Travel across Kansas and into Colorado where you’ll enjoy spectacular scenery with Aspens at their golden peak, reflecting off the lakes and mountains. Spend a night in Taos, New Mexico, nestled among the peaks of the southern Rocky Mountains. The Spanish and Indian heritage of this unique community is mirrored in the charm of its pueblo-style adobe architecture. You’ll have free time to browse through the plaza’s many quaint art galleries, studios and boutiques. An expert local guide joins you for a full day of touring. Begin with a brief tour of Taos, then you’ll travel along the scenic Rio Grande Canyon towards Santa Fe, New Mexico’s state capital. The narrow winding streets and shaded central plaza host a wide array of historic landmarks, cultural museums, fine art galleries and boutiques. Highlights of Santa Fe include visits to the Loretto Chapel which houses the Miracle Staircase and more. Relax on the plaza for lunch on your own, with time to browse the shops and visit Native Americans selling jewelry and handicrafts. Delight in a scenic view of 15,000 square miles of Central New Mexico with a bird’s eye view of Sandia Crest, the magnificent summit of the Sandia Mountains as you travel the Turquoise Trail. Take a step back in history when you pass through gold mining towns now alive with arts, crafts and restaurants. Arrive in Albuquerque and check into the Best Western Rio Grande in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque for 3 nights. A short scenic drive takes you to the Acoma Pueblo where you’ll rise high above the world to “Sky City.” This pueblo dates back to 800 A.D. and is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the U.S. Our local guide will acquaint us with their customs as we walk through the village perhaps stopping for pottery or a taste of the local food. In Old Town Albuquerque, you’ll visit the locally owned Turquoise Museum to see some of the most extensive collection of turquoise in the world with free time to brow. se the shops. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta starts bright and early this morning. Arrive before dawn to feast your eyes on the stunning Mass Ascension of balloons at sunrise. Plenty of time to browse the vast array of food and souvenirs vendors to get breakfast on your own (breakfast burritos are a local tradition). The myriad colors of the more than 800 balloons can only complement the glow of light coming up over the New Mexico horizon. Next, visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and witness a performance of Indian dancers. A significant part of the oldest American culture, Pueblo Indian history and artifacts are displayed in the museum’s many exhibits. Before you say goodbye to the Southwest, you’ll see the Special Shapes Rodeo where balloons of many different shapes will dazzle you as they lift off. Enjoy catching images of these unusual designs on camera, and again as the sun comes up on the beautifully serene New Mexico day. Heading back to the Midwest, we’ll have downhome American fare for our included dinner and an overnight in Liberal, Kansas. Continue our trek homeward for our final drive into Kansas City. Bid farewell to your new-found friends, and begin to plan for your next adventure with McKinzie Tours.