Celebrate Independence Day with a guided tour to Santa Fe, New Mexico where you’ll experience holistic healing practices, nature, art, New Mexican cuisine, and of course, the historic plaza. Couples and solo travelers welcome.

Jill Dutton, travel writer and publisher of Evolving Magazine, has traveled to Santa Fe numerous times and is eager to share with you the beauty, art, and history of Santa Fe.

Tour Description

Find out why Travel & Leisure ranks Santa Fe as the #4 city in the world. This 7-day tour will take you walking through the plaza area to experience the shops, the churches, the Indian Market, and the majesty that is Santa Fe. Art enthusiasts will enjoy visiting Canyon Road and the Georgia O’Keefe Museum. And while you’re there, you can experience healing practices like hot springs, an oxygen bar, and a reiki session.

Southwest Chief

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief runs from Chicago to Los Angeles. We’ll board in Kansas City, but if it’s more convenient to depart from Chicago you may fly to Chicago (airfare not included in tour rate) and meet up with the group when the train arrives in Kansas City. The rate is for a coach seat from Kansas City to Lamy, NM, with a reclining chair and plenty of leg room for sleeping. You may upgrade to a sleeper car for an additional fee, depending on availability.

Highlights and Inclusions

• Rail travel on Amtrak (1 night on train each way)
• Hotel accommodations for 4 nights at Inn of the Governors (check out their photo gallery here)
• 5 group meals (2 dinners and 1 lunch in Santa Fe; 1 lunch on train; 1 dinner on train, alcohol not included) plus complimentary breakfast at the hotel each morning
• Walking tour of Santa Fe
• Walking tour of Canyon Road
• Hiking the River Park Trail
• Admission to Georgia O’Keefe Museum
• Hot Springs at 10,000 Waves Japanese Spa
• Shuttle service to and from Lamy train depot; shuttle to 10,000 Waves and Canyon Road
• Optional: discounted Oxygen session or a massage at Santa Fe Oxygen Bar (by appt.)
• Optional: discounted Reiki sessions with Lynne McMahan (by appt.)

Itinerary

Day 1/July 2 – Depart Kansas City on the Southwest Chief
Depart Chicago or Kansas City aboard the Southwest Chief for the overnight ride to Lamy, NM. Sleep in the comfortable and roomy coach seat. You can either bring food for your breakfast or purchase it in the dining car or lounge car. You’ll go to sleep and wake to the Colorado mountains.

Enjoy the scenery while traveling through New Mexico; you’ll want to spend time in the observation car for the best views. We’ll meet for lunch in the dining car, then arrive in Lamy in the afternoon. A shuttle will take us to the Inn of the Governors in Santa Fe, just in time for afternoon Sherry and Tea. Check into your hotel with the evening free to rest and enjoy dinner at your leisure.

Day 3/July 4 – Santa Fe
After breakfast, we’ll take a walking tour of the historic plaza including the shops, Indian Market, and churches. We’ll have lunch together at The Shed–New Mexican cuisine at its finest.

In the afternoon, you’re free to explore, spend time writing, schedule a massage or reiki session, then dinner on your own. We’ll meet up for Independence Day activities after dinner.

Day 4/July 5 – Santa Fe
Your morning is free to relax and explore–or if you scheduled a massage or reiki session, enjoy those during this time. After lunch, we’ll hike the River Park Trail. Then in the afternoon, we’ll take a tour of the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, followed by a rooftop dinner together at Blue Corn Cafe. After dinner, enjoy live entertainment outdoors at the Santa Fe Bandstand.

Day 5/July 6 – Santa Fe
We’ll meet up mid-morning to visit the hot springs at 10,000 Waves Japanese Spa. After lunch on your own, we’ll meet up again to walk Canyon Road and view the art galleries. Then dinner and live music at Cowgirl BBQ.

Day 6/July 7 – Depart for Kansas City 
Spend the morning at your leisure to pack and finish any last-minute shopping, then we’ll take the shuttle about noon to Lamy for our departure to Kansas City. Settle in on the train, watch the scenery, take a nap, journal about your experiences…then meet for dinner together in the dining car.

Day 7/July 8 – Kansas City
The Southwest Chief arrives in Kansas City about 7 a.m. Time to say goodbye!

 Rates

7 Days

Per person/double occupancy–$1,465

(bring a friend or we can pair you with another guest)

Per person/single occupancy–$1,833

Payment: deposit of $200 due upon registration ($100 non-refundable); the balance is due by May 22.

To register: call Jill Dutton at 913-944-1298 or email jill@evolvingmagazine.com with questions.

Be sure and RSVP on the Facebook event to stay current on posts and updates.

Meet & Greet

We’ll get together (for those in KC) a week before departure on June 25 to get acquainted, make plans for the trip, and answer any last-minute packing questions. It’ll be great to know each other before we depart! Time and location, tbd.

Inn of the Governors

* Complimentary Full Breakfast Buffet

* Wireless internet access in lobby, meeting rooms, and sleeping rooms at no cost

* Complimentary newspapers in the lobby daily

* Cozy saloon and patio serving a delicious and inexpensive menu

* Complimentary Tea and Sherry served 4 to 5 pm in the lobby

* Front desk/concierge services

* Free access to computer in lobby for Internet, word processing, and printing

* Outdoor heated swimming pool (open year-round)

“The Traditional Rooms are rich in color, decorated in a charming Southwestern Style.  These rooms are accessible by stairs and/or elevator and have exterior entrances facing beautiful flower boxes along the railing.  It was our goal to create a fresh aesthetic, increase comfort, and update our amenities while maintaining the best value possible.  Each room feels comfortable and includes luxurious bedding with 300 thread count, triple sheets, unique touches like tin mirrors and accents, and handmade pine furnishing.”

Optional Activities (not included in rate):

These providers are offering discounted rates for healing services. Schedule in advance either a reiki treatment with Lynne McMahan or an oxygen treatment or massage at the Santa Fe Oxygen Bar. When signing up for the tour, mark which services you require and what day you prefer. The practitioner will contact you to set the appointment and get payment info.

Santa Fe Oxygen Bar: offering a discounted wellness package. Mention the tour when making appointments.

Reiki Session with Lynne McMahan: Lynne is offering a one-hour reiki session, normally $75 for $50 just for our tour guests.

To read some of Jill’s past articles about Santa Fe:

9 Spectacular Places to Eat in Santa Fe, New Mexico

My Favorite Places to Stay in Santa Fe (video)

Santa Fe Has It All for Lodging

Upcoming Trips:

Chicago–live theater and comedy

Hermann, Mo.–Oktoberfest

Flagstaff–2018