DAY1 Los Angeles – Solvang – Hearst Castle – San Francisco

This morning we will depart from Los Angeles at 8:00am and drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway on the way to Solvang, a quaint little Danish town in the Santa Ynez Valley. From here we will continue north, arriving at noon in San Simeon for a visit to Hearst Castle,* a mansion built from 1919-1947 for the leading newspaper publisher William Hearst. The castle protects an extensive collection of artifacts from the Renaissance period, as well as lavish living and dining quarters and lush gardens. The gilt-lined Neptune and Roman Pools, fed by mountain water, are surrounded by Roman style pillars and statues. Visited by some of the world’s most famous figures, including Hollywood stars, Hearst Castle embodies a fascinating combination of both history and opulent living. After spending two hours exploring the mansion and grounds, we will travel to tonight’s hotel near San Francisco, arriving at 6:00pm.

DAY2 San Francisco City Tour

Today we will take a tour of San Francisco, first visiting the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic international symbol of San Francisco. From there we will move on to Fisherman's Wharf, the historic base of San Francisco’s fishing fleet, the enormous Oakland Bay Bridge, and Treasure Island, an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay. Finally, our tour of San Francisco would not be complete without a visit to the city’s Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in North America. We will have the afternoon to explore, shop in the city, or visit relatives. Alternatively, you may participate in a more in-depth city tour,* which will take us to the Castro District (America’s largest gay neighborhood), Saint Mary’s Church, the Twin Peaks, and the San Francisco City Hall. After this, join us aboard a San Francisco Bay Cruise,* which will give a stunning view of the city from the water.

DAY3 San Francisco - Yosemite National Park - Los Angeles

This morning, we will travel through miles of vineyards, orchards, and fertile farmland to arrive at noon at Yosemite National Park, world-renowned for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, glaciers, and Giant Sequoia groves. Breathtaking scenes like Bridalveil Fall, with its stream of water shooting over a high granite cliff to hover with a breath of mist below, and El Capitan, the immense stone monolith, will strike you with their sheer natural power. The Merced River, which meanders through Yosemite Valley, the enormous Half Dome granite formation, and Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in the United States, add to the spectacular natural wonders of the park. Concluding our tour, we will then head back to Los Angeles, arriving around 6:30 pm.
=== Please arrange return flight to depart Los Angeles (LAX) after 9:30pm ===

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

***The visit to Yosemite National Park will be replaced by a 17 mile drive along Monterey Bay during the winter months (12/14 - 2/29).***