Enchanted New Mexico

Your Small Group Discovery Tour begins!

Meet your travel companions for a welcome drink at 6 pm.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - CULTURE & TRADITION: Exquisite desert landscapes, soaring snowcapped mountains, steamy hot springs, and enthralling national monuments make New Mexico a land of wonders. Add the enticing cultural richness of Native American and Mexican heritage, and you'll see why this stunning state is called the “Land of Enchantment.”

Atomic Age & Route 66 Relics

Greet the day with an intriguing tour of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Museums. Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the “Mother Road,” Route 66 during a visit Nob Hill for a sightseeing tour highlighting unique architecture on the National Historic Registry and original neon signs from the prime days of Route 66.

Continue to Sandia Peak Tramway and ascend to the crest of the Sandia Mountains for spectacular sights of the Cibola National Forest and panoramic view of the Rio Grande Valley. Your Tour Director will have dining suggestions for your evening at leisure in Old Town. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ILLUMINATING REACTIONS: Explore the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History and gain insight on the Atomic Age from an objective scientific and historical perspective. From the origins of atomic theory to complex factors contributing to World War II to the development of nuclear weapons and modern-day advances in nuclear medicine, the museum is an unforgettable experience.

Cultural Center & Desert Dreams

This morning, tour Albuquerque's Old Town before visiting the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Enjoy lunch at the Indian Pueblo Kitchen for an unforgettable Indigenous dining experience and dance performance. Continue to Taos. Visit San Francisco de Asís, a Spanish Colonial Mission Church and modern art icon made famous by Ansel Adams and Georgia O'Keeffe. Enjoy dinner in historic downtown Taos. (B/L/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - HISTORY & HERITAGE: Visit Albuquerque's captivating Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for a fascinating look at its museum and crafts market, collectively run by the 19 New Mexico pueblos (villages). Learn the history, background, and life of the 19 pueblos in New Mexico. Top off your visit with a lunch at the Indian Pueblo Kitchen and enjoy Indigenous dishes loved through generations.

Artists & Adobe

Taos is an art colony drawing from Spanish explorers to Native Americans to American immigrants, coming together to create a diverse and welcoming community. Tour the Taos Pueblo with a Local Guide to learn of the Tiwa culture, ancestral traditions and meet local artists. In Abiquiu, explore the gardens, home, and studio of Georgia O'Keeffe on an exclusive tour to view her spectacular works of art and inspiring space. Continue to Santa Fe. (B/L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE: Perfect for smaller groups to go beyond her Santa Fe gallery, Georgia O'Keeffe's home and studio in Abiquiu shows the private space where she drew inspiration and created her own inimitable style. Painting dramatic landscapes and lush plant life of the mesas, O'Keeffe forged her own path as a female artist with a fiercely independent spirit that gained her the title, “Mother of American Modernism.”

LOCAL FAVORITE - CULTURE & TRADITIONS: The Taos Pueblo has been continuously occupied and cared for by the Pueblo Native American community for more than 1000 years. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Taos Pueblo exemplifies the enduring lifestyle of the Native American inhabitants and cultural history of the American Southwest.

The Ancient Ways

This morning, travel to Bandelier National Monument to view an ancient way of life. With 10,000 years of cultural history, the monument is home ancient to Anasazi Puebloan cliff dwellings dating back to 1150 AD. Spend time exploring the museum and visit an ancient pueblo. Return to Santa Fe for a free afternoon - visit one of the many restaurants, art galleries or shops on the historic plaza. Consider an optional excursion to Georgia O'Keeffe Museum or the Museum of International Folk Art, featuring diverse folk art from around the world. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION: Located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, the historic hotel features local art and Southwest décor including a traditional kiva fireplace and rustic exposed wood beams. The renovated 350-year-old hacienda turned boutique hotel blends Pueblo-style architecture and the heritage of the Southwest with modern amenities and delicious local culinary classics.

Spicy Secrets and Savory Fare

The early bird gets more than the worm during a sunrise bird watching walk with a local nature guide. Explore the Bradbury Science Museum and Los Alamos National Laboratory, an active research facility that has opened its once locked doors to reveal the secrets and the stories behind the Manhattan Project and brilliant scientists, allowing you to explore beyond the movie “Oppenheimer.” Return to Santa Fe for a delicious farewell dinner while learning to cook with southwestern flair at Santa Fe School of Cooking. (B/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE: Santa Fe is a rich culture with cherished traditions of the Native Southwest. A food-lover's paradise, this vibrant culinary scene preserves the heritage of the pre-Columbian people, influence of Hispanic culture (both recent and hundreds of years old) and infuses contemporary elements. The Santa Fe School of Cooking is an internationally acclaimed, recreational culinary school and market specializing in foods of the American Southwest. Participate in a cooking class to learn the art of southwestern cooking with traditional recipes and techniques.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - SCIENCE & HISTORY LESSONS: Visit Los Alamos and the Manhattan Project National Historic Park to discover the history and scientific achievements in the once secret city. Armed with a national security mission, the Los Alamos National Laboratory is still an active research facility. Explore interactive exhibits at the Bradbury Science Museum on the environment, energy projects, and global security.

Safe travels until we meet again!

This morning, return to Albuquerque where your vacation ends at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport. Schedule departing flights after 12:00 pm. (B)