Journey West with Boscov’s Travel

With so many options for travel around the globe, we often forget some of the most amazing sites are right next door, so to speak. The Western US offers many unique attractions, from national monuments and parks to best kept secrets known mostly to seasoned travelers and locals.

We’ve packaged the very best of these experiences into eleven unique, exclusive and unforgettable adventures. See the West the way it was meant to be seen, without having to drive or stress. We pride ourselves on taking the road less traveled and telling the stories that have formed the great history of the West.

These tours continue to be some of our most popular vacations and with this year’s new and updated itineraries, there is sure to be a Western tour that will help shorten your bucket list.

You can check out all of the great options and their inclusions here: Boscov’s Travel Western Tours

Tours:

• 10-Day Alaska by Land- June 1-10, 2013
  • Enjoy escorted tours around the beautiful state of Alaska including a train ride, a private sightseeing cruise and tours of Denali National Park.
• 10-Day Northern California & Yosemite - June 16-25, 2013
  • There will be no whining on this tour, but plenty of wine! Visit several California wineries as well as tour the picturesque San Francisco Bay and surrounding areas. Also, enjoy the beauty of nature in Yosemite National Park.
• 9-Day Wonderful Wild West - July 13-21, 2013
  • Tour Denver, CO; journey along the Oregon Trail; visit Mt.Rushmore; explore Yellowstone National Park and much more in the Wonderful Wild West!
• 10-Day Oregon/Washington Cities, Seashores and Mountains - July 28- August 6, 2013
  • Did you know you can visit a rain forest in the US? You can in Washington! You can also visit the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park and Mt. Saint Helen’s National Volcanic Monument and much more on this exciting adventure!
• 9-Day Northern Rockies National Parks - August 10-18, 2013
  • Explore Yellowstone National Park and take unique tours of the Northern Rockies such as an open air train tour and a tour on an antique fire engine!
• 9-Day Western National Parks - August 31 – September 8, 2013
  • Take exciting tours of Salt Lake City, UT, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, WY, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. Have your cameras at the ready!
• 9-Day Southern National Parks, including Lake Mead and Las Vegas - September 15-23, 2013
  • Besides living it up on the Las Vegas Strip, enjoy the beauty of the Colorado River, Arches National Park, Capital Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. This could be your lucky trip!
• 9-Day Colorado and New Mexico Balloon Fiesta - September 29 – October 7, 2013
  • Tour the Garden of the Gods and Rocky Mountain National Park, take memorable train rides through beautiful landscapes and top it all off with a visit to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!
• 7-Day Ozark Autumn with Branson - October 13-19, 2013
  • This trip is packed with entertainment! Enjoy dinner and a show at Dixie Stampede, an acrobatic display during the Acrobats of China Show, and the musical stylings of the Oakridge Boys and the 12 Irish Tenors. And don’t forget touring the lovely landscapes and museums of the area.
• 7-Day Colorado Christmas - December 3-9, 2013
  • Enjoy the holiday season in gorgeous Colorado! Take part in a Christmas parade, enjoy the Christmas lights and even do some holiday shopping at the Georgetown Christmas Market.
• 7-Day Southern California with Rose Parade – December 30, 2013 – January 4, 2014
  • Get a behind the scenes look at the Rose Parade before enjoying the finished product. Also, tour all that Southern California has to offer including Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Reagan Presidential Library and Warner Brothers Studios!

All of the Boscov’s Journey West packages include the following:

• Airport transfers in your destination cities (except for pre- and post-tour arrivals)
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation throughout the tour
• First class accommodations
• Several meals
• Services of a professional Journey West Tour Director
• Admissions and guided tours of all included activities
• Porterage of on piece of luggage throughout the tour
• Souvenir memory group photo
• Special photo album
• All taxes and gratuities for the Tour Director and Driver

For more information or to book your Journey West adventure, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Santa Fe, New Mexico: “The City Different”

Proudly hailed as “the city different,” Santa Fe is simply unparalleled with its rich heritage, history, culture and art. Nestled in the picturesque Sangre de Cristo Mountains—foothills to the Rocky Mountains—the city immerses visitors in unspoiled natural beauty and an average of 325 days of sunshine and clear blue skies.

