STORIES BY Ken Burns
3. ANASAZI HERITAGE
old-time saloons, stone churches and turn-of-the-last-century homes. Culturious takes you to places that are off-the-beaten path and not available on your own, like dinner at a private home in the mountains. Tonight, dine on organic, healthy food from the farm, paired with Colorado’s finest wines. Crisp air, an incredible setting and a hearty welcome make this a night to savor and a barbecue dinner that will long be remembered. Meals D
2. THE RAILROAD & GHOST TOWNS All aboard! Ride the rails from Durango through the scenic San Juan Mountains to Silverton aboard a vintage steam-powered locomotive to experience one of the most scenic rail journeys. Anywhere. The world over. The narrow gauge tracks have been in continuous use for 127 years – the historic locomotives are still coal-fired, steam-operated and in vintage condition. Old West towns grew up and prospered thanks to the natural riches of the surrounding mountains. Have lunch in Silverton, a study in “gold rush” prosperity and railroad lore. While the shine may have come off the silver that was mined here, the head-turning natural beauty of this place continues to dazzle. Hop aboard a four-wheel-drive vehicle as we climb higher up into the mountains; ghost towns, like Animas Forks, share their legacies – and views – along the way. Drive back to Durango on the “Million Dollar Highway” before dinner. Meals B
Spend the morning exploring Durango as you wish or join us for a visit to the Railroad Museum, enlivened by fascinating insights from one of the curators who, in addition to loving trains, really knows a lot about their history in the glory days of the American West. After lunch, we’ll drive to your lodge in Mesa Verde National Park, one of the first national parks set aside to preserve the work of the people. Learn about life here when a member of the Navajo Nation shares a contemporary perspective on Native American culture. Meals BD
4. CLIFF DWELLINGS OF MESA VERDE There are some 4,000 known archaeological sites in Mesa Verde, dating from 600 to 1300 AD, vestiges of ancient civilizations that challenged the wilderness – and thrived. Seasonal nomads, these early cultures lived off the land, sharing a communal lifestyle and ceremonial traditions that sustained them through all kinds of weather and hardships. Get an overview of their cultural tenacity at the Mesa Verde Museum, before joining our local guide on a rock-art hunt along dirt paths. Petroglyphs remain etched on sandstone canvasses to paint a telling portrait of its residents. A picnic lunch of Native American foods and a 1/4 mile downhill hike to the Cliff Palace – the largest and most elaborate cliff dwelling in the park is four stories high, with early steep-roofed porches, towers and kivas (ceremonial rooms) – are just part of your Culturious experience. Meals BLD
5. SANDSTONE LANDSCAPES BY JEEP & BY PLANE Be sure to pack your camera for today’s visit to the exact spot where the corners of four U.S. states meet; interstate travel has never been so easy! Impressive, monumental moments continue as we drive to Monument Valley, defying the imagination with
Ride aboard the Durango & Silverton Railroad; hunt for rock art along the dirt trails of Mesa Verde National Park Call your travel agent or Tauck at 8 -00 788-7885
www.tauck.com 41
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