ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO. Welcome to the Golden State! At 6:30 pm, meet your travelling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
2
SAN FRANCISCO. Enjoy morning sightseeing in one of the world's most beautiful cities. Your tour includes Golden Gate Park, Twin Peaks, Fisherman's Wharf, and much more. Afterward, enjoy a spectacular CRUISE around San Francisco Bay. Still plenty of time for pursuing your favourite interests and activities - ride the world-famous cable cars, shop in Union Square, or visit the Museum of Modern Art. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
3
SAN FRANCISCO - WINE COUNTRY - LAKE TAHOE. From the Pacific coast, travel to the lush hills of Sonoma and Napa Valley with its charming wineries. Visit CLINE CELLARS in the Carneros region to tour their vineyards and taste their acclaimed wines. A short drive brings you to the OLIVE PRESS to learn how some of the best extra-virgin olive oil is produced from the first cold crushing of the freshest olives. No visit is complete without sampling several olive oils and a vinegar, too. Continue to stunning Lake Tahoe, surrounded by the Sierra Mountains. There's plenty of time to explore this alpine lake, the largest in North America and also one of the highest. Even though the average depth of the lake is 301 metres (989 feet), it is one of the clearest and purest bodies of water in the world! (B,)
4
LAKE TAHOE - YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK. Southward through the Sierra Nevadas to YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK. Yosemite has innumerable lakes, meadows, ice-sculpted domes, forests, waterfalls, and unspoiled alpine scenery. Descend into the 1,219 metres (4000 foot) valley, where you'll board an open-air TRAM to explore the famous sites of El Capitan, Cathedral Spires, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular! (B)
5
YOSEMITE - CARMEL - MONTEREY. A high point on today's journey is the beautiful 27 kilometres (17-MILE DRIVE), with views of famous Pebble Beach Golf Course and the tenacious Lone Cypress. Enjoy a visit to the resort town of Carmel, a popular haven for writers, artists, and celebrities. Then, on to Monterey and Cannery Row, immortalised by John Steinbeck. Head to the wharf for a visit to the world-famous MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM followed by a special dinner here overlooking the bay. (B,D)
6
MONTEREY - SAN SIMEON - SOLVANG. This morning, journey south to San Simeon and visit HEARST CASTLE, the opulent mansion of wealthy newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, which houses splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions purchased at an estimated $50 million. The tour shows off the highlights of the impressive 123-acre estate. Then, journey to your resort hotel near Solvang. (B,D)
7
SOLVANG - SANTA BARBARA - LOS ANGELES. Visit downtown Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated with picturesque buildings and windmills. Free time to browse through the charming shops featuring Danish imports and rich pastries. Travel through the Santa Ynez Mountains to beautiful Santa Barbara, where the Spanish influence is apparent in quaint whitewashed and tile-roofed buildings. Visit the impressive 200-year-old MISSION with its world-famous twin bell towers. Afterward, enjoy a leisurely stroll along the wharf. Hollywood celebrities' homes dot the shoreline from Malibu to Santa Monica on your way to metropolitan Los Angeles, the motion picture capital of the world. (B)
8
LOS ANGELES. Morning sightseeing of this gigantic metropolis takes you from Olvera Street - the oldest thoroughfare in the city - to Hollywood. Step into the shoeprints of famous movie stars at Grauman's Chinese Theater, and see Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure or take advantage of an optional excursion to Universal Studios. This evening your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your vacation. (B,D)
9
LOS ANGELES-SAN DIEGO. This morning, transfer to the train station and board the AMTRAK train bound for San Diego, California's second-largest city. Upon arrival in San Diego you will be met by a Globus Host who will help you transfer to your hotel and answer any questions about your stay in San Diego. (B)
10
