We made it! Drove all the way to Sedona and back with L.L. in tow. Learning from our Thanksgiving road trip, we knew it would be most rewarding to leave by 4am – so that’s just what we did. Arriving in Sedona, Arizona about lunchtime and only having to stop 2 times for L.L. was the best we could do.
During our first day, we settled into our condo (because we now carry with us an entire house worth of goods that we need) and went out to find some food. After eating some yummy bbq we decided we were going to hit up Tlaquepaque, an arts and crafts shopping area that lights luminaries to kick off the holiday season.
![Our Home Away From Home](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7338.jpg?resize=640%2C138&ssl=1)
![We had to try the local beer - Grand Canyon Brewing Compan.](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7339.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
We were so lucky to this event was on our first night in town, the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit. They light up the luminaries, give out hot cocoa and cider, keep the shops open late, offer wine tastings, have music and dancing…all the things you could want to start off the holiday season, properly.
![L.L.'s first time out of Califonia.](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_00771.jpg?resize=425%2C640&ssl=1)
![DSC_0092](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_00921.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Cute Tlaquepaque Streets](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_00891.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Lots and lots of super cool sculptures by the local artists. They all move with the wind.](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0094.jpg?resize=425%2C640&ssl=1)
![All the fun wore her out!](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7346.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
![Luminaries Everywhere!](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0098.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![loved these decorations](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0101.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Luminaries](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7351.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
![We fit right in the blur](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0106.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![More luminaries](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0107.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Dancing Merriment](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0116.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![and again with the decorations, in the dark](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0119.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
THEN, as if we weren’t already having the most welcoming time in Sedona, we learned about the Red Rock Fantasy. Where the condos at Tlaquepaque have a Christmas Holiday Lighting Contest — YES!! Of course, we had to go (even though it ended up being FREEZING once you left the crowd). Here are some pictures of the best ones.
![Entrance to the Village](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7363.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
![A fountain turned into a carousel of lights.](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0123.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Here you can see the fountain.](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0126.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Panorama View](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7376.jpg?resize=640%2C138&ssl=1)
![Cityscape of Lights](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0131.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Santa by Andy Warhol](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0132.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![hello!](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0134.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![This way...](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0136.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![...and around the corner is the North Pole](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0137.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Quite literally, lights everywhere!](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_01351.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Carolers](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0129.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Angry Birds](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7380.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
![More Angry Birds](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_01461.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Flat Stanley](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0139.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![The Pink Panther](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0141.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Madagascar](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7390.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
![More Madagascar](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0152.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Momma and L.L. in front of the Madagascar display.](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0153.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Baby Jesus](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0150.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Mickey Mouse](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_0154.jpg?resize=640%2C425&ssl=1)
![Penguins](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7411.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
![Gazebo](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7404.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
![Ice Age](https://i0.wp.com/www.albumsofus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_7414.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
This was, by far, the most lights I have ever seen for Christmas. I loved it! There was even Santa at the end (but L.L. was still sleeping) and a horse drawn carriage roaming the streets. So Much Fun!