Starting at $2299
9 days • 11 mealsOur flagship brand represents a refined take on the art of guided travel. We seamlessly handle the details - you experience the world.
Itinerary
California Coast
Viewing itinerary for:
September 08, 2013, $2299
9 days • 11 meals
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Day 1: San Francisco, California - Tour Begins
Welcome as you join us on a scenic journey along California’s amazing coast. Your tour begins in “the City by the Bay,” San Francisco. Enjoy the ambiance of this lively city, known for its ethnic diversity and unique history. Tonight, get to know your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner on Pier 39, overlooking San Francisco Bay.
View Accommodation Today dinner will be included.Day 2: San Francisco
A local guide showcases the popular landmarks of San Francisco, including the Twin Peaks, the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown. Later, enjoy some leisure time to explore Fisherman’s Wharf where you may sample cracked crab and the renowned sourdough French bread. Shop in lively Union Square or visit Ghirardelli Square, once the site of one of the largest producers of chocolate in the country. For a true local experience, ride the famed cable cars up and down San Francisco’s thrilling hills as you sightsee.
View Accommodation Today breakfast will be included.Day 3: San Francisco - Yosemite National Park
Today you wind through the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains en route to one of Mother Nature's greatest masterpieces, Yosemite National Park. While camping at the park in 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt called Yosemite "the most beautiful place in the world." Yosemite’s amazing waterfalls, unique rock formations, deep valleys, Alpine meadows and groves of beautiful trees will leave you awestruck as they did Ansel Adams, who lived in the park while taking his famous portfolio of striking photographs. Upon arrival, join your fellow travelers on an open-air tram* to view sites such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan, as well as learn about the park's history, geology and wildlife.
View Accommodation Today breakfast will be included.Day 4: Yosemite National Park - Monterey
Travel to Monterey, the city often called the greatest meeting of land, sea and sky. Monterey is home to the famed 17 Mile Drive, also known as one of the most breathtaking coastlines in the world. Along the drive you will pass through the Del Monte Forest and see such famous sights as the Lone Cypress Tree, perhaps the most photographed tree in the world; Seal Rock, where the seals may actually bark at you; and the Pebble Beach Golf Course. Next, travel to Old Monterey, the place where California’s statehood began in 1849, filled with lovingly restored historic buildings and Spanish adobes. An afternoon arrival will allow you time to independently explore charming Old Monterey and shop at Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck.
View Accommodation Today breakfast and dinner will be included.Day 5: Monterey - San Simeon - Santa Barbara
Journey 90 miles along the Big Sur Coast, flanked by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the sea sprayed, rocky Pacific, for a trip that will surely take your breath away. Upon arrival in San Simeon you will visit one of the world’s greatest showplaces, the palatial mountaintop retreat of Hearst Castle, built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Tour the castle, built on a 40,000 acre ranch that Hearst frequently camped on as a child. Now a National Historic Landmark, Hearst was constantly building and rebuilding what he simply called "the ranch." As a result, the estate was not completed during Hearst's lifetime and was later donated to the State of California in 1957. Explore some of its 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways. Later, arrive in enchanting Santa Barbara, famous for its breathtaking setting and natural beauty fused from the dramatic mix of mountains, valleys, beaches, islands and the sea.
View Accommodation Today breakfast and dinner will be included.Day 6: Santa Barbara
This morning your local guide will show you some of Santa Barbara’s most historic sites. You’ll be fascinated by a guided tour of the Old Mission Santa Barbara, established in 1786. As California’s tenth mission, it’s referred to as the “Queen of the Missions.” A walk through the Santa Barbara County Courthouse is breathtaking and the view of the city from the top of the clock tower is one of the best views in California. Continue your tour with more history, views of the water and a drive through the neighborhood of the rich and famous, Montecito. Some free time allows you to explore the downtown area laced with pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and paseos, with the Santa Ynez Mountains as a lovely backdrop. You may prefer to grab a pedicab (Santa Barbara’s answer to the rickshaw) or hop aboard an eco-friendly electric shuttle to the waterfront area famous for Stearns Wharf which has been a part of the scene since 1872.
View Accommodation Today breakfast will be included.Day 7: Santa Barbara - Los Angeles - San Diego
This morning, continue on your coastal journey to glittering Los Angeles, the “City of Angels,” and home to Universal Studios, as well as a host of your favorite musical and film celebrities. See the TCL Chinese Theatre, where nearly 200 movie stars have left their hand and foot prints, as well as the popular Hollywood Walk of Fame and other famous gems. Tonight, arrive in California's second largest city, San Diego. Known for its ideal climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches, and world-class attractions, San Diego is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, the Anza-Borrego Desert, and the Laguna Mountains.
View Accommodation Today breakfast will be included.Day 8: San Diego
This morning, join a local guide for a comprehensive tour including downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, Coronado Island and Old Town San Diego. The afternoon is yours to experience San Diego at your leisure. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for dinner at a great local restaurant.
View Accommodation Today breakfast and dinner will be included.Day 9: San Diego - Tour Ends
Your tour ends today, but the memories will stay with you forever.
| Available After Tour Extensions: | Extend your vacation |
- Hotel: Sheraton Suites San Diego
-
Extension: Explore Vegas Extension Land Portion
Day 1: San Diego - Las Vegas, Nevada
Your extension begins in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, for a three night independent stay.
Day 2: Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Power Pass leaves you in control, allowing you to have the best customized experience possible. Choose from many popular Las Vegas attractions, museums and tours. There is a guide book to help you plan your days, exclusive restaurant and shopping discounts, and best of all, VIP entry at many attractions that allows you to skip the lines.
Today breakfast will be included.Day 3: Las Vegas
Enjoy another day to explore the city independently - utilizing your Las Vegas Power Pass. Or, lounge by the pool, experience a show, or try your luck at the casinos!
Today breakfast will be included.Day 4: Las Vegas - Tour Ends
Your tour ends today in Las Vegas.
Today breakfast will be included.
- PLEASE NOTE: To complete your vacation, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing Collette airfare with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that all transfers will leave at pre-scheduled times.
- *The tour through Yosemite may be conducted on your motorcoach rather than the open air tram (depending upon the weather).
- Flights should arrive prior to 4:00 pm on the first day of the tour.
