DAY1 Arrival at Los Angeles International Airport:

Your vacation begins. Arrival at Los Angeles airport from Hometown: Tour guide will meet you at the Baggage Claim Area and transfer to hotel. Refer to "Pickup & Drop-off" for other available meeting options.

DAY2 Los Angeles - Tanger Outlet - Las Vegas:

Today we kick off our tour and depart Los Angeles, stopping after two hours at the Tanger Factory Outlets to enjoy great discounts on popular brand labels. Next we travel on to Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, arriving after another two hours. It’s a long trip, but the rising hills and mountains, the miles and miles of brush vegetation and desert, and the interesting wildlife we’ll see along the way will make it a fun adventure in America’s Wild West! Once we arrive, you will be free to explore America’s entertainment capital at your 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.

DAY3 Hoover Dam - Grand Canyon - Las Vegas:

Today we’ll visit the Hoover Dam, the largest dam in the United States, built in 1935 in an experimental and unprecedented effort that was monumental at the time and remains so to this day. After arriving at the Grand Canyon around 2:00pm, we will stand at the promontory of Lipan Point on the South Rim of the canyon and feel ourselves dwarfed by one of nature’s great masterpieces. We will also have the opportunity to see an IMAX film* about the history of the Grand Canyon and those who have braved its rapids and sheer walls. After a 1.5 hour stay, the group will return to Las Vegas. Tonight, 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.

OR *West Grand Canyon

After a morning departure, we’ll arrive at noon at the West Rim* of the Grand Canyon, with its famous glass-bottomed Skywalk,* which extends over 4,770 feet of empty space above the Colorado River. Carefully designed for the safety of all visitors, the Skywalk allows a fantastic and unmatched view of the Canyon that you cannot miss! 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, or to go horseback riding* in the canyon! After a 3.5 hour stay, we will arrive back in Las Vegas to enjoy our night tour* and Las Vegas show.*

DAY4 Las Vegas - Ethel M Chocolate Factory - Botanical Cactus Garden - Los Angeles:

Today we will depart 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.

DAY5 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.

DAY6 San Francisco City Tour:

Today we will take a tour of San Francisco, first visiting the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, which was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was first built in 1937 and has become an 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 the famous Palace of Fine Arts, with its Roman and Greek style architecture, built around a small man-made lagoon. Finally, our tour of San Francisco would not be complete without a visit to the city’s Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside of Asia.

DAY7 San Francisco - Yosemite National Park - Los Angeles:

We conclude our tour by departing at 8:00am for 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 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. After our visit, we will return to Los Angeles, arriving around 6:30 pm. Please book a return flight departing from Los Angeles after 10:30pm.

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) Itinerary may vary depending on the day of departure.

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