Arrival in Santa Fe; registration with program's group leaders; dinner and orientation

Note: Walking in hotel from registration area to rooms, dining room and meeting space

Arrive To: Arrive at the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza between 3:00 and 6:00 PM for check-in. Go to Registration Table #1 - the group leader there will let you know which table to go to next to pick up your personalized program folder.

Dinner: Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in the Mesa Ballroom from 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Evening: Welcoming remarks, special introductions, and general program orientation follows dinner.

Lodging: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Meals Included: Dinner

Lectures and Field Trips during the day; Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra Concert at the Lensic Performing Arts Center

Note: Walking up to one mile over the course of the day over paved terrain; standing up to one hour

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel from 7:00 - 8:30 AM

Morning: This morning from 9:00 - 11:30 AM (with a coffee break) there will be classes that will give you an overview of the Early History of Northern New Mexico and the Native Americans that lived in this area. You'll also learn how Santa Fe, New Mexico and the Native Americans in the area were changed by the influx of the Spaniards and Mexicans in the 1500-1600s.

Lunch: Buffet lunch at the Hilton from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Afternoon: From 1:30 - 4:00 PM, you'll go on a Santa Fe walking exploration of the downtown Plaza area, then walk to the New Mexico History Museum. This field trip will illustrate many of the things you learned in the morning classes through visual displays and historical buildings. Free time from 4:00 - 5:00 PM.

Dinner: Buffet dinner at the Hilton from 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Evening: At 6:00 PM, the groups will meet in the lobby area at the hotel to walk to the Lensic Performing Arts Center (only two blocks from the hotel) for the Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra concert. Mr. Liebert began playing guitar at the age of 11, and performed rock music in his native Germany. In 1986, he settled in Santa Fe and began to create a new musical sound. He and his band, which he called 'Luna Negra,' (Black Moon), released their first album in 1989. The album eventually sold double-platinum in the U.S. and has become one of the best selling guitar albums of all time.

Since 1990, Liebert has released a total of 25 albums, received 38 Gold and Platinum certifications in the US as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

He still lives in Santa Fe on a mountaintop ranch overlooking the city - and has his own recording studio there.

Lodging: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Presentations on Native American and Spanish Art in New Mexico and New Mexico's Converso/Crypto Jews; field trip to Tesuque Pueblo to see their feast day (San Diego Feast Day) dances; special presentation by well-known storyteller, Joe Hayes

Note: Walking up to one mile over the course of the day over paved terrain; standing up to two hours with very few opportunities to sit

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel from 7:00 - 8:30 AM

Morning: Presentations from 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM on Native American/ Spanish Art in Northern New Mexico and New Mexico's Converso & Crypto Jews. Your presenters will be people that specialize in the subject matter they will offer to you and are some of our most popular Road Scholar instructors.

Lunch: Buffet lunch at the Hilton from 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Afternoon: At 1:30 PM, buses will depart from the hotel and travel to Tesuque Pueblo, just north of Santa Fe, where the Pueblo will be celebrating their San Diego Feast Day. You will see them perform a number of different dances, all of sacred importance to the tribe. Included may be Flag, Buffalo, Corn, Comanche and Deer dances. Photos or recordings of any kind will not be allowed; we'll let you know in advance of the protocol all visitors must observe during the dances. For those of you who have never observed Native American dances, you'll see beautiful handmade regalia, hear the many drummers and singers leading the dances, and more likely than not, see very young children dancing with the adults - it is important for the little ones to retain the traditions of the Pueblo. We'll return to Santa Fe about 4:00 PM; you'll have a little time for rest prior to dinner.

Dinner: Buffet dinner at the Hilton from 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Evening: From 7:30 - 8:30 PM, gather in the Mesa Ballroom to hear our special guest for the evening, Storyteller Joe Hayes. Born in rural Pennsylvania, Joe was the youngest of five children. His father often told stories to the children, and later, Joe would do the same for his own children. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Arizona, and he taught in Tucson, AZ for a number of years. He later was employed in mineral exploration work, traveling all over the western U.S as well as in Mexico and Spain. He returned to Los Alamos, NM in 1976 and again taught English. His interest in storytelling deepened, and he started to share the tales with a broader audience. In 1989, he was designated a New Mexico Eminent Scholar by the New Mexico Commission on Higher Learning. He is a guest lecturer at many colleges and universities. In 2001, he traveled to Cuba to participate in a translation workshop sponsored by Writers of the Americas and developed his interest in Cuban and African folk tales there. For children and adults alike, Joe's storytelling sessions outside the teepee at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe are a summer tradition that has continued for over 25 years. Joe currently lives in Santa Fe; we think you will find him and his stories enchanting!

