From vintage aircraft, to mighty missiles, to the stars, trace the developments of flight and space research. Amazement and mystery combine as we learn about our solar system, and what lies beyond the far reaches of space. We will visit the Kitt Peak Observatory with its state-of-the-art telescopes. Examine exciting aircraft from the early days of aviation and learn about changes in technology over time at the Pima Air & Space Museum. Explore the 200 vintage aircraft including an SR-71, mock-ups of space capsules and reconnaissance aircraft. At the only remaining Titan Missile site, take a tour deep into the silo. Come experience the challenges beckoning from the Arizona skies; join us for a closer look Under the Desert Sky.

Accommodations & Meals: Full-service hotel lodging. Free parking. All meals included.

#13287AU | 5 Nights

Babe Ruth said: “Baseball was, is, and always will be the best game in the world.” Come to spring training baseball in Tucson and learn what he meant with the dynamic Diamondbacks, the legendary White Sox and the rising Rockies. Attend three Cactus League Spring Training games and extend your knowledge of the game. Enjoy film clips, classic baseball literature, tales of its most memorable characters, and toe-tapping baseball music. Hear from team representatives and discuss the fine points of the game with your instructor, Jerry Kindall, retired infielder for the Cubs, Indians and Twins. Three-time National Coach of the Year, Kindall was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997.

This program includes a trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Accommodations & Meals: Full-service hotel lodging. Free parking. All meals included.

#7194AU | 5 Nights

Soak up the sights and sounds of the relaxed lifestyle of the Old Pueblo. Tucson’s spirit of the West welcomed early Spanish, Native American, Asian, Anglo-European and African American cultures. These influenced an array of history, art and architecture. Bask in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert as you study the city steeped in the tradition of “Tucson casual.” Field trips include the tram at Sabino Canyon, San Xavier del-Bac restored mission, and the Desert Museum populated by desert animals in a natural setting. See the University campus; take in the Arizona Historical Society and State Museum. Experience a dining pleasure at a guest ranch and discover Tucson’s history, sophistication and laid-back leisure.

Accommodations & Meals: Full-service hotel lodging. Free parking. All meals included except for one lunch, which allows you to explore the local cuisine on your own.

#1068AU | 6 Nights

From Tucson, venture south to explore northern Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and natural history. Accompanied by knowledgeable instructors, travel through the Sonoran Desert’s vast natural resources viewing tropical deciduous forests, flowering trees, and columnar cacti. Visit Magdalena, important in the 18th-century mission movement and burial place of Padre Kino. Continue south to Guaymas on the Sea of Cortez and to a pearl farm, then to the 17th-century colonial town of Alamos. Visit restored haciendas and their gardens and walk cobblestone streets. Visit Aduana, site of a mission established in 1630, and see the “miracle cactus” growing on the church wall. Proceed to Navojoa and a boat tour of the Bay of Yavaros wildlife preserve. Meander through mangrove inlets populated by a variety of bird life, including over 400 bird species. Relax, relish a seafood feast on a white sand beach, and enjoy a serenade of traditional Spanish songs. Limited to 35 participants.

Much walking required, sometimes over uneven surfaces. Recommended for the active Exploritas participant. This is a moving classroom. Travel is by motor coach with reclining seats, TV monitors and bathroom. Journey is 475 miles (one way) through beautiful high desert plateau surrounded by mountains. Passport is necessary. Mexican Visa fee may apply.

Itinerary: Arrive Tucson, 1 night; Sonoran towns of Guaymas, 1 night; Alamos, 2 nights; Navojoa, 2 nights; departures from Tucson. Independent arrivals at Tucson International Airport by 4 p.m. Final day, arrive in Tucson at approximately 6 p.m. Free parking in Tucson for duration of trip.

Accommodations & Meals: Motel lodging. All meals included.

#1067AU | 6 Nights

Learn foreign diplomacy from veteran Foreign Service Officers who have served in embassies throughout the world. Examine case studies from various countries to illustrate how embassies conduct our government’s business, assist U.S. citizens, promote exports, and deliver humanitarian aid. From this global context of diplomacy, review what the U.S. has sought to accomplish in Mexico and assess how successful we have been. Learn about the political and economic spheres of NAFTA, immigration, and other issues. Discuss U.S./Mexico border relations with the people who work at the international border. Join us as experts bring to life the evolving relationship with our important neighbor to the south.

Program includes day trip to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. A passport may be necessary for the field trip to Mexico. Walking required, up to ½ mile, and can include uneven surfaces.

Program in association with The University of Arizona and the American Foreign Service Association Accommodations & Meals: Full-service hotel lodging. Free parking. All meals included.

