Relax in the Red Rocks

Jenelle Bonifield

The sisters were enamored with organic, modern architecture that respects the land’s undulations, and they set out to develop a sustainable Sedona escape that would embody everything they deeply cared about. Anticipating that the resort would become a worldwide sensation, the sisters pursued development to preserve the land’s natural beauty. Ambiente opened to international news coverage and hard-to-secure reservations.

As the country’s first landscape hotel, the resort has quickly become one of the Southwest’s premier adult-only destinations. An idyllic haven nestled amidst awe-inspiring red rock formations and desert and forest topography, Sedona offers a sublime blend of natural beauty and tranquility while boasting seasonal temperatures 15 to 20 degrees cooler than surrounding metropolises, guaranteeing a quintessential oasis for inspired summer getaways.

Today, my availability and a reservation opening merged, and I was off to Ambiente with a friend.

Kyle RM Johnson

With its unparalleled guest room experience, the resort offers contemporary, elevated atriums that feature floor-to-ceiling bronze-tinted glass with matte-charcoal and rusted metal accents , seamlessly blending into their natural surroundings with sustainable, organic architecture that supports a disconnection from everyday life and a reconnection with nature.

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The luxurious accommodations include sleek, elemental interiors and amenities such as a petite kitchen with daily restocked refreshments and bespoke design touches, including live-edge wood furnishings, large, dual-head rain showers, oversized soaking tubs, cozy sectionals with plush throw blankets, and platform beds draped in silky sheets and down bedding.

Jeff Zaruba

Each atrium includes a private rooftop deck with a daybed and fire pit, perfect for sunbathing, yoga or stargazing alfresco. The deck offers 360-degree views of the majestic red rocks and the theater of the night sky with infinite stars.

When we arrived, we checked our car with the valet and hopped on the resort golf cart, which took us to our accommodations. The property has 40 above-ground, container-like spaces, so we were escorted to ours and given a tour of the luxe space.

Ambiente’s cube-shaped guest atriums appear to be floating above the high-desert floor. With its modern design, the hotel embodies elegant minimalism and luxurious accommodation.

The Velvet Spa is located inside the main lobby building. It is an intimate, three-room spa with an ethos rooted in blending ancient wellness practices with innovative technologies. Specializing in treatments that integrate locally sourced ingredients embodying the region’s transformative healing properties, Velvet offers a range of restorative rituals, including an array of services for couples who wish to enjoy their relaxation time together.

Jeff Zaruba

At the center of the property is the hotel’s full-service signature restaurant, Forty1. It serves seasonally rotating breakfast and dinner menus and showcases a steadfast commitment to embracing the Verde Valley’s abundance of resources through Modern American cuisine. Right outside Forty1, guests can enjoy the pond-shaped pool and spa, ideal for soaking up the Sedona sunshine with a cocktail in hand.

That evening, we dined at Forty1, enjoyed elevated service and had a three-course dinner that included a visit from Chef David Duncan. We savored perfectly prepared scallops and a medium-rare beef filet.

Later that evening, we put on our comfy clothes, grabbed a bottle of wine and ascended to the roof to experience a night of stargazing. We saw the Milky Way, shooting stars, satellites and planets identified through our Night Sky app. It was tranquil on the roof, making for a magical evening.

Jeff Zaruba

It is important to note that guests are given a texting number for any request; we used it multiple times to order wine, request help with our fire pit, and, yes, assist with the entrance to our room. Surely, others have done it. Remember, when you climb the stairs to the rooftop, your room will lock…keep your key handy.

In the morning, it was time for sunshine, hiking and breakfast at the famous airport restaurant, Mesa Grill. Our ambitions for exercise called us to walk three miles uphill for breakfast, and while Sedona can also be a bit warm in the summer, our egos helped get us to the top.

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Heber Lopez

By noon, the laguna-style pool at Ambiente called us. The in-pool lounge chairs provided relief from the heat. Earlier that day, we learned that a palm reader would visit us at the pool. When in Sedona, lean into your spiritual side and embrace the energy of the vortex.

We had our palms read poolside, and it was illuminating. Later, we met friends for happy hour at the pool, celebrating the small boutique nature of our resort. That night, we ordered some snacks for our rooftop sky show via text.

By morning, we committed to yoga on the roof before getting on the road to go home. We stopped at Sedona Juice Company and visited one more vortex before heading down the I-17 to Phoenix.

Forty-eight hours of friend time, relaxation and the healing energy of Sedona were just what two busy businesswomen needed. We felt like two Sister Bosses ourselves.

Cheers to the founders for genuinely doing something special and creating a resort that will leave an impression for a long time.