TOUR DATE: October 2 – 12, 2021
Saturday October 2 – Travel day to Wichita Falls, TX
The bus will pick-up folks from two departure points in southeast Texas – Silsbee and Liberty. Once everyone is onboard we’re off for Wichita Falls. Our stop tonight is the Comfort Inn and Suites in Wichita Falls, TX.
Sunday October 3 – Travel to Santa Fe
Today we head into New Mexico and Santa Fe. Before we leave Texas we will
visit The Cross of Jesus Christ Ministries in Groom, TX. This is a wonderful
stop off of Interstate 40 to view the stations of the cross. Really amazing!
After our short stop we continue our journey to the Land Of Enchantment. Our home for the next 4 nights will be in Santa Fe at Fairfield Inn and Suites.
Monday, October 4 – Santa Fe
Today we begin our touring with a city tour of the historic district of Santa Fe. One of our stops will be to the famed Loretto Chapel and its miraculous staircase. The Chapel is a former Roman Catholic Church that is now used as a museum and a wedding chapel. It is known for its unusual helix-shaped spiral staircase. We will also visit the oldest church in the U.S. – San Miguel Chapel. It is a Spanish colonial mission church originally built around 1610. We will, also visit, the grounds of the State Capitol, with its beautiful bronze sculptures; the interior of some of Santa Fe’s finest art galleries; and drive through some of the city’s most beautiful residential areas. This morning will be a partial walking/driving tour with a step-on guide. Lunch today will be at Santa Fe Bits, recently named the 5th Best Hamburger in the U.S. After lunch we will visit one of the nearby Indian pueblos as we learn about the history and culture of the Pueblo Indians, and how their personalities are so very different form the Apaches, Comanches, Sioux, Utes and Arapahoe tribes.
Tuesday, October 5 – Taos
Today we will journey to Taos. On our way we will make a stop in the village of Chimayo to viist the famed Santuario de Chimayo that is so well-known for its “healing earth” and where many religious pilgrims visit yearly. We will visit a weaving shop, for which the village is quite famous, and we will be able to see 200-year old looms making place mats, sweaters, coats, and rugs. While in the village of Chimayo we will go to Rancho de Chimayo for lunch. After lunch, we continue to Rancho de Taos, where the famed Rancho de Taos Church is located. This is the church that was made famous by Georgia O’Keeffe in her paintings of the southwest. We will visit the downtown Plaza in Taos as well as the Taos Pueblo, one of the oldest continuously-inhabited locations in the entire world. We will also see the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.
Wednesday, October 6 – Santa Fe
Today we’re off to visit the Pecos National Historical Park which includes their excellent museum that explains the history and culture of the Pecos tribe that originally lived here. It is truly a spectacular site, with a beautiful ruined adobe church and safe, walking trails.
Also today we will visit the Bandelier National Monument. It is famed for its Indian cliff dwellings. For centuries before the United States declared independence, the southwest was divided into a number of city-states governed by Native Americans. At the Bandelier National Monument you will explore remnants of one of these settlements.
This evening our time in Santa Fe will conclude with a grand surprise. It will be a lot of fun and you will have a great time!
Thursday, October 7 – Albuquerque
This morning we visit Petroglyphs National Monument. This national monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago. These images are a valuable record of cultural expression and hold profound spiritual significance for contemporary Native Americans and for the descendants of the early Spanish settlers.
We will experience the charm of Old Town Albuquerque. Centered around the
plaza, Albuquerque’s Old Town encompasses about ten blocks of historic adobe buildings. On the north side of the plaza is the San Felipe de Neri Church, the oldest building in the city, which was built in 1793. Surrounding the church, the city’s settlers had built their homes, shops and government offices, many of which have been converted into the restaurants, art galleries and shops. Old Town today looks much like it did when it was built centuries ago. Also today we will discover the history, culture and art of the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The IPCC features daily dances, art markets, live entertainment and museum.
Friday, October 8 – Tome Hill and Belen
Today we head south from Albuquerque to Tome Hill where Pilgrimage walks takes place on Easter week drawing countless hundreds of pilgrims who overflow area roadways as they walk as far as Albuquerque to the site of the cross-studded summit atop petroglyph-filled hillsides.
Moving on to Isleta Pueblo. The Pueblo of Isleta is nestled in the scenic Rio
Grande valley, 15 miles south of Albuquerque. It is one of the larger 19 Pueblos
of New Mexico and was established in the 1300’s. Our stop will take us to one of the old Catholic churches in the Pueblo.
Next we head to Belen and visit the Fred Harvey House Museum. Fred Harvey
was born in England and came to America at the age of 15. He got a job in a restaurant as a dishwasher and learned the business from the ground up. In 1878 he began a partnership with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. He was given exclusive rights to operate the lunchrooms, eating houses and hotels along the railway’s routes. The iconic Harvey girls were famous for high
standards and good customer service. Also, on our tour today will be a visit to the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Tucked away in the middle of New Mexico you’ll find Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. It’s three distinct sites offer a glimpse into a unique time in history – a time entrenched with cultural borrowing, conflict and struggles. These sites continue to stand as reminders of the Spanish and Pueblo peoples’ early encounters and prompt exploration of today’s interactions among different people. As we head back to Albuquerque we will take a drive on Central Ave, also known as the old Route 66.
