• Oddria
  • Oddria

Southwest Christmas 2021

A 14-day adventure by Oddria Read more
  • Trip start
    December 1, 2021

    Albuquerque, NM

    December 1, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 43 °F

    We left Tahoka around 4pm and drove to Albuquerque for the night. When we got in our room, we discovered the remote didn't work so they moved us to an upgraded room. We had a king and queen bed, apparently Weston sleeping ON TOP of the covers caused problems. Left Albuquerque around 10am after getting gas, drinks and breakfast.Read more

  • Viva Las Vegas, NV

    December 3, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    We got packed up and set off to see Las Vegas during the day. We checked out the M&Ms store, went into the New York, New York Casino (Doug couldn't help it, he made $3 while the kids watched him push a button) and hunted for my spoon, the boys stickers and penny's. After driving to the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, we hit the road for Hoover Dam.Read more

  • Hoover Dam, AZ/NV

    December 3, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    We left Las Vegas and back-tracked to Hoover Dam, but we all thought it was worth it. Seeing the mass of it, it truly is an engineering marvel. It is sad how low the water level is though.

    Alas, many Transformer references were made, but we persevered and had a blast.Read more

  • Tulare, CA Christmas

    December 4, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    Tulare Christmas Party!

    We stayed with Brother Clint & Sister Summer Russell. It was so nice to get to enjoy their hospitality and visit with them.

    We ate, visited, played a lot of games, basketball, obstacle mud course, tye-died shirts, volleyball, gingerbread houses, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, church, lots of coffee, bonfire, singing, new friends, old friends, cold, driving back and forth, late nights, and lots of fun!Read more

  • Pismo Beach, CA

    December 6, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    We got to Pismo Beach in the afternoon and we walked the pier with Bro. Stoney and Sis. Tina Porter while visiting. The kids played volleyball on the beach and then hunted for clams. After we ate @ Splash Café and Old West Cinnamon Rolls. Then it was time for goodbyes and on down the road.Read more

  • Candy Cane Lane, CA

    December 6, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F

    When we got to LA, we drove down Candy Cane Lane. It was actually an 8 block area of a neighborhood that decorates for Christmas every year. We turned on Christmas music, rolled the windows down and enjoyed getting in the holiday spirit. All we needed was the hot chocolate...Read more

  • Los Angeles, CA

    December 7, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    We spent the night around Santa Monica. We went to the Bronson Cave (tunnel) for a short hike and one of the better views of the Hollywood Sign.

    After driving on the tight, twisty roads around Hollywood, we drove to the Griffith Observatory. They had a Tesla coil there I thought we would enjoy, but didn't realize that you had to be vaccinated and set up an appointment to go in. We walked around outside and enjoyed the views.

    An obscure chandelier tree was on the way to the original McDonald's. I bet it's gorgeous at night. Kind of a dud during the day...

    San Bernadino had the original McDonald's and the kids wanted to see it. Ice Cream & Coffee!
    Read more

  • La Brea Tar Pits, CA

    December 8, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    We let everyone sleep in after a lot of late nights and around 11am I told the kids it was ridiculous and to GET UP! TEENAGERS!!!

    Doug wanted to go to the Tar Pits and the Coleman's had school and work so we were on our own for the day. The Tar Pits were a nice stop. We spent an hour walking around, watching Tar bubble and learning about the fossils. We were too late in the year to see them actually digging fossils out, but we were able to see the fossil pit they were digging in.Read more

  • Hollywood, CA Walk of Fame

    December 8, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    The kids decided they wanted to see the hand and footprints of the stars 🌟. Doug wanted to drive Hollywood Blvd. & Sunset Blvd. So back to Hollywood we went. We spent some time in front of the Chinese Theater and then got souvenirs and coffee ☕️ to go. Talon said he didn't care about the stars because he wouldn't know most of them. (He's probably right...) He did know a few though.

    It took us an hour to get to Hollywood, it took us 2 hrs to get back. LA traffic!
    Read more

  • Bro. Tom & Sis. Crystal Coleman's, CA

    December 10, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    We left Brother Tom & Sister Crystal's Friday morning after having such a good time. The kids played a lot of games (video & board) and played basketball. It was really too cold to do much else. The adults visited and we played Nertz (Zirk!) the last night.

    We left Friday morning and passed some beautiful scenery. A small reminder of home; we saw cotton fields, they just had palm trees next to them! Bonus: a beautiful sunset!
    Read more

  • Bro. Jerry & Sis. Jennifer Sweet, AZ

    December 11, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    We stayed @ Brother Jerry & Sister Jennifer Sweet's house. We got in Friday night and on Saturday we went to watch Sophie in a play. Brother Brian & Sister Stacey Jackson and their family came over for dinner. Sunday we went over to their house for lunch and Aunt Vicki came over to visit. Then back to the Sweet's to hang out. The kids played games, watched movies, painted nerf guns, rode dirt bikes and had a blast over the weekend. We adults TALKED...Read more

  • Saguaro National Park, AZ

    December 13, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    We left Brother Jerry & Sister Jennifer's around 1pm after walking around their property and visiting some more with them. We got gas, drinks, food and headed toward Saguaro National Park.

    We got poked and stabbed walking around to take a closer look at the Saguaro. Talon said it was Big Bend, TX 2.3Read more

  • Trip end
    December 14, 2021