Around Albuquerque

There’s much to see and do in Albuquerque, so why not extend your stay and plan your trip accordingly.  To register for one of the specialized tours listed below, contact Tour New Mexico, 412 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM  87102. 

Phone: 505-321-4864 

Toll-Free: 800-333-7159

Email:  TNM@TourNewMexico.com

Web: www.tournewmexico.com

Treasure & Tranitions – Chimayo/Santa Fe

Tuesday, October 5, 2010                      

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Cost: $67 (Includes motor coach, tour guide, lunch, admission & tax.)

Your first stop will be in the Village of Chimayo, north of Santa Fe.  This village is home to many families who are the descendants of the Spanish settlers that arrived in the late 1500’s.  We’ll visit El Santuario de Chimayo, a church known for its healing earth; and a weaving shop that uses the simplistic Spanish loom, unchanged for hundreds of years.  After a traditional New Mexican lunch, we’ll continue to Santa Fe. A visit to New Mexico is not complete without experiencing the capital city of Santa Fe, with its unusual charm and historical significance.  This unique community offers wonderful, eclectic shops and an abundance of history.  After an orientation tour of the Plaza area there will be approximately 3 hours of free time. The Plaza walking tour includes admission to Loretto Chapel Museum, famous for its miraculous staircase.

Red Rocks, Blue Skies – Navajo Land

Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10, 2010 

Cost/person: $684 double, $793 single. (Tour New Mexico will require a $300 deposit/person by August 16 to register).       

Itinerary:

Friday, October 8:  The day will be filled with interesting information and anecdotes as we enjoy the journey into Indian Country.  Stops will include El Rancho, the homes of movie stars, Gallup, Window Rock in Arizona, and the Hubble Trading Post in Ganado (terrific rug room).  We’ll arrive at the Thunderbird Lodge in Chinle and enjoy dinner at the Thunderbird Cafeteria. No meals are included.

Saturday, October 9:  We’ll load up for a 3½ hour jeep tour with a Navajo driver/guide taking us deep into the canyon to view petroglyphs, cliff dwellings and more!  We’ll grab lunch to-go from our favorite cafeteria and journey into Utah.  We’ll see the buttes and mesas of Monument Valley, the Three Sisters to John Ford’s Point, Snoopy, the Chief and the Hub.  A special visit to the Hogan of a treasured Diné weaver is a highlight.  Meals included: breakfast and cookout dinner.

Sunday, October 10:   We’ll pack in lots more scenery and visits with Navajo weavers and trading posts.  The highlight is Toadlena Trading Post with a traditional Navajo lunch cooked by the weavers!  We’ll have a farewell dinner of fajitas in Cuba, NM before arriving back at our hotel.  Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Tour includes: Deluxe motor coach, professional tour director, 3 nights' hotel accommodations, two  breakfasts, one lunch, two dinners, two jeep rides, all admissions to attractions, bottled water & snacks, all applicable taxes. 

Other Things To Do While In Albuquerque

Albuquerque is ideally located for getting to some of the best places to visit. Check out our Top 10 things to do while in Albuquerque, including historic sites, museums and numerous fun and cultural tourist attractions at www.restorationindustry.org.

Historic Old Town Plaza

Experience one of New Mexico's most historical and cultural treasures. Old Town Plaza is home to over 100 galleries and studios, which you'll encounter as you stroll along the charming pathways and hidden patios that distinguish the Plaza as a one-of-a-kind destination for shopping, dining and strolling. www.AlbuquerqueOldTown.com

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of Pueblo Indian culture, history and art, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is your gateway to the 19 pueblos of New Mexico. www.IndianPueblo.org

Albuquerque Museum of Art & History

In the heart of historic Old Town and just across the street from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, the museum is an enjoyable experience for thousands of visitors each year. www.cabq.gov/museum

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
Learn the fascinating story behind New Mexico's largest city. Interactive exhibits and stunning displays provide an entertaining and enriching experience for the whole family. www.NMnaturalhistory.org

Albuquerque Zoo and Biological Park

This park includes the Rio Grande Zoo, the Albuquerque Aquarium, and the Rio Grande Botanical Gardens.
www.cabq.gov/biopark

Petroglyph National Monument

Thousands of years before the Europeans arrived, New Mexico was inhabited by Native Americans. Learn about their history first-hand at Petroglyph National Monument, an educational and exciting Albuquerque tourist attraction, where over 17,000 Indian petroglyphs distinguish this site as the world's largest accessible collection of prehistoric rock art. www.nps.gov/petr

International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (October 2 – 10) and Balloon Museum 
Albuquerque is widely known as the ballooning capital of the world. Enjoy the cool desert mornings where you will find the perfect environment for ballooning year-round, with balloon rides available for those who are ready to see the Rio Grande Valley from a different perspective.  During the fiesta, witness the largest gathering of balloons in the world as hundreds of hot air balloons come together as the most photographed event on earth!  See RIA’s brochure for more information on our Balloon Glowdeo event on Thursday, October 7. 

 www.balloonfiesta.com and www.balloonmuseum.com

World's Longest Single Span Tram to Sandria Peak
Enjoy the high desert beauty as you ride 2.7 miles up the Sandia Tram, the world's longest continuous single-span aerial tramway. Sandia Peak sits at 10,400 feet above sea level and provides a birds-eye view of Albuquerque. www.sandiapeak.com/index.php?page=tramway

Daytrip to Acoma and Laguna Pueblos
Acoma or Sky City is part of Acoma Pueblo, an ancient and continuously inhabited community perched on top of a mesa 65 miles west of Albuquerque. Native Acoma guides conduct tours offering better insight on Acoma's living history and culture. Laguna Pueblo is also a very interesting pueblo alive with culture and tradition, home to many well known Native American artists and craftspeople. The drive west on I-40 is breathtaking and very easy to navigate.

Acoma: www.acomaskycity.org
Laguna: http://www.indianpueblo.org/19pueblos/laguna.html

Albuquerque Trolley Tours

Familiarize yourself with the city and take a Trolley Tour. The best first thing to do in Albuquerque. Albuquerque Trolley invites you to join them in a 66-minutes, 18-mile "Best of ABQ" city tour on board a completely-custom, uniquely-Albuquerque, open-air Trolley. They have the only trolley in the world covered in stucco! Read more abou them by visiting their website, and buy online to save $2 per ticket.

http://www.abqtrolley.com/index.php/HotelAlbuquerque