Highlights

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Itinerary

Day 1 – San Francisco – Fisherman’s Wharf

Your San Francisco visit features two nights lodging at a Fisherman’s Wharf hotel, a location from where your travelers can venture out on their own.  This first afternoon includes a narrated  sightseeing tour that includes such famous sights as Chinatown, a drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, the Twin Peaks, and the Presidio.  The evening dinner is an included meal at a local restaurant on Pier 39. (D)

Day 2 – San Francisco – Visit Sausalito – Marine Mammal Center – Alcatraz

This morning, you head to Sausalito where you visit the Marine Mammal Center which rescues, rehabilitates, and releases, marine mammals who are injured, ill, or abandoned. This tour will provide insights into the work of the Center and share stories about the seal and sea lion patients.  Then you will have time for lunch on own and shopping in downtown Sausalito.

Returning to San Francisco this afternoon, take a Bay Cruise past Alcatraz. It sails along San Francisco’s waterfront, under the Golden Gate Bridge, along the Marin Headlands, around Alcatraz and back to Fisherman’s Wharf. Enjoy a Free Evening to explore San Francisco on your own. (B)

Day 3 -Silicon Valley – Monterey

Depart San Francisco this morning and drive through Silicon Valley and see the place that changed the world. As the “Mecca” of the high-tech revolution, Silicon Valley has become synonymous with larger-than-life entrepreneurs, overnight fortunes, high-flying companies, and the dazzling digital products that transform the lives of billions of people from Tokyo to Timbuktu.

Next, you will visit Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. The heart of the area’s thriving fishing industry, you can usually watch the working trawlers unloading the catch of the day or see sea lions and otters frolicking in the inner harbor waters. There are also plenty of nice restaurants and shopping opportunities.

Then take the scenic 17 Mile Drive past Pebble Beach. Marvel at some of nature’s treasures found along 17-Mile Drive including The Lone Cypress – one of California’s best-known landmarks – Spanish Bay, Cypress Point Lookout and Carmel Bay.

This afternoon visit Carmel-By-The-Sea. European-style village nestled above a picturesque white-sand beach where everything is within walking distance from your charming hotel or inn. From performing arts and cultural activities to hundreds of Carmel shops, restaurants, wine tasting, art galleries, and more.

Check into your Monterey area hotel for an overnight stay. Enjoy a free evening on Cannery Row. This historic waterfront district on Monterey Bay was made famous by writer John Steinbeck, who illustrated Cannery Row life in his colorful stories. Authentic Monterey restaurants, convenient shopping and exciting Monterey nightlife are all found on Monterey’s Cannery Row.  (B)

Day 4 – Big Sur – Hearst Castle – Solvang

Depart Carmel this morning and start out on scenic Highway 1 heading South. You’ll see the towering cliffs, beautiful redwoods and stunning bridges of Big Sur. Then you will tour Hearst Castle. Perched atop a hill, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and San Simeon’s rugged  coastline, Hearst Castle was envisioned by newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst and designed by architect Julia Morgan. It began as a modest hilltop retreat, but ended up one of the world’s greatest attractions and showpieces for ancient art—one that still rivals museum collections around the world.

Continue south on Highway 1 to the Danish Community of  Solvang where you will be staying for the night. Tonight enjoy a smorgasbord dinner at the Royal Copenhagen Inn. (B,D)

Day 5 – Santa Barbara – Santa Monica – Hollywood

Enroute to Hollywood take in the beauty and grandeur of the Old Mission Santa Barbara known as the Queen of the Missions; from a breathtaking church and historic cemetery to beautiful gardens and a captivating museum.