#8198AU | 5 Nights

Authentic local flavors mix to create the rich and varied cuisine of the Southwest and Mexico. Compare the taste, texture and aromas of the smooth, sweet and spicy blends that are favorites of the area. Distinguish between gold and silver tequila and the many varieties of salsa. Join Tucson celebrity chefs demonstrating the art of Southwest cooking. Then, travel to Nogales and enjoy the delights of northern Mexican cuisine. Let aromas of traditional dishes tempt you on a chef’s tour in Nogales, Sonora with a visit to a Mexican grocery store and the colorful Mexican marketplace. Experience lively mariachi music and create culinary delights with recipes to take home. Enjoy instruction in the culinary arts with abundant tasting opportunities.

Itinerary: Arrive by 5 p.m., Tucson 3 nights, coach to Nogales, 3 nights. Final day, transfer from Nogales to Tucson. Independent departures from Tucson, arriving Tucson by approximately 9:30 a.m.

Accommodations & Meals: Hotel lodging, both locations. Free parking. All meals included, except for one dinner in Tucson where you may explore the local cuisine on your own.

#8188AU | 6 Nights

Golf and natural history intermingle in the foothills of the majestic southern Arizona Mountains. This program begins with great golf outings and expert instruction first in Tucson and then in Nogales. Brush up on your skills and get ready for a great golf season. Clinics include full swing, chipping and putting. Enjoy three days of group clinics followed by three 9-hole rounds of golf on championships courses with a riding cart. On the fourth day play 18 holes of golf. This program is for intermediate players. Bring your own clubs or limited rentals are available. A study of the natural history complements the golf program. Gain a better understanding of the complex relationships among plants, animals and their natural environments in the richest desert ecology in the U.S. A journey to the Mexican marketplace, Nogales, Sonora, is included. Courses require soft-cleat golf shoes – no steel spikes.

Itinerary: Arrive, Tucson, 2 nights (arrive by 5 p.m. first night); Nogales, 3 nights. Final day transfer from Nogales to Tucson, arriving by approximately 9:30 a.m. in Tucson for independent departures.

Accommodations & Meals: Hotel lodging. Free parking. All meals included.

#8080AU | 5 Nights

Discover how the earliest settlers of the desert Southwest created a community and maintained their culture as you explore the changing world of Arizona tribes and their customs, art, music and ceremonial life. Venture into the Old West in the picturesque hillside mining town of Bisbee and its neighbor, Tombstone, “the town too tough to die.” Continue on to Nogales for the remainder of your trip. Talk with local ranchers at a working cattle ranch where the TV series Rawhide was filmed to learn about modern-day “cow punchers.” Travel into Old Mexico to experience the lively marketplace. Venture through local flora and fauna at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Walk through history at the missions of San Xavier and Tumacacori Historical Park.

Itinerary: Arrive by 5 p.m., Tucson 2 nights; coach to Nogales, 3 nights. Final day, transfer from Nogales to Tucson. Independent departures from Tucson, arriving Tucson by approximately 9:30 a.m.

Accommodations & Meals: Hotel lodging, both locations. Free parking. All meals included.

#7504AU | 5 Nights

Dazzling, colorful and amazing describes this “jewel” of a week. You will be immersed in gem stones and regional works of art. Begin at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, and walk the aisles of this internationally famous convention where thousands of vendors display their wares. Class time will shed light on the significance of the gems and stones, how to identify them, and how they are used. Mid-week, travel to Nogales, Arizona, and visit Tubac, the oldest European settlement in Arizona and an internationally known artists’ colony. Learn to recognize the beauty of art objects from the Southwest with their mix of myth and culture, drawn from Native American and Mexican life. View art work such as basket weaving, pottery and jewelry making. Field trip will include Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. A passport is necessary for this activity.

Itinerary: Arrive by 5 p.m., Tucson 3 nights; coach to Nogales, 3 nights. Final day, transfer from Nogales to Tucson. Independent departures from Tucson, arriving Tucson by approximately 9:30 a.m.

Accommodations & Meals: Hotel lodging, both locations. Free parking. All meals included.

#7320AU | 6 Nights

Sunny days make for pleasant winter hiking in the desert surrounding Tucson. This adventure is a series of hikes over four days in the Saguaro National Park in the Tucson Mountains and the Santa Rita Mountains. Warm sunshine is never far behind the winter rains which fill creek beds and create rare waterfalls. It’s also a great time for bird watching as woodpeckers build nests in the saguaro cacti. The week begins with a 5-mile, gentle grade hike. Throughout the week, hikes build to moderate and high levels of exertion, with a change in elevation of several thousand feet over the course of 8 to10 miles. Daytime temperatures average in the mid- to low-60’s. Previous hiking experience required. Irregular terrain; hiking boots required.

Accommodations & Meals: Motel lodging. All meals included.

