PACIFIC COAST
EXPLORER 14 DAYS FROM $1,889 US Details below or
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From San Diego to Seattle, this vacation highlights the Pacific Coast’s beauty and most exciting cities. Start your trip in San Diego, California’s second-largest city, with a sightseeing tour and time to explore the city on your own. Then head to Los Angeles, home to musical and film celebrities, and tour some of Los Angeles’ most popular sights. Enjoy the shoreline from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara, where you visit the 200-year-old mission, then head to Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated.
On your way to San Francisco, stop at Hearst Castle, the opulent mansion of wealthy newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst—with splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions purchased at an estimated $50 million. Continue to San Francisco, famous for its cable cars and steep streets, and spend two overnights. See the city’s famous landmarks on your sightseeing tour and enjoy time to explore on your own. Of course, a trip to this area would not be complete without a stop in the wine-growing valley of Sonoma. Enjoy a guided tour and wine tasting at one of the well-known Sonoma wineries. Then view the world's tallest trees in spectacular Redwood National Park and along Avenue of the Giants. You even have the opportunity to see an 1,800-year-old redwood before heading north into Oregon.
Enjoy some of Oregon’s beautiful coastal towns, including Bandon-by-the-Sea, Coos Bay, Florence, Tillamook, and Newport. In Portland, Oregon’s largest city, your sightseeing tour shows you why Portland is better known as the “City of Roses”—with its numerous parks and beautiful flower gardens. Then head to Seattle and enjoy a sightseeing tour including the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and more. If you want to see the amazing cities and beautiful sights along the Pacific Coast, this vacation is for you!
Day 1 SAN DIEGO Welcome to San Diego, California’s second-largest city. Time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.
Day 2 SAN DIEGO Enjoy blue skies on 70 miles of beaches with a Mediterranean climate. This morning features a sightseeing tour including downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, and Old Town San Diego. This afternoon, experience San Diego at your leisure. Take in the Maritime Museum or the celebrated San Diego Zoo.
Day 3 SAN DIEGO–LOS ANGELES
Today, continue on your coastal journey to Los Angeles, the “City of Angels” and home to Universal Studios® as well as your favorite musical and film celebrities. Tour Los Angeles and visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where nearly 200 movie stars have left their hand and footprints, and see the popular Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Day 4 LOS ANGELES
The day is free for your own exploration. Visit Hollywood and the Hollywood History Museum, located in the old Max Factor Building. Stroll Olvera Street, the heart of the original Spanish Mission, or visit the Getty Center with its wonderful art collection. This evening your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions for dining and shopping.
Day 5 LOS ANGELES–SANTA BARBARA–SOLVANG–SAN LUIS OBISPO
This morning, leave the motion picture capital of the world behind as you follow the shoreline from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara. The Spanish influence is apparent in Santa Barbara with quaint whitewashed and tile-roofed buildings. Visit the impressive 200-year-old MISSION with its world-famous twin bell towers. Afterward, enjoy a stroll along the wharf and lunch on your own. Up next: Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated with picturesque buildings and windmills. Free time to browse through the charming shops featuring Danish imports and rich pastries.
Day 6 SAN LUIS OBISPO–SAN SIMEON–17-MILE DRIVE–MONTEREY
This morning we’ll travel along the scenic Big Sur Coast Highway and journey to San Simeon to visit HEARST CASTLE, the opulent mansion of wealthy newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. See the splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions. Next, visit the resort town of Carmel, a popular haven for writers, artists, and celebrities. Another high point on today’s journey is the beautiful 17-MILE DRIVE, with views of famous Pebble Beach Golf Course and the tenacious Lone Cypress. Next, travel to Monterey, made famous by John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row. (Continental Breakfast)
Day 7 MONTEREY–SAN FRANCISCO
This morning, leave the Monterey coast behind and journey up the peninsula to San Francisco, the “City by the Bay.” Upon arrival, a sightseeing tour includes the breathtaking Golden Gate Bridge, Nob Hill, and bustling Fisherman’s Wharf. Afterward, take a boat trip to ALCATRAZ PRISON and learn the history of this notorious former prison. Tonight, join our optional evening out with dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf followed by an illumination tour of San Francisco. (Breakfast)
Note:
The Alcatraz Prison visit is a value of US$26.
