Tour Itinerary |
Day 1
FLIGHT TO SAN DIEGO • DINNER:
This morning our motorcoach will
transport us to the Charlotte airport for
our flight to San Diego. Dinner is included
tonight. (D)
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Day 2
SAN DIEGO ZOO • RICHARD NIXON
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND
BIRTHPLACE • LOS ANGELES:
This
morning we visit the world-famous San
Diego Zoo, where you’ll find more than
3,200 wild animals representing more
than 800 species. We’ll take a tram ride
through the subtropical gardens that are
the natural habitat for these fascinating
animals. Just outside of Los Angeles
we stop for a tour of the Richard Nixon
Presidential Library and Birthplace. See
personal effects of the former President,
including exhibits from his tenure in the
White House. We overnight near Anaheim.
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Day 3
LOS ANGELES CITY TOUR • RONALD
REAGAN LIBRARY:
This morning
we take a riding tour of the “City of
Angels,” Los Angeles. In the heart of
Hollywood, you’ll recognize the familiar
façade of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
We’ll make a brief stop here to take pictures
of the footprints, hand prints, and
autographs cast in the concrete outside
the theatre’s doors. This afternoon we
visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential
Library & Museum in Simi Valley, built
around a courtyard and set on a hilltop
with beautiful views. The library contains
memorabilia and photographs, gifts of
state received during his administration,
a full scale replica of the oval office, and
a large section of the Berlin Wall. We
overnight in Ventura.
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Day 4
HEARST CASTLE • MONTEREY:
Today
we visit and explore the Hearst
Castle at San Simeon. The “Enchanted
Hill” is a princely domain of castles, mansions,
theaters, pools, and tennis courts,
all created by William Randolph Hearst
as his home and retreat. We overnight in
the beautiful area of Monterey.
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Day 5
“17 MILE DRIVE” • SAN FRANCISCO
• DINNER - FISHERMAN’S WHARF:
We travel the spectacular “17 mile drive,”
where we’ll watch in wonder at some
of the most photographed rockbound
coastline in the world. We make our way
to San Francisco where we stay for the
next two nights. San Francisco is the
true capital of the West. Dinner is included
this evening at Fisherman’s Wharf. D
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Day 6
SAN FRANCISCO CITY TOUR
• GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE •
CHINATOWN • FREE AFTERNOON:
San Francisco is a world-class
destination, a favorite of international
travelers and domestic travelers alike.
From the Bay Bridge and Treasure
Island to the far side of the Golden Gate
Bridge on our city tour this morning,
we’ll see it all. Tour highlights include
the “painted ladies” Victorian Homes,
Civic Center area, Union Square, Alamo
Square, Lombard Street view, the
Golden Gate Bridge, Nob Hill, China
Town, Coit Tower, the Presidio and
more. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon at
leisure.
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Day 7
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK •
TRAM TOUR:
We travel to Yosemite
National Park. On our 26-mile, two-hour,
open air tram tour, rangers introduce
some of Yosemite’s most famous sightseeing
points in Yosemite Valley and
describe the history, geology, plant and
animal life of the region. You will see
Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan,
Tunnel View, Bridal Veil Falls and more.
We travel to Oakhurst for the night.
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Day 8
KINGS CANYON • SEQUOIA NATIONAL
PARK • GIANT REDWOODS:
Today we marvel in wonder at the huge
redwoods in Kings Canyon and Sequoia
National Parks. We’ll spend most of the
day in this area, stopping for pictures at
the General Grant and General Sherman
Trees. These two Sequoias reaching
heights of more than 260 feet and
have a circumference of more than 100
feet! We overnight in Visalia.
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Day 9
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY • AGRICULTURAL
TOUR • LUNCH:
This morning
we are entering the San Joaquin
Valley, the great central California “Garden
of the Sun.” This area claims the
greatest annual agricultural production
of any in the United States. We may see
fruits being hand-picked in the fields, or
cotton, grain or hay being harvested. Our
tour guide will give us a tour of the area
with some personal stories and history
thrown in. We will have lunch in Bakersfield
before traveling to Las Vegas for a
two-night stay. (L)
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Day 10
LAS VEGAS:
Nevada’s largest city,
Las Vegas, is a razzle-dazzle city
of lights, shows, hotels, shopping, and
casinos. Our hotel is located on the
“strip,” making it easy for you to enjoy
this exciting city at your leisure today.
You may choose to add a special treat,
a 3-hour guided Jeep tour of the "City
of Lights," cruising the iconic Las Vegas
strip, seeing many of the city's most wellknown
landmarks. (Optional: approx.
$90 per person).
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Day 11
GRAND CANYON:
Today we travel
to the Grand Canyon, a spectacle so
impressive that words just can’t describe
it. It’s hard to grasp the reality of a cut
that’s a mile deep and as much as 18
miles across and more than 200 miles
long. (D)
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Day 12
OAK CREEK CANYON • SEDONA
• HOLBROOK:
Leaving the Grand
Canyon we travel through Flagstaff into
Oak Creek Canyon, a favorite filming
location for motion picture makers. We
ascend 2,000 feet up the most beautiful
red cliffs to a picturesque lookout point.
Lunch time finds us in Sedona, the beautiful
artist’s resort town at the southern
mouth of Oak Creek Canyon. You’ll have
time to eat and shop in town. We overnight
in Holbrook.
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Day 13
PETRIFIED FOREST • PAINTED
DESERT • OLD TOWN ALBUQUERQUE:
The 93,493 acres of the Petrified
Forest include the most spectacular display
of petrified wood in the world! The
Rainbow Forest Museum depicts the
process in detail. We also traverse a portion
of the Painted Desert, located within
the park. This erosion-slashed area of
mesas, pinnacles, ledges, and almost
completely treeless canyons is too unbelievable
for words. Our day ends in
200-year-old Old Town Albuquerque.
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Day 14
HOME:
All good things must come
to an end, so this morning we are
transported to the airport for our flight
home.
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