Had to post already!!! Sorry its not the best TR......Im happy to answer questions or give more details on specifics.....

2 families flew from Mia to ABQ and rented our 2 SUVs and headed to Durango. The drive was a little under 4 hours and we stopped along the way at gas stations for snacks and bathrooms.

We arrived at the Double Tree in Durango and our other travel mates (one more family) were waiting for us there and had made dinner reservations in town.

Day 2 - we had booked in advance the Silverton Train and Snowmobile package with Ice Pirates. Crazy day. Loads of snow!

Day 3 – we were supposed to go to Mesa Verde, but there was a high wind advisory and snow alert. We decided to drive up to the Durango ski resort to go tubing. Everyone had a ball. There was a massive amount of snow coming down and getting back town into town was terrifying!

Day 4 – we drove back to New Mexico to Santa Fe and checked in to the Four Seasons in Santa Fe. The property is gorgeous!! And the staff is very attentive and accommodating, really above and beyond. We ate breakfast at the hotel every day and it was delicious!

Day 5 - we spent an afternoon in a glass blowing class at Prairie Dog - everyone loved this!!!! We have all our artwork displayed at home. 2 vases, 2 flowers, and 2 paperweights!
We stayed in SF Christmas eve and had the hotel shuttle take us to Canyon Road.

Day 6 – Christmas Day – We did the hotel guided morning hike. Then we ventured to a nearby Pueblo (not Taos) for the Deer Dance. And headed further out to another Pueblo for the Machina (is this right?) Dance. Very cool stuff.

We didn't get to eat as well as we hoped in SF - being 12 for dinner was pretty tough Christmas week.

Day 7 - We drove to Los Alamos and visited the Bradbury museum - excellent!!! We wish we had time to make it to Bandelier – but it had been snowing most of the day and would be getting dark in a few hours – we thought it was best to skip it. We drove back to SF and spent those few hours on Canyon Road visiting galleries.

Day 8 – Morning in Santa Fe, then drove to Hyatt Tamaya. Went to Old Town to have late lunch/early dinner.

Day 9 - Horseback riding at the resort. Lovely folks at the rehab horse ranch. Tried to bike in the afternoon as the hotel lists bike to borrow on their activities pages, but they had a total of 3 adult sized bikes and 2 bikes for very young children. This was pretty disappointing.

Day 10 - Tent Rocks to hike for a few hours. Also a big hit with the kids.

Day 11 – travel day - took forever to get home….delayed flights, missed connections, missing pilots…..

Thanks for posting the report! Sounds like you had a good time overall.

I think you're talking about the Matachines dance.

Lee Ann

Ya done great!! Thanks for taking the time to report back, always nice to see what folks ended up doing.

Sounds like a fun filled vacation!! Thanks for the report.

Thanks, great to hear. I do like your approach in what highlights you hit. Have always wanted to visit some of the smaller pueblos, but never seem to plan appropriately. Good job.

Thanks all!!! And thanks for all your trip planning advice!!!

Its funny....when you have never been somewhere its really hard to imagine (and plan) how the trip will unfold.