You may check into your room at the hotel anytime after 3:00 PM.

Part of the exploration will include some walking; the rest will be via bus.

You'll be able to relate some of the art, architecture and history information you studied earlier to what you see in the afternoon.

Bus returns to the hotel by 5:00 PM.

Depart at 10:30 for a scenic trip to the Northern New Mexico village of Chimayó, which is much as it has been over the last two hundred years. You'll visit the "Lourdes of Northern New Mexico," the Santuario de Chimayó, famous for the healing earth found inside, and a nearby weaving center. Chimayo has several families who have been known for their beautiful weaving for many, many years. The Hispanic weavings are different from those of Native American origin, and it's interesting to see all of the things that can be made from the beautiful naturally dyed wool that is used. You'll see traditional rugs, but also beautiful vests and jackets, placemats, handbags, and more.

Santa Clara Pueblo is one of the friendliest pueblos of northern New Mexico, welcoming visitors. The pueblo is famous for its blackware and redware pottery. Mr. Speckled Rock and his wife, Rosalda, offer a talk about how the pottery is made at Santa Clara, and they'll talk about the families who are best known for their pottery.

The bus arrives back in Santa Fe about 5:00 PM.

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is one of the State of New Mexico museums, and features pottery, jewelry, sculpture, baskets, and other objects made by Native Americans from all over the United States. Most of the work is from the Southwest. It's a beautiful museum on Museum Hill, and we think you'll enjoy going there for a self-guided tour. We don't usually utilize the docents, as most people in groups seem to prefer looking around at their own pace. There is a brochure available that explains all of the exhibits. The bus departs at 4:30 PM to return to the hotel about 5:00 PM.

Pick up boxed lunches in lobby before departing for Taos.

We'll follow with a visit to Martinez Hacienda. La Hacienda de los Martinez is 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. The Hacienda was the final terminus for the Camino Real and also was the headquarters for a major ranching and farming operation.

At 11:15 AM, bus will travel to the Ernest Blumenschein home. The home is maintained much as it was when the artist and his family were alive and is filled with a superb collection of family's art, a representative sampling of works by other famous Taos artists, fine European and Spanish Colonial style antiques, and the family's lifetime of personal possessions. The home illustrates the lifestyle of Taos artists in the first half of the twentieth century.

In the early autumn of 1898, a fortuitous accident resulted in Taos becoming a great American art colony. Having recently returned from studies in Paris, young American artists Ernest L. Blumenschein and Bert G. Phillips were on a sketching trip from Denver to northern Mexico when the wheel of their surrey slipped into a deep rut and broke on the mountainous road just north of Taos. Blumenschein made the twenty-mile trek to Taos with the wheel. The delay gave them time to become captivated by the landscape and culture of Taos. Blumenschein and Phillips spread the word about the incredible beauty of Taos and urged other artists to come and see for themselves.

At 2:30 PM, the bus departs for the Millicent Rogers Museum for a 2:45 PM visit.

At the Millicent Rogers Museum, visitors enjoy many outstanding historical collections of Native American art and jewelry, contemporary paintings, weavings, and pottery, including the Maria Martinez family collection. Also showcased are Hispanic textiles, metalwork and sculpture, as well as a wide range of contemporary Anglo-European Southwestern Art.

The bus will depart from the Museum at 3:45 PM and take you to see the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.

The Bridge, locally known as the "Gorge Bridge" and the "High Bridge," is a cantilever truss bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Taos, New Mexico. At 650 feet (200 m) above the Rio Grande, it is the fifth highest bridge in the United States. The different layers of rock and the ruggedness of the terrain make for a spectacular site that you'll want to photograph.

The bus will leave for Santa Fe at approximately 4:30 PM, arriving about 6:00 PM.

Check-out time from the hotel is 12:00 PM.