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Enjoy a dreamy West Coast vacation with iconic attractions and time at leisure for personal pursuits or relaxation. Begin with a city tour of San Francisco as we ride the famous cable cars, see Golden Gate Park, and spend time at Fisherman’s Wharf. Travel into the heart of Napa Valley, one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world, for an included tasting before continuing on to Sacramento for a farm-to-fork tour of locally sourced, gourmet dishes. Try your luck panning for gold at Kennedy Gold Mine and then view Yosemite National Park’s natural wonders, including the amazing sequoia trees in Mariposa Grove. Discover fascinating marine life during a privately chartered whale-watching cruise in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and a visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium, then climb aboard a 19th-century train for a wonderful ride through redwoods. Our journey concludes in the San Francisco area with a celebratory Farewell Dinner.
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September 6, 2024 - September 14, 2024
Occupancy
Price Per Person
Double
$5299
Single
$6199
Final Payment Date: 06/23/2024
September 13, 2024 - September 21, 2024
Final Payment Date: 06/30/2024
October 4, 2024 - October 12, 2024
Final Payment Date: 07/21/2024
June 6, 2025 - June 14, 2025
$5999
$7199
Final Payment Date: 03/23/2025
June 13, 2025 - June 21, 2025
Final Payment Date: 03/30/2025
September 5, 2025 - September 13, 2025
Final Payment Date: 06/22/2025
September 12, 2025 - September 20, 2025
Final Payment Date: 06/29/2025
October 3, 2025 - October 11, 2025
Final Payment Date: 07/20/2025
Day 1 : Fly to California
We begin our adventure with a flight to “The City by the Bay” and transfer to our deluxe accommodations for two nights.
Day 2 : San Francisco
This morning, we board San Francisco’s iconic cable cars and ride along downtown’s fascinating streets. Afterward, a local expert joins us for a driving tour of the city where we see top highlights including Twin Peaks, Market Street, Golden Gate Park, and much more. We break for lunch and leisure time at Fisherman’s Wharf, the historic bayside district with restaurants, shops, and sea lions sunbathing. Later, we cross famous Golden Gate Bridge and get to know our new traveling companions during a Welcome Dinner in nearby Sausalito.
Day 3 : Napa Valley & Sacramento
Our morning starts with a journey into the heart of one of the most celebrated wine-growing regions in the world: Napa Valley. Enjoy a guided tour and tasting at Castello di Amorosa, a medieval Tuscan castle winery, followed by a wonderful included lunch. This evening, we partake in a local food tour in Sacramento with restaurant visits to meet chefs who teach us about the local farm-to-fork culture while enjoying a selection of delicious gourmet dishes. Our hotel for the evening is in Sacramento.
Day 4 : Railroad Museum & Kennedy Gold Mine
We begin the day with discovering the Golden State’s 150-year rail history at the California State Railroad Museum, including original engines dating back to the 1860s. This afternoon, we’re immersed in history with a tour of the Kennedy Gold Mine. An expert guide emphasizes California’s gold rush era of the mid-1800s as we learn about mining and receive a complimentary poke sack for collecting our own treasures while we try our hand at panning for gold! Later, we travel to Oakhurst and check in for our two-night stay.
Day 5 : Yosemite National Park
Today, we explore the scenic protected lands of Yosemite National Park. At Mariposa Grove, embark on a delightful hike through enormous sequoias. These remarkable trees can live for more than 2,000 years and grow up to 300 feet tall! A park guide then joins us as we view some of Yosemite’s most famous landmarks, including Yosemite Falls, the Half Dome, and El Capitan. Afterwards, enjoy time to explore Yosemite on your own. Browse the Ansel Adams Gallery’s collection of famous nature photography, take a leisurely stroll along a beautiful trail, visit the park store, or watch a short film at the onsite theater.
Day 6 : Castle Air Museum & Monterey
After an included breakfast, we begin our drive back toward the California Coast and stop at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater. This military aviation museum features exhibits that showcase technology from the past and give sneak peeks into the future of flight. We then visit Casa de Fruta, a family-owned orchard featuring nuts, wine, sweets, and other gifts before arriving at our Monterey hotel for a two-night stay.
