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 – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST
(139 mi / 224 km)
A leisurely day to enjoy the sun, surf and shops as you continue down the California coast. Walk along the beach in San Simeon, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach or Grover Beach. Visit the historic missions in San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara. Stroll through the boutiques in the towns, enjoy lunch or coffee along the way. Stop in Solvang, the Danish Capital of America, with its quaint Old World architectural style before continuing towards Santa Barbara.
Day 6 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST – LOS ANGELES
(95 mi / 152 km)
Explore 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 to Ventura, Malibu and your final destination, Los Angeles.
Day 7 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 8 LOS ANGELES – BAKERSFIELD – SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
(198 mi / 317 km)
Get an early start out of Los Angeles and head northeast 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 9 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 10 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 11 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – LAKE TAHOE
(324 mi / 373 km)
When the snow is gone, the drive will head across the magnificent Tioga Pass through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Carson City and then along the lake shore of Lake Tahoe. Otherwise, the drive heads west and then north along the western side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains before heading east to Lake Tahoe. Spend the evening enjoying the pristine beauty of the crystal clear and brilliant blue Lake Tahoe.
Day 12 LAKE TAHOE
Enjoy the day at Lake Tahoe, set high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it is a ski resort in the winter and a lake resort in the summer. The west side of the lake is in California and the east in Nevada. On the Nevada side, you will find gambling and casinos which you won't find in California. The real attraction in the summer is the lake, which is over 984 ft (300 m) deep with visibility of 82 ft (25 m). Engage in any number of outdoor sport activities or take a cruise on a Glass-bottomed boat or relax and take in the atmosphere.
Day 13 LAKE TAHOE – SACRAMENTO – NAPA VALLEY
(157 mi / 253 km)
Leave the pristine beauty of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains behind and head through the Central Valley. Take a short break to visit the reconstructed Old Town in the state’s capital, Sacramento, before heading to California’s most famous wine country. Excellent wines are produced in Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Take advantage of the afternoon and evening to explore and enjoy this beautiful area.
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.
