California Classics

Tour Information

8nt Tour Begins San Francisco, Ends Los Angeles: 2nts San Francisco; 1nt Lake Tahoe; 1nt Yosemite National Park; 1nt Monterey; 1nt Solvang; 2nts Los Angeles

Tour includes many meals as per itinerary below:
B = Breakfast
D = Dinner

Day 1

Fly from the UK – San Francisco
Arrive in San Francisco. (Sat.) Welcome to the Golden State! At 6:30 pm, meet your traveling
companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
Overnight: Marriott Marquis

Day 2

San Francisco. (Sun.)
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 favorite 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)
Overnight: Marriott Marquis

Day 3

San Francisco–Wine Country–Lake Tahoe. (Mon.)
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 989 feet, it is one of the clearest and purest bodies of water in the world! (B)
Overnight: Embassy Suites

Day 4

Lake Tahoe–Yosemite National Park. (Tue.)
Southward through the Sierra Nevadas to YOSEMITE NATIONA L PARK. Yosemite has innumerable lakes, meadows, ice-sculpted domes, forests, waterfalls, and unspoiled alpine scenery. Descend into the 4,000-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)
Overnight: Yosemite View Lodge

Day 5

Yosemite national park–Carmel–Monterey. (Wed.)
A high point on today’s journey is the beautiful 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, immortalized 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)
Overnight: Hyatt Regency

Day 6

Monterey–San Simeon–Solvang. (Thu.)
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)
Overnight: Santa Ynez Valley Marriott

Day 7

Solvang–Santa Barbara–Los Angeles. (Fri.)
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)
Overnight: Marriott Los Angeles Downtown

Day 8

Los Angeles. (Sat.)
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. Later, visit the GETTY MUSEUM, housing a collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present.
This evening your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your vacation. (B,D)
Overnight: Marriott Los Angeles Downtown

Day 9

Los Angeles. (Sun.)
The vacation ends this morning after breakfast with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided. (B)

Day 10

Arrival back to the UK

What's Included

• Return transatlantic scheduled flights
• Professional Tour Director throughout the tour
• Superior hotel accommodation in hotels listed or of a similar standard
• Meals as detailed in itinerary

Activities & Sights included in the price

• San Francisco: Cruise across the bay; sightseeing
• Sonoma: Sonoma winery tour and tasting; Olive Press tour & tasting
• Lake Tahoe
• Yosemite National Park: Sightseeing
• 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