PROGRAM ITINERARY
Program #14382-041011
ON THE ROAD TO ALBUQUERQUE AND CARLSBAD:
THE GEOLOGY OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO
April 10 –17, 2011

Day 1, SUNDAY, April 10

3:00 pm – 5:30 pm                     Arrival and check-in at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Albuquerque

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm                     Register with Road Scholar Group Leader Ray Kriese

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm                     Dinner in hotel dining area

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm                     Introductions and orientation

Day 2, MONDAY, April 11

7:00 am – 8:00 am                     Breakfast in hotel dining area

8:30 am – 12:15 pm CLASSES: "The Geology of New Mexico: An Overview – The Rio Grande Rift and Volcanic History of New Mexico" – Pat Dickerson, instructor, and "General History of New Mexico" –Ray Kriese, instructor (Breaks will be provided.)

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm                   Lunch in hotel dining area

1:15 pm – 5:00 pm                    FIELD TRIP: Bus departs for a brief exploration of Albuquerque, then proceeds on for visit to Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

5:00 pm                                     Bus departs for the hotel

6:00 pm                                     Bus returns to the hotel

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner in hotel dining area FREE EVENING

Day 3, TUESDAY, April 12

7:00 am – 8:00 am                     Breakfast in hotel dining area and hotel check-out

8:00 am                                     FIELD TRIP: Bus departs for_ Boca Negra Canyon at Petroglyph National Monument_

8:30 am – 10:00 am                   Visit to the petroglyphs at Boca Negra Canyon

10:00 am                                   Bus departs for Valley of Fires Recreation Center

11:30 am                                   Pick up boxed lunches at El Camino Restaurant in Socorro at 11:00 am

1:00 pm – 3:00pm                      Boxed lunch and visit at Valley of Fires Recreation Area (shelter area is reserved for group)

3:00 pm – 4:00                          FIELD TRIP: Bus departs for Alamogordo sites selected by group leader, followed by hotel check-in at Best Western Desert Aire

5:15 pm                                     Bus departs for dinner destination

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm                     Dinner at Memories Restaurant (limited menu – give choices to group leader)

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm                     Video presentation about White Sands in the hotel meeting room.

Day 4, WEDNESDAY, April 13

7:00 am – 8:00 am                     Breakfast in hotel dining area and check-out

8:30 am – 12:00 pm                  FIELD TRIP: Bus departs at for White Sands National Monument; pick up boxed lunches at Our Country Kitchen Restaurant at 8:45 am

9:15 am                                     Arrive at White Sands National Monument and a short presentation

10:00 am                                   Explore White Sands National Monument

12:00 pm                                   Return to visitors center

12:30 am                                   Bus departs for Carlsbad, eat boxed lunch on the way, with stops to view geological features

4:30 pm                                     Check-in at the Best Western Stevens Inn

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Dinner at the No Whiner Diner FREE EVENING

Day 5, THURSDAY, April 14

7:00 am – 8:00 am                     Breakfast in hotel dining area

8:30 am                                     FIELD TRIP: Bus departs for Carlsbad Caverns

9:15 am                                     Bus arrives for exploration of Carlsbad Caverns

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm                   Lunch at the cafeteria Carlsbad Caverns

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm                     Time at the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center

1:30 pm                                     Bus departs for Living Desert State Park

2:00 pm                                     FIELD TRIP: Visit Living Desert State Park docent available

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm                     Dinner at Red Chimney Pit Barbeque

6:30 pm                                     Bus departs for hotel

Day 6, FRIDAY, April 15

7:00 am – 8:00 am                     Breakfast in hotel dining area

8:15 am                                     Pick up sack lunches at the No Whiner Diner

8:30 am                                    FIELD TRIP: Bus departs to Guadalupe Mountains National Park for a day of trail walks and, when available, ranger presentations (upon arrival, group goes to Visitors' Center to see slide show; around 10:00 am, a ranger will give a talk about the park)

12:00 pm                                   Sack lunch at the Park

1:00 pm                                     Continue exploring Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

3:00 pm                                     Bus returns to Best Western Stevens Inn

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm                     Rest period at hotel

4:45 pm                                     Bus departs for dinner destination

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm                     Dinner at the No Whiner Diner

Day 7, SATURDAY, April 16

7:00 am – 8:00 am                     Breakfast at hotel dining area and hotel check-out

8:30 am                                     Bus-departs for Albuquerque via Roswell

10:00 am                                   Stop in Roswell for a visit to Roswell Museum and Art Center

11:15 am – 12:30pm                  Lunch at a local restaurant (Golden Corral)

1:00 pm                                     Bus departs for Albuquerque

4:00 pm                                     Arrive at MCM Elegante in Albuquerque & check in

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm                     Dinner at the hotel

7:30 pm – 8:00 pm                     Closing comments in hotel meeting room

Day 8, SUNDAY, April 17

6:30 am – 9:00 am                     Buffet-style breakfast in hotel dining area.

Departure. Check out time from the hotel is no later than 12:00 pm