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 sites. Enjoy the shoreline from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara, where you’ll 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. Enjoy beautiful views along 17-Mile Drive near Monterey. 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, take a boat ride to infamous Alcatraz Prison, 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 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 sites along the Pacific Coast, this vacation is for you!
Itinerary:
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 music and film celebrities. Tour Los Angeles and visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where nearly 200 movie stars have left their handprints 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 its 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–Carmel–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. (CB)
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. (CB)NOTE:The National Park Service requires we disclose the value of the Alcatraz Prison visit is US$27.
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, join our optional evening out with dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf followed by an illumination tour of San Francisco
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.
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. (CB)
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 day is free for you to explore the “Emerald City.” Perhaps take a sightseeing tour that soaks up the Asian flavor of the International District. Explore downtown, take a ferry across Puget Sound, or just relax and experience the spectacular views of Elliott Bay and enjoy fresh seafood.
Day #15 Seattle. The trip ends this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. You can extend your vacation with extra nights and explore Seattle further with a variety of exciting optional activities.