#1066AU | 5 Nights

Join certified bridge teachers and directors to learn how to think, and win, like an expert. Bridge instructors ranked in the top 1 percent of tournament players worldwide share their passion for the game and the secrets they have mastered playing Tournament Bridge. Learn why a partnership is only as strong as the weakest link and why points don’t take tricks. Discover when to bid slams, how to keep your opponents off-guard and your partner informed, and how to make the most of the little hands. Workshops cover your role as declarer, partnership defense, sharpening your competitive edge and more. Play four full sessions of duplicate bridge. In the evening, enjoy ranch activities such as line dancing, cowboy poetry, rope tricks and more.

Accommodations & Meals: Ranch resort is located on five square miles of lush desert adjacent to the Saguaro National Park and 28 miles north of the Tucson International Airport. Experience the timeless aura of a working dude ranch. Ranch lodging varies in size. All meals included.

#16545AU | 5 Nights

Experience great golf on a premier course nestled in the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains in southern Arizona. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, the world-class course features gently rolling fairways and large greens for a beautiful yet challenging golf experience. Enjoy four days of group clinics with expert, PGA-certified instructors, each one followed by a nine-hole round of golf at the resort. Instruction to suit all levels includes tips and techniques to improve your swing, drive, chip shot, putt, and long and short games. To help you more deeply appreciate your beautiful environs, discuss with experts the natural environment of the Sonoran Desert and discover various cacti and desert wildlife on a nature walk at the resort.

Accommodations & Meals: Resort lodging with heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and tennis courts. Each guestroom has its own private patio or balcony. Free parking. All meals included.

#15413AU | 5 Nights

Retrace the steps of mission priests and explorers as you review the 17th Century mission system that shaped this frontier area. Begin in Tucson with historic San Xavier del Bac, “White Dove of the Desert”, acclaimed by many to be the finest example of mission architecture in the United States. It is a graceful blend of Moorish, Byzantine and late Mexican Renaissance architecture. View the sandstone facade of St. Augustine Cathedral named after Tucson’s patron Saint. Learn about the famous artist Ted DeGrazia, who studied with mural masters Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco as we visit his art gallery the “Mission in the Sun”. Travel to Nogales, AZ, to walk the ancient grounds of the Tumacacori Mission that tells the story of the first Europeans who came to southern Arizona. Let us share with you the legends, myths, customs, and art of this colorful area. Other field trips include the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tubac Art Colony, and the colorful marketplace in Mexico.

Itinerary: Arrive by 5 PM, Tucson 3 nights, coach to Nogales, 2 nights. Final day, transfer from Nogales to Tucson. Independent departures from Tucson, arriving Tucson by approximately 9:30 AM.

Accommodations & Meals: Centrally located hotels with restaurant, swimming pool, internet, and swaying palm trees. Walking distance from city sights and sounds. Free parking.

#1065AU | 5 Nights

This program is ideal for those who have some basic knowledge of Spanish and would like some reviewing before moving on to a higher level. Refresh your basic Spanish language skills in this extraordinary Accelerated Language Program. The first full day enjoy "whole-brain" learning with role play, visualization, mind-mapping, games and dialogues presented by a bilingual instructor. With vocabulary and phrases needed to travel, head for the border in Nogales, Arizona where you will delve into regional life and continue your language study. Learn about U.S./Mexico relations and current political events. Discover how current economics influence commerce and trade. Learn more conversational Spanish than you thought possible and practice it throughout your trip. Field trips include the Mexican marketplace and a Mariachi performance.

Itinerary: Arrive by 5 PM, Tucson 2 nights; coach to Nogales, 4 nights. Final day, transfer from Nogales to Tucson. Independent departures from Tucson, arriving Tucson by approximately 9:30 AM.

Accommodations & Meals: Both hotels are centrally located, featuring on site restaurant and lounge, swimming pool, data port, and many in-room amenities. All meals are included. Free on-site parking.

#6363AU | 6 Nights

From the stars to the desert, experience a verdant valley in southern Arizona at a traditional dude ranch. Tucson, the gateway to southeastern Arizona, is famous for its night skies, unique habitats, and world-class birding. This program offers several diverse topics, all connected through a common theme of the living desert. Early morning ranch outings and classroom discussions will expand your knowledge of local habitat and provide opportunities to view numerous wintering birds mingled with fresh spring arrivals. Explore how astronomers perform their magic as you observe and learn about the solar system through a night viewing. Other topics include honey harvesting, creating a dude ranch, and wildlife rehabilitation.

Accommodations & Meals: The White Stallion Ranch resort is located on five square miles of lush desert adjacent to the Saguaro National Park and 28 miles north of the Tucson International Airport. Experience the timeless aura of a working dude ranch. Lodging varies in size. All meals included.

#1069AU | 5 Nights