On this exciting getaway, you'll tour the area in and around San Francisco, with visits to Monterey and the Napa Valley. The beauty of the Pacific Ocean is yours to behold as you travel along the legendary 17 Mile Drive. You'll visit Pebble Beach and the Lone Cypress before driving to chic Carmel with its unique boutiques, cafes and charming cottage homes. In Monterey, explore Cannery Row and enjoy a wonderful dinner before returning to "the City by the Bay." On a city tour, you'll see San Francisco's famous sights, like the Twin Peaks, Seal Rocks and the Golden Gate Bridge. You'll also visit a fortune cookie factory and watch the cookies being made right before your eyes. With an afternoon of leisure, you can choose to walk along Fisherman's Wharf and take a ride on a famed cable car. Then you're off to the most famous wine-growing region in the country, beautiful Napa Valley. A ride through this picturesque area aboard a restored 1915 train, combined with superbly crafted wines, provides you with a solid foundation on both wine tasting and train history!
Itinerary:
Day #1 San Francisco, California - Tour Begins - Your tour begins as you join us in beautiful San Francisco, “The City by the Bay.” Tonight, get to know your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner overlooking San Francisco Bay.
Day #2 San Francisco - This morning enjoy breakfast on Pier 39, San Francisco’s #1 attraction. From here you’ll experience the opportunity of an up-close view of the haul-out of harbor seals, postcard views of the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, Alcatraz and the San Francisco Bay. After breakfast you will be met by a local guide for a sightseeing tour of the city. Highlights include the Twin Peaks, Seal Rocks and the Golden Gate Bridge. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore the shops at either Fisherman’s Wharf or Union Square. Perhaps you’ll take a ride up and down the city’s thrilling hills on a famed cable car.
Day #3 San Francisco - Sonoma Valley - San Francisco - Travel to beautiful SonomaValley. With over 40 premium wineries, it is one of the most famous wine-growing regions in the country. Experience the rich flavor of this region at the Viansa Winery with an elegant food and wine pairing, including a wine tasting, followed by a tour of the winery and a visit to the unique marketplace. Afterwards, enjoy lunch on your own in the pretty little town of Sonoma.
Day #4 San Francisco - Monterey - San Francisco - Travel to Monterey, the city often called the greatest meeting of land, sea and sky. Monterey is home to the famed 17 Mile Drive, one of the most breathtaking coastlines in the world. On your drive you will pass through the Del Monte Forest and see such famous sights as the Lone Cypress Tree, perhaps the most photographed tree in the world; Seal Rock, where the seals may actually bark at you; and the Pebble Beach Golf Course*. Next, travel to Old Monterey, the place where California’s statehood began in 1849, which is filled with lovingly restored historic buildings and Spanish adobes. An afternoon arrival will allow you time to independently explore charming Old Monterey and shop at Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck. Enjoy dinner in Monterey before your return to San Francisco.
Day #5 San Francisco - Sacramento - Lake Tahoe, Nevada - Say farewell to San Francisco and travel east to the capital city of Sacramento. Upon arrival, enjoy leisure time to explore the fascinating Old Town, a unique 28 acre National Historic Landmark District set in the time of the California Gold Rush. Then, step back in time as you enter the California Railroad Museum, North America’s most popular railroad museum, where a docent led tour dazzles you with incredible railroad history. Your journey then takes you through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the resort gambling town of Lake Tahoe.
Day #6 Lake Tahoe - Virginia City - Lake Tahoe - Travel to Virginia City, a famous old west town which recalls the heritage of the days of gold and silver mining. This National Historic site sits atop the Comstock Lode where, in 1859, the discovery of gold made the city “the richest place on earth”. Stroll its historic streets and enjoy architectural buildings in the downtown district. Then, what’s certain to be a highlight of your trip…a cruise on the sparkling waters of Lake Tahoe. This cruise offers non-stop photo opportunities as well as a visit to the most photographed area of Emerald Bay. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.
Day #7 Lake Tahoe - Tour Ends - Your tour ends today in the city of Lake Tahoe.