Globus California Classics with San Diego(AAE)
13 Day Tour from San Francisco to San Diego
When you hum along to California Dreamin’ on the radio, what wistful wonders come to mind? Giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park? Big reds in Napa Valley? Mega stars in Los Angeles? Colossal mansions that dot the entire Pacific coastline? From the City by the Bay to the City of Angels, this thirteen-day tour of California reveals every heavenly sight that earned the Golden State its name. Yosemite’s Cathedral Spires, 17-Mile Drive’s Lone Cypress, and San Simeon’s Hearst Castle are just a few you’ll want your camera ready for. Between the high energy of Silicon Valley and the high style of Beverly Hills, this encompassing California vacation weaves in plenty of kickback time with visits to a Napa Valley vineyard, the quiet Danish village of Solvang, and the tony resort zip codes of Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Barbara. Don’t forget your shades. Surf’s up at the 70 miles of beaches along Southern California’s most laid-back city. Hang ten or simply hang out in San Diego’s renowned zoo, museums, and eclectic neighborhoods. Half the fun of this extension to your California vacation is the scenic train ride here from La-La Land.
Itinerary (2024)Day 1 | ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO | | Welcome to San Francisco! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink. | Day 2 | SAN FRANCISCO | | City by the Bay Enjoy morning sightseeing in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. See Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio. Free time this afternoon to explore the city. Ride the world-famous cable cars, shop in Union Square, or visit the Museum of Modern Art. Dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D) LOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & TRADITION As the song goes, you’ll leave your heart in San Francisco with a stroll through the exquisite Japanese Tea Garden. Walk the beautiful landscapes in the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Learn about the history of the park and enjoy time to explore the five acres of native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds, pagodas, and more. | Day 3 | SAN FRANCISCO–SAUSALITO–NAPA | | Vineyards & Views Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge this morning to the charming town of Sausalito. Continue to Sonoma for lunch on your own Visit a local vineyard for a tour and tasting before arriving to your hotel in Napa. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTTASTES & TRADITIONS Cross San Francisco Bay on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to stroll the quaint artisan avenues of Sausalito. Enjoy waterfront views and breathtaking scenery in the charming waterfront village with a large variety of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Venture to the Napa Valley with its wealth of verdant vineyards for a wine tasting. | Day 4 | NAPA–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK | | The Mountains are Calling Travel southward through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Yosemite National Park. Free time this evening. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Yosemite has innumerable lakes, meadows, ice-sculpted domes, forests, waterfalls, and unspoiled alpine scenery. Descend into the 4,000-foot valley for an open-air Valley Floor Tram to explore the famous sites of El Capitan, Cathedral Spires, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. Here, John Muir realized, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” We think you’ll agree. | Day 5 | YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–MONTEREY | | Giants of the Land and Sea Before departing Yosemite National Park, visit Mariposa Grove, home to many old-growth sequoias. Stand in awe as you look skyward at these massive giants, one of the Earth’s largest and longest living organisms. Then, on to Monterey, home to the famed Cannery Row. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORY & HERITAGE Immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name, Cannery Row is filled with history and vibrant sights along the waterfront of Monterey Bay. Once a bustling district of sardine factories, the street is a brightly painted avenue of eateries and shops that harken back to a heritage of fishermen and rich stories. In the morning, stroll along the wharf for the chance to see whales, otters, and other sea creatures in the kelp forests of the Pacific Ocean shore. | Day 6 | MONTEREY. EXCURSION TO CARMEL | | Cottages & Cypress Trees This morning, spend your free time visiting historic Cannery Row. Other highlights today include a visit to the resort town of Carmel with a scenic drive along the famed 17-Mile Drive. Return to Monterey for free time before dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURAL GEMS Feel the windswept spirit of the Pacific Ocean with a spectacular drive along 17-Mile Drive to the charming haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea. See its crooked cottages and twisted trees in the popular haunt of writers, artists, and celebrities. You’ll pass by sweeping sea views and rocky shores, visit the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Course for a walk on the fairway, and see the iconic Lone Cypress clinging to its rocky perch. | Day 7 | MONTEREY–BIG SUR–SAN SIMEON–SOLVANG | | California Gold Journey south through Big Sur to San Simeon and visit Hearst Castle. Continue to Solvang for a free evening. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Visit the opulent mansion of legendary newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, which houses splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions purchased at an estimated $50 million. Your guided tour shows off the highlights of the impressive 123-acre estate. | Day 8 | SOLVANG–SANTA BARBARA–LOS ANGELES | | Treasures & Traditions Explore the Danish town of Solvang and enjoy a [LF] Danish specialty at a local bakery. Then, travel through the Santa Ynez Mountains to beautiful Santa Barbara to visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Continue to metropolitan Los Angeles, the motion picture capital of the world. (B)LOCAL FAVORITECULTURAL GEM Stroll the streets of Solvang and feel as though you’ve entered a charming Danish town with picturesque buildings and shops, restaurants and windmills that create a taste of Denmark in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Enjoy a traditional Danish pastry at Mortensen’s famous bakery. TOUR HIGLIGHTHISTORY & HERITAGE Experience the beauty and history of California’s mission trail with a visit to Old Mission Santa Barbara. Soak in the stunning Spanish influence of the 1786 “Queen of the Missions” with its wrought iron, terra cotta, and carved wood. Feel the serenity amid its whitewashed walls and tile-roofed buildings below its chiming twin bell towers ringing out on the Camino Real above the beautiful Pacific Ocean. | Day 9 | LOS ANGELES | | California Traditions Morning sightseeing of this gigantic metropolis takes you from Olvera Street—the oldest thoroughfare in the city—to Hollywood. See the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills. Later, visit the Getty Museum. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTART & ARCHITECTURE Visit the amazing Getty Museum to see a vast collection of art housed within its hilltop complex above Los Angeles. Here, a treasure trove of masterpieces are displayed with art from the Middle Ages to the present. | Day 10 | LOS ANGELES–AMTRAK’S PACIFIC SURFLINER–SAN DIEGO | | Riding the Rails Take Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner scenic train service along the coast to San Diego. Meet your Globus Local Host upon arrival before transferring to the Embassy Suites San Diego Bay Downtown Hotel. Free time this evening. Your Globus Local Host will be available to provide suggestions on how to spend your free time. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTEPIC RIDE Board the Amtrak train at Los Angeles’ historic Union Station for a scenic ride along the California Coast from LA to San Diego. During your train ride, enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, sandy beaches, and quaint coastal towns. | Day 11 | SAN DIEGO | | Southern California Dreaming A full free day to explore San Diego, California’s second-largest city. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION California’s southernmost city of San Diego shares the border with Mexico, as well as the blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean and the sun washed shores of the Southern California coastline. Considered the birthplace of California, San Diego is rich in culture as a true melting pot of cultures to be found in Old Town, Balboa Park, Mission Beach, Embarcadero, and the Gas Light District. | Day 12 | SAN DIEGO | | Pacific Pleasures A full free day to explore San Diego on your own. (B)FREE-TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE in San Diego with a day on the beach or a visit to any of its exciting attractions. Your Local Host can point you in the right direction, and your GlobusGO mobile app is always at your fingertips with maps and suggestions for the best day in Cali. | Day 13 | SAN DIEGO | | Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Included Globus Meals Breakfast daily, 3 dinners
Related Globus Tours AA - California Classics AAE - With San Diego
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