Northern California

From the iconic to the unexpected, the city of San Francisco never ceases to surprise. Kick-start your effortlessly delivered Northern California holiday in the cosmopolitan hills of ‘The City’. Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception at your hotel.

Fuel up for a full day of indulging in San Francisco’s many sites. Admire the eclectic mix of Victorian and Modern architecture, vibrant culture, and cuisines of one of the world's most livable and iconic cities. Embark on a morning exploration tour that takes you from the lively hotspot of Fisherman's Wharf to Union Square, a historical landmark linked to the American Civil War. This afternoon offers a deeper look into two of the city’s iconic spots. A guided Golden Gate Bridge walk takes you across the 1.7-mile span of the magnificent "bridge that couldn't be built." As you gaze across the water (one the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, learn how this iconic engineering marvel was constructed). You’ll arrive in the quaint seaside community of Sausalito with time for shopping or lunch before finishing up with a different view of the bay: a relaxing ferry cruise back to the city. You will then explore Golden Gate Park with your Travel Director, learning how this urban oasis of over 1,000 acres supports 7 distinct ecosystems as you stroll the green lawns, bridle paths, and lakes of this expansive park right in the heart of San Francisco.

Start off your day with breakfast in San Francisco before we head out to Sonoma and Napa Valley. Today, we'll visit a local winery and enjoy a unique experience and exploration of wine with a tasting. Enjoy an included lunch this afternoon with fellow travelers.

Travel through the scenic fertile Sacramento River Valley to find yourself in the alpine splendor of Lake Tahoe. Its clear blue waters surrounded by evergreen pines and rocky outcrops provides you with a picturesque scenery to behold. This evening, enjoy a Regional Dinner as you cruise on the beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Touch the sky and embark on a scenic road-trip into the Sierra Nevada mountain range, winding along the Tioga Pass to California’s UNESCO-listed Yosemite National Park. (Weather conditions may cause the Tioga Pass to be closed to traffic, typically from mid October to the end of May. In this case, an alternate entry point to Yosemite will be used). Marvel at the incredible natural beauty that inspired naturalist John Muir to dub Yosemite Valley the “Incomparable Valley”, passing the colossal granite faces of El Capitan and the misty splendor of Bridalveil Fall. Tonight, our Stays with Stories takes us overnight in the park.

Tempt your taste-buds today with a visit to the Salinas Valley where you’ll join a Local Specialist for an agricultural education tour to learn about fruit, vegetables, and advanced farming techniques of the region that is known as the “Salad Bowl of the World”. Continue to Monterey where we’ll Connect With Locals for a farm-to-table Be My Guest dinner including the freshest local ingredients.

The pinch me moments continue as we follow the sun-kissed California coast, cruising scenic 17-Mile Drive. We return to Monterey for a visit to Cannery Row, immortalized in the John Steinbeck novel. The rest of the evening is yours to explore Monterey’s vibrant street life or guests can visit on their own the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium. Tonight, we join our Travel Director and fellow travelers for a festive Farewell Dinner.

California’s towering redwoods provide an imposing backdrop for this morning as we journey back in time to the era of lumberjacks and sawmills in a re-created 1890s logging camp. We continue to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park where we’ll have an opportunity to walk amongst these giants that have stood for over a thousand​ years. We return to the golden city of San Francisco. Take a transfer to San Francisco International Airport or consider extending your stay.