Touch Grass? No—Touch Rocks.
Your inner child is waiting where the WiFi doesn’t reach.
The last time I was in Arizona was 20 years ago. Growing up in South Florida, we’d often spend spring break visiting a family friend in Scottsdale—and it was there that I first fell in love with the desert. The gullies, the cacti, the quiet magic of the wild west—it all felt like another planet in the best way.
Arizona is a place I associate with childlike wonder. I’d spend hours playing in the creek, completely absorbed in my own little Terabithia. It was also the first state where I ever saw snow—on a drive through Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon when I was eight.
My last visit was in high school. I flew out solo, Teen Vogues in tow, to stay with those same family friends (who felt more like an aunt and uncle). They took me to modern dance shows, art museums, and gently encouraged my curiosity in design, fashion, and culture. At night, I’d curl up in their casita—painted the same red as the rocks and covered in bougainvillea—watching reruns of GUTS and Legends of the Hidden Temple. It was a little slice of heaven on this Earth.
Last year, around my birthday, Alex and I took a trip to New Mexico—highlights included seeing Hermanos Gutiérrez in Albuquerque, dinner at the farm Los Poblanos, a tour of Georgia O’Keeffe’s home in Abiquiú (still dreaming about it), and exploring all that Santa Fe had to offer. We had such a wonderful time that we decided to play it back, but this time, go back to a place I was longing for: Arizona.
I knew I wanted to be surrounded by the red rocks, so we booked a stay at Enchantment in Sedona. Flights locked in, we turned to our unofficial travel assistant, ChatGPT (this was the first time we used AI for a trip). We plugged in our wishlist: a day at the Grand Canyon, a few good hikes, maybe some spots from the Goop list… and ChatGPT — which we lovingly called ChadGPT this trip — built out a detailed itinerary that ended up being nearly perfect (down to the minute).
A few of you have asked for our itinerary since I got back, so I figured I’d share it all here—straight from Chad, with some added notes on why this trip meant so much to me, and what I was really looking for in the red rocks: reconnection, restoration, and maybe just a little bit of magic.
Day 1: Travel & Sedona Sunset Welcome
✈ Fly into PHX, pick up rental car
🚗 Drive to Sedona (~2 hours)
🏨 3:00pm - Check-in at Enchantment Resort (casita in Boynton Canyon)
🌅 6:00pm - Airport Mesa Sunset Viewpoint (ed note that our flight got in a little later than expected, so we took our time settling into the hotel instead — I took a bath, reset, and then caught this view later in the trip—and it was worth the wait for the perfect timed sunset)
🍽 8:30 PM - Dinner at Mariposa — This spot is part of restaurateur Lisa Dahl’s local empire—she owns a handful of places around town, all of which are perfectly fine. The steak at Mariposa was expertly cooked (major points for that), but overall, Sedona isn’t really a destination known for its culinary scene. The food is solid, but the magic here lives in the landscape, not always the menu.
Day 2: Cathedral Rock Hike & Spa Bliss
🕢 7:45 AM – Depart for Cathedral Rock Trailhead
🥾 8:00 AM – Hike Cathedral Rock (1.2 miles RT, 750 ft elevation, proper scramble, give yourself time at the top)
🍽 12:30 PM – Lunch: Cress on Oak Creek at L’Auberge – Sedona is pretty casual, so all good to lunch in your hiking gear. Sitting along the creek here made my heart sing.
💆 3:10 PM – Mii Amo Spa: Deep tissue massage
🌌 Optional: Stargazing session with local astronomer
🍽 8:30pm Dinner at Dahl & Di Luca This restaurant is Lisa Dahl’s Italian spot — it felt a little bit like that one time I went to a Buca di Beppo for a friend’s birthday party in middle school, which felt like a fever dream, even then. The service and staff were really friendly and made the night fun.
Day 3: Grand Canyon Day Trip + Surprise Sunset
🕕 6:45 AM – Depart Enchantment for Grand Canyon (~2 hr 15 min)📍 Route: AZ-89A N → US-89 N → AZ-64 W via Desert View Entrance
🏞 Stops:
🕘 9:00 AM – Enter Grand Canyon National Park
9:15 AM – Grandview Point
9:45 AM – Moran Point
10:00 AM – Lipan Point
10:30 AM – Park at Visitor Center, walk to Mather Point & Yavapai Point via Rim Trail
🍽 1:00 PM – Lunch at El Tovar Dining Room — great views of the Grand Canyon. It’s giving Disney Wilderness Lodge / Hall of Presidents, but go with it! Our waiter was so lovely.
🕑 2:15 PM – Explore Grand Canyon Village (Hopi House, Kolb Studio, Bright Angel Trailhead)
🥾 3:00 PM – Hike at Shoshone Point (2 miles round trip) — hike along the Grand Canyon — the end of this hike was one of the highlights of our trip.
🚗 4:30 PM – Depart Grand Canyon for Sedona (~2 hr 15 min)
🌅 On return to Sedona, we went to Airport Mesa for sunet — skies were clear and it was breathtaking. Pro tip: skip the main lot, there’s an area just before where you can pull off before it gets busy.
