Insight - California's Coastal Vistas & Vineyards (02/2023 - 05/2023) (JVSBCIN18)

7 Days From Los Angeles (CA) to Los Angeles (CA) 
Tour Style: City Explorer
Insight Brochure Price from $3,323.00
Brochures: IV USA Van trips 2022, IV USA Van trips 2023
Visits: United States

---

Explore the unparalleled beauty of California’s coast on this 7-Day Limited-Edition Tour, with up to just 17 fellow guests. Lose yourself in the bohemian vibe and golden beaches of Santa Monica and Venice, cruise the scenic Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara and watch sunsets on the American Riviera. A wine-lovers paradise, delve into the heart of the Santa Barbara wine region and explore the vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley. Sip from a bounty of award-winning wines as you peruse the tasting rooms of Los Olivos, walk like a celeb in enchanting Montecito and see conservation in action on a wildlife cruise. Enjoy street artists, nature, picnics and BBQs, all served up with fine wines and unforgettable vistas.
Choice Highlights

• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Venice Beach: Hop on a bicycle and take your own tour of Venice. Weave your way through the performers on the boardwalk. Maybe stop to watch some of the country’s best pickup basketball games on local outdoor courts.
• Venice Beach: Soak up the sights and sounds of Venice on a walking tour with a Local Expert. Stroll along the vibrant boardwalk. See Muscle Beach Gym, once the home turf of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who later went on to become California’s governor. Explore the city’s unique canal system.

Well-being

• : Our Well-Being Directors take a proactive approach to your welfare ensuring all well-being regulations are met (available on tours with 21 or more guests).
• : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
• : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
• : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
• : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.

Insight Choice

• Venice Beach: Hop on a bicycle and take your own tour of Venice. Weave your way through the performers on the boardwalk. Maybe stop to watch some of the country’s best pickup basketball games on local outdoor courts.
• Venice Beach: Soak up the sights and sounds of Venice on a walking tour with a Local Expert. Stroll along the vibrant boardwalk. See Muscle Beach Gym, once the home turf of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who later went on to become California’s governor. Explore the city’s unique canal system.
• Santa Barbara: Take a self-guided tour of the magnificent Old Mission Santa Barbara, founded in 1786. Known as the 'Queen of the Missions, it is one of the city’s most picturesque landmarks. Admire the grand double bell towers and lush gardens with the majestic San Ynez mountains as a backdrop.

Top Rated Highlights

• Santa Barbara: Snaking up the west coast of the USA, the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Much of the route is still mostly wild, open and astoundingly beautiful country. We stop in Malibu along PCH for a picnic lunch.
• Santa Barbara: Get to know the iconic Southern California town of Santa Barbara. Its skyline, peppered with white stucco walls and red-tiled roofs creates a striking backdrop of style and charm. Stroll down the iconic State Street, learn about the history of Santa Barbara and about its unique architecture.
• Santa Ynez: Located in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country, the Santa Ynez Valley is home to some 120 wineries. The area is blanketed with fertile vineyards and farms all fruitful in part, due to the region’s temperate weather. Take a tour of an acclaimed winery and taste the exceptional flavors for yourself.
• : Explore the charming towns of Los Olivos and Los Alamos which both offer tasting rooms, art galleries, and upscale shops that really give you the chance to dive into the small-town vibe of the Santa Ynez Valley.
• Montecito: Wrap yourself in the charm and glamour of this small town, home to numerous celebrities and some of the area’s most stunning stretches of coastline. No other town does luxury or exudes an effortlessly chic vibe like Montecito, discover why on this walking tour.
• Ojai: Join an olive oil tasting at Ojai Olive Oil, a third-generation family owned and operated farm.  A fine example of permaculture farming, the oil is produced using sustainable and self-maintained agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems.
• Los Angeles: Perched in the hills above West Los Angeles, the Getty Center, a world-class museum may look like an elevated modernist city. Admire masterpieces from Vincent van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and Rembrandt. Enjoy dramatic outdoor art with 28 modern and contemporary sculptures and browse one of the finest photography collections in the world.

Make Travel Matter

• Santa Ynez: The Chumash Museum & Cultural Center is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the first people of the area. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and learn from local specialists about the tribal history and traditions of the Chumash. Support the indigenous community and gain a deeper cultural understanding.
• Channel Islands National Park: Take a trip to the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary, comprised of five islands strung out in the marine-rich Santa Barbara Channel. Look out for wildlife and learn how the sanctuary provides protection through research, education, conservation and stewardship over 1,470 square miles of ocean.
• Ojai: Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and discover the traditional and modern uses of herbs on a guided walk with a specialist. Gain an understanding of sustainable plants and how communities used and still use these today, including for food, home remedies, botanical medicine and sustainable foraging.

