Albuquerque Balloon Fest - 2025

Day One  We fly to the land of enchantment—a place where dreams float all around you—well, if not dreams certainly multi-colored balloons!  We tour the historic city of Santa Fe today including the  Loretto Chapel with its remarkable staircase, the end of the Santa Fe trail and the historic adobe-adorned city.  We will see the oldest public building in    America—the Governor’s Palace—an icon of the Southwest.

Day Two  No artist is more identified with New Mexico and the Southwest than Georgia O’Keefe and today you will have a chance to tour the famous Ghost Ranch where she lived.  This is a rare opportunity to see the inspiration O’Keefe felt as she painted some of America’s greatest art pieces.  In the afternoon we visit Plaza Blanca with its incredible white stone cliffs and strange formations.  This is a geologic wonder.  We will keep our eyes open for wildlife. 

Day Three  We visit a former ghost town with its western look all jazzed up.  Madrid is one of the largest artist communities in the world.  The architecture, designs and awesome art will amaze even those that are not artsy.  This afternoon, you will get your first glimpse of the many balloons in the sky.  We will tour the Old Town of Albuquerque and the unbelievable Petroglyph National Monument where hundreds of Native American carvings on rocks tell the history of the ancient ones.  Tonight we will experience something that will blow your mind—the Glow.  The Glow is where hundreds of balloons tethered to the ground light up their balloons in unison—weird shapes, colors and sizes make this an experience you will not forget.

Day Four  We start the day with another highlight of the Balloon Fest.  Nowhere in the world do more balloons gather than here.  It is something you will cherish forever.  We will get into a balloon this morning and take off in a mass launch with several hundred other balloons.  Make sure your camera’s card has plenty of room.  After the balloon ride, we will visit Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, home to bobcats, fox, mink and hundreds of bird species.  This is a wildlife treat like few others.  For the techies out there, we will also visit the Very Big Array—a collection of 24 giant satellite dishes aimed at deep space.  We will learn how this research site is changing our view of the universe.

Day Five  Bill has one more treat for you (a surprise) before we head home with balloons flying and glowing, wildlife, art, magnificent landscapes and ancient history on the mind.