Day 8 SAN FRANCISCO
The day is free for independent exploration. Perhaps return to Fisherman’s Wharf to enjoy its stores, markets, and excellent waterside eateries; stroll along Grant Street; or maybe take a cable car ride. Tonight, you may choose to join your traveling companions for an optional evening in Chinatown. Explore this vibrant historic section of San Francisco that houses the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. Enjoy a lavish 4-course dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant. End with a short walking tour of Chinatown plus a ride on one of San Francisco’s famous cable cars.
Day 9 SAN FRANCISCO–WINE COUNTRY–EUREKA
Leave San Francisco and cross over the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. Head north into the wine-growing valley of Sonoma. Enjoy a guided tour and WINE TASTING at one of the well-known wineries. Afterward, travel the AVENUE OF THE GIANTS. This world-famous scenic drive is a 31-mile portion of Highway 101 with 51,222 acres of redwood groves. Arrival in Eureka, California’s premier lumber center, situated on scenic Humboldt Bay.
Day 10 EUREKA–REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK–BANDON-BY-THE-SEA–COOS BAY
Travel the coastal highway through REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK with its majestic sequoias, then drive to the seacoast town of Bandon-by-the-Sea. A sightseeing tour will show you its beauty and charm, and includes a photo stop at the Bandon Lighthouse. Overnight in the town of Coos Bay. (Continental Breakfast)
Day 11 COOS BAY–FLORENCE–NEWPORT
Today is all about scenic beauty at a leisurely pace. First is the quaint town of Florence, one of Oregon’s most beautiful and charming cities along the coast. Time on your own to explore historic Old Town with its shops, boutiques, and coffee houses. From Florence, continue north through the SIUSLAW NATIONAL FOREST past popular beach resorts to one of Oregon’s favorite vacation spots—Newport on pretty Yaquina Bay. Late this afternoon, visit the OREGON COAST AQUARIUM.
Day 12 NEWPORT–TILLAMOOK–PORTLAND
For a taste of the dramatic Oregon coastline we follow the Three Capes Scenic Route to Tillamook. Watch for the signs that tell you the brief story of the ghost community, now gone, that existed there 35 to 55 years ago. Enjoy a break in Tillamook, best known for its famous cheese and tasty saltwater taffy, before heading to Portland, Oregon’s largest city. A sightseeing tour shows why Portland is better known as the “City of Roses” with its numerous parks and beautiful flower gardens. Visit the largest rose garden in the U.S.—WASHINGTON PARK INTERNATIONAL ROSE TEST GARDEN.
Day 13 PORTLAND–SEATTLE
Today, cross the majestic Columbia River and head north into Washington State to the VOLCANO VISITORS CENTER to learn of the dramatic eruption of Mount St. Helens. Then, weather permitting, see ice-clad dormant volcano Mount Rainier before reaching Seattle. This afternoon’s sightseeing includes the Seattle Center, site of the 1962 World Fair and the 605-foot-high Space Needle, and a stop at the colorful Pike Place Market.
Day 14 SEATTLE
The trip ends this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
INCLUDED FEATURES
In San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Wine Country, Bandon-by-the-Sea, Portland, and Seattle; Grauman’s Chinese Theatre; Hollywood Walk of Fame; 200-year-old Mission; Hearst Castle; Bandon Lighthouse; Oregon Coast Aquarium; International Rose Test Garden at Washington Park; Volcano Visitors Center. Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Old Town San Diego, Santa Barbara, Solvang, San Simeon, 17-Mile Drive, Monterey, Cannery Row, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Nob Hill, Sonoma, Avenue of the Giants, Redwood National Park, Siuslaw National Forest, Newport, Yaquina Bay, Three Capes Scenic Route, and the Columbia River.
INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.
GUIDES
Services of a professional Tour Director.
STANDARD INCLUDED FEATURES
Learn more about transportation, hotels, and other standard included features offered.
MEALS
1 breakfast, 2 continental breakfasts
HOTELS
- (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist-Class (T) Tourist Class
San Diego Holiday Inn on the Bay (F); Los Angeles Los Angeles Marriott (MD); San Luis Obispo Best Western Royal Oak (MF); Monterey La Quinta (ST); San Francisco Prescott Hotel (MD); Eureka Best Western Humboldt Bay (F); Coos Bay Red Lion (F); Newport Shilo Inn (ST); Portland Crowne Plaza (F); Seattle Sixth Avenue Inn (MF)
TRANSPORTATION
Private, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach while touring.
Optional Excursions
Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency.
CITY: Los Angeles
La City Tour & Star's Homes
See the variety of sights this great metropolis has to offer: downtown, Music Center, Olvera Street, Mexican Square, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Hollywood Bowl, Chinese Theatre, Sunset Strip/Rodeo Drive, selected stars' homes, and the Farmer's Market. Tour is approximately 7 hours
Approximate value: USD $87 per person
Hop On Hop Off Double Decker Bus
Discover the whole of Los Angeles and get on or off the buses at over 50 stops! Enjoy the open-air view from our vintage Double Decker Buses from England as the narrated tour points out landmarks from Downtown L.A. to the beaches of Santa Monica, with Hollywood and Beverly Hills in between. Hop-On or Hop-Off as often as you like to explore major attractions, movie studios or dine and shop at Los Angeles's hotspots - when you're ready to continue, just hop back on the bus. (24 hour pass)
Approximate value: USD $35 per person
Stars' Homes Tour
Cruise the Sunset Strip on our way to Beverly Hills and Bel Air where you will see a dazzling array of Stars' Homes, and well groomed parks, manicured gardens and Hillside Estates. Tour is approximately 2 hours.
Approximate value: USD $49 per person
CITY: San Diego
USS Midway Museum - V-GLO
Imagine experiencing life at sea aboard one of America's longest-serving aircraft carriers. Visitors to the USS Midway Museum enter a floating city at sea and walk in the footsteps of 225,000 Midway sailors who served our country and upheld the American ideals of strength, freedom and peace. The USS Midway Museum is an unforgettable adventure for the entire family. Guests can spend the day exploring more than 60 exhibits with a collection of 25 restored aircraft. The self-guided audio tour, narrated by Midway, sailors brings the carriers history to life.
Approximate value: USD $18 per person
CITY: San Francisco
Evening In Chinatown
Explore this vibrant historic section of San Francisco that houses the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. Included in this evening's agenda is a lavish four-course dinner in an authentic Chinese restaurant. This evening will include a short walking tour of Chinatown plus a ride on San Francisco famous Cable Cars.
Approximate value: USD $40 per person
San Francisco By Night
The evening begins with dinner at a popular Fisherman's Wharf restaurant and spectacular views of the bay. Afterwards visit historic Ghirardelli Square. Set on the city's dynamic waterfront, the square offers a great view of the sea and elegant 19th-century factor and mill buildings that are worth exploring. During your visit, relax with an Irish coffee and some world famous chocolates. Before heading back to your hotel we will drive out to Treasure Island to view the city lights from across the bay.
Approximate value: USD $60 per person
DEPARTURE
DATES
May - June
August - September
PRICES
From approx$1,889 US per person
double occupancy
More Tours and Cruises
available on request
To book or for more
information please complete the INQUIRY FORM
From San Diego to Seattle, this vacation highlights the Pacific Coast’s beauty and most exciting cities. Start your trip in San Diego, California’s second-largest city, with a sightseeing tour and time to explore the city on your own. Then head to Los Angeles, home to musical and film celebrities, and tour some of Los Angeles’ most popular sights. Enjoy the shoreline from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara, where you visit the 200-year-old mission, then head to Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated.