Lodging: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Groups #1 and #2 full day trip to Taos; Groups #3 and #4 morning presentations, free afternoon and evening in Santa Fe

Note: Walking up to one mile over paved or packed dirt terrain over the course of the day; standing up to one hour at a time

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast for Groups 1 and 2 from 6:30 - 7:30 AM. Buffet breakfast for Groups 3 and 4 from 7:30 - 8:30 AM.

Morning: Groups 1 & 2 will depart at 8:00 AM for a full day in Taos. You'll stop in Ranchos de Taos for a brief visit to San Francisco de Asis Mission Church, and during the day will visit the Ernest Blumenschein Museum, have some time on the Taos Plaza to explore and have lunch on your own, have a guided exploration of Taos Pueblo with a Native American guide, and visit Millicent Rogers Museum. Your study guide will give you information on the bus so you know what you should about Taos, its history and its present-day life, and will talk to you about the very interesting personalities that made this little city one of the most fascinating places in the world. Groups 3 and 4 will have classes in the morning from 9:00 AM until 12:30 PM, learning from experts about the geology and geography of northern New Mexico and about Los Alamos from the Manhattan Project to present day.

Lunch: Groups 1 and 2 will have lunch on their own in the Taos Plaza area from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM. (We'll provide some restaurant suggestions.) Groups 3 and 4 will have lunch at the hotel from 12:30 - 1:30 PM.

Afternoon: Groups 1 and 2 will have time to explore on their own on the Taos Plaza for about 1 1/2 hours, and then resume visiting museums, etc. in Taos. At 5:15 PM, bus will depart for the village of Chimayo, where the groups will have dinner. Groups 3 and 4 will have a free afternoon and evening with dinner on their own.

Dinner: Group 1 and 2 will have dinner at historic Rancho de Chimayo from 6:45 - 8:15 PM. Groups 3 and 4 will have dinner on their own. We will have some suggestions for places to eat that our participants always enjoy.

Evening: Groups 1 and 2 will return to Santa Fe no later than 9:30 PM. Groups 3 and 4 willl be on their own after dinner, but we'll help set up some bridge or other card games at the hotel OR you might wish to take advantage of any activities going on in the city that evening.

Lodging: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Groups #3 and #4 full day trip to Taos; Groups #1 and #2 morning presentations & free afternoon and evening in Santa Fe

Note: Walking up to one mile over paved or packed terrain over course of the day; standing up to one hour at a time

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast for Groups 3 and 4 from 6:30 - 7:30 AM. Buffet breakfast for Groups 1 and 2 from 7:30 - 8:30 AM.

Morning: Groups 3 & 4 will depart at 8:00 AM for a full day in Taos. You'll stop at Ranchos de Taos Church for a brief visit, and during the day will visit the Ernest Blumenschein Museum, have some time on the Taos Plaza to explore and have lunch on your own, have a guided exploration of Taos Pueblo with a Native American guide, and visit Millicent Rogers Museum. Your study guide will give you information on the bus so you know what you should about Taos, its history and its present-day life, and will talk to you about the very interesting personalities that made this little city one of the most fascinating places in the world. Groups 1 and 2 will have classes in the morning from 9:00 AM until 12:30 PM, learning from experts about the geology and geography of northern New Mexico and about Los Alamos from the Manhattan Project to present day.

Lunch: Groups 3 and 4 will have lunch on their own in the Taos Plaza area from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM. (We'll provide some restaurant suggestions.) Groups 1 and 2 will have lunch at the hotel from 12:30 - 1:30 PM

Afternoon: Groups 3 and 4 will have time to explore on their own on the Taos Plaza for about 1 1/2 hours, then resume visiting museums, etc., in Taos.. At 5:15 PM, bus will depart for the village of Chimayo, where the groups will have dinner. Groups 1 and 2 will have a free afternoon and evening with dinner on their own.

