The Inn on Oak Creek

Where • 556 Highway 179, Sedona, Ariz.

More info • Innonoakcreek.com; 1-800-499-7896

This AAA four-diamond inn is ideally located for everything there is to do in Sedona, plus it features a bonus lacking in most local Sedona accommodations. It is nestled within a few feet of Oak Creek, a gurgling riparian river originating from the snow melt an hour north in the mountains outside Flagstaff.

Within a five-minute walk are Sedona's best art galleries and boutique shops, several fine restaurants, as well as the unique Mexican-themed shopping village of Tlaquepaque. All outdoor nature activities, attractions and sightseeing are easily accessible from the front door of the inn.

The setup • To take advantage of the creek and the red rock views, the inn has a large creekside deck and a private park with Adirondack chairs and a barbecue grill. It is an ideal setting to enjoy the fresh homemade cookies and complimentary hors d'oeuvres, such as grilled pesto shrimp, that are served each afternoon from 5 to 6.

The rooms • All 11 rooms accommodate two people, and each has a distinctive themed décor. The Angler's Retreat offers both red rock and creekside views, and the opportunity to drop a line into Oak Creek directly from a private balcony. Rooms feature a TV and VCR with cable and HBO, gas fireplaces and private baths with a single or double whirlpool bath. Several have private decks.

How much • Room rates vary from $200 to $295 nightly for two. Included is a four-course gourmet breakfast cooked from scratch by local chefs featured on the inn website. (The inn also offers cooking lessons.) Sample entrees include pine nut pancakes with an apple-persimmon sauce and sausage.