Day 1 SAN FRANCISCO
Arrive in San Francisco and proceed to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Whether it's a quick ride on a Cable Car, shopping in Union Square or a stroll through Chinatown, the visit will be memorable. There are also numerous fabulous culinary delights to tempt one’s palate.
Day 2 SAN FRANCISCO
Take advantage of the numerous activities in this charming European metropolis. Spend time discovering Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz Island. Visit the Civic Center, Golden Gate Park or one of the many world class museums. This city is a mecca for the performing and visual arts.
Day 3 SAN FRANCISCO – 17-MILE DRIVE – MONTEREY
(120 mi / 195 km)
Leave your heart in San Francisco and depart south along the scenic Pacific Coast to Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay. While in historic Monterey, visit California’s first customs house and Cannery Row made famous through John Steinbeck’s book of the same name. Take the 17-Mile Drive, a scenic coastal route through the Del Monte Forest that includes The Lone Cypress Point and world famous Pebble Beach to Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Day 4 MONTEREY – CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST
(91 mi / 145 km)
Plan for a leisurely morning before continuing along the spectacular California coast. There is plenty of time today to enjoy everything along the way. Stop for pictures at Hurricane Point, enjoy the redwoods in Big Sur, visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon, walk on the beach in Grover Beach or through the unique turn-of-the-century downtown of Arroyo Grande. Continue to your overnight hotel.
Day 5 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST – SANTA BARBARA – LOS ANGELES
(216 mi / 348 km)
Continue south to the well-known community of millionaires and movie stars, Santa Barbara. Located at the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains, this stylish beach community offers a relaxed atmosphere with a Mediterranean climate. California’s “Queen of the Missions” is located on a hillside overlooking the city. Make a stop at the ornate and historic courthouse before continuing on to Ventura, Malibu and finally Los Angeles.
Day 6 LOS ANGELES
Today, experience the city that has come to epitomize the American Dream –the gilded opulence of Beverly Hills and Malibu, the legendary beaches, prestigious museums and art galleries, fabulous theater, and the fantasy worlds of Disneyland, and Universal Studios. Of course, no trip to L.A. would be complete without a stop at the Venice Beach Boardwalk or a visit to Mann's Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Day 7 LOS ANGELES – DISNEYLAND – SAN DIEGO
(128 mi / 206 km)
Depart Los Angeles for the short drive to Anaheim, home to Mickey Mouse and the original Disneyland. You may explore this fantasyland of magic before continuing south to sunny San Diego. Upon arrival discover some of the sites for which this city is known such as Balboa Park, the Gas Lamp District, and Seaport Village. If time permits visit the world famous San Diego Zoo or see Shamu at SeaWorld.
Day 8 SAN DIEGO
Today is full of discovery while strolling the city’s many pedestrian friendly areas such as Balboa Park, the world famous San Diego Zoo or historic “Old Town”. Take the ferry across the bay from Seaport Village to Coronado Island for a relaxing walk on the beaches at sunset. San Diego is a paradise for outdoor activities.
Day 9 SAN DIEGO – TEMECULA – PALM SPRINGS
(135 mi / 217 km)
Leave the Pacific behind as you cross the coastal mountains through the Temecula wine region and enter the vast Colorado Desert of eastern California. Anza Borrego Desert Park offers an unspoiled view of the eerie lunar landscape along the old Butterfield Stage route. Arrive in Palm Springs located in the heart of the Coachella Valley.
Day 10 PALM SPRINGS – BAKERSFIELD – SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
(288 mi / 464 km)
Travel north from Palm Springs up through the Tehachapi Pass in the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range. Drive through Bakersfield and into the Central Valley, part of the “fruit basket of the world.” From Visalia, head into Sequoia National Park for the Big Trees or, during the summer, into Kings Canyon National Park for spectacular views along the road.
Day 11 SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK – YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
(225 mi / 362 km)
Before leaving Sequoia National Park, be sure to visit the Giant Forest area to see the famous General Sherman Tree and the large granite dome Moro Rock. Travel through Fresno, the raisin capital of the world in the agricultural heartland of the Central Valley. Continue to the magnificent Yosemite National Park. Go to the Visitor Center to get an orientation and plan your time. Take some time to walk or hike in the area and enjoy the views.
Day 12 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
With so much to see, take advantage of the day to acquaint yourself with the park. Visit Yosemite Falls, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, or Glacier Point & Badger Pass that offers an overview of Yosemite Valley and the Half Dome. Drive the Tioga Pass Road to see the Tuolumne Meadows and other spectacular views. Choose your favorite method of transportation: drive, take a bus tour, rent a bike, hike or walk. Access to some areas may be limited due to weather conditions, especially in the winter.
Day 13 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – SACRAMENTO – NAPA VALLEY
(308 mi / 492 km)
Enjoy the morning quiet and calm of Yosemite before departing the snow capped Sierras for the state capital, Sacramento. Take the time to visit Old Town Sacramento once known as the final stop on the famous Pony Express. Pass though the ever-expanding Bay area suburbs to the wine country of Napa and Sonoma.
Day 14 NAPA VALLEY – SAN FRANCISCO
(130 mi / 208 km)
The mileage today includes time to explore this beautiful wine region before heading to San Francisco for your departure. A more direct route is possible if time is short.
