Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel

As desert landscapes go, it’s hard to beat the spectacular red rocks of Sedona. No wonder Ambiente goes out of its way to credit the landscape. Conservation and preservation are at the core of the hotel’s mission, which is to combine unfettered luxury with proximity to nature — it doesn’t get much closer than the 180-degree views afforded by the wrap-around floor-to-ceiling windows.

Ambiente’s accommodations consist of 40 freestanding units, called Atriums — maybe because, in a way, they’re inside-out, their minimalist-luxe interiors receding from view as the eye is drawn ever outward into the landscape. From each one’s rooftop you’re treated not only to the desert daytime panorama but, by night, to spectacular stargazing as well, as Sedona is blessed with some of the clearest and darkest skies on the planet.

The comforts, meanwhile, are first rate, whether in-Atrium or in the Velvet Spa. And the restaurant, Forty1, serves artful Modern American fare crafted from the Verde Valley’s organic ingredients.