Arrival in Tinseltown is about noon.  The afternoon will feature a guided tour of many sights, including the Santa Monica Pier where you stop for shopping and dinner before checking into your Hollywood hotel for a two night stay. Dinner is included tonight at a popular restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier.  (B,D)

Day 6 -Hollywood – Beverly Hills

Today you will enjoy a full day of Hollywood and Beverly Hills Sightseeing.  Starting with morning tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills. You will see the Beaches, the Hollywood Sign, Mulholland Drive, Rodeo Drive, Bel Air, Sunset Strip and many Movie Star Homes. This afternoon’s tour includes Grauman’s Chinese Theater (now TLC Theater) the most famous movie theatre in the world. Known the Hollywood Walk of Fame, featuring cement hand and footprints of major movie stars from past to present. Since 1927, it has been the home of the star powered red carpet movie premieres and special events, where Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars have come to watch their movies!  Dinner is included tonight at a local restaurant. (B.D)

Day 7 – Williams, AZ – Grand Canyon Railroad Hotel

After breakfast, you depart Los Angeles and travel to Williams, AZ. Then check into the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel for an overnight stay. This modern hotel is located in the center of town, along historic Highway 66, and conveniently beside the Grand Canyon Railway Train Depot.  You are on your own for dinner in Williams. Here Route 66 “America’s Main Street,” runs through the heart of town and you will find many unique shops and restaurants lining the street. (B)

Day 8 – Train Ride – Grand Canyon Guided Tour

After breakfast if you hear a ruckus in the streets, you might want to investigate. You’re a long way from Chicago and this is the Wild West. It may be coincidental, but every morning at 9:00 it seems there are ornery cowboys and gunfights in the street (might be something in the breakfast), and they keep Marshall Will B. Justice busy maintaining law and order.

Once the 9:00am Wild West Show is over, you board the train for a 9:30am departure. You have First Class seats with plenty of leg room that recline and offer a great view through picture windows. You will see strolling musicians, enjoy free coffee, juice, fruit and pastries in your air-conditioned streamliner railcar. This vintage rail journey take two hours, offers kaleidoscopic views of the San Francisco Peaks while rolling through wild flower filled valleys, dense pine forests, high desert plains and canyons.

Arriving in Grand Canyon National Park, you are greeted with the sight of one of three log-cabin-style train stations left in America. From the station your luggage is moved to your hotel and you’ll find a tour bus waiting for an afternoon sightseeing tour. In a few minutes you will be walking along the pine-forested ledges of your first Grand Canyon viewpoint. Here you’ll send a few minutes just trying to process the sight in front of you as your guide points out a few of the distant features, and geological details. Then you will learn about the trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and wildlife of the Canyon.

Check into the Maswik Lodge North for an overnight stay. Dinner is on own this evening. (B)

Day 9 – Grand Canyon Pink Jeep Tour – Train Ride Back to Williams 

This morning after breakfast, enjoy a pink jeep tour of the Grand Canyon. Enjoy a two-hour tour of the Grand Canyon with a local guide of the Southern Rim.  Your guide has a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of the canyon, from geology and botany to infamous myths and legends.

Stop at Grandview Point to see an area of the Canyon that was once mined for copper, gold and silver. In the late 1800s, this area of the Grand Canyon was the first to welcome visitors and mine owners even built a hotel at Grandview Point. Your guide can shed more light on the history of this tranquil, tree-lined locale. Your tour features two other stops along the South Rim, which can vary depending on conditions.

Enjoy some free time in Grand Canyon Village for lunch on own then ride the Grand Canyon Railway back to Williams. The afternoon train departs at 3:30pm. The 65 mile train ride to Williams from the Canyon you will pass through 6,000 foot high forest and mountain desert. Attendants will offer refreshments and snacks, and there is a full bar onboard.  On arrival you again check into the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel for an overnight stay. This modern hotel is located in the center of town, along historic Highway 66, and conveniently beside the Grand Canyon Railway Train Depot.

Dinner tonight included at the Grand Depot Café.  (B,D)

Day 10 -Departure Day

After breakfast your groups will depart for home.   Closest air cities are Phoenix or Las Vegas and both have evening departures.  (B)

Tour Map