Check into hotel between 3:00-5:30 PM.
Register with program's group leader between 4:00-5:30 PM.Dinner: Hotel dining roomEvening: Program orientation, introductions in hotel meeting roomLodging: MCM Elegante HotelMeals Included: Dinner
Hotel check out and one hour bus trip to Tent Rocks National Monument for a walk through this fascinating geological area prior to going on to Santa Fe.Lunch: Enjoy a boxed picnic lunch at Tent Rocks before going on to Santa Fe.Afternoon: Bus travels to Santa Fe, about a 45-minute ride.
Upon arrival, there will be a walking exploration of historic downtown Santa Fe and the Railyard area, including the Plaza, St. Francis Catherdral and the Capitol Building, followed by a guided bus trip around the city.
This part of Santa Fe offers lots of park-like areas so young people can enjoy some time together, checking out things that interest them. They'll have their own guide for this afternoon's excursion.Dinner: Enjoy an early dinner at Tomasita's Restaurant in the Railyard district.
This is one of Santa Fe locals' favorite places to eat; you'll be able to order from the menu, and there is a children's menu as well.Evening: Check into hotel after dinner (about 6:15 PM).
At 7:00 PM there will be a hands-on jewelry crafts class taught by a Native American from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo who will offer young people and adults an opportunity to learn about traditional Native American crafts and to make something they can be proud to wear and use after the program ends.’Lodging: The Lodge at Santa FeMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The bus will take participants to the downtown area at 3:30 PM for some free time. Your Culture Pass will enable you to visit the Palace of the Governors Museum, the New Mexico History Museum, or the Museum of Fine Arts if you wish, or you can explore on your own. Dinner is on your own tonight as well.
You'll be responsible for getting yourselves back to the hotel by taxi or city bus on youDinner: Dinner is on your own tonight. Your group leader can make some suggestions based on your food preferences and whether or not you choose to stay downtown or return to the area around the hotel; there are restaurants in that part of town as well.Evening: This is a free evening, but you may wish to spend it at the hotel - there is an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and across the street, there's a large United Artists movie complex if you'd like to see a movie.Lodging: The Lodge at Santa FeMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
There is a wonderful visitors' center, narrated videos explaining the history of the area, a 3/4 mile long paved trail (we will have a ranger escort the group), and ruins sites. You may go down a ladder into a kiva ruin if you wish. Lunch: Lunch will be at Frankie's Cafe in Pecos.Afternoon: After lunch, bus will depart for Santa Clara Pueblo's Puye Cliff Dwellings.
Puye Cliffs was home to 1,500 Pueblo Indians who lived, farmed and hunted game there from the 900s to 1580 A.D. Puye Cliffs' inhabitants then moved into the Rio Grande River valley. They became the ancestors of today's Santa Clara people, who now live at Santa Clara Pueblo, 10 miles east of Puye. Puye Cliffs comprises two levels of cliff and cave dwellings cut into the cliff face, as well as dwellings on the mesa top. Over one mile long, the first level runs the length of the base of the mesa. The second level is about 2,100 feet long. Paths and stairways were cut in the face of the rock to connect the two levels and allow people to climb to the top of the mesa.
After seeing Puye, we'll go on to Santa Clara Pueblo, where you'll visit Paul and Rosalda Speckled Rock's studio, where you'll learn about Santa Clara pottery.
The bus will depart for Taos about 4:00 PM.
Check in at the hotel about 5:45 PM.Dinner: Dinner will be at the hotel tonight, from 6:30-7:30 PM.Evening: Free evening after hotel check-inLodging: Don Fernando de TaosMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
At 9:45 AM, the bus will depart for Millicent Rogers Museum. Here, visitors enjoy outstanding historical collections of Native American jewelry, pottery- including the Maria Martinez Family Collection, contemporary paintings and weavings. Also showcased are Hispanic textiles, metalwork and sculpture, as well as, a wide range of contemporary Anglo-European southwestern art.
At 11:15 AM, bus will travel to the remarkable Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.
The bridge was built in the cantilever truss style and is the second highest bridge of its construction in the country. 650 feet below it runs the Rio Grande. The scenery is spectacular!Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch at the picnic grounds at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.Afternoon: At 1:00 PM, travel onward to the Martinez Hacienda, one of the few northern New Mexico style, late Spanish Colonial period "Great Houses" remaining in the American Southwest. Built in 1804 by Severino Martinez, this fortress-like building with massive adobe walls became an important trade center for the northern boundary of the Spanish Empire.
At 2:45 PM, bus departs for Taos Pueblo.
Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years.
After the Pueblo visit, you'll have a little free time on Taos' downtown Plaza. At 4:45 PM, bus departs for hotel.
You'll have some time to clean up and get your feet up before dinner.
