleurdumal.com; Adidas by Stella McCartney bra, $70, net-a-porter.com;Palladium boots, $120, palladiumboots.com; Adidas by Stella McCartney pants, $80, net-a-porter.com.

Kerry Pieri is Harper's Bazaar's Digital Fashion/Features Director. Kerry oversees the fashion vertical for BAZAAR.com, including launching digital covers, styling celebrity features, and managing recurring features including Brand Watch and My Life in Three Looks. In addition, Kerry edits the “best of” each season, from shoes to bags, denim and coats, and is consistently looking for shifts in the fashion realm to lend a voice. Kerry formerly served as the Editorial Director of  StyleCaster.com and as a producer at Full Frontal Fashion. She lives in New York with her husband Steve, and baby girl Lila Sky.

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