Enjoy a wonderful winter escape with Sara, her husband Ron, quilters and their husbands, and friends to the
Tucson "Quilt Fiesta", Northern Mexico and the Copper Canyon. Travel across the Sierra Madre and into the nooks
of the Copper Canyon as you encounter millennia of Mexican history. The group will again go with Grand Circle Travel who
have taken good care of the King's Quilters Tours since the 1999 tour of China.
TUCSON pre-trip
extension for $195
This adventure can begin for you with two extra days in Tucson staying at the beautiful
La Posada Lodge. These optional two days will allow you to arrive and rest the first day. That evening we will visit the
Cactus Quilt Shop, only 5 blocks from our lodge. The owner, Nancy Landon, will be waiting to show us her line of SW patterns
and a grouping of special SW fabrics. We will also have time to visit with some Arizona quilters.
The second day
will include a tour of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum which offers a world renowned zoo, natural history museum, and a botanical
garden. Within the museum grounds, you'll see 300 animal species, 1200 kinds of plants, and almost 2 miles of paths covering
the 21 acres of beautiful desert. After lunch on your own, you'll begin a tour of Tucson known for its downtown Arts
and Historic Districts that feature galleries and museums.
The third day, Sunday, January 18th, will be for the "Quilt
Fiesta". For complete information about that wonderful show, go to www.tucsonquiltersguild.com.
For those
who do not choose to take the two pre trip days in Tucson, your trip will begin here with:
DAY 1 DEPART HOME
/ ARRIVE TUCSON, ARIZONA
You will fly or drive to Tucson this day and meet us at the "Quilt Fiesta"
or go directly to the La Posada Lodge. You may find out about this beautiful lodge by going to www.laposadalodge.com.
DAY 2 TUCSON / CASAS GRANDES
This morning you will enjoy breakfast at the lodge before departing
for Casas Grandes. Along the way our program director will help you prepare for your encounters with Mexican culture with
a Spanish lesson. Tonight we will have a Welcome Dinner at the Hacienda Hotel where we will stay 2 nights.
DAY
3 CASAS GRANDES / OPTIONAL MEXICAN DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT
After breakfast we will depart for a Mata Ortiz
village where we will go to a potter's home and see him demonstrate his craft. We will enjoy an included lunch and have
time to wander the village on our own. Tonight the dinner is an optional Mexican feast with live entertainment.
DAY 4 CASAS GRANDES / CHIHUAHUA
After breakfast we will visit Paquime and explore the mysterious clay
buildings and ceremonial monuments of this renowned archaeological site. Return to our hotel for lunch and then go to Chihuahua
where we will have the evening to explore on our own. We will stay at the Hotel Palacio del Sol for 2 nights.
DAY 5 CHIHUAHUA
This morning we will have a city tour to see the Government Palace and the Museo Grafico
de la Revolution Mexicana where Pancho Villa once lived. During the afternoon Sara will have her first quilting class. Throughout
the trip, when time allows, we will again meet for class, show and tell, or just sitting and stitching. This evening we will
get a unique opportunity to visit a local family in their home. We will be served dinner there and get to know how they live.
DAY 6 DIVISADERO
After breakfast we will depart for Divisadero. En route we will stop in
Guerrero to have lunch in a picturesque family owned orchard in the countryside. After we settle into the Hotel Divisadero-Barrancas
where we will stay for 2 nights, we will have our dinner.
DAY 7 DIVISADERO / OPTIONAL TARAHUMARA VILLAGE
TOUR
Explore th most spectacular parts of Divisadero today, including a lookout point offering breathtaking
views of the Copper Canyon and the famous Balancing Rock. We will also visit a local mestizo village. This afternoon you
can take an optional tour to a local village to learn about the Tarahumara way of life. You can interact directly with the
Tarahumara Indians and see their weaving. This evening we will enjoy a dinner at our hotel and a detailed discussion about
the Tarahumara traditions which will include a basket weaving demonstration.