SAN DIEGO. Experience San Diego at your leisure, featuring an idyllic climate and 113 kilometres (70 miles) of beaches. Perhaps visit San Diego's world-famous zoo or take a harbour cruise, complete with dinner and dancing. (B)
11
SAN DIEGO Refer to day 10. (B)
12
SAN DIEGO. The vacation ends after breakfast with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided. (B)
SONOMA: Cline Cellars tour & tasting; Olive Press tour & tasting
LAKE TAHOE
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: Yosemite Valley Floor Tram Tour
CARMEL: Visit the resort town
MONTEREY: 17-Mile Drive; dinner at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
SAN SIMEON: Visit Hearst Castle
SOLVANG: Visit the quaint Denmark-inspired village
SANTA BARBARA: Visit the mission
LOS ANGELES: Sightseeing tour; Getty Museum; farewell dinner
MEALS: American breakfast daily (B), 4 three-course dinners (D) including a farewell dinner in Los Angeles; San Diego Extension: breakfast daily (B)
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable
Meals Breakfast - 11 Lunch - 0 Dinner - 4
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Cost
Description
24
USD
Name:ROCKET BOAT Location:SAN FRANCISCO Details:Get blown away on this 30-minute high-speed tour of the City's historic waterfront. Sail past the sea lions, zoom to the Bay Bridge, fly down to AT&T Park, scream past Treasure Island, and breeze by Alcatraz on the way back to PIER 39. This exciting ride pauses occasionally to allow passengers to catch their breath and capture unique sightseeing and photo opportunities unavailable on other tours. RocketBoat, it's an extreme adventure powered by biodiesel fuel. A blast on the Bay that is not to be missed.
69
USD
Name:LAKE TAHOE DINNER CRUISE Location:LAKE TAHOE Details:Voted the best cruise in Lake Tahoe by readers of The Tahoe Tribune, the Tahoe Queen is the lake191s only authentic Mississippi paddlewheeler. This elegant Lake Tahoe icon recently underwent major renovations to reflect the allure and lustre of the early 1900's when there was truly no finer way to travel. The Sierra Sunset Dinner Dance Cruise offers an unforgettable elegant evening cruise complete with famous Tahoe sunsets, breathtaking views and delicious local cuisine. Cocktails and wine are available for purchase. And after dinner -All of this accompanied by dancing to Steve Walker (or the Steve Walker Band) or stroll the beautiful starlit deck. (Approximately 2.5 hours).
77
USD
Name:UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD - ONE DAY ADMISSION Location:LOS ANGELES Details:No visit to the West Coast would be complete without seeing the world's largest motion picture and television studio. There's a chance to see live shows currently aired on TV, a screen test, comedy theatre, and a daring stunt show.
47
USD
Name:MOVIE STARS HOMES FROM CHINESE THEATER Location:LOS ANGELES Details:Movie Stars' Homes Tour in Los Angeles, provides an exclusive comprehensive narrated tour of breath-taking stars' homes in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and Los Angeles as well as introducing you to Hollywood's iconic Sign and mile-long Walk of Fame, West Hollywood's glittering Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills's glamorous Rodeo Drive! Our professionally trained tour guides will take you in our air-conditioned or open-air mini-buses (featured in "The Osbournes" and "Speed") to see LA's most exclusive residential neighbourhoods. During your two hour tour, your informative fun guide will take you to see over 40 breathtaking mansions. Celebrities are constantly moving in and out of the neighbourhood, so bring your camera... you never know who you might see! (2 hours).
50
USD
Name:48-HOUR HOP-ON HOP-OFF DOUBLE DECKER BUS TOUR Location:LOS ANGELES Details:Only with Starline's City Sightseeing HOP-ON HOP-OFF tour can you discover the whole of Los Angeles on a City Tour that allows you to get on or off the buses at any of our 50 stops! Enjoy the open air view inside our vintage Double Decker Buses from England as the narrated tour points out landmarks from Downtown Los Angeles to the beaches of Santa Monica, with Hollywood and Beverly Hills in between. Hop-on or hop-off as often as you like to explore major attractions, movie studios or dine and shop at Los Angeles's hotspots - when you're ready to continue, just hop back on the bus. You'll be telling family and friends about the HOP-ON HOP-OFF tour for years to come!
Optional Excursions
