Cultural Sites and Daily Itinerary

Great Museums, Interesting Historic Sites and Unique Accommodations make this a Cultural Journey

Heritage Hotels & Resorts is proud to offer you accommodations in hotels that provide travelers a genuine cultural experience and a sense of place about the region you are visiting. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a journey along the Camino Real. Book your package now!

Your Journey Along the Camino Real Package includes the following:

• A comfortable guestroom at any of our hotels in Santa Fe, Albuquerque or Las Cruces
• Delicious breakfast for two each morning
• Two museum Culture Passes which allow you access to major the New Mexico State museums and historic sites.
• Plus museum passes for two to several other museums in Santa Fe and Las Cruces.
• A welcome packet containing all the information you will need to begin your journey and to keep as a memoir.
• A special gift for staying with us and discovering why New Mexico is a great place to visit.

The Camino Real Package gives you access to the following New Mexico Museums and Historic Sites:

Museum Highlights in Santa Fe

The New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe and the Palace of the Governors - Their grand opening begins on May 23rd and celebrates the museums brand new building and services. Events are planned all summer long to showcase the amazing culture and history of New Mexico. http://www.nmhistorymuseum.org

The Georgia O' Keeffe Museum - This beautiful facility is considered to be one of the country's most important museums, housing the works of one of the century's most important artists. The Museum's collection of over 2990 works comprises 1149 O' Keeffe paintings, drawings, and sculpture and is the largest single repository of O' Keeffe's work in the world. http://www.okeeffemuseum.org

Museum Highlights in Albuquerque

The Albuquerque Museum - The Albuquerque Museum offers a wide variety of art exhibits and ongoing programs throughout the year. Entertaining visitors from all over, this museum displays a very broad range of art from European masters to the intriguing artists and craftsmen of New Mexico. http://www.cabq.gov/museum

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science - Dinosaurs, geology, space and so much more, this museum offers something interesting for everyone and has exciting exhibits and programs all year long.

Museum Highlights in Las Cruces

The Las Cruces Museum of Art - Located next to the Branigan Cultural Center is the Las Cruces Museum of Art. This year they kick off with some exciting exhibits. On February 5th, Warhol & Pop Art featuring pieces loaned from the DeLaVega family and New Mexico State University. Special events will be planned around during the exhibition including lectures, educational programs and concerts. Children's author, James Warhola will occur on March 6th. During the Spring time the annual high school and NMSU Bachelor of Fine Arts show will showcase their fine works of art. In December the Museum of Art feature Looking Ahead: Portraits from the Mott-Warsh Collection. www.las-cruces.org/museums

Las Cruces Museum of Natural History - Located inside the Mesilla Valley Mall, the Las Cruces Museum of Natural History features permanent exhibits of live animals and plants of the Chihuahuan Desert, along with hands-on-science and natural history exhibits for children and children at heart. 2010 brings two new and wonderful exhibits to the museum for you to enjoy. Beginning January 29-May 9th experience a View from Space and from May 21st- September 12th Hatching The Past: Dinosaur Nests, Eggs and Young.

Branigan Cultural Center - Located next to the Las Cruces Museum of Art in the Downtown Mall, the Branigan Cultural Center features in-house and traveling exhibitions, regional, historical and permanent collections and the work of local and regional artists. 2010 marks 75 years since its construction and will be featuring a special exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution entitled Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942-1962 beginning in May and then followed by a photo exhibit titled Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray in August. Be sure to to stop by again for a wonderful year end exhibit called Jam Session: America's Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World. www.lascruces.org/museums

Railroad Museum - 2010 marks 100 years of the historic Santa Fe railroad depot! The centennial celebration begins with a lecture series entitled, 100 Years Ago: A Cross Cultural Look at Life in 1910 Southern New Mexico. Stop in to hear a variety of humanities-related lectures held at noon on the first Tuesday of each month from January -November . On May 6th-8th enjoy the Railroad Days event which returns with a dedication of the museum being inducted into the National Register of Historic Places. Mark your calendars for December 3rd as the museum is decorated in it's entirety for the holidays and you can only guess who the specials guests are.

This information was taken from this wonderful article by Cheryl Fallstead, President of the Foundation for the Las Cruces Museums in the Las Cruces Bulletin. Las Cruces museums offer exciting exhibits for 2010

There are also many more Museums, Historic Sites, Fantastic Eateries and Scenic Byways to discover during your journey. Go to the NM Visitors Guides to more find details.

• http://www.newmexico.org/
• http://www.itsatrip.org/
• http://www.santafe.org/
• http://www.lascrucescvb.org/

Read more about the Historic Camino Real.