New Mexico Holiday Sampler
December 5-11, 2008

 

“I saw them first many Novembers ago and heard their triumphant trumpet calls, a hundred or more Sandhill Cranes riding south on a thermal above the Rio Grande Valley, and that day their effortless flight and their brassy music got into my soul.”
- Charles Kuralt

Bring special meaning to your holiday season on a journey to a dramatic and beautiful part of the country.  Santa Fe is a magical city year-round, but special events and holiday lighting of the historic buildings makes it even more so.  We time our visit with Spanish Market, a wonderful event where artisans bring their wares.  There are concerts and special events to accompany this annual treat, making a holiday visit here a delight.

We complement culture with nature south of Albuquerque at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro.   This scenic landscape provides one of the country’s richest wintering areas for waterfowl. Tens of thousands of ducks and geese converge in the extensive wetlands and marshes of the refuge, joined by thousands of Sandhill Cranes!  Pink light of dawn and dusk is prized by photographers as they try to capture this spectacle. We have two full days to explore the refuge and, if we wish, nearby Water Canyon, where southwestern forests attract Acorn Woodpeckers, Steller’s Jays, Townsend’s Solitaires and a selection of wintering songbirds.

This journey is a short version of our popular New Mexico Holiday Nature and Culture offered in years past.  Join us to experience a wonderful blend of nature and culture, and know you can take care of your holiday shopping in a grand way!

Guides: Gail Richardson, with Peg Abbott assisting at Bosque del Apache NWR

 

ITINERARY

Fri., Dec. 5 Albuquerque / Coronado State Monument / Santa Fe
Plan to arrive at the Albuquerque International Sunport Airport no later than 2:00 PM.  We plan to drive north to Santa Fe, leaving town on the west side to pass through picturesque rural landscapes, home to old adobe buildings and rancheros that continue to farm corn, chilies, grapes and apples. Near Bernalillo, we stop at Coronado National Monument to see a multi-storied pueblo known for its many-colored frescoes – unique to this location and considered to be among the finest murals in North American prehistoric art.  We arrive in Santa Fe in the late afternoon, with time to settle into our accommodations and explore the city from our hotel, located just one block south of the central historic plaza. Enjoy a welcome dinner at one of the many great restaurants of Santa Fe.
Accommodations at the historic Hotel St. Francis, Santa Fe. (D)

Sat., Dec. 6 Holiday Santa Fe
Enjoy time in Santa Fe this morning to visit Spanish Market, local museums, and a host of local galleries, shops and attractions. Your guide will accompany you to a central area, offer advice on what to see, and then you can enjoy a free morning to explore.  We’ll gather for lunch at an appointed time and place, and then provide transport up into the foothills of the mountains to Museum Hill, where those who wish can tour any of four world class museums: The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Museum of International Folk Art, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian.  You may prefer to stay on the square in Santa Fe; we invite you to explore as you wish. 

In the late afternoon, take a break for afternoon tea in the beautiful lobby of our hotel, or continue to enjoy the specialty markets and holiday events.  Dinner is at your leisure; you may wish to check the concert schedule to see if any events occur this evening that you wish to attend.
Accommodations at the historic Hotel St. Francis (B, L)

Sun., Dec. 7 Holiday Santa Fe
This morning, we give you time to revisit Spanish Market or to take part in local events or services.  Late morning, we meet to drive north of Santa Fe to explore Bandelier National Monument, about an hour northwest of Santa Fe in the Jemez Mountains. This gem a park encompasses the highest density of archeological sites within the park system, all in a distinctive and beautiful canyon carved into the Pajarita (little bird) plateau. Well watered, this site was inhabited when others of the Anasazi world were abandoned. We walk trails established in beautiful 600-foot deep Frijoles Canyon to see the historic structures. The geology of the area is fascinating as well. Rocks here are volcanic in origin, exhibiting light colored ash and tuff above darker, denser layers.  We enjoy walking trails as weather permits, then return to Santa Fe in the afternoon.  Dinner is at one of our favorite local restaurants. 
Accommodations at the historic St. Francis Hotel, Santa Fe (B, L, D)

Mon., Dec. 8 Santa Fe to Socorro
Today we head south, passing through Albuquerque where we take a break to visit the delightful Rio Grande Nature Center. There, we walk trails through beautiful riverside bosque (closed canopy woodland). Behind large windows in the Nature Center, we watch Wood Ducks and other wintering birds at a beautiful, willow-lined pond.  After our walk, we enjoy lunch and some free time in Old Town, then head south to Socorro.  Once we have settled in to our lodgings, we explore the town square of Socorro, decorated in holiday garb, and take in a great meal at the local brew pub. 
Accommodations at Socorro, NM  (B,L,D)

