b'Day 1 - Depart Chicago aboard theDay 5 - Durango & Silverton NarrowDawn Patrol- a small group of hot air balloons California Zephyr Gauge Railroadthat check the weather- is up in the air. After Arrive at Chicago Union Station to meet yourThis morning we board the Durango & breakfast in the exclusive Chasers Club Lounge Tour Manager and fellow travelers. Board theSilverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The area this morning, walk onto the field, talk to California Zephyr, settle into your onboardscenery on the route includes the Animas Riverthe balloonists and take pictures of the balloons accommodations, and prepare for your and the Rocky Mountains. The train arrives inas they inflate with cold air until the referees overnight rail journey. Travelers may elect toSilverton in time for lunch before we boardgive permission for lift off. There could be as travel from San Francisco or points in-betweenour motorcoach and drive up the Million Dollarmany as 600 balloons in the air! and meet your Tour Manager in Grand Junction.Highway and through Red Mountain PassAfter the balloons leave the field, we stop at Overnight train.(weather dependent). Overnight Durango, CO. (B)the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Museum Day 2 - Grand JunctionDay 6 - En Route to Santa Fefor a tour and the ceremonial dances that areSpend your time aboard the train admiring theWe depart Colorado this morning for Newperformed during the Fiesta time. Then, it is off passing scenery as we travel to Grand Junction.Mexico. En route, we drive through quaintto Old Town for festivities and lunch on your Overnight Grand Junction, CO. Spanish towns dating from the 1700s. Our firstown. This evening, we return to the Balloon stop is the Rancho de Chimayo Restaurant forFiesta for the Night Glow, when the balloons Day 3 - Arches National Parklunch. We continue first to Ortegas Weavingstay on the ground and inflate and illuminate This morning we follow the Colorado RiverShop to see the handwoven textiles, then toon the field. We return to our hotel after the to Moab, UT, with a stop at Arches NationalSantuario de Chimayo, an 18th-century churchfireworks show. Overnight Albuquerque, NM. (B) Park. We lunch independently in Moab beforefamous for its curative soil. Our final stop isDay 9 - Tour Conclusion continuing our journey to the top of the MesaSanta Fe. We spend the night just steps from theThis day acts as a reserve balloon day ifVerde. Overnight Mesa Verde National Park, Old Santa Fe Trail. Overnight Santa Fe, NM. (B, L)needed. A group transfer to Albuquerque CO. (D)Day 7 - Santa Fe Sightseeing/Airport will accommodate flights departingDay 4 - Mesa Verde National ParkAlbuquerque after 11:00 a.m. (B) The day begins with a tour of Mesa VerdeStart the day with a walking tour of Santa Fe National Park to see the cliff dwellings andand learn about the history of the Spanish surface ruins of the ancient Anasazi people. Thecolonists who helped found this town in 1610.Interested in traveling park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeologicalHighlights include the Palace of the Governors,independently? sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. We begin ourLoretto Chapel and San Miguel Chapel. This tour at the Far View Museum and continue onafternoon we drive to Albuquerque. OvernightAsk a rail specialist about our Ruins Road to view some of the other sites inAlbuquerque, NM. (D)7-day Albuquerque Balloon the park. After lunch, we head to Durango, CO. Fiesta Rail & Drive vacation. OvernightDurango, CO. (B)Day 8 - Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta We set off to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta early this morning. On arrival at Balloon Field, look up to the sky to see if the For Vacations By Rails complete collection of vacations, visit www.vacationsbyrail.com or call 877-253-9891 43'