I never thought I’d be the one to say this, but long-haul flights are starting to wear me down. The cramped seats, questionable food, and—worst of all—constant temperature swings that make me feel like I’ve hit menopause at the ripe age of 30? No, thank you. These days, I find myself more drawn to exploring my own backyard. I love living on the West Coast, and there are still so many hidden pockets I’ve yet to discover—that’s what brought me to Arizona.
Grand Canyon Village, to be exact. My best friend of 28 years and I planned a Memorial Day weekend getaway centered on slow mornings in a ’80s-style kitchen, making breakfast at 11 a.m., wine tastings, and lazy evenings sitting out on the deck watching the sunset. We booked a secluded tiny home just 40 minutes north of Williams, Arizona, known as the Gateway to Grand Canyon National Park.
Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a bottle of red wine and, to my delight, a bag of chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies. Despite being called a “tiny home,” the two-bedroom space felt surprisingly open. The design was desert-meets-boho: whitewashed walls, plant prints, a sunny yellow accent chair, leather barstools, a blue-tiled shower wall, and desert-inspired pillows. The main living area featured a cozy two-seater couch, but the real gem was up the spiral staircase.
At the top was a loft bedroom with a private balcony overlooking 12 acres of piñons, junipers, and prickly pear cacti. Because of the A-frame shape, I had a view of both the back and front of the house—all from the comfort of my queen-size bed. In the morning, sunlight flooded in softly, warming the space with a delicate amber glow that didn’t interrupt my sleep. But it was nighttime that made this Airbnb unforgettable. Once it got dark, truly dark, I stepped out onto the balcony and was met with a sky packed with stars. Thanks to the Grand Canyon’s status as an International Dark Sky Park, I saw more stars than I ever have in my life. Entire galaxies stretched across the sky. I wish I could have captured it, but being in that moment, fully present, was even better.
During the day, one of our favorite excursions was a two-hour drive south to Sedona. Known for its wellness retreats and wineries, we spent most of our time at D.A. Ranch Estate Vineyards, a nine-acre property originally homesteaded as a cattle ranch in the 1870s. We sipped on their Ranch wine flight—rosé, Seyval Blanc, and Tannat—while enjoying tempura shrimp and burgers from the on-site food truck. A tree swing at the entrance made for a perfect photo op, and the outdoor dining area, complete with a long wooden table shaded by a canopy, reminded me of summer camp dining halls. There’s even a quaint pond you can wander around with a take-home glass of wine in hand.
While the drive back to the Airbnb was long (for someone who doesn’t drive often), there’s nothing quite like having the windows down, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter on repeat, and an open road ahead of you. Ending each day on the string-lit deck, curled up in an orange Adirondack chair with a glass of wine in hand, felt like the perfect send-off to our time in the Grand Canyon State.
