Santa Fe via the Turquoise Trail: Saturday, June 13, 2009 – 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. [includes driving time of about 2½ hours total]. Travel the
historic Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway that links Albuquerque and Santa
Fe and encompasses 15,000 square miles in the heart of central New Mexico. You
will drive back into history through the mining towns of Golden, Madrid, and
Cerrillos, whose mines once yielded gold, silver, lead, zinc, and turquoise. Upon arrival in Santa Fe you may take an
optional guided walking tour, visiting such points of interest as the historic
Plaza, St. Francis Cathedral, the Loretto Chapel, with its famous “miraculous”
staircase, and the San Miguel Mission. Founded in 1610, Santa Fe was the last
stop on the Camino Real, the fabled
Royal Road that stretched from Mexico City to the northernmost reaches of the
Spanish Empire. Today it is the heart and soul of the Southwest, and “Santa Fe
Style” is synonymous with all the best the region has to offer. Its historic
Plaza, winding streets, covered arcades, hidden gardens and courtyards, and
Pueblo-style architecture reflect the blending of Indian, Hispanic, and Anglo
cultures. Lunch will be on your own at
one of the many restaurants near the Plaza. Your guide will provide maps and offer suggestions. After lunch you may continue to explore on
your own or indulge in a southwestern shopping spree at the many unique specialty
stores and galleries around the Plaza. Nearly all the city’s main cultural
attractions are also within walking distance of the Plaza, including the
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Palace of the Governors. Includes guide, admissions and applicable taxes.
Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway and Artisan Winery: Sunday, June 14, 2009 – 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Travel to the
foothills of the Sandia Mountains for a ride on the Sandia Peak Tram, the world’s longest free-span cable tramway. The 2.7-mile ride to the top
will take you through four of the seven life zones found in North America.
Traversing these zones is equivalent to taking a trip from Mexico City to
Alaska! Once atop Sandia Peak, at an elevation of 10,375 feet above sea level,
you will marvel at the thousands of square miles of breathtaking scenery and
panoramic views in all directions. Next, you return to Albuquerque for a tour and
wine tasting at an artisan winery. New Mexico's sun soaked soil and cool high
desert nights are nearly perfect for the cultivation of grapes and have
contributed to the recent revival of wine making in one of the nation’s oldest
wine producing regions. Includes guide, admissions and
applicable taxes.
Turquoise
Museum and Old Town: Monday,
June 15, 2009 – 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Visit the Turquoise Museum, perhaps the largest private collection in the world. A novel attraction, this small museum focuses on the beauty,
mythology, and physical properties of turquoise, a semiprecious but widely
adored gemstone that many people understandably associate with the color of New
Mexico's skies. See one-of-a-kind showpieces and examples from more than sixty
mines on four continents and enjoy an informative and entertaining presentation
that will show you the difference between the Real McCoy and plastic. Continue
to Old Town and a walking tour of the
historic Plaza area. Old Town, the original center of Albuquerque, was founded
in the early part of the 18th century and includes San Felipe de
Neri church and many historic buildings that form an architectural record of
this city’s unique past. There will be time to explore hidden courtyards and
stroll under covered portals and shop on your own at the many fine specialty
stores and galleries around the Plaza. Includes guide, admissions and
applicable taxes.
Acoma “Sky
City” Pueblo: Thursday, June 18, 2009 –
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. [includes
driving time of about 2½ roundtrip]. Visit Acoma
Pueblo, known as "Sky City", located in the spectacular West-Central
Plateau of New Mexico. Acoma Pueblo, situated 350 feet above an outstretched valley atop a
massive sandstone mesa at 7,000 feet above sea level, is the oldest
continuously inhabited settlement in the United States. Archeologists put the
initial occupation of the Pueblo around 1150 AD. The first Europeans, led by
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, visited Acoma in 1540. A Pueblo member will take
you on a ¾-mile leisurely guided tour of the village, explaining the culture
and history of the tribe. Points of interest include San Estevan del Rey
Mission, built in 1629, the largest and most remarkable of all the Spanish
Colonial mission churches in New Mexico. All building materials for the church
and other structures in the village were carried or hauled great distances by
hand up the steep slope of the mesa. The
360-degree views from Acoma are breathtaking and offer many photo
opportunities. There is a $10 permit
fee per camera. Video recorders are prohibited. Includes admissions, tour guide, box lunch
with assorted soft drinks and bottled water, all applicable taxes.
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