I am very much more of a Jerome kind of Alex, or even a Clarkdale sort, rather than Sedona proper. But this wasn’t my birthday, and so.

Recommendations, for the Vortex City.

Coffee: Theia’s. World class.

Breakfast: Breakfast burritos at Garlands, or I guess ‘Indian Gardens’ as it is now again called.

Lunch at the wineries: Ten years ago, there was no such thing as a potable Arizona wine. But they’ve been working on it, and the place to go is Oak Creek Vineyards, aka the Squirrel place, out in Page Springs. Honorable mention: Page Springs Cellars, where the wine isn’t as good and it costs twice as much, but oh god the ambience of that River Deck.

Dinner: Bison pot roast at the Cowboy Club. Magnifico. Plus, the sign out front says “High Desert Cuisine” and they mean it.