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8 Days From $2370 Per Person
Single Supplement Available
2011 Itinerary
Day 1 - Sunny El Paso, Texas
Tour begins: 3:45 PM at El Paso Marriott. El Paso, Texas is your gateway to this enchanting New Mexico vacation. A transfer is included from El Paso International Airport to the El Paso Marriott. Attend a fascinating presentation on the bats of Carlsbad Caverns by a veteran conservationist who has dedicated his career to the preservation of nature's endangered species, followed by a private evening at the El Paso Museum of Art, housing more than 5,000 works from around the world; enjoy a private cocktail party, dinner and docent tour right in the museum.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: El Paso Marriott, El Paso, TX
Day 2 - The amazing caves of Carlsbad Caverns
Today your fascinating New Mexico vacation includes a drive across the Chihuahuan Desert and past the Guadalupe Mountains to the limestone caves of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, hundreds of which lie deep beneath the desert. As you explore this amazing subterranean world, you'll discover why humorist Will Rogers called Carlsbad Caverns "the Grand Canyon with a roof on it." After lunch, continue across the Chihuahuan Desert to your mountain casino resort in Mescalero for a two-night stay; enjoy dinner at your leisure this evening at one of the resort's restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Mescalero, NM
Day 3 - White Sands and a touch of resort pleasure
Discover the famous glistening sea of snow-white gypsum sand dunes at White Sands National Monument, taking a close-up look at the unique plant and animal life that thrives in this harsh environment. Then spend the rest of the day at leisure enjoying the many amenities and activities offered at your beautiful lakeside resort in the mountains of Mescalero (some of which may be at an additional cost). Play a game of golf... go horseback riding, hiking, fishing, boating or bird-watching... shoot some skeet... make a "donation" at the casino... or join us for an afternoon visit to Ruidoso's Hubbard Museum, interpreting the cultural and natural history of the American West. At dinner this evening, enjoy fine à la carte dining among spectacular mountain views in the resort's signature restaurant, Wendell's.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Mescalero, NM
Day 4 - Amazing Albuquerque and on to Santa Fe
Lying at the foot of spectacular Sandia Peak, Albuquerque, the state's largest city, is a highlight of any New Mexico vacation experience. Explore the ancient hub of this sprawling modern metropolis - the charming 300-year-old Old Town on El Camino Real, with its cobbled alleys, courtyards, cafés, and Spanish colonial architecture - before continuing on to multicultural Santa Fe for a three-night stay at the landmark Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe's historic heart.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Eldorado Hotel & Spa, Sante Fe, NM
Day 5 - The many flavors of Santa Fe
As the crossroads of the historic Southwest, Santa Fe's unique culture and ambiance are a blend of Spanish, Native American and Old West influences. Experience this diverse cultural mix on a walking tour of Santa Fe's centuries-old center, including America's oldest public building, the Palace of the Governors; your hotel is just steps from the city's historic plaza, terminus of the storied Santa Fe Trail. Discover the tasty secrets of southwestern cuisine at a private cooking demonstration and lunch highlighting the city's diverse heritage; later, explore more of Santa Fe and enjoy dinner on your own tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Eldorado Hotel & Spa, Sante Fe, NM
Day 6 - Ancient cultures and artistic creativity in Taos
Venture outside Santa Fe to explore the Taos region, which has long attracted a thriving and talented community of artists and craftspersons with the scenic beauty of its contrasting forests and deserts. After a stop at Rancho de Taos to see the iconic and much-photographed 18th-century San Francisco de Asís Mission Church, visit the legendary Pueblo de Taos. Storyteller Roberta Mayer shares legends of the region before you walk over the scenic Rio Grande Gorge Bridge to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you'll discover a culture that has inhabited its multi-storied adobe structures for more than a thousand years. Spend this evening at your leisure in Santa Fe, and enjoy dinner à la carte at the acclaimed Old House Restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Eldorado Hotel & Spa, Santa Fe, NM
Day 7 - Georgia O'Keeffe's Southwest
Depending on seasonal schedules, enjoy a private morning visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum - revealing the sensuous landscapes and other works by this renowned 20th-century artist, who so loved this part of the Southwest that she made it her home later in life - or the Georgia O'Keeffe Research Center, where a collection of the artist's personal effects is on display. Return to Albuquerque this afternoon for an overnight stay; stop for a guided tour of the unique Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, a showcase of puebloan history and culture operated by 19 Native American pueblo communities. Celebrate the close of your remarkable New Mexico vacation at this evening's farewell dinner at your resort, whose design reflects the art and culture of the Tamayame people.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, Albuquerque, NM
Day 8 - Journey home
Your New Mexico vacation ends in Albuquerque. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the Eldorado Hotel & Spa to Albuquerque International Sunport. Allow a minimum of 2 hours for your flight check-in. Ask at booking about extending your stay with additional hotel nights in Albequerque.
Meals: Breakfast
Note: Tours of September 25 & 30 and October 2 will have the opportunity to view the early morning hot air balloon festivities of the 2011 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on Day 8, departing at 5:00 AM..
A truly enchanting world awaits you on Tauck's New Mexico vacation!
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