DAY1 Arrival at Los Angeles International Airport

We begin our tour by meeting in Los Angeles, where a tour guide will meet you at the Baggage Claim Area of the airport to guide you to the hotel if needed. Refer to Pickup & Drop-off for more information.

DAY2 Disneyland

Today we will conclude our tour by visiting a choice of three of the most thrilling, exciting, and fun theme parks in the country! The first is Disneyland,** where we will enjoy the fun and charm of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the It’s a Small World cruise marquee, feel the thrills at The Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain, and meet all of our favorite Disney characters at Mickey's Toontown. Other attractions such as the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye simulator ride and Tarzan’s Treehouse promise an unforgettably fun afternoon. After a fun-filled day we will return to Los Angeles, dropping off at the airport.

DAY3 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.

DAY4 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.

DAY5 San Francisco - Yosemite National Park - Los Angeles

We begin the day by visiting Yosemite National Park, arriving at noon at the 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 the 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. After our visit, we will return to Los Angeles, arriving around 6:30 pm.
Note: The visit to Yosemite National Park will be replaced by the scenic 17 Mile Drive along Monterey Bay during the winter months (12/10/2011 – 2/29/2012)

DAY6 Los Angeles - Grand Canyon West Rim

In the morning we will depart for the West Rim of the Grand Canyon,** stopping along the way to see the Hoover Dam, the largest dam in the United States. Arriving at 4:00pm, we will check in at tonight’s hotel, the Hualapai Ranch, which is only a thousand feet away from the Canyon, and then visit Eagle Point to enjoy an Indian Culture Show, which features traditional Hualapai singing and dancing. From here we will move on to the famous glass-bottomed Grand Canyon Skywalk,* which extends over 4,770 feet of empty space above the Colorado River. You will also have the opportunity to take a combined Colorado River Cruise and helicopter tour* of the Grand Canyon, which will give a spectacular view of the canyon from below and above. Now proceeding to Guano Point for a 360 degree view of the canyon, we will enjoy the beautiful sunset. After we return to the ranch, a dinner of BBQ ribs will be served along with a live country and western music show. After dinner, join us for a campfire party in front of the Grand Canyon, followed up with Karaoke to top off the evening!

DAY7 Grand Canyon West - Las Vegas

In the morning, don’t pass up the opportunity to watch the sun rise over the canyon, a spectacular sight that will fill you with awe. After breakfast, we will take a thirty minute wagon ride around the West Rim of the Grand Canyon and watch cowboys take part in mock gun fights and stunt shows. Then join us in a fun horse ride* with the cowboys! Afterwards we will depart from the Grand Canyon and continue on to Las Vegas, where we will arrive at 1:00pm and have free time to explore America’s entertainment capital at our leisure. If you can break yourself away from the shopping, fine food, and casinos which the city is known for, join us on a night tour* where we will explore the city’s night life and watch the best-selling Jubilee Show!* A visit to Las Vegas would not be complete without this attraction.

DAY8 Las Vegas - Ethel M Chocolate Factory - Los Angeles

Today we will depart once again for Los Angeles, stopping at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and its Botanical Cactus Gardens in Nevada, which are open to the public. In the factory we will learn how this company produces their chocolate and visit their branch of M&M’s World, while the gardens display many fascinating varieties of cacti that will complete your trip through the deserts of Nevada! After arriving in Los Angeles around 6:00 pm, you will have the night to enjoy the city at your leisure.

DAY9 SeaWorld San Diego

This morning, we will depart at 8:00 am for San Diego, arriving around 9:30 at the second-largest city in California for a brief city tour, where we will enjoy the thriving city life and breathtaking scenery of the Gold Coast. From there we will visit SeaWorld San Diego,** one of the most extensive marine life parks in the world, to enjoy its thrilling rides and entertaining animal shows. Performances by penguins, dolphins, sea lions, and Shamu the killer whale promise an afternoon full of awe and laughter. In the evening we will return to our hotel in Los Angeles.

DAY10 Universal Studios - Departure:

Today we will conclude our tour, departing at 9:00 am for Universal Studios Hollywood,** home to a theme park and the biggest film studio in the world. On a behind-the-scenes tour of Hollywood's busiest backlot, we will learn how the studio’s movies and TV shows are filmed. From the thrilling simulator rides like Jurassic Park, Revenge of the Mummy, and King Kong: 360-3D to stunning cowboy stunt demonstrations, simulated earthquakes, and the famous WaterWorld show, it promises to be an exciting and entertaining visit. Afterwards, we will return to Los Angeles, dropping off at the LA International Airport around 7:00pm. Please book a return flight departing Los Angeles after 10:30pm.

Itinerary may vary depending on the day of departure.

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