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Planning my Family ReunionWhere would a world traveler take their whole family?By Madelyn Miller
I was of course selected chairman of my mother's eightieth birthday celebration location selection committee. (If any of my mother's friends are reading this, it is not until next year, honest) My qualifications for this job are that everyone thinks I have been everywhere. And I have been almost everywhere. But I go to the places that interest ME, usually not dragging a group of people with diverse interests and sleeping and eating habits. I am not an organizer, I am a writer. But I love my Mom and the rest of the family, so I accepted the responsibility. And ever since, I have looked at each location I have visited with a new insight. Or a new need to know what would a teenager or a horse-lover do at that destination? Where is the nightlife? What will a vegetarian eat? Can we go shopping? Can we get good deals? Can the type-A members find enough to do at the same place where others veg out? I have taken this responsibility so seriously, that I have asked other travelwriters and travelers. Most people suggest a cruise. And while I think that is a good idea, I am not so sure that would appeal to the teenagers. Or young singles in my family. Recently, I finally went someplace that met all the criteria. Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort, just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Actually, I had not set out any criteria. But like true love, I thought I would know it when I saw it. Top Ten reasons why I think Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort would be great for a family reunion:
It is not so isolated that you can't go shopping if you get the urge. (another thing that is important to my family) In fact, you can get to Albuquerque in 20 minutes, to downtown Santa Fe in 45. Yet you never have to leave the property, something that is important for the two members with heart conditions. There are wonderful areas to gather as a group, in the lounges, around the nightly campfire, or a Trading Post for a quick snack attack.
Prices are reasonable for the elegant surrounding. There are all kinds of special
activities that have been designed for families. I just hope the rest of my
family likes it as much as I did. The next big decision is when do we go? I would love to go back anytime. But that is the responsibility of another committee. Families Play Together & Stay Together at Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort
Tamaya Traditions: Traditional pueblo bread baking class using authentic "huruna" ovens taught by a member of the Santa Ana Pueblo in the Tamaya Courtyard followed by fresh bread taste testing ($8 per person, free for children under 12). Clay and Culture (Pueblo Pottery Class): Experience a tradition that has been handed down to Tribal women from generation to generation. Work hands on with a Pueblo woman as you mold clay in the traditional way using the pinch and coil methods of pottery making. Create and paint your very own pottery piece to take home as a memory of your visit to Tamaya. ($25 per person, children under 12 half price) Pony Rides by Misty: Complimentary pony rides for children ages 3 - 10. Trail Riding: A horse-drawn wagon ride to the nearby resort stables for a guided trail ride thru the Pueblo Back Country ($60 per person) Foods on Fire: Family cooking class with Tamaya Chef de Cuisine including the "secret" indigenous ingredients used in Tamaya signature dishes and instruction on how to prepare the special meal which the family enjoys together in the signature Corn Maiden Restaurant ($125 per adult $60 for children 8 - 12, minimum two adults per class.) Tee Tips At Twin Warriors: Personalized golf instruction from the Jim Struber Golf School pros for parent & child and the chance to test their skills during 9 holes of play on the resort's Twin Warriors Golf Course (Private lessons: $90 per hour, Playing lessons: $120 per person, 9 holes of golf may be added after 3:00 p.m. daily for $80 per adult.) Yoga For Family Health: 90-minute yoga instruction. ($15 per person) The Sky's the Limit Hot Air Balloon Rides: Birds eye view tours of the spectacular high-desert landscape flying over the Sandia Mountains, the Rio Grande River and the Jemez region ($160 per person) Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa is one of the largest resorts ever developed on Native American Land and it's the premier destination resort in New Mexico. Located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Tamaya rests along the Rio Grande River with the Sandia Mountains as the backdrop. Along with it's unique cultural environment offering traditional pueblo bread baking demonstrations and tastings and tribal dance performances Tamaya is home to the world class Tamaya Mist Spa and the championship Twin Warriors Golf Club.
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They say the person who is not there often gets elected
committee head.
I liked it so much
that I want to go back
The food is wonderful. Perhaps that should be reasons number one, since that
is very important to my family.
There are wide open spaces and beautiful vistas and hiking areas. So if
someone needs time out from the family, they can wander off on their own. My
niece, Heather Jensky, can even go horseback riding. (but no Heather, you
cannot bring your horse. I know YOU think he is part of the family, but he
just doesn't fit in around the dinner table)
There is an
interesting educational side as you learn about and participate in some of
the Santa Ana tribal activities. I learned to (pictures "bread oven" and "mm
making bread" make bread in an outdoor oven. If you don't like to cook, you
can still come taste the homemade bread for free (with jams and butters)
when it comes out of the oven. I also made my own adobe brick the old
fashioned way. A great souvenir and it was free.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa has launched a family
program that offers parents, grandparents and kids unforgettable shared
experiences with activities such as yoga, horseback riding cooking classes
and more. The new program has been named Srai-Wi which means, "to gather
children together and share with them" in the Native language of the
resort's owners the Santa Ana Pueblo. 
Tamaya's unique location, rich history and culture add fun, educational and
inspiring experiences to the family vacation. The Srai-Wi family program
organized activities have an added focus on interaction between parents and
kids and are personalized to participant's skill levels:
Journey Thru Tamaya: Journey through the
history and culture of the Santa Ana Pueblo, meet a Tamayame (member of
Santa Ana Pueblo), tour the Tamaya Cultural Museum and Learning Center, take
a guided walk through the Bosque, make traditional adobe, and enjoy a snack
pouch filled with indigenous treats. (Complimentary). 