Vacation Overview
Welcome to California, the Golden State! From San Francisco to Los Angeles, see the famous sights of California on this spectacular vacation. Enjoy the excitement and faster pace of San Francisco and Los Angeles, and take a deep breath and slow down in the mountain areas of Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. If you’re interested in seeing some of California’s amazing scenery, this tour offers you a chance to witness some of California’s most scenic areas. Savor the scenery in stunning Lake Tahoe with the sparkling blue water surrounded by the Sierra Mountains. Marvel at the spectacular alpine scenery in Yosemite National Park, with its waterfalls, mountain peaks, ice-sculpted domes, and meadows. Sit back and watch the views of famous Pebble Beach Golf Course, the dramatic Pacific coastline, and Lone Cyprus on 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic drives in the world.Visit Solvang, a quaint Danish village founded in 1911 by Danish educators to maintain their heritage. Wander through the town with picturesque buildings and windmills, charming shops featuring Danish imports, and over 30 restaurants. Also visit Hearst Castle, built by William Randolph Hearst as his private retreat. Once only accessible to celebrities and famous guests, enjoy a tour highlighting this impressive 123-acre estate.All of this and more await you on this tour through California. Be sure to pack your camera and get ready for a fabulous vacation!
Vacation Highlights
INCLUDED FEATURES
MEALS: American breakfast daily; 1 lunch; 3 three-course dinners, including a farewell dinner in Los Angeles.
San Francisco: Cruise across the bay; sightseeing
Sonoma: Sonoma winery tasting and luncheon
Lake Tahoe Yosemite National Park: Yosemite Valley Floor Tram Tour
Carmel: Visit the resort town
Monterey: 17-Mile Drive
San Simeon: Visit Hearst Castle
Solvang: Visit the quaint Denmark-inspired village
Santa Barbara: Visit the mission
Los Angeles: Sightseeing tour; farewell dinner
Note:Maximum elevation on vacation: 8,300 ft.
INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 Arrive in San Francisco
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.
DAY 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 favorite interests and activities—ride the world-famous cable cars, shop in Union Square, or visit the Museum of Modern Art. (Breakfast)
DAY 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. Today’s highlight features an unforgettable picnic lunch and wine tasting under olive trees and grape trellises at VIANSA WINERY. Next, stop in Old Sacramento, a former Gold Rush town and now California’s capital city. 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! (Breakfast, Lunch)
DAY 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 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! (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 5 Yosemite–Carmel–Monterey
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. This evening, enjoy free time for dinner in Monterey on your own. (Breakfast)
DAY 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. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 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. (Breakfast)
DAY 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. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 9 Los Angeles
The vacation ends this morning after breakfast with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided. (Breakfast)
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CALIFORNIA CLASSICS - 9 DAYS - Globus
Dates and Prices
Prices below do not include airfare. We will be glad to help you find the least
expensive airfare,
or you can use mileage if desired. When you Book Online,
please enter your departure city
on the "SPECIAL REQUESTS" field and we will
get back to you immediately with an air quote.
If you book your air with us, airport transfers at destination will be included.
Otherwise we can provide them for you at a fee of $50 per person round-trip,
as long as you let us know your flights in advance. Thank you.
| Departure Date |
Vacation Start date |
Return Date |
Price Without Air |
| 9/24/11 |
9/24/11 |
10/2/11 |
$1,929.00 |
| 10/1/11 |
10/1/11 |
10/9/11 |
$1,929.00 |
| 10/15/11 |
10/15/11 |
10/23/11 |
$1,929.00 |
| 5/19/12 |
5/19/12 |
5/27/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 5/26/12 |
5/26/12 |
6/3/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 6/9/12 |
6/9/12 |
6/17/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 7/7/12 |
7/7/12 |
7/15/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 7/21/12 |
7/21/12 |
7/29/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 8/11/12 |
8/11/12 |
8/19/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 8/25/12 |
8/25/12 |
9/2/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 9/8/12 |
9/8/12 |
9/16/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 9/15/12 |
9/15/12 |
9/23/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 9/22/12 |
9/22/12 |
9/30/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 9/29/12 |
9/29/12 |
10/7/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 10/6/12 |
10/6/12 |
10/14/12 |
$2,149.00 |
| 10/13/12 |
10/13/12 |
10/21/12 |
$2,149.00 |
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Single Room Supplement: $605
Triple Room Reduction per person: $116
Extra Nights per person in San Francisco:May-Jun. & Sep.-Oct.: in single room $203; in twin room $124; in triple room $102.Jul.-Aug.: in single room $195; in twin room $120; in triple room $99.
Extra Nights per person in Los Angeles:In single room $153; in twin room $103; in triple room $90. |