DAY 8 DIVISADERO / EL FUERTE
We will have a morning of leisure to catch up on sleep or wander around the town. After lunch at our hotel
we will board restored cars of the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad for a scenic ride through the Sierra Madre. After this
wonderful afternoon we will arrive in El Fuerte where we will have dinner at the El Fuerte Hotel where we will be staying
2 nights.
DAY 9 EL FUERTE / OPTIONAL RIVER FLOAT TRIP
We will travel to the village of Tehueco
to get a true glimpse into the life of the Mayo people. These indigenous people have lived for thousand of years just like
their ancestors. We will meet the elders, witness traditional dances, see their native crafts and enjoy a tortilla making
demonstration. We will also visit a local church and the Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez Elementary School which is supported by
the Grand Circle Foundation. If you wish, you can join an optional river float trip to see the ancient petroglyphs. Tonight
there will be a Mexican folklore performance at our hotel followed by a buffet dinner featuring local cuisine.
DAY 10 EL FUERTE / SAN CARLOS
After breakfast we will set out for coastal San Carlos known for its
picturesque red tiled roofs and yacht filled harbor. We will cross the magnificent Sonoran Desert and have lunch at a local
restaurant along the way. We will stay at the San Carlos Plaza Hotel for 3 nights.
DAY 11 SAN CARLOS / OPTIONAL
SUNSET CRUISE AND DINNER
After breakfast we will journey to the Monterrey Institute of Technology where we
will learn the fascinating process of pearl cultivation. Then we will have a panoramic drive through Guaymas, Mexico's
7th largest port, where we will see the Plaza de los Tres Presidentes, the 19th century cathedral de San Fernando and the
bustling harbor. We will have lunch on our own and the rest of the afternoon can be spent fabric shopping with Sara. There
will also be an optional sunset cruise and dinner.
DAY 12 SAN CARLOS / OPTIONAL NATURE OR FISHING VILLAGE
TOURS
We have the day to explore San Carlos again with Sara or join an
optional nature tour to view Mexico's unique flora and fauna during a 2 hour tour along the tranquil waters of the San
Carlos Bay. Later there will be an optional horseback ride to a fishing village with a delicious fishing village lunch.
Tonight we will have dinner at our hotel.
DAY 13 SAN CARLOS / TUCSON
After breakfast we will
have a scenic drive through Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state, and stop for lunch at Santa Ana's Elba Restaurant.
We will return back to the La Posada Lodge for our final night. We will share a farewell dinner at a local restaurant during
which we will exchange our wonderful memories of this shared tour.
DAY 14 TUCSON
Today we
have to say "adios" as we return home with fond memories of beautiful sights and friends we have met along our adventure
to northern Mexico.
This spectacular tour includes 13 nights at first class or unrated hotels in rooms with private
baths, 13 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners, 5 sightseeing tours, rail transportation, private motorcoach land travel, exclusive
services of a private Grand Circle program director, quilting classes with Sara Newberg King, baggage handling for 1 piece
of luggage, and much more.
Now that you have read this interesting itinerary,
I hope you want to join us for a fascinating tour with quilters and their friends and family. The price for this 14 day tour
is an exceptional value at $1695, double occupancy, plus $40 in taxes. If you want optional insurance, that is
$254. The optional 2 day pre-trip extension in Tucson is $195. Also air from your city to Tucson can be booked with Grand
Circle Travel at an additional cost. If you want one of the 4 single rooms available, the single supplement is $495.
I have 24 spaces for our group held until they are filled or September 1st, so please get your deposit in soon to capture
a space on this wonderful tour.
A $350 deposit is required to sign up for this tour. Call Grand Circle at 1-800-597-2452 Option
#2 and tell them you want to be in King's Quilters Group GG90-983. There
will be an early payment discount available if you pay in full within 14 days after you receive your invoice. The earlier
you put your deposit down for this trip, the more the early payment discount will be!
If you have questions or just want to visit with
me , please give me a call at 507-398-2022 or email me. I would like to get to know you.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Sara Note: Sara will be out of the country
until July 25th. Please call Grand Circle and make your reservation. Then email Sara on July
25th to let her know your plans.
