EXPLORING SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO Featuring Big Bend & Carlsbad Caverns National Parks When people think of Texas and New Mexico, it isn t often that they think of varying animal and plant life, but Big Bend and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks offer that and more. SEPTEMBER 7-15, 2018
OUR ITINERARY DAY 1: FLY TO EL PASO, TX (D) Arrive at El Paso International Airport and transfer to our hotel nearby. Tonight enjoy a Welcome to Texas dinner in the Cattleman s Steak House at the working Indian Cliffs Ranch. Overnight El Paso, TX. DAY 2: MARFA, TEXAS - BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK (B) Heading southeast through west Texas, make a sightseeing stop in picturesque Marfa, home to artists and craftsmen as well as the puzzling "Marfa Lights." Our destination today is the magnificent wilderness of Big Bend National Park. The eighth largest national park in the lower 48, it is located along 118 miles of the Rio Grande, where it makes a big bend roughly 325 miles southeast of El Paso. We ll be guests for the next two nights at the park lodge located in the spectacular Chisos Basin. Overnight Big Bend National Park, Texas. DAY 3: BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK (B, L) As the Park Service puts it, Here, you can explore one of the last remaining wild corners of the United States, and experience unmatched sights, sounds, and solitude. Big Bend is a park for hikers, birders, photographers, and for lovers of all things natural. Over 450 bird and numerous desert animal species, plus hardy varieties of cacti, wildflowers and other annual plants inhabit these harsh climes. Our guided tour along Ross Maxwell Drive features the Sam Nall Ranch, Sotol Vista Overlook, historic Castalon, and breathtaking Santa Elena Canyon. Overnight Big Bend National Park, Texas. DAY 4: FORT DAVIS NATIONAL HISTORICAL SITE - CARLSBAD, NEW MEXICO (B, D) Departing Big Bend, travel north into the Davis Mountains for a visit to fascinating Fort Davis National Historical Site, a major frontier military post established in 1854 to protect travelers, freight, and mail from Comanche raiders along the San Antonio-El Paso Trail. Then, continue to Carlsbad for a 2-night stay. Dinner is included at our hotel this evening. Overnight Carlsbad, New Mexico. DAY 5: CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK (B) Today s featured sightseeing is the splendid Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Above ground in the Chihuahuan Desert see high ancient sea ledges, deep rocky canyons, flowering cactus and desert wildlife. Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves - formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes. Descend by elevator for a self-guided tour of the incredible Big Room. This massive, eight-acre chamber has a 255-foot ceiling and is filled with beautiful, delicate formations, as well as huge columns, stalactites and stalagmites. Overnight Carlsbad, New Mexico. DAY 6: INTERNATIONAL UFO MUSEUM - RUIDOSO (B,D) Continuing north, a visit to the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell will bring visions of flying saucers and little green men, but our afternoon sightseeing at the Hubbard Museum of the American West in Ruidoso Downs will be much more down to earth. The museum houses western art and western and cowboy artifacts. Many traveling exhibits through the affiliation with the Smithsonian Museum are also displayed. We ll be guests for the next two nights at the exceptional mountain casino resort Inn of the Mountain Gods operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe in Ruidoso. Dinner is included at the resort this evening. Overnight Ruidoso, New Mexico.
DAY 7: BILLY THE KID COUNTRY - VALLEY OF FIRES (B, L) A day for varied interests begins as we travel the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway to New Mexico s Lincoln Historic Site, the historic frontier community where Billy killed his guards and escaped from the Lincoln County Courthouse in 1881, only to be shot dead in nearby Fort Sumter by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Next is a visit to the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan to learn the story of America s original symbol of forest fire prevention. Smokey died in 1975 and is buried here. Finally, sightseeing at the Valley of Fires Recreation Area in Carrizozo showcases the gigantic Malpais Lava Flow. Approximately 5,000 years ago, Little Black Peak erupted and flowed 44 miles into the Tularosa Basin, filling the basin with molten rock. The resulting lava flow is four to six miles wide, 160 feet thick and covers 125 square miles. The lava flow is considered to be one of the youngest lava flows in the continental United States. Overnight Ruidoso, New Mexico. DAY 8: WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT OLD MESILLA, LAS CRUCES (B, D) Motoring through the Mescalero Apache Reservation, stop to see the historic St. Joseph Mission. St. Joseph Apache Mission church sits nestled in the heart of the Sacramento Mountains where it stands as a tribute to the faith, patriotism and courage of the people of southern New Mexico. This inspiring Romanesque church was built to serve the people of the Mescalero Apache Reservation, and has been dedicated as a memorial to veterans who gave their lives in World War I and II. Through the years St. Joseph Apache Mission has continued to serve the spiritual and communal needs of the Mescalero Apache and surrounding neighbors. A final sightseeing highlight will be our afternoon visit to incredible White Sands National Monument, an awesome expanse of snow-white, gypsum sand dunes that cover 275 square miles and rise to a height of 60 feet. We ll travel the 16-mile Dunes Drive and have an opportunity to scale convenient dunes along our route. Note: Occasionally the road into the monument can close due to missile testing. Overnight accommodations await in Las Cruces, and a delicious farewell dinner will be served in nearby Old Mesilla, an historic town rich in history, culture, and heritage. Overnight Las Cruces, New Mexico DAY 9: FLY HOME FROM EL PASO (B) Transfer from Las Cruces to El Paso International Airport for your return flights home. Big Bend National Park is home to many species of plants, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Bound by the Santiago Mountains on the north and the Rio Grande River and Mexico on the southern side, portions of the northern Chihuahuan Desert lie within the park and the jagged peaks of the Chisos Mountains also cut across the heart of Big Bend territory. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico. It features more than 100 caves, including the Big Room, a huge underground chamber in the cavern. Throughout our tour, explore incredible caverns, magical white sands, and unexplained phenomena of America s desert south west, while visiting real working ranches, eating West Texas Barbeque, and gazing at stars like you ve never seen before.