🍽 8:30 Dinner: Tii Gavo at Enchantment — the food at the resort was fresh and delicious. Given it’s a wellness spot, they source from a mix of local farmers, and overall these were our favorite meals in Sedona. They made a perfect Mezcal Paloma at the bar here.
Day 4: Devil’s Bridge, Pink Jeep Tour & Crystals
🕢 7:30 AM – Depart for Devil’s Bridge via Mescal Trailhead
🥾 Hike: 4 miles RT, moderate. Iconic arch, worth the early start
🚙 11:00 AM – Pink Jeep Tour: Broken Arrow + Scenic Rim Combo (3 hours) — I thought this would be campy but it was really fun and worth booking. Our guide Kip was phenomenal — his family has been in Arizona for 8 generations.
🍽 2:15 PM – Late lunch: We originally booked The Hudson, but we opted for to-go takeaway at Chocolatree instead—an organic vegan oasis, everything was delicious. Don’t miss it when you’re in town.
🛍 3:30–5:30 PM – Shopping: Tlaquepaque Village, Crystal Magic, Crystal Vortex
🧘♀️ 6:10 PM – Meditation in Mii Amo’s Meditation Room
🍽 8:00PM Dinner: Che Ah Chi at Enchantment
Day 5: Final Stretch + Arcosanti Stop
🌅 6:30 AM – Morning Stretch in the Movement Room — there were hot air balloons in view as we were stretching. So magical.
🕘 9:30 AM – Depart Enchantment
🏛 11:00 AM – Tour of Arcosanti – Paolo Soleri’s experimental desert town, you’ve seen this spot on Pinterest. If you’re looking to integrate a little art / architecture into your trip, this is the perfect spot to hit coming from or going to Phoenix
🕐 12:15 PM – Drive back to PHX ✈ Home
The day before I left for Arizona, I told my therapist something I hadn’t said out loud before: I want to make more art. Not content, not products, not creative strategy for the business — but art for the sake of art. And then I admitted something else: I was scared to try, because I thought I’d be bad at it.
We talked about the part of me that runs on masculine energy—the part that strives, that polishes, that knows how to dial it all in. And then we talked about the other side of me: the soft, feminine, creative part that wants to be curious, to play, to love the beautiful and whimsical and not overthink it. She asked me where that young version of me lives. Without hesitation, I said: in a gully or a creek in Arizona.
I told her I’ve always loved that you can be fully immersed in that little world of water and wildness—but just a stone’s throw away, you’re back in the desert. There’s something so profound about that contrast. It’s where I feel most attuned to myself, and to something bigger.
That’s why I came back to Arizona this birthday. To feed my brain these images. To feed my soul the memory of that younger Dianna—the one who will be my guide as I try to make art. The one who didn’t yet have the internet or deadlines or expectations for what needed to be done every day. Just a creative girl, attuned to nature, full of imagination, completely free. She’s the one I’m trying to tune into now. She’s the one I trust to bring me back to myself.
So I’ll ask you: In what environment does your inner child feel most alive? Is it in a garden, on a mountain, near the sea, under the stars? What are they doing there? Ask them. Listen closely. Let them show you the way.
Take care, and take your time, always,
Dianna
And now… Three Things I Love and A Haircare Tip:
Chillhouse Magic Finish — My friend Cyndi just launched this formula, and it’s the only top coat I’ve found that actually keeps my polish intact—even after slipping on ballet flats. It’s a gel-like system (without being a true gel) that strengthens, brightens, and protects. No more chips, peels, or scratches. I bring it to every nail appointment—it’s that good.
Lennox and Sixteenth Serum — This stuff works. I've been getting more compliments on my skin lately, and this is the only new thing I’ve added to my routine. I use it every other night before moisturizer, and the difference in texture is real. If you're looking for visible results, start here.
Dries Van Noten Sneakers — I’ve been searching for a sneaker that can dress up or down, and this pair nails it. They’re super comfortable, have the perfect touch of suede (a Kelly-approved move), and I’m bringing them to Japan next week—will report back on how they hold up with more walking there.
A Haircare Tip: Desert-Proof Your Strands
Dry desert air can pull every bit of moisture from your hair, leaving it brittle, dull, and more prone to breakage. Before heading out into the elements, warm a few drops of The Oil in your palms and work it through your lengths and ends. The lightweight, nutrient-rich formula not only locks in hydration but also shields your hair from environmental stress—think of it as a protective veil that keeps your strands soft, shiny, and touchable, no matter how dry the air gets.
Bonus Section: The Sedona Edit — Essentials that earned their spot in my suitcase this trip.
Not sure why, but reading your post just now made me cry. From one inner child to another, here's hoping you rediscover that sense of sheer creative joy and wonder.
such a beautiful note to read, thanks for sharing about the feminine/masculine within you… always so helpful to read about the dance between both energies.
cheers to you✨
happy birthday… here’s to wonderment🫶
wishing you graceful travels to Japan.