Healing Waters of the Rocky Mountain Tour 2021 16 Nights and 15 Days
- Day After check-in and a little freshening up – Welcome dinner at the Buckhorn Exchange, Denver’s oldest restaurant, opened in 1893 by Henry H. Zietz, who rode with Buffalo Bill’s scouts from the age of 12, and was dubbed “Shorty Scout” by Chief Sitting Bull. The upstairs bar was built in Essen, Germany (the ancestral home of the Zietz family) and imported and assembled in Denver. O/N Denver Hotel Monaco
- Day – Morning Denver city tour ( driving) , lunch on your own, afternoon Idaho Springs with a stop at Buffalo Bill’s grave, possible sighting of Buffalo herd, soak at Indian Hot Springs, stroll & shopping, and have early dinner at the famous Buffalo Burgers. O/N Denver – Soaking
- Day Getting ready for the Denver Pow-Wow, the second largest Pow-Wow in North America. Enjoy beautiful ceremonial dance competitions, with vendors lining the interior of the coliseum, offering Western attire & Native-made goods. O/N Denver
- Day – today we say goodbye to the Mile High City and head Southwest towards Buena Vista and Salida. Both towns have a long mining industry from the 1850’s. Settlers mined for gold, silver and copper. First, we enjoy a great soak in the healing waters of Cottonwood Hot Springs. Tonight, we sleep in Salida, a lovely little Westerntown with great shopping and Lattes . O/N Salida Soaking
- Day Heading towards Taos, New Mexico, we travel along Highway 17 where some unexpected surprises wait for us (Crocodiles and UFOs)! For lunch we stop in Crestone, a smallcommunity (population 127 as of 2010 Census!) that has become a spiritual center with several world religions represented, including: a Hindu temple, a Zen center, a co-edCarmelite monastery, several Tibetan Buddhist centers, and miscellaneous New Age O/N Taos
- Day – in the morning we have a fun time shopping in Taos Plaza. Western art and turquoise jewelry await. On the way to Santa Fe we have time to soak at the very famous Thermal Pools of Ojo Caliente which means careful hot and the waters are filled with priceless rejuvenation qualities. Get ready to feel 15 years younger. Soakimg
We have a great dinner waiting for us in famous Santa Fe. O/N Santa Fe
- Day – Today we first have a Santa Fe city tour, and then we have a nice relaxed day in this lovely artistic town. Some of you might just want to sip on Margaritas at the famous La Fonda Hotel, which also features upscale arts and goods. Others might enjoy a massage in their room. Even other ones will treat themselves to some of the many amazing galleries of Santa Fe. Relax and enjoy yourself in Santa Fe with her many great restaurants and wonderful Mexican Cuisine. The Blue Corn Pancakes come highly recommended! O/N Santa Fe
- This morning we head north again for our journey up Colorado’s Western Slope (meaning, west of the Continental Divide, the “backbone” of the continent). On our way out of town we stop at Abiquiu, New Mexico, the place where artist Georgia O Keefe made her home. We have time to tour the Ranch, have lunch and ample time for photos and shopping. We arrive in Pagosa Springs where we have a lovely soak in the wonderful waters of Pagosa Springs. O/N Pagosa Springs. Soaking
- Day … This morning we get to sleep in and have a possible quick group soak in another spa in Pagosa Springs as we are beautifying ourselves for our night on the town in amazing Durango where a Wild West show with dinner awaits us. Before we turn in we enjoy a night cup at famous Strater Hotel where you would expect John Wayne to step in the Saloon any second. O/N Durango – Strater Hotel
- In the morning we have some time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and time for laundry or wandering the town. After lunch we take a trip to see the amazing cliff dwellings of the ancient Anasazipeople at Mesa Verde National Park. Afterwards, time for dinner and for strolling the lovely Wild West town. O/N Durango – Strater Hotel
- We continue north to Telluride, a most wonderful Western town where we will spend the next 2 nights. An old mining town from the 1850s. Fantastic views of the surrounding mountains greet you all along main street. There we will have time for lunch and a bit of strolling through the variety of charming shops. On to Ouray which is called The Little Switzerland in America, where we find an easy 500-ft hike into Box Canyon to visit the waterfall.
Day 12. We spend some long soaking time at famous Orvis Hot Springs ( clothing optional) with the amazing healing waters of Orvis (cold plunge also available!). We continue on just a short distance to Ridgeway and the True Grit Café, dedicated to John Wayne. Most of the movie True Grit was filmed in Ridgeway.
Tonight, we sleep in Glenwood Springs, another old mining town. The Hot Springs pool there is internationally known and boasts visitors from around the world; or you can choose to enjoy the benefits of the famous Yampah Vapor Caves.We stay at the fabulous Hotel Denver, with a salon/spa and a café on site. Great outdoor activities are available for those want adventure!
We then travel on to the town of Blackhawk where we will spend the last night. Once a rough and tumble town, it now sports numerous casinos and gambling establishments! Colorado’s first capitol city, Central City, is located just up the hill, offering the Tabor Opera House and various other historic attractions.
Day 13 – time to say Aufwiedersehn