Legends Bank
presents:
New Mexico - America’s Southwest
September 16-22, 2017
Southwest culture, art, history, and natural beauty surround you on this fun and fascinating motor
coach tour to New Mexico the “Land of Enchantment.”
Day 1 – Saturday, September 16, 2017 (D)
As we head west you’ll spend the first night in the Old West town of
Fort Smith, Arkansas, where we’ll visit Miss Laura’s former brothel
and Fort Smith National Historic Site! Out of seven "row houses" that
lined Fort Smith's Old West red light district, Miss Laura's is the only
house of ill-repute that stood the test of time. Now, it is the only
former-bordello on the National Register of Historic Places, and it has
been fully restored to its original grandeur. Here we start our tour of
Fort Smith, the city “Where the New South Meets the Old West”.
You’ll explore life on the edge of Indian Territory through the stories of
soldiers, the Trail of Tears, dangerous outlaws, and the brave lawmen
who pursued them at Fort Smith National Historic Site. The Fort Smith
National Historic Site preserves almost 80 years of history, from the establishment of the first Forth Smith on December
25, 1817, to the final days of Judge Isaac C: Parker’s jurisdiction over Indian Territory in 1896. You’ll enjoy flavors of the
West as we dine at a local restaurant tonight. Hampton Inn, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Day 2 – Sunday, September 17, 2017 (B,D)
After breakfast we depart Fort Smith and pass through Oklahoma City as you
make your way to the panhandle of Texas. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in
Amarillo and enjoy touring the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Museum.
This museum houses the living history of the American Quarter Horse and
showcases the people and horses who shaped and changed the breed and the
history of the American West along with it. This evening, join the group for dinner
at a local restaurant.
Drury Inn & Suites, Amarillo, TX
Day 3 – Monday, September 18, 2017 (B,D)
We depart Amarillo and travel to Tucumcari for a picture in front of the Route 66
Monument and learn all about the Route 66. We continue west across New
Mexico to Albuquerque, "The Jewel of the American Southwest", where we
meet our Group TravelMasters tour director. We arrive in Old Town with free
time to wander through the many shops, art galleries and restaurants for lunch
on your own. Old Town's tree-lined plaza and charming adobe buildings and
churches are sure to delight the sightseer and the shopper! Next you’ll visit the
Turquoise Museum for touring. The Turquoise Museum and its collection of
turquoise have been used as a source of information and pictures for over 40
years. Uncover the mystery of turquoise, delve into its’ rich history, learn about
the different mines, specimens, and stories of colorful characters at The
Turquoise Museum. Next we’ll visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, with its amazing and interactive exhibits on the
history and stories of the native Pueblo people. After checking into the hotel, you are off to famous Sandia Peak, home to
the tram that will whisk you 10,680 feet into the air for an unsurpassed view from the summit. On a clear day, you can
easily see the wonderful New Mexico landscape in a 100-mile circle at your feet. Tonight, join the group for dinner at a
local restaurant. Drury Inn & Suites, Albuquerque, NM
Day 4 – Tuesday, September 19, 2017 (B,D)
The Turquoise Trail, named for the exquisite mineral that was once mined here,
leads you to your first stop of the day: the real-life ghost town of Madrid. Madrid
looks exactly like a ghost town should, with its rows of empty, ramshackle houses
that once were the homes of three thousand miners and their families. Now the
only signs of life are the artists who come to paint this picturesque place, and to
display their wares to the interested buyer. After time to explore this relic of the
past, we continue on to the first state capitol in the United States: "The Royal City
of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis", better known as Santa Fe. Founded in 1609,
the city offers many historic and scenic delights. Your tour will include the Old
Santa Fe Trail, seat of government for more than 300 years; the Loretta Chapel,
a miniature model of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris; and the oldest church and
home in New Mexico. Next, you can stroll through the Indian Market, where native arts and crafts are available directly
from the Indians who created them. Dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant. Sage Inn, Santa Fe, NM
Day 5 – Wednesday, September 20, 2017 (B)
Today's round-trip excursion shows you the best of New Mexico countryside,
starting with peaceful Bandelier National Monument. Here you will see the
ruins of a large Indian pueblo, nestled under cottonwood trees. Above you the
soft canyon walls are studded with pre-historic cliff dwellings, and the tranquility
in the canyon gives you a taste of the desert's silence before the ruins were rediscovered by non-natives. Next, we'll drive through Los Alamos, known as
"Atomic City", before heading to Taos, a community nestled in the peaks of the
southern Rocky Mountains. Spanish and Indian influences in architecture
create a marriage of styles whose charm is unsurpassed in the Southwest.