PRICE PER PERSON: $2,999.00 Double Occupancy $3,799.00 Single Occupancy $2,699.00 Triple Occupancy Travel Protection: $172.00 Travel Protection: $242.00 Travel Protection: $172.00 INCLUDED FEATURES: Round trip airfare from Ohio to El Paso, Texas All ground transportation aboard a deluxe highway motor coach 1 night in El Paso, Texas 2 nights in Big Bend National Park, Texas 2 nights in Carlsbad, New Mexico 2 nights in Ruidoso, New Mexico 1 night in Las Cruces, New Mexico 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 4 dinners All entrances to parks, monuments, and museums outlined on itinerary Guided tour of Big Bend National Park Visit to Fort Davis National Historic Park Visit to West of the Pecos Museum Visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park including Big Room Visit to International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell Visit to Hubbard Museum of the American West Drive the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway Visit to Lincoln Historic Site Visit to Smokey Bear Historical Park Visit to Valley of Fires Recreation Area Visit to St. Joseph Mission Visit to White Sands National Monument All baggage handling, taxes and gratuities on included items NOT INCLUDED: Meals other than those included on itinerary Baggage handling fees imposed by airlines Incidentals at hotels Items and services of a personal nature Optional travel protection Optional transportation to/from your home and Ohio airport ($40 pp) CONTACT YOUR FREEDOM YEARS TEAM FOR RESERVATIONS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. Fairfield National Bank 740.681.8251 FNBFreedomYears@FairfieldNationalBank.com First-Knox National Bank 740.399.5132 FreedomYears@FirstKnox.com Richland Bank 419.525.8742 BSchopp@RichlandBank.com United Bank 419.845.2721 FreedomYears@UnitedBankOhio.com
Southern Texas & New Mexico Trip Important Information Payment: A deposit of $500.00 per person plus the optional travel protection premium, if purchasing, is due at the time of booking. Final payment is due on or before June 7, 2018. Cancellation Policy: For cancellations prior to June 7, 2018: $100 per person penalty Cancellations made on or after June 7, 2018: All money is non-refundable. Travel/Health Policy: It is required that persons needing assistance be accompanied by a companion who is capable and totally responsible for providing that assistance. Neither Freedom Years nor its suppliers may assist with medications, wheelchairs, or physically lift persons onto transportation vehicles. Travelers needing special assistance must notify Freedom Years when they make their reservations. Responsibility: Park National Corporation/Freedom Years/World of Travel, Inc are not responsible for personal injury, loss, damage of property, inconvenience or expense resulting from matters beyond their control. Park National Corporation/Freedom Years/World of Travel, Inc will not be held liable for any claims for errors or default by hotels, airlines, and ground operators. Any costs involved in delays due to Acts of God or weather will be the responsibility of the individual passenger, not the airlines, trains, or ground operators. Payment of required deposit or any partial or full payment for reservations constitutes your consent to these conditions. Travel Protection: The Travel Insured Group Deluxe travel protection plan is available for your purchase. Some benefits are time sensitive, including the pre-existing condition waiver, so we encourage all travelers to purchase the plan at the time of initial trip deposit. Refer to your plan document for complete plan details including benefits and exclusions and limitations. Rates are based on overall trip cost. The schedule of insurance coverage and the other services are listed below. The pre-existing medical condition exclusion will be waived if the protection plan is purchased prior to or with final trip payment for the full non-refundable trip cost, the booking for the trip is the first and only booking for this travel period, and you are not disabled from travel at the time you purchase the travel protection. Schedule of insurance coverage and other services: Trip cancellation trip cost* Trip interruption** 150% of trip cost* Trip delay 6 hours $750 ($150/day) Baggage/personal effects $1,500 Baggage delay 24 hours $400 Accident & sickness medical expense $50,000 Emergency evacuation & repatriation $250,000 Accidental death & dismemberment $25,000 Worldwide emergency assistance services included *Up to the lesser of the trip cost paid or the limit of coverage for which benefits are requested and the appropriate plan cost has been paid. Maximum limit of $10,000. **150% of trip cost paid up to a maximum of $10,000 for the unused portion of your trip and the transportation cost to re-join the trip or return home. Should it become necessary for you to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered reason as stated in your certificate of insurance a claim will be filed with Travel Insured International. Note: World of Travel must be contacted for a state-specific certificate of insurance if you reside in: GA, KS, LA, MN, OR, SD, TX, UT or WA. NOTE: World of Travel will not make any representations about what conditions or occurrences the travel insured policy will cover, which will be provided to each participant. It is the traveler s responsibility to review the full policy (certificate of insurance). Should you have any questions regarding coverage in the travel insured policy, please call TRAVEL INSURED at 800.243.3174 and reference plan GROUP DELUXE PROTECTION PLAN # 49517 for clarification.