Dubbed the Art and Soul of Sedona, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village embodies the artful beauty of the town. You feel a bit like you’re in Mexico, and that was the intention. Created more than forty years ago by Abe Miller to showcase local artisans, Tlaquepaque (pronounced T-lockey-pockey) has become a cultural icon of Sedona.
Just strolling around is a visual treat, with fountains, Spanish tiles, cobbled walkways and tons of roses. It’s part shopping village, part gallery walk, and part garden.
You’ll find galleries and shops with original local art and one of a kind crafts. If you are looking for something to bring home to remember Sedona, this would be a great place to find something unique, while you are thoroughly enjoying looking.
There’s a shop with mostly just shells. That was my favorite, just shells, showcased in pretty baskets like the beautiful treasures they are. But you’ll also find shops with practical things like travel clothing. It’s just put together and displayed in such a way that even practical stuff seems artful.
I’m not a big shopper, so I really appreciate it when there is plenty of space to look around and just a few wonderful choices as opposed to a ton of stuff to sift through. I like the less is more approach. Quality over quantity, and that is what you find at Tlaquepaque.
The other thing you find is lots and lots of happy dogs. Sedona is one of the most dog friendly destinations I’ve ever been. Everywhere we went, we saw them. At one point I felt like we were having a chihuahua meet up group. But there were dogs of all sizes strolling along with their people.
There are several options for dining. We ate at The Secret Garden Cafe, which has a lovely dog friendly patio. They serve salads, sandwiches, and local beer. They also have an extensive dessert menu.
Even if you are not the shopper type, it’s still very much worth going for the atmosphere. They also hold festivals and events at Tlaquepaque, and the next time I visit Sedona, I will try to time my trip for a festival because it is such a picturesque place to be, I can only imagine how beautiful Dia De Los Muertos would be at Tlaquepaque. Find more about the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village HERE.
