Santa Fe boasts scenic beauty and extraordinary concentration of arts, music and fine dining. During this trip we will enjoy all that Santa Fe has to offer, as well as explore the surrounding areas. We will venture to Taos, a lovely small artist's town in the mountains and explore the well-preserved Bandelier National Monument; an extensive complex of cliff dwellings built by the Anasazi. We conclude our trip in Albuquerque to enjoy the 300-year-old 'Old Towne' and visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Our home while in Santa Fe is the beautiful Inn at the Alameda, where all the sights and art galleries of Santa Fe are in easy walking distance.
This trip is guaranteed to depart...Come join us!
Itinerary
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Monday, 14 May – Arrive Albuquerque Airport, Santa Fe, Welcome Reception
Schedule your arrival into Albuquerque no later than 2:30pm. Once everyone has arrived, we will depart for Santa Fe; a 45 minute ride. We will check in and then gather for a wine and cheese reception hosted by the hotel.
Tuesday, 15 May - Santa Fe Walking Tour; O’Keeffe Museum (B,D)
Santa Fe is one of the country's most famous walking cities. It's small enough to navigate easily on foot, with miles of winding streets filled with charming adobe shops, homes and historic buildings as well as contemporary galleries, boutiques and restaurants.
We begin our day with a walking tour followed by a visit the O'Keeffe Museum to become acquainted with the Museum and its exhibitions. One of the most significant artists of the 20th century, Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was devoted to creating imagery that expressed what she called “the wideness and wonder of the world as I live in it.” The remainder of the day is yours to further explore this delightful city. We will gather together later for dinner.
Wednesday, 16 May - Bandelier National Monument (B,L)
Bandelier National Monument is our destination for this day. Bandelier has a long human history and links to the modern Pueblos. Traditions which began in the distant past are still practiced today. At Bandelier, evidence of the Ancestral Pueblo people can be found in the dwellings, artifacts, and continuing culture of the modern pueblos. We will take advantage of some of the area's trails. A walk on the Main Loop Trail leads through excavated archeological sites on the floor of Frijoles Canyon. At the conclusion of our visit to Bandelier we will find a nice place to have a picnic lunch before returning to Santa Fe.
Thursday, 17 May - Taos; Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, Group Dinner (B,L)
Today's destination is Taos, known for its art colony and beautiful scenery. To take advantage of the diversity of the landscape, we will travel the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. This winding route takes us through some of the most beautiful areas of Northern New Mexico. View alpine valleys, wild flowers, clear blue lakes, evergreen forests, and historic western communities. Overnight Inn on the Alameda.
Friday, 18 May - Turquoise Trail; Albuquerque; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
Our trip back to Albuquerque will be along the Turquoise Trail. The Scenic and Historic Area encompasses 15,000 square miles in the heart of central New Mexico, linking Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We will return to Albuquerque to enjoy time at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and a visit to Old Towne before we gather this evening for our farewell dinner. Tonight we stay near the Albuquerque airport for convenience sake. Overnight Hampton Inn Airport.
Saturday, 19 May - Return Home from Albuquerque (B)
Schedule your return flight at your convenience. The hotel has a courtesy shuttle to the airport.