Tues., Dec. 9 and Wed., Dec. 10 Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Bosque del Apache in central New Mexico is one of the richest wintering areas for waterfowl in the United States.  Each autumn, tens of thousands of ducks and geese converge in the extensive wetlands and marshes of the refuge.  Some years the refuge harbors over 40,000 Snow Geese, as well as thousands of Sandhill Cranes!  At dawn the noise is deafening as birds fly out of safe roosting areas to neighboring farm fields where they feed.  Eagles and marauding Coyotes create quite a stir among the flocks – most often signaled by an explosion of 25,000 Snow and Ross’s Geese, or the noisy honking of Canada Geese.

To be at Bosque del Apache in winter is an amazing experience.  We venture out at dawn to witness the spectacle of massive, noisy flocks of cranes and geese as they rise off the water to disperse.  One admirable feature of this refuge is the layout of the road system, which usually provides excellent proximity to many species.  During the day, we walk the trails and drive the roads of the refuge looking for birds and other wildlife such as Mule Deer, Coyote, and Porcupine.  Don’t be surprised if a huge Wild Turkey struts out from the brush!  At sunset we station ourselves in a good viewing area to watch the waterfowl return – a magnificent sight against the backdrop of the Magdelena Mountains.

The refuge and surrounding areas are also excellent wintering sites for many raptors.  Bald Eagles, American Kestrels, Northern Harriers, and Red-tailed Hawks are fairly common.  Ferruginous Hawks may also be seen in the area.  West of Socorro lay the Magdalena Mountains -- gentle slopes by Rocky Mountain standards, but lovely in their own way.  A walk up scenic Water Canyon provides a good opportunity to see such forest loving species as Acorn Woodpecker, Steller’s Jay, and Western Scrub Jay.  In more open woodlands, we look for Juniper and Bridled Titmice, Common Bushtit, nuthatches, bluebirds, wintering sparrows, and Pine Siskins.  Calls of Rock Wrens and Townsend’s Solitaires are unmistakable.
Accommodations for two nights in Socorro, NM.  (B,L, both days and D on Dec. 10)

Thurs. Dec. 11    Departures
We depart today and plan to return to the airport by 10:30 AM for flights out after NOON.   Please note: some of you may wish to arrive early (or stay on after the tour) to explore Albuquerque, New Mexico. Under the shadow of Sandia Peak (reaching a mile above the city) several cultures have intermingled over the centuries to build a unique character: Pueblo, Hispanic and Anglo. We suggest lodgings at the Hotel Albuquerque Old Town (formerly Sheraton Old Town) with easy access to museums, Old Town and some great restaurants, http://hhandr.com/albuquerque.php.  We will provide pick up or drop off here in addition to the airport at the start of the tour. 

 

Tour Cost $2290.00 from Albuquerque. Tour cost is based on double occupancy and includes all nights’ accommodations, meals as specified in the itinerary, airport transfers, professional guide services, local park and other area entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses.  Tour cost does not include transportation to or from your home city to Albuquerque, museum or activity fees for sites visited on your own where you have choices (afternoon of Museum Hill and in Santa Fe), or items of a personal nature such as laundry, beverages from the bar and phone calls. Single supplement (as available) is $455.00. Transportation Airport: Albuquerque International Sunport Airport Plan to be in Albuquerque no later than 2:00 p.m. on December 5, please.  Early arrivals (prior to noon) will have an extra chance to explore the city.  Depart after NOON on the 11th of December Group Size This group is limited to 14 persons. There is a minimum number of seven persons required; if fewer than that sign on, a small group surcharge may apply.  A deposit of $300.00 holds your space. Pace of the Tour This is a leisurely paced tour with free time to explore Santa Fe.  Hiking at Bandelier National Monument will depend on winter trail conditions, to be outlined by your guide upon arrival.  If you do not wish to hike, you can enjoy the historic Visitor Center and grounds at your leisure.  Hikes at Water Canyon are along a road at a leisurely pace, and while in Bosque del Apache, most exploring is done from our vans.  Do note that it is winter and while blue skies normally prevail, some cold and blustery conditions may arise! We STRONGLY recommend that you purchase Trip Insurance.  We will mail a brochure upon receipt of your registration, or simply click on the Access America link on the Registration section of our website today! Photo Credits: Sandhill Crane flying, Alex Vargo; all other photos by Peg Abbott.

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