This evening we will attend the evening session of the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. This Friday evening session is called the Special Shape Glowdeo. The Special Shape Rodeo started back in 1989 and now has become the most popular event at the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. We will be able to enjoy the evening “glow” of the balloons which is quite spectacular.
Saturday, October 9 – Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Any local will tell you that October is the most beautiful time of year in New Mexico, made so in large part by the much anticipated sight of colorful balloons punctuating the skyline. During this season, the sky is bluer, the days are gentler, and the mornings crisper—almost as though the landscape has taken a deep sigh—and on the desert’s warm breath sails the 4 annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This morning you will get to experience one of the most spectacular sights the mass ascension of hundreds of colorful hot air balloons as they ascend into the blue skies of Albuquerque. You will have a front row seat and can even walk among the balloons as they prepare to take off. It will truly be a memorable morning you will not easily forget. In order to take in the mass ascension morning session it will be an early start today as we will have to be at the Balloon Fiesta park by 5:30 AM. A good hearty breakfast will await you once we get to the park.
We will also visit the Nuclear Science & History Museum located near and Air Force base surrounded by an outdoor heritage park of missiles and fighter planes, the museum explores the history of nuclear energy from wartime to peacetime. Join a docent guide for an informative tour of space age discoveries
Sunday, October 10 – Coronado State Monument, Jemez Pueblo, Valles Caldera
Our first stop today will be the prehistoric Pueblo Indian village of Kuaua (Coronado State Monument). It was one of the many large settlements established during the Classic Period (1326 to 1600 AD) of Anasazi Culture. The site located on the west bank of the Rio Grande, includes the remains of 1,200 interconnected adobe-walled surface dwellings and storage rooms, six kivas and three ceremonial plazas.
From the Kuaua Ruins we head to Jemez Pueblo where we will visit an old vineyard and other old ruins. The Jemez Pueblo was originally established in about 1200. Many large homes here can only be entered from the roof just as it was for their ancestors 500 years before. The homes here are darker and redder than other pueblos due to the surrounding coloration of the beautiful landscape here. Lunch today will be a picnic box lunch along the beautiful Jemez stream.
Next we travel to a diverse landscape born from an explosive past – Valles Caldera. A spectacular volcanic eruption many years ago created a 13-mile wide circular depression known as the Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife, and meandering streams. Each year thousands of visitors come to Valles Caldera National Preserve to explore the unique geology, view wildlife and learn about the historic cabins and prehistoric sites.
As we make our way back to Albuquerque we will drive through Los Alamos and the National Labs where the atomic bomb was developed.
Monday, October 11 – Travel Day
Today we begin to head back home to Texas as we travel back to Wichita Falls, TX for an overnight stay at Comfort Inn and Suites.
Tuesday, October 12 – Back Home Again
COST INCLUDES:
- Motorcoach Transportation from Silsbee and Liberty, TX
- 10 Nights Lodging with 4 nights in Santa Fe & 4 nights in Albuquerque
- 29 Meals – 10 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 10 Dinners (There are 2 lunch meals that you will be responsible for during the tour.)
- Admission to all attractions and events
- Gratuities to all Guides, Waiters & Waitresses and Bus Driver
FINAL PYMT DUE – September 1, 2021
DEPOSIT INFORMATION
$200 Per Person plus the cost of travel insurance if so elected – registrations are now being accepted for
this tour and there will be a limited amount of space available for this tour.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
I can no longer automatically include the cost of travel insurance with the trip cost. If you would like to purchase travel insurance for your trip the cost is as follows:
For Double, Triple or Quad categories (the rate is for your age at the time of purchase)
$359 per person for folks through age 75
$448 per person for folks age 76 and up
Single Rate Category
$494 for folks through age 75
$617 for folks age 76 and up
I would always encourage you to purchase travel insurance as you never know what may happen that would prevent you from taking this vacation. Travel insurance gives you peace of mind that if you were to get sick or hospitalized prior to disembarking on your vacation the insurance would allow you to be reimbursed for the monies you have paid on your trip. Please note that this insurance is not a cancel for any reason type of insurance. Meaning if you decide a day or two before the date for the tour that you just don’t want to go it will not cover you. It must be a coverable reason such as sickness, death in the family, etc.
TOUR COST:
-
$3639
Double (2 persons sharing room. Price is per person)
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$3468
Triple (3 people sharing room. Price is per person)
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$3233
Quad (4 people sharing room. Price is per person)
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$4451
Single
- 2 Spots Now Available For Tour Updated 8/17/21