You'll have a chance to wander the streets, enjoying the atmosphere and
browsing through the offerings of many artists, who have come here to capture
the allure of this delightful town. You will also visit Taos Pueblo, a village that has been inhabited for over 800 years, and
whose adobe structures have changed little since the first Spanish explorers saw them in 1540. Enjoy time for shopping
and snacking before your return to Santa Fe where dinner is on your own. Sage Inn, Santa Fe, NM
Day 6 – Thursday, September 21, 2017 (B,D)
We’ll say good-bye to our Group TravelMasters tour director this morning as
we depart Santa Fe and begin our eastbound journey home. We’ll travel to
Texas retracing the path of old Route 66 as we head east with a picture stop at
the famous Cadillac Ranch. Standing along Route 66 west of Amarillo, Cadillac
Ranch was invented and built by a group of art-hippies imported from San
Francisco. They called themselves The Ant Farm, and their silent partner was
Amarillo billionaire Stanley Marsh 3. He wanted a piece of public art that would
baffle the locals, and the hippies came up with a tribute to the evolution of the
Cadillac tail fin. We arrive in Amarillo with some free time for lunch on your
own and shopping in the 6th Street Route 66 Historic District. An area where
100 plus home grown, home owned antique shops, bars and restaurants all
nestled inside quaint architecturally unique buildings whose frontage is lined by trees, vintage lighting and cobble stone
sidewalks. After lunch, we continue east entering Oklahoma and arrive in Elk City for our overnight stay. You will visit
the Route 66 Museum before joining the group for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Hampton Inn & Suites, Elk
City, OK
Day 7 – Friday, September 22, 2017 (B)
After breakfast, we depart Elk City and travel to Oklahoma City for touring of
the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This is America’s premier
institution of Western history, art and culture. Founded in 1955 the museum
preserves and exhibits an internationally renowned collection of Western art
and artifacts while sponsoring dynamic educational programs and groundbreaking scholarly research to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of our
American West. More than 10 million visitors from around the world have
sought out this unique museum to gain better understanding of the West. After
a wonderful visit, we continue east on Route 66 to Arcadia and POPS, an iconic
stop along the Old Hwy for lunch on your own. POPS Restaurant is
reminiscent of an old drive-in with all your favorite burgers, hot dogs, fries and shakes on the menu. With over 600
different kinds of soda, a POPS soda guru can guide you to a refreshing alternative or an old time favorite. After lunch,
we’ll travel home with rest stops along the way.
New Mexico – America’s Southwest
Tour Prices:
Double:
Triple:
Quad:
Single:
$1,750.00
$1,632.00
$1,550.00
$2,190.00
Trip Cancellation Insurance is available and recommended; call for details.
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Deposits:
Initial Deposit:
$200.00 per person due with reservation.
______________________________________
Final Payment Due:
Deposits:
Final payment due July 5, 2017.
Make Checks Payable to: The Advantage Club
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Tour Includes:
Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation
6 Night’s accommodations
6 Breakfasts
5 Dinners
Services of a Group TravelMasters tour director (Day 3 Albuquerque – Day 6 Santa Fe)
Service of a Legends Bank Representative
All Admissions and entrance fees listed on the itinerary
All gratuities for guides and motorcoach driver
Baggage Handling
For questions or information contact:
Mary Ann Gelven
573-417-0276
[email protected]