Photo by Sedona Cathedral Hideaway Cathedral Rock

In the Valley, there’s LITTLE time for self-reflection. Deadlines and obligations loom from sunup to sundown. Weekends rarely feel like weekends, and family get-togethers become stressful.

Sedona, on the other hand, oozes calm and serenity. Far away from the publicized Pink Jeep tours, trinket shops and pricey art dealers exist homey bed-and-breakfasts and vortexes that can knuckle away the knots between your shoulders.

So when the whistle blows at 5 o’clock, spring out the door for the red rocks and make a startling discovery: Inner peace lies somewhere between Kathy Jaeckel’s blueberry pancakes and Sedona’s Boynton Canyon.

Getting There

Sedona is 116 miles from Downtown Phoenix. Most of the driving – about 100 miles – is done on Interstate 17. Head north and expect moderate to heavy traffic near the Phoenix city limits, as this is a major shipping corridor with thousands of new residents nearby and seemingly endless road construction.

There are two exits to Sedona from Interstate 17. In Camp Verde, turn left onto Highway 260 toward Cottonwood and take a scenic drive through rolling hills. Follow the signs to Highway 89A, turn right, and drive another 20 miles until you reach Sedona.

The second exit from I-17 is just past Camp Verde. Take the Highway 179 exit off of I-17 and turn left toward Sedona. You will drive through the village of Oak Creek and pass Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock before entering Sedona.

Where to Stay

There are about two-dozen hotels, resorts and bed-and-breakfasts to choose from in Sedona and the surrounding area. Prices range from about $110 up to $395 per night and cover everything from pet-friendly hotels to five-star luxury resorts.

However, if you want a truly unique experience, try Kathy and Larry Jaeckel’s Sedona Cathedral Hideaway.

Kathy is a former software saleswoman and real estate agent from Chicago. Larry is a 30-year veteran of the Illinois juvenile corrections system. They fell in love three times: once with each other, once with Sedona and once with the idea of constructing a two-story home near Cathedral Rock they could share with others. To protect guests’ privacy, the exact location remains a secret until reservations are booked.

This two-room bed-and-breakfast is where down-home hospitality meets modern luxuries in a picturesque setting. Both rooms feature Sleep Comfort beds, peninsula fireplaces, double sinks, walk-in showers, two-person whirlpool bathtubs, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, microwaves, refrigerators and walk-in closets.

The Evergreen room ($275-295) is on the bottom floor and features a queen-size bed; the Sedona Safari room ($310-330) is upstairs with a king bed. Multiple outdoor decks surround the house, all with different views of Cathedral Rock or Pyramid Mountain.

Larry Jaeckel, 65, walks out onto one of the decks and backs himself into a corner. “Right about here, you get some cellphone reception. That’s the only spot,” he says. “Some people complain about it, but it can also be a good thing.”

Meals are literally made to order with a healthy dose of humor. The Jaeckels are great cooks and use organic ingredients whenever possible. They each have their own specialties, which make up the photographic menu that can be altered to fit your diet of the moment. The couple has accommodated everything from raw diets to artery-clogging combos of eggs and meat. (They also do a nice job making pumpkin pancakes on the fly.)

Photo by Sedona Cathedral Hideaway Sedona Cathedral Hideaway, set among a backdrop of Sedona’s Cathedral Rock.

Photo by Sedona Cathedral Hideaway Evergreen room, Sedona Cathedral Hideaway