Bus departure for dinner destination will be at 6:00 PM.Dinner: Dinner will be from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Trading Post Cafe.
A local favorite, the Trading Post will provide you with several entree choices; it's a relaxing and interesting place to dine.Lodging: Don Fernando de TaosMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
San Francisco de Asis Mission Church is a church built between 1772 and 1816. It is located on the plaza in Ranchos de Taos, itself a historic district named Ranchos de Taos Plaza, about four miles southwest of the town of Taos, New Mexico.
Construction on the church began around 1772 and was completed in 1815 by Franciscan Fathers; its patron is Saint Francis of Assisi. It is made of adobe as are many of the Spanish missions in New Mexico. It is located a few miles south of Taos Pueblo and has inspired among the greatest number of depictions of any building in the United States. It was the subject of four paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe, and photographs by Ansel Adams and Paul Strand. Georgia O'Keeffe described it as, "one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards." It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970. It is also designated as a World Heritage church.
After visiting the church, the bus will proceed on the "High Road" to the little village of Chimayo. You'll visit El Santuario de Chimayo, which has been called the "Lourdes of Northern New Mexico" because of the healing ground that is found inside.
It's really a fascinating and beautifully simple little church; it is the site of many personal pilgrimages from all around the northern part of the state. Lunch: Lunch will be at the Sopaipilla Factory on the way back to Albuquerque.Afternoon: The bus will continue on to Albuquerque, arriving there about 2:00 PM.
We'll stop for a visit at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.
The museum is a 59,000-square foot facility designed to house creative and technological exhibits focused on a wide variety of ballooning experiences.
The exhibition space is 25,000 square feet. Long-term displays are located in the central corridor of the museum. Temporary exhibitions are mounted in four changing galleries. The museum also contains creative (hands-on) learning spaces and classrooms.
After the visit to the Museum, you'll continue on toe the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.
This facility features a brief historical overview of the Pueblo world, and a contemporary exhibit featuring original artwork and craftsmanship of each of the 19 Pueblos of today.
Next, you'll travel to Albuquerque's Old Town.
Old Town today looks much like it did when it was built centuries ago. Its Pueblo-Spanish style architecture with flat-roofed buildings and soft contours of adobe mirror the Southwestern landscape. Long portals (porches) line the fronts of most buildings offering shade from the New Mexican sun. Bancos (benches) are often found built into the back walls of the portals, providing the perfect place for weary walkers to sit and watch the world go by.
For almost three centuries Old Town has been the crossroads of the Southwest. It is the Historical Zone of the City of Albuquerque and home for many families whose ancestors founded the town. There are many shops, restaurants and historical buildings to be enjoyed here. Dinner: Dinner will be at Sweet Tomatoes on San Mateo from 6:00-7:30 PM. This restaurant offers lighter fare than you've been having the last several days; there are many choices of soups and salads as well as other things to eat.Evening: Bus travels to MCM Elegante Hotel for check-in; there will be plenty of time for a swim and/or an optional video before retiring for the evening.Lodging: MCM Elegante HotelMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
At 9:30 AM, board bus and depart for a visit to Petroglyph National Monument at Boca Negra Canyon. You'll start off with a ranger lecture at 10:00 AM) and a chance to explore the visitors' center.
This area was once a hunting and gathering area for prehistoric Native Americans, who left a chronicle of their beliefs etched on the dark basalt boulders.
There are over 25,000 petroglyphs in the park. Those who wish may hike around some of the park; you may discover some more petroglyphs!Lunch: Bus departs about 11:30 AM for the trip to Acoma Pueblo. You'll have lunch at 1:00 PM at the Pueblo's Yaak'a Cafe. You'll be able to enjoy traditional Acoma foods there, with several choices available.Afternoon: Known as "Sky City," Acoma Pueblo is a walled adobe village perched high atop a sheer rock mesa 365 feet above the 6,600' valley floor, and is believed to have been inhabited at least since the 11th century - the longest continuously occupied community in the United States.
The Keresan-speaking pueblo boasts over 6,000 inhabitants, but only about 50 people reside year-round on the 70-acre mesa top.
You'll travel to the top in a pueblo bus to reach the mesa's summit. There's no running water or electricity in this village; a small reservoir collects rainwater for most purposes, but drinking water is transported up from below. Wood-hole ladders and mica windows are prevalent among the 300+ adobe structures.
A Native American guide will take you through the pueblo, giving you lots of information about its history and the people who lived there.
A photography permit is included in the admission fee paid by Road Scholar.
Bus returns to Albuquerque at 4:00 PM.Dinner: From 6:00-7:30 PM, we'll have our last dinner together at the hotel, followed by closing comments.Lodging: MCM Elegante HotelMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel check-out time is by 12:00 PM.
Independent departures anytime after breakfastMeals Included: Breakfast