Dinner: Group 3 and 4 will have dinner at historic Rancho de Chimayo from 6:45 - 8:15 PM. Groups 1 and 2 will have dinner on their own. We will have some suggestions for places to eat that our participants always enjoy.

Evening: Groups 3 and 4 will return to Santa Fe no later than 9:30 PM. Groups 1 and 2 willl be on their own after dinner, but we'll help set up some bridge or other card games at the hotel OR you might wish to take advantage of any activities going on in the city that evening

Lodging: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Meals Included: Breakfast

Field trips to Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument; presentation about Los Alamos National Laboratory by Rabbi Jack Schlachter

Note: Walking up to one mile over paved or packed terrain over course of the day; standing up to one hour at a time. If you choose, you may do a little more strenuous walking at Bandelier National Monument, or you may take the easier trails.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the Hilton from 7:30 - 8:30 AM

Morning: At 8:30 AM, all groups will depart for a day of field trips. Included will be a guided bus exploration of Los Alamos, NM, where you will see many of the historic sites where all kinds of interesting activities took place as the Manhattan Project was falling into place. There will also be visits to the Bradbury Science Museum and Fuller Lodge. You'll visit Bandelier National Monument, and you may either take the relaxed walk with a moderate activity level, stay at the Visitors' Center if you choose, or enjoy a more strenuous walk up some trails with a fair degree of elevation for an active activity level; your study guide and group leader will be with you at all times. Groups 1 and 2 will visit Los Alamos in the morning, Bandelier National Monument in the afternoon. Groups 3 and 4 will visit Bandelier National Monument in the morning and Los Alamos in the afternoon between 9:15 and 4:00 PM.

Lunch: We'll provide boxed lunches for you to take on the field trips - you'll have two options, which will include a vegetarian choice.

Afternoon: The Los Alamos and Bandelier field trips will continue into the afternoon, with groups returning to Santa Fe by 5:15 PM.

Dinner: Buffet dinner at the Hilton Hotel from 5:45 - 7:00 PM.

Evening: This evening's special presentation from 7:15 - 8:56 PM will introduce you to a fascinating man. Rabbi Jack Schlachter is a rabbi and a full-time physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He has spent the past 32 years serving the Los Alamos Jewish community - half of that time as its rabbi, while also pursuing a professional career as a Ph.D. research physicist and technical leader at the Laboratory. Rabbi Shlachter will tell you the fascinating story of the amazing group of scientists who assisted in the development of the atomic bomb; the top five were non-practicing Jews, including Robert Oppenheimer. This story is unlike anything you've ever heard about the Manhattan Project and will take your thought processes regarding this time period to an entirely new level.

Lodging: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Classes on Georgia O'Keeffe and Southwest literature; free afternoon; special program closing at La Fonda

Note: Walking up to one mile over paved or packed terrain over course of the day; standing up to one hour at a time

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the Hilton from 7:30 - 8:30 AM.

Morning: From 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM, hear a presentation on the legacy of Georgia O'Keeffe and prepare to be fascinated (if you already aren't!) by the extraordinary writers of Southwest literature. You'll want to spend the rest of the winter season reading some of the fascinating books and stories that you'll learn about in this class.

Lunch: Lunch at the Hilton from 12:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Afternoon: The afternoon will be free for you to rest, enjoy downtown Santa Fe, visit with some of your newfound friends, play bridge or other games in different meeting spaces around the hotel, and prepare for the final evening's dinner.

Dinner: Walk to the historic and beautiful Hotel La Fonda, the oldest hotel in Santa Fe, for a closing dinner celebration in the New Mexico Room there. (If you are unable to walk, we will have ONE bus to shuttle you there and back). It's a distance of a few blocks. You'll have two entrée choices as well as a vegetarian option to select from. There will be some special entertainment for you, and we'll give some of our group leaders and study guides an opportunity to present a program closing.

Evening: Buses will depart to return to the Hilton about 9:00 PM.

Lodging: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast from 6:00 - 8:00 AM at the the Hilton

Morning: Departure via shuttle buses as scheduled. Times for your departure will be in your welcome packet, along with your shuttle confirmation number, and staff will be available all morning to assist with departures. Hotel check-out time is no later than 12:00 noon.

Meals Included: Breakfast