Courvillage Honeymoon - Part 1 // Cathedral Rock
And here we go!
Part 1 of our honeymoon to Arizona! We flew out of the Charlotte Douglas Airport on Monday morning [we married on Sunday]. We had a quick layover in Phoenix before our last [and very fast] flight to Flagstaff, Arizona. The weather was beautiful for flying! However, American Airlines does not give snacks during their 5 hour flights [American is the only airline that flies through Flagstaff]. Naturally, we were pretty hungry and recommend that you bring snacks on these flights.
A Caution to All Brides!
You've all heard that you need to drink water and eat on the day of your wedding. Right, that's normal - to eat and drink. I [Jennifer] even knew that. However, I didn't have an appetite. My family brought me some fruit and water while I was getting my hair and makeup done by Jennifer Abercrombie. I had maybe one sip of water. All day. Until the reception.
BAD IDEA.
I didn't know how to drink the water while she was doing my hair and while I had lipstick on! A straw would've fixed all of this. A STRAW.
The only reason why I mention this story is because I felt terribly sick on the plane due to dehydration. Ladies - whether you're the Bride-to-be or you're part of a wedding, make sure she drinks water! Give her a straw. Give her breaks in the day so she can drink. It doesn't matter if she's not hungry. Make her eat something small that doesn't make her nauseous [nerves can do that to a girl].
Once we arrived in Flagstaff, we drove about 45 minutes to our resort in Sedona, Arizona. The red rocks were beautiful! We took that day to rest and to prepare for a busy week.
Tuesday - our first full day in Sedona, Arizona
We drove around looking for the trailhead to Cathedral Rock. After a little driving, we found it! It is somewhat unsuspecting since you basically have to drive through a neighborhood-like road to get there. They have machines set up in the parking lots [which hardly ever have enough parking spaces] so you can buy parking passes.
The weather was perfectly sunny and clear - with an incredible amount of wind. At times, dust would fly up in your face and eyes. Apparently wind in the spring is common and it helps pollenate the trees, bushes, etc.
What We Recommend Wearing:
- Hats - this helped with the wind, sand, and bright sun
- Sneakers with a good grip
- Layers - the wind made it quite chilly
- Athletic pants or jeans - as long as you have flexibility to climb up the rocks [sometimes the hike is so steep that you will slide on your rear. Leggings wouldn't be recommended. Something thicker and durable would be best.]
Overall, we highly recommend hiking Cathedral Rock! The views are spectacular, and there are many places to rest, have lunch, and enjoy the beauty. As always, hike with caution and be aware of everyone around you. We saw lots of children on the hike. If your children are not too afraid of heights, we recommend this location for families. You can always choose how high you'd like to hike/climb.
We rate Cathedral Rock with 5 stars!
