Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and San Francisco 2009
Departure Dates
July 13, 20
August 17
September 14, 21, 28
October 5
Day One
• Arrive at San Francisco International Airport with included transfers
to your hotel
• Meet your Tour Manager at 6 p.m. for evening dining suggestions
Day Two
• Tour San Francisco, ride a cable car and cross the Golden Gate Bridge
• Browse shops in Sausalito
• San Francisco Bay cruise
• Dinner on Fisherman’s Wharf
Day Three
• Drive through San Joaquin Valley and into the Sierra Nevada Mountains
• Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Day Four
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Morning guided tram tour of Yosemite Valley Floor
• Afternoon at leisure
• Dinner
Day Five
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Drive through the High Sierras
• Check into Lake Tahoe resort
• Dinner
Day Six
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Cruise Lake Tahoe aboard the MS Dixie II
• Free time in Lake Tahoe
Day Seven
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Visit Old Sacramento
• Sonoma Valley winery tour with tasting
• Farewell dinner
Day Eight
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Group transfer to San Francisco International Airport for flights after
12 p.m.
*****All itineraries are subject to change without notice.
8
Days
• 9 Meals
From San Francisco’s steep streets to mountains that
touch the clouds, from verdant forests, pristine Lake Tahoe,
and a corner of Sacramento that time forgot, California is
a feast for the eyes.
Find
Your Heart in San Francisco
San Francisco’s charms are as tall as the Golden Gate
Bridge and as tiny as an exquisite dim sum dumpling. It is
considered by many to be the most beautiful city in America,
and we will spend two nights in San Francisco. Our guided
tour takes us on a cable car ride. We cross the famous Golden
Gate Bridge with its breathtaking views and into Sausalito.
This Mediterranean-style community is perched around the
bay with a wide selection of restaurants and shops lining
its scenic marina. After lunch, we cruise the bay, the best
way to see the city’s beautiful skyline, the Golden
Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.
We have dinner on Fisherman’s Wharf, famous for its
historic waterfront