Tour Code: 358-476

7-Day Yosemite, Grand Canyon South, Las Vegas, Theme Parks Tour from San Francisco

From the Bay Area, we’ll motor high up to Yosemite National Park where we’ll arrive after lunch, and marvel at the vistas that caused early explorers to call Yosemite the “incomparable valley”. Gaze at the jagged rocks of grotesque shapes, sheer precipices and overhanging rocks, waterfalls dropping hundreds of feet, and endless mountain ridges, as we come to understand why Yosemite is considered one of the most scenic spots in the Western United States. Sure to leave a lasting memory are the Giant Sequoia Trees, the Tunnel View, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls, the Merced River, and the famous rock formations, El Captain and the Half Dome. The day ends with an overnight stay in Fresno.

The tour will go to Death Vally after 11/24. Detail: 7-Day Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas,Theme Parks Tour from Bay Area

Hotel: Park Inn by Radisson Fresno
Except:
3/24/12 Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Fresno
4/21/12 Best Western Village Inn
4/28/12 Holiday Inn Airport

Las Vegas is a city of wonders, odds, and oddities, and offers much more than just gambling, to entertain every member of the family. On the Las Vegas Strip, tourists can enjoy a walk on a warm desert evening and visit the newest and most lavish casinos: the Bellagio, the Venetian, the MGM Grand, The Mirage, and more. Explore on your own, or take a Special Night Tour* of Las Vegas, which includes a dazzling light show that spans an entire street. Furthermore, there are countless one-of-a-kind performances year round, ranging from the bizarre, to the magical, to the flat-out legendary that can be found nowhere else but Las Vegas. Or you can spend the evening at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino (where we’ll be staying.) Named for the mythical sword of King Arthur, this castle-themed resort will allow you to immerse yourself in all things medieval right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip.

*Optional activity; fee not included in tour price. See “Exclusions” for cost details.

Today we will make our way to the Grand Canyon, one of the most spectacular examples of water’s erosive power. Carved by the Colorado River beginning as much 17 million years ago (according to recent studies), this stunning natural wonder is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep. The Grand Canyon National Park is a designated World Heritage Site and is incomparable with its vistas of sheer drops and cliffs marked with different geological strata dating back billions of years. We’ll spend the day along the South Rim of the Canyon, stopping at various viewpoints along the way and admiring this glorious work of art that could only have been sculpted by nature and time. Then return for an overnight stay at our hotel in Las Vegas.

On this day, we’ll make our return sunny Los Angeles on the southern coast of California. In the famous entertainment city, we’ll stop by the Hollywood landmarks, take a walk along Hollywood Boulevard, and visit the Chinese Theater and the Kodak Theater complex, now the permanent home for the Oscars. After dinner, we’ll transfer to our hotel in the city for a night’s rest.

Experience a day of entertainment and the magic of filmmaking at the world-famous Universal Studios* in California. The studio-themed park has attractions that include behind-the-scenes tours of movie sets, as well as rides based off your favorite films, such as the Shrek 4D Simulator Ride, or the heart-pounding Jurassic Park River Adventure. And with various shows and performances throughout the day featuring scenes and reenactments from blockbuster movies, you can expect a whole day’s worth of non-stop excitement! We’ll take a much needed night’s rest back in our hotel in Los Angeles.

Today we’ll spend the day in the magical world of Disneyland*, brainchild of creator Walt Disney. Suitable for all ages, from children to the young at heart, Disneyland has a little something for everyone. Not only will you meet some of the most memorable characters from Disney films, including the one and only Mickey Mouse, but you’ll also experience the brilliance of Walt Disney’s imagination through the countless rides and shows that will give memories to last a lifetime. At night you’ll see fireworks over Magic Kingdom’s Castle and other special treats found nowhere else in the world. When the park closes, we’ll head back to our hotel in Los Angeles for another night.

San Diego City Tour (Optional - Adults $68; Child $58)

At 9:00am we’ll depart from the hotel and drive south along the Pacific Ocean heading to San Diego, the second largest city in California. We’ll first stop by the U.S. Naval compound in San Diego harbor, where docked at the Navy Pier is the USS Midway, the longest-serving aircraft carrier in U.S. Naval history, with a storied career that lasted from 1945 to 1997. After lunch, our tour goes to Coronado Island and visits the Hotel del Coronado, a National Landmark that was built in the glorious wooden Victorian style in the 1800s. Up next is Balboa Park, where we’ll enjoy the luscious botanical gardens and Spanish architecture lining the long promenades, and then we’ll move on to Old Town San Diego to walk among the classic Mexican Pueblos and browse the shops offering unique Latin American souvenirs and craftwork. In the evening we’ll return to Los Angeles to catch the sunset. We’ll return to our hotel by 7:30 pm.

*Optional activity; fee not included in tour price. See “Exclusions” for cost details.

In the morning, we’ll visit the relaxing Danish immigrant town of Solvang. The word Solvang in Danish can be translated as "sunny countryside", which in fact is true for almost the entire year. While in Solvang, enjoy famous Danish pastries, cookies, and chocolates; wander the streets and charming wooden, cottage-style architecture that brings thousands of tourists (including royalty!) to visit each year. After lunch, we’ll return north back to the Bay Area, arriving in the evening to conclude our journey.

†Hotels are correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change.
**Tour itinrary on Day 5 and Day 6 may be reversed withour notice.