Spanish for holy faith, Santa Fe offers plenty of fun for everyone—spectacular dining and shopping, relaxing spas, museums, skiing and outdoor adventures for all skill levels.  Whether it’s exploring the city’s vibrant central Plaza, taking in the world-famous Santa Fe Opera during the summer months or exploring the region’s Native American, Latino and Western Cultures, visitors to the city might be slightly overwhelmed at having so much to choose from and experience.

Explore History

 

If it’s your first time visiting Santa Fe, consider starting your adventure downtown.  With a number of historically significant sites like the Plaza, Saint Francis Cathedral, Lorretto Chapel, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Palace of the Governors, downtown Santa Fe offers many interesting sites all within comfortable walking distance to each other.

Not to be overlooked is the Plaza—the heart of downtown Santa Fe and a central part of the city for nearly 400 years. The Plaza remains the city’s cultural hub, hosting Indian and Spanish markets and other annual events as well as community gatherings, concerts and more.  After you’ve explored the Plaza, venture north on Palace Avenue to visit the Palace of the Governors.  Originally built in 1610 to serve as Santa Fe’s capital building, this one-story adobe holds strong as the oldest, continuously used U.S. public building in the nation.  The Palace holds a collection of over 15,000 authentic southwestern objects and artifacts.

Continuing down the Old Santa Fe Trail, visitors will discover Loretto Chapel and the infamous spiral staircase.  With two complete 360-degree spiral turns, and no visible means of support, this “miraculous” staircase continues to baffle present day engineers.  Plan a visit to the Loretto Chapel and witness what some believe to be the craftsmanship of St. Joseph himself.

Snow, Blue Skies & Shopping

Excitement takes many forms in and around Santa Fe.  Adrenaline seekers will find spectacular skiing conditions just 30 minutes from the city in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Ski Santa Fe offers world-class skiing and snowboarding with dozens of amazing trailheads that also allow access to many continental divide hiking trails, cross country skiing trails, and scenic vistas.  Couple the light and dry snow with steep terrain and an incredible panorama, and it’s hard to beat skiing in Santa Fe.

What continues to set this city apart from other great destinations is its phenomenal weather and crystal-clear blue skies.  To make the most of the superb climate, consider taking a hot air balloon ride with one of the region’s many hot air balloon outfitters.  These romantic and breathtaking journeys gently ascend into the sky and provide an awe-inspiring view of the southwest’s alluring terrain.  With prior arrangements, balloon companies offer special services for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and more.

For unique shopping, Santa Fe hosts the country’s largest and most celebrated Native American market. Everything from handmade jewelry and intricate textiles, to contemporary paintings and photography can be found throughout the 600 individual booths.  The Santa Fe Indian Market features the work of more than 1,100 artists hailing from over 100 native tribes. Nearly 10,000 people, including collectors, gallery owners, and art enthusiasts flock to Santa Fe each August for the Native American Indian Market.  The 2012 market is scheduled to take place from August 18-19.

Fine Art & Dining

Art is everywhere in Santa Fe—and in addition to splendid Native American art, the city is also home to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. As the most visited art museum in New Mexico, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to an internationally known American woman American woman artist. One of the most significant artists of the 20^th century, Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was devoted to creating imagery that expressed what she called “the wideness and wonder of the world as I live in it.” O’Keeffe’s images include abstractions, large-scale depictions of flowers, leaves, rocks, shells, bones, New York cityscapes, and paintings of architectural and landscape forms of northern New Mexico.

After a day of relaxing art viewing, a truly authentic Southwestern meal at one of Santa Fe’s best restaurants will certainly be welcomed. Be sure to visit Santa Luna Restaurant for “can’t miss” dishes like Chile en Norado (roasted poblano pepper stuffed with ground beef, dry pineapple, pecans, piñon, almonds, and raisins, topped with pecan sauce and pomegranate blend) and Cochinita Pibil (pork cooked in banana leaves and marinated in sour orange juice and achiote). Other local dining spots to place at the top of your list include Pink Adobe, Coyote Café and the El Farol Restaurant and Cantina.

A few tips to make your Santa Fe getaway more comfortable…

• Allow plenty of time for your body to adjust to Santa Fe’s high altitude and thin air.
• Sunscreen is highly recommended year-round.
• Check out the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival during the summer season for five weeks of live music.

For more information on Santa Fe or to book a trip, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist or call 800-755-8020.