Day 7 : Whale Watching
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before a fun day filled with California marine life. Start the day with an incredible, privately chartered whale watching cruise in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. While taking in the scenic views, gain insight from the onboard naturalist or marine biologist. After our cruise, we visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, commonly rated as one of the top aquariums in the United States with regional marine life, including its groundbreaking living kelp forest. This evening is yours for individual exploration or relaxation.
Day 8 : Roaring Camp Railroads
After a leisurely morning, we arrive at the Roaring Camp Railroads station for a round-trip journey through towering groves of redwood trees. While similar in size, redwoods are taller than sequoias but have smaller cones and darker bark. We then return to the San Francisco area with time to unwind before celebrating our adventures with our new friends at a Farewell Dinner.
Day 9 : Fly Home
We return home with fond memories of our dreamy coastal California getaway.
Upon arriving in the “City by the Bay,” we settle into our deluxe accommodations for two nights.
This morning, we board San Francisco’s iconic cable cars for a quintessential ride downtown. Afterwards, a local guide joins us for a driving tour of the city’s top highlights, including Twin Peaks, Market Street, Golden Gate Park, and more. We then enjoy leisure time at Fisherman’s Wharf, the historic bayside district with restaurants, shops, and sea lions sunbathing. Tonight, we cross the famous Golden Gate Bridge to nearby Sausalito and get to know fellow travelers during a Welcome Dinner.
Today, we journey into the heart of one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world: Napa Valley. Indulge in a tasting of renowned vinos after our guided tour at Castello di Amorosa, a medieval castle winery that's reminiscent of Italy’s stunning Tuscany region. Following an included lunch, we depart the picturesque countryside and make our way to Sacramento. This evening, we partake in a tantalizing food tour with a variety of gourmet dishes at local restaurants. Meet the talented chefs behind the meals and learn about the area’s farm-to-fork culture while delighting your taste buds with the city’s incredible culinary scene.
Our day begins by discovering over 150 years of rail history at the California State Railroad Museum. See several steam locomotives dating as far back as 1862 and browse intricate exhibits that tell the story of how railroads changed life in the West. This afternoon, we’re immersed in California’s gold rush era of the mid-1800s during a tour of the Kennedy Gold Mine. Learn about mining from our expert guide, then receive a complimentary poke sack for collecting your own treasures while panning for gold! Later, we travel to Oakhurst and check in for our two-night stay.
We explore the scenic protected lands and natural wonders of Yosemite National Park today! In Mariposa Grove, take a leisurely hike through enormous sequoias and marvel at how they can live for more than 2,000 years and grow up to 300 feet tall. A park ranger then joins us as we view some of Yosemite Valley’s most famous landmarks, including Yosemite Falls, the Half Dome, and El Capitan. There is also time to explore Yosemite on your own, such as grabbing a bite at an eatery, going for a stroll along a beautiful trail, or visiting the park store.
This morning, we begin our drive back towards the coast and stop at Castle Air Museum in Atwater. This military aviation museum features historic military and presidential aircraft, plus exhibits that showcase technology from the past and provide a glimpse into the future of flight. We then visit Casa de Fruta, a family-owned orchard that offers nuts, wine, sweets, and other gifts. Later, we arrive at our Monterey hotel for a two-night stay and enjoy a leisurely evening.
Today’s adventure is all about discovering California’s spectacular marine life! We embark on a whale-watching cruise in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a gorgeous, protected region that’s highly studied for conservation efforts. While taking in the scenic views, enjoy insight from the onboard naturalist or marine biologist. After an included lunch, we visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, commonly rated as one of the top aquariums in the United States and the first to exhibit a living kelp forest. The rest of the day is yours for individual exploration or relaxation.
We’re off to Roaring Camp Railroads this morning for a round-trip journey through the recreated 19th-century logging town. Take in stunning vistas as we roll among towering groves of redwood trees within the Santa Cruz Mountains to the summit of Bear Mountain. This afternoon, our journey concludes in the San Francisco area with time to unwind before a celebratory Farewell Dinner.
Airport Pickups
Choose a State:
Birmingham - Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
Bentonville - Northwest Arkansas National Airport
Little Rock - Little Rock National Airport
Phoenix - Sky Harbor International Airport
Los Angeles - Los Angeles International Airport
Orange County - John Wayne Airport
San Diego - San Diego International Airport
San Francisco - San Francisco International Airport
Denver - Denver International Airport
Hartford - Bradley International Airport
Washington - Ronald Reagan National Airport
Washington - Washington Dulles International Airport
Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale International Airport
Fort Myers - Southwest Florida International Airport
Jacksonville - Jacksonville International Airport
Miami - Miami International Airport
Orlando - Orlando International Airport
Tallahassee - Tallahassee International Airport
Tampa - Tampa International Airport
West Palm Beach - Palm Beach International Airport
Atlanta - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Cedar Rapids - Eastern Iowa Airport
Des Moines - Des Moines International Airport
Boise - Boise Airport
Chicago - O'Hare International Airport
Moline - Quad City International Airport
Evansville - Evansville Regional Airport
Fort Wayne - Fort Wayne International Airport
Indianapolis - Indianapolis International Airport
South Bend - South Bend International Airport
Wichita - Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
Lexington - Blue Grass Airport
Louisville - Louisville International Airport
Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport
Lafayette - Lafayette Regional Airport
New Orleans - Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Shreveport - Shreveport Regional Airport
Boston - Boston Logan International Airport
Baltimore - Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Detroit - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Grand Rapids - Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Saginaw - MBS International Airport
Duluth - Duluth International Airport
Minneapolis - Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport
Kansas City - Kansas City International Airport
Springfield - Springfield-Branson National Airport
St Louis - St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Gulfport - Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
Jackson - Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport
Billings - Billings-Logan International Airport
Bozeman - Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
Missoula - Missoula Montana Airport
Charlotte - Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Greensboro - Piedmont Triad International Airport
Raleigh - Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Bismarck - Bismarck Airport
Fargo - Hector International Airport
Grand Forks - Grand Forks International Airport
Omaha - Eppley Airfield
Newark - Newark Liberty International Airport
Albuquerque - Albuquerque International Airport
Las Vegas - McCarran International Airport
Albany - Albany International Airport
Buffalo - Buffalo Niagara International Airport
New York - Kennedy International Airport
New York - La Guardia Airport
Rochester - Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport
Syracuse - Syracuse Hancock International Airport
Cincinnati - Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cleveland - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Columbus - John Glenn Columbus International Airport
Dayton - Dayton International Airport
Oklahoma City - Will Rogers World Airport
Tulsa - Tulsa International Airport
Portland - Portland International Airport
Allentown - Lehigh Valley International Airport
Harrisburg - Harrisburg International Airport
Philadelphia - Philadelphia International Airport
Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh International Airport
Charleston - Charleston International Airport
Greer - Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Rapid City - Rapid City Regional Airport
Sioux Falls - Sioux Falls Regional Airport
Knoxville - McGhee Tyson Airport
Memphis - Memphis International Airport
Nashville - Nashville International Airport
Austin - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Dallas - Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Houston - George Bush Intercontinental Airport
San Antonio - San Antonio International Airport
Salt Lake City - Salt Lake City International Airport
Norfolk - Norfolk International Airport
Richmond - Richmond International Airport
Seattle - Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Spokane - Spokane International Airport
Appleton - Appleton International Airport
Baldwin - Groome Transportation
Eau Claire - Groome Transportation
Green Bay - Austin Straubel International Airport
Hudson - Groome Transportation
Madison - Dane County Regional Airport
Menomonie - Groome Transportation
Milwaukee - Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
Charleston - Yeager Airport
Tour days tend to be shorter in length, at a relaxed pace, and include lots of unscheduled time for leisure. Expect standing and walking for extended periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures.
Tour days usually move at a leisurely pace. Some days’ scheduled activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain. You may experience changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on uneven surfaces. Some destinations may have changes in altitude and/or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a brisk pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a vigorous pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.