My wanderlust spirit had me follow the trail to see stunning Red Rocks last week. Boy oh boy was it scenic, adventurous, spiritual & completely amazing! Here in my hometown we have the most wonderful world renowned trekking company called Ryder-Walker. They travel the globe seeking great adventures in the most stunning locations. I joined them on this tour, right here in the USA. The journey started here in Telluride. My favorite guide & super cool friend Ken picked me up for the haul out to Sedona, Arizona. The trip was about 7 hours & it was so fun! The convo was hilarious & I brought a quiche to make sure we were well fed…  

A video posted by marlameridith (@marlameridith) on May 2, 2015 at 10:00am PDT

  I’ve been to Sedona once, about 20 years ago & it’s always been on my wish list to get back there. Sedona is the land of stunning red rocks and breathtaking high desert landscape. It’s know to be filled with energy vortexes. What are those? A region (typically near rocks) filled with spiritual energy that inspires the soul. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to Telluride, we have no shortage of giant mountains with looming rock faces. When we first rolled in we dashed over to a state park with epic views of Cathedral Rock for some photos. Little did I know that we would stumble upon such dramatic lighting! Each day we hiked quite a few miles in the high desert. What I love most about Ryder-Walker treks is they take us well off the beaten path. We could walk miles & miles without seeing another person. The ecosystem shift with the vertical change was captivating. One moment we were hiking among spiky cactus, the next lush tree lined forest. I’m an adventurous gal…so trips with a true grip on the outdoors suit me best.  

A video posted by marlameridith (@marlameridith) on May 6, 2015 at 8:31am PDT

  These are the same folks I skied Davos/Klosters with earlier this year. Nothing short of life changing.  

A video posted by marlameridith (@marlameridith) on May 4, 2015 at 1:21pm PDT

  Here’s the view from my hotel room. Breathtaking! We stayed at the Best Western which was comfy & served up a fantastically tasty breakfast! My favorite offering was a Southwest Breakfast Casserole which was basically a Mexican frittata topped with refried beans, salsa and sour cream. The Chef gave me a firm warning to never forget the sour cream. The dining options in Sedona are mostly Southwest fare, which is so great after a long day of inspirational hiking & vortex viewing. Our first night we all had dinner at the Cowboy Club, there were steaks a plenty and a fried cactus appetizer. We also dined at Open Range Grill & Tavern which had amazing red rock views & super tasty food. Their margaritas were the perfect way to end the day. Can’t forget NY Bagels & Deli. At this NY style bagel cafe I discovered the CRAGEL. It’s now my favorite thing on earth. A combo croissant meets bagel. With all the elements you could ever love about each combined into buttery, baked perfection.  

A video posted by marlameridith (@marlameridith) on May 4, 2015 at 11:29am PDT

  After Sedona we were on our way to Bluff, Utah. The drive out was filled with yet even more great adventures. We made a few stops along the way. Including some spectacularly drenching views of Monument Valley. We also toured native american ruins… For dinner we stopped at the Old Bridge Grill in Mexican Hat, UT. I threw my face into this Mexican Taco…

A video posted by marlameridith (@marlameridith) on May 6, 2015 at 4:42pm PDT

  In Bluff we went on an all day rafting trip through the canyon. It was relaxing & gorgeous. The expert local guide taught us about the petroglyphs and how people lived on this land over 1000 years ago. The boat was so relaxing, I even found some time to catch a few cat naps in the fresh air. I was especially fond of the lunch picnic on the shore. For dinner we cowboy’d up to the Cottonwood Steakhouse, the wine and margaritas were flowing & the BBQ was finger-licking fabulous! If you are looking for a terrific outdoor experience with the best guides in the most amazing locations, be sure to reach out to the fine folks at Ryder-Walker and be sure to tell them I sent you! (all photos of me taken by guide Ken Fuhrer) Note: This trip also had a Moab segment that I was unable to attend because of tapings in NYC. I’ll be sure to get out that way soon though! ]]>