Spotlight on Santa Fe Holiday

This morning starts with a locally guided walking tour of Santa Fe's Plaza, the historic heart of the city and gathering place for Santa Feans for nearly 400 years. As you amble through the plaza, you'll undoubtedly feel the festive spirit of a city ready to celebrate the holidays. Your tour will include a stop at some of the city's landmark sites, like the Santa Fe Indian Market where you can find unique, handcrafted gifts.

Later, you'll visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum where you'll discover more than 3,000 breathtaking works from the artist many refer to as the “Mother of American Modernism.” Continue on with a stop at the Loretto Chapel, a former Roman Catholic church turned wedding chapel and museum. Here, you'll find the miraculous staircase, a structure with origins as legendary as its spiral shape. Tonight, try your hand at making a tamale at the Santa Fe School of Cooking and savor Santa Fe's fusion of Native American, Spanish and Mexican flavors. (B/D)

Today's adventure takes us to Bandelier National Monument, a natural site where the native Pueblo Indians settled in the sculpted canyons and mesa tops west of Santa Fe. The volcanic landscape holds cliff dwellings and ruins of Pueblo villages dating back to the 1500s. On a guided elective walk, you'll have the opportunity to discover more of the park's ancient ruins and thriving wildlife. The park is especially magical after a fresh dusting of snow.

Afterwards, savor an authentic New Mexican lunch before visiting El Santuario de Chimayo. Known for the miraculous healing powers of its Tierra Bendita (or Holy Dirt), the chapel is regarded as the most important Catholic pilgrimage site in the United States. Later you'll visit a Chimayo weaver and learn the fascinating process behind this intricate traditional art. The remainder of the day is yours to further explore this intriguing Spanish village. Dinner is on your own tonight. Perhaps you'll use your included Uber voucher and dine at a restaurant on Canyon Road. (B/L)