| Tour Itinerary |
Day 1
JACKSON, TENNESSEE:
Today our thrilling
journey begins as we are filled
with excitement for the days ahead. Our
journey today takes us to west Tennessee
where our accommodations await
us in Jackson.
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Day 2
OKLAHOMA CITY • DINNER - CATTLEMEN’S
STEAKHOUSE:
Today we continue
onto Oklahoma City where we have
dinner in the historic stockyards district at
the well known Cattlemen’s Steakhouse.
Our accommodations await us tonight
in the Oklahoma City area. (D)
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Day 3
OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL
& MUSEUM • AMERICAN QUARTER
HORSE HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM • AMARILLO
• DINNER:
This morning we visit
the Oklahoma City National Memorial
and Museum. This is a tribute to those
who were killed, those who survived and
those changed forever by the April 19,
1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building. After visiting the museum
we depart for Amarillo, Texas, where
we visit the American Quarter Horse Hall
of Fame and Museum. We enjoy an included
dinner and overnight in the area. (D)
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Day 4
ALBUQUERQUE • SANDIA PEAK TRAMWAY:
This morning we drive to Albuquerque,
New Mexico, the Balloon
Capital of the World and the site of the
International Balloon Fiesta. Our overnight
accommodations await us here for
the next two nights. This afternoon, we
head up the 10,368-foot Sandia Peak on
an exhilarating ride aboard one of the
world’s largest tramways.
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Day 5
BALLOON MASS ASCENSION • PUEBLO
INDIAN CULTURAL CENTER • BALLOON
GLOW:
Early this morning we visit
the 77-acre Balloon Fiesta Park for the
Mass Ascension. Here hundreds of hot air
balloons take off, turning the sky into a
rainbow of colors. We return to the city
for sightseeing. We visit the Pueblo Indian
Cultural Center which takes an in depth
look at the state’s 19 pueblos. You have
free time for exploring Old Town’s unique
shops and galleries. Be sure to visit San
Felipe de Neri Church. This evening we
return to the park for the main event,
the Balloon Glow at dusk. We witness
all 800 balloons ignite to the ground. It’s
an absolute exhilarating site. The glow
is followed with an After Glow Fireworks
Show. Don’t forget your cameras!
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Day 6
SANTA FE • TAOS:
Our destination
is Santa Fe, the oldest capital city
in the United States. Here vast desert
meets the Rocky Mountains. We begin
the day with a sightseeing tour through
Santa Fe. Our tour will include Santa Fe’s
State Capitol, the Cathedral of St Francis
of Assisi, Mission San Miguel, the Palace
of the Governors, and Loretto Chapel’s
“Miracle Stairway.” We travel to Taos for
overnight.
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Day 7
TAOS • PUEBLO DE TAOS • RANCHOS
DE TAOS • STATIONS OF THE CROSS •
COLORADO:
Taos is an old Spanish adobe
town and is situated on a high desert
mesa at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo
Mountains. On today’s walking tour
we learn about the history and art of
Taos by visiting Pueblo de Taos, a Native
American village inhabited for nearly
700 years. We explore the historic town
plaza, which offers eclectic galleries
and wonderful shops. We make a stop
at Ranchos de Taos to visit San Francisco
de Asis, the beautiful 18th Century mission
church that captivated painter Georgia
O’Keeffe. Our next stop is the Shrine of
the Stations of the Cross. The Stations of
the Cross are a series of graphic meditations
of the last hours of Christ’s life – His
judgment, sufferings, death, and resurrection.
We overnight in Canon City.
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Day 8
ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD •
BENT’S OLD FORT:
Today we board
Colorado’s finest scenic train taking us
on a journey through the spectacular
Royal Gorge. Enjoy the breathtaking
views from a classic glass-topped dome
car. You will travel by rail deep beneath
the towering 1,000-foot granite cliffs of
the Royal Gorge, along the tumbling
waters of the Arkansas River, where eagles
soar, bighorn sheep roam, and cell
service is non-existent. This 2-hour, 24-mile
round-trip combines scenery, wildlife, history,
and world-class service. We travel
to Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site.
Located on the Santa Fe Trail, the site
features a reconstructed 1840’s adobe
fur trading post. Don’t miss the documentary
film, “Traders, Tribes and Travelers.” (L)
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Day 9
KANSAS • DODGE CITY • CASEY’S
COWTOWN • BOOT HILL MUSEUM
• HISTORIC FRONT STREET • HUTCHINSON:
We arrive in Dodge City in time
for lunch at Casey’s Cowtown. We visit
Old Dodge City a.k.a. Boot Hill Museum
and Historic Front Street), a history
village museum located on the original
site of Boot Hill Cemetery. Life in the 19th
Century is interpreted through audio-visual
programs, exhibits, a reconstruction
of Dodge City in 1867, restorations and
living history demonstrations. Exhibits in
Boot Hill Museum include an extensive
old west gun collection; Boot Hill Cemetery
where unfortunate victims of the
early days of lawlessness were buried;
Fort Dodge Jail, one of several original
buildings at the fort still in existence; a
one-room school; and the 1878 Hardesty
House, a restoration of a Victorian era
cattleman’s home. Traveling east we
overnight in Hutchinson, Kansas. (L)
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Day 10
RANCH EXPERIENCE:
We travel
through the ranch lands of Kansas,
stopping for a tour of a working cattle
ranch. We are offered an up-close tour
of the ranch, nestled in a valley and surrounded
by beautiful ridges and open
pastures. We have a delicious Chuckwagon-
style lunch before we depart.
We travel to Springfield, Missouri, for the
night. (L)
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Day 11
FANTASTIC CAVERNS • DINNER:
This morning we are in for a unique
experience as we take a comfortable
ride through America’s only ride-through
caverns, Fantastic Caverns. This evening’s
included dinner will be at one of
the area’s well-known restaurants. We
overnight in Clarksville, Tennessee, tonight. (D)
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Day 12
HOME:
Morning is upon us as we
depart for home filled with memories of the beautiful sights we’ve seen.
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