Authentic Dining

• Santa Barbara: Enjoy the delicious regional specialty of tri-tip barbeque at the Cold Springs Tavern. The beef tri-tip is seasoned with black pepper, salt, and garlic. It is then grilled over coals of native coast live oak, often referred to as "red oak" wood. The results are succulent, flavorsome and comforting.
• Dining Summary: 2 Dinner with Wine (DW), 6 Breakfast (B), and 2 Lunch (L)

---

Insight Tour Itinerary

Day 1	Arrive Santa Monica
	Welcome to sunny Santa Monica, home to some of the most stunning beaches and sunsets on the West Coast. Settle into your stylish hotel, perfectly located for easy access to the haven of shops and attractions like the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade. Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers in the evening for an intimate Welcome Dinner. Toast new friendships and enjoy a famous Santa Monica’s sunset.
	Visits: Santa Monica
	Meals: Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites
Day 2	Santa Monica Vibes and Santa Barbara Sunsets
	Head out to Venice this morning, a bohemian paradise famous for its musicians, street performers and iconic beachfront boardwalk. Explore this vibrant neighborhood with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a walking tour. Alternatively, choose a bicycle ride and cruise along the beach boardwalk at your leisure. Later, take in the scenery on the Pacific Coast Highway as you travel to Santa Barbara, the American Riviera. Savor every moment of one of the most beautiful drives in the world, stopping en route for a picnic lunch in Malibu. Get acquainted with Santa Barbara as you join your Travel Director for a walking tour. The evening is yours at leisure. Perhaps enjoy the sunset from the rooftop pool of your luxurious hotel?
	Visits: Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Santa Barbara
	Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
	Accommodation: Kimpton Canary Hotel Santa Barbara
Day 3	Wine and Culture in Santa Ynez Valley
	This morning, immerse yourself in the rich culture of the Chumash, the first people of the area, on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. At the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center, meet a local specialist, learn about the tribe’s history and through your visit support the indigenous community. Then indulge your passion for wine, starting with a visit to a renowned Santa Ynez Valley Winery. At lunch, enjoy a delicious tri-tip barbeque, a regional specialty, before arriving in the wine tasting paradise of Los Olivos. With over 30 tasting rooms to choose from, you can take your pick of varieties and settings, from comfy chairs to live music. Return to Santa Barbara, stopping by Los Alamos, a tiny town packed with Old West heritage.
	Visits: Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara
	Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
	Accommodation: Kimpton Canary Hotel Santa Barbara
Day 4	Santa Barbara and Montecito
	This morning, travel back in time at the historic Old Mission Santa Barbara. Known as “Queen of the Missions” for its exceptional beauty, take a self-guided tour around the magnificent building and grounds. Head out to nearby Montecito and soak up the effortlessly chic vibe of this charismatic town with a walking tour. Home to some of the area's most stunning stretches of coastline, this tucked-away seaside haven is a favorite with celebrities. Take some time to sip a coffee and watch the world go by, or maybe admire stunning views from the surrounding hills, before returning to Santa Barbara.
	Visits: Santa Barbara
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Kimpton Canary Hotel Santa Barbara
Day 5	Channel Islands National Park and Ventura
	Say goodbye to Santa Barbara and take the short journey to the coastal city of Ventura. Marvel at nature as you join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on a wildlife cruise through the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary. Encompassing 1,470 square miles of ocean waters around the Northern Channel Islands, learn how the sanctuary provides protection for endangered species, habitats and cultural resources. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Ventura at leisure. Maybe admire the Pacific Ocean, city and hillsides from the pier, or stroll its vibrant promenade and beaches?
	Visits: Santa Barbara, Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, California
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Ventura Beach Marriott
Day 6	Ojai
	Explore the charming town of Ojai, a magnet for meditation and the arts. Maybe wander the mile-long strip of shops and cafes dotting downtown’s Ojai Avenue, or pick up some local handcrafted goods?  This afternoon, sample the finest oils at the Ojai Olive Oil Company. Enjoy a tasting and learn about one of the few working examples of permaculture farming in southern California. Toast to your journey with your fellow travelers this evening at a delicious Celebration Dinner.
	Visits: Ventura, California, Ojai, Ventura, California
	Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
	Accommodation: Ventura Beach Marriott
Day 7	Farewell California
	Before you make your way to the airport, you have the opportunity this morning to explore the Getty Museum on your own. The museum features the personal collection of J. Paul Getty, who sought to make art more widely available to the public. Through the work of the J. Paul Getty Trust after his death, the Getty Museum consists of five two-story pavilions featuring hundreds of pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, and decorative arts. It also houses 19th-, 20th-, and 21st-century photographs.
	Visits: Ventura, California, Los Angeles
	Meals: Breakfast

---

Available Room Types: Single, Triple, Twin, Twinshare
Child: ages 5 to 17