EXPLORE ALBUQUERQUE

EXPLORE ALBUQUERQUE
Tour 1 - Wednesday, September 17, 2014
LOCAL TOURS
Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway and the Turquoise Museum
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Cost: $72.00 per person
Travel east to the foothills of the Sandia Mountains for a ride on the Sandia Peak
Aerial Tramway, one of the world’s longest free-span cable tramways! The 2.7 mile
tramway ride to the top will take you through four of the seven life zones found in
North America. Traversing these zones is equivalent to taking a trip from Mexico
City to Alaska! Once atop Sandia Peak, at an elevation of 10,378 feet above sea
level, you will marvel at the thousands of square miles of breathtaking scenery and
panoramic views in all directions. NOTE: In the event of high winds or severe weather
the tram reserves the right to suspend operations.
Next, travel to Alburquerque’s Old Town area and discover more about New
Mexico’s state gemstone and the popular mineral most often associated with the
Southwest and Native American jewelry – turquoise.
Visit the Turquoise Museum, perhaps the largest private collection in the world. A
novel attraction, this small museum focuses on the beauty, mythology and physical
properties of turquoise, a semiprecious but widely adored gemstone that many
people understandably associate with the color of New Mexico’s skies. See one-ofa-kind showpieces and examples from more than sixty mines on four continents and
enjoy an informative and entertaining presentation that will show you the difference
between the Real McCoy and plastic.
Tour 2 - Thursday, September 18, 2014
Santa Fe “The City Different”
Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost: $62.00 per person
Travel north to Santa Fe via the historic Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway which
links Alburquerque and Santa Fe and encompasses 15,000 square miles in the heart
of central New Mexico. You will drive back into history through the mining towns
of Golden, Madrid, and Cerrillos, whose mines once yielded gold, silver, lead, zinc,
and turquoise. During its heyday in the 1880s Cerrillos boasted twenty-one saloons
and four hotels. A renewed spirit has brought art, crafts, theater, music, museums
and restaurants to these towns.
Upon arrival in Santa Fe take an optional guided walking tour, visiting such points of
interest as the historic Plaza, St. Francis Cathedral, the Loretto Chapel, with its famous
“miraculous” staircase (pictured right), and the San Miguel Mission. Founded in 1610,
Santa Fe was the last stop on the Camino Real, the fabled Royal Road that stretched
from Mexico City to the northernmost reaches of the Spanish Empire. Today it is the
heart and soul of the Southwest, and “Santa Fe Style” is synonymous with all the best
region has to offer. Its historic Plaza, winding streets, covered arcades, hidden gardens
and courtyards, and Pueblo-style architecture reflect the blending of Indian, Hispanic
and Anglo cultures. You will enjoy lunch on your own at one of the many restaurants
in Old Town on the Plaza. Your guide will offer suggestions and provide maps.
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You may continue to explore on your own or indulge in a southwestern shopping
spree at the many unique specialty stores and galleries around the Plaza. Nearly
all the city’s main cultural attractions are also within walking distance of the Plaza,
including the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Palace of the Governors.
THREE DAYS - THREE TOURS
Tour 3 - Friday, September 19, 2014
Acoma “Sky City” Pueblo
Your destination today is Acoma Pueblo, known as “Sky City”, located in the
spectacular West-Central Plateau of New Mexico. Acoma Pueblo, situated 350 feet
above an outstretched valley atop a massive sandstone mesa at 7,000 feet above
sea level, is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the United States.
Archeologists put the initial occupation of the Pueblo around 1150 AD. The first
Europeans, led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, visited Acoma in 1540.
LOCAL TOURS
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cost:
A Pueblo member will take you on a 3/4-mile leisurely guided tour of the village,
explaining the culture and history of the tribe. Points of interest include San Estevan
del Rey Mission, built in 1629, the largest and most remarkable of all the Spanish
Colonial mission churches in New Mexico. All building materials for the church and
other structures in the village were carried or hauled great distances by hand, then
up the steep slope of the mesa. The 360-degree views from Acoma are breathtaking
and offer many photo opportunities.
The tour includes a camera permit, but note that the use of tripods, video cameras,
digital video cameras, binoculars and audio recording devices is prohibited. No
photography is allowed inside the Church and within the cemetery courtyard.
Permission must be obtained prior to photographing tribal members or their
artwork. Commercial use of a photograph depicting Acoma imagery for personal
gain (profit) is prohibited.
After your tour, enjoy a traditional pottery demonstration by one Acoma’s very own
artisans. Acoma pottery is hand formed, using only certain hand tools to help form
the product (no wheels or molds are used). Also, the authentic traditional pottery is
made with all natural earthen ingredients such as processed clay and pottery shards.
Lunch will also provided.
Note: Due to unpaved and uneven terrain, Acoma is not wheelchair accessible.
Acoma Pueblo reserves the right to schedule closures for tribal and ceremonial purposes.
Experience the authentic Southwest
... and one of the oldest cities in the United States! Albuquerque
boasts a unique multicultural heritage and history where
Native American, Hispanic & Latino, Anglo and other
cultural influences are a part of everyday life.
Please Note: Register for tours by using the
Conference Registration Form on page C5 of this booklet.
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