Feature Story |
Inn On Oak Creek | ||||
Nestled on the edge of Oak Creek, this unforgettable inn offers the best of both worlds. Within easy walking distance of Sedona’s art galleries, boutiques, fine restaurants and Tlaquepaque shopping village, the Inn on Oak Creek is also a secluded serene hideaway. “People are surprised that they can walk right across the street to the largest fine arts gallery in Arizona and then come back to the peace and quiet of the inn,” says innkeeper James Matykiewicz. With more than 130 hiking trails in the area, guests can spend the day “roughing” it in the spectacular wilderness, then return home to the AAA Four-Diamond luxury of the Inn on Oak Creek. “That’s the way to camp out,” James says with a chuckle. The inn’s setting is a work of art itself. Literally hanging above crystal-clear Oak Creek, the inn offers dramatic views of Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona’s famed red-rock formations. Ancient Indians considered this holy land and that feeling still exists. The breathtaking beauty fills the senses and nurtures the soul. Built in 1972, the Inn on Oak Creek was originally an art gallery. Completely restructured in 1996, it became a bed and breakfast. At about the same time, James decided to leave his Chicago home and settle in the wonderful Arizona weather. Starting in Flagstaff, he eventually eased into Sedona and found himself wanting to stay. In February of 2005, James became owner of the Inn on Oak Creek. “I have never regretted it,” the first-time innkeeper says. “Every morning, I tell myself that I am so lucky to be able to do this.” And his guests feel the same way. Step through the copper etched glass door into the inn’s gathering room and immediately sense the warm hospitality. “I want people to feel very much at home here,” James says.
Eleven rooms are available at the inn, each decorated in a theme that complements its name. “No two rooms are alike,” James says. The names themselves hint at the magic within – Apple Orchard, Trading Post, Hollywood Out West, Bunkhouse, Golf on the Rocks, Garden Gate, Homestead Hearts, Duck Pond, Rested Rooster, Rose Arbor and Angler’s Retreat, where you are close enough to the creek to catch a fish. Decorated in Southwest and French Country, the rooms all feature fireplaces and candlelight bubble baths in whirlpool tubs. Private bathrooms finished in marble, telephones, TVs, decks, wireless high-speed Internet access and plush bathrobes are standard. But the views are anything but standard – they are exceptional. Relax in the intimacy of your hot tub and see the awe-inspiring Mongollon Rim, hear the rippling of the stream and listen to songbirds in a birders paradise. Or cuddle in a comfy deck chair and watch the slanting sun paint the red rocks with amazing hues. Romantics love the inn and the sentimental touches that can be arranged – your favorite wine chilled and ready; fragrant floral bouquets perfuming the air. Breakfast is a four-course feast at the Inn on Oak Creek. An accomplished cook, James and several other chefs take turns preparing the inn’s treats. Made-from-scratch favorites include blueberry filled French toast, egg tacos, tomato stuffed eggs and homemade granola with creamy maple yogurt. Warm-from-the-oven cookies and cool drinks or hot tea refresh in the afternoon. Delicious hors d’oerves – such as grilled pesto shrimp and hummus on seasoned croutons with cucumber slices and roma tomatoes - are served in the early evening. “I encourage the chefs to be creative and look for new recipes,” James says. Guests have raved so much about the food that the Inn on Oak Creek will soon begin offering cooking classes. Taught by the innkeeper and chefs from local restaurants, the classes will be “hands on” with individual attention to learn how to prepare a scrumptious four-course dinner. A long-time beloved vacation destination, Sedona has plentiful activities for all interests. With the Inn on Oak Creek as a luxurious home base, take a ride on the Grand Canyon Train and see one of nature’s miracles or visit the Museum of Northern Arizona and discover the secrets of dinosaurs, geology, fossils and ancient cultures. Located west of Sedona, the Verde Canyon is acclaimed as Arizona’s longest-running nature show. The remote wilderness of the Verde Canyon is famed for its towering red rock pinnacles, clean green waters, Indian ruins, tunnels, trestles and clear azure skies. Golfers find excellent value and thrilling play at the Oak Creek Country Club and the Sedona Golf Resort. Tennis players will enjoy a professional hard court as close as two miles. For exciting treks, several jeep companies and horse stables take guests into the backcountry. Try a hot air balloon, helicopter or bi-plane ride for an unusual view. Sedona has a worldwide reputation as a spiritual mecca. Once folks visit they often find their lives forever changed and a magnetism that keeps drawing them back. Some call it “red rock fever” – the yearning to return time and again to this special place. James knows the feeling. When he discovered the Inn on Oak Creek, James said he “found the place where I want to be … I feel very fortunate to be able to live here.”
Inn On Oak Creek
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Eleven rooms are available at the inn, each decorated in a theme that complements its name.
Decorated in Southwest and French Country, the rooms all feature fireplaces and candlelight bubble baths in whirlpool tubs.
Breakfast is a four-course feast at the Inn on Oak Creek. Made-from-scratch favorites include blueberry filled French toast, egg tacos, tomato stuffed eggs and homemade granola with creamy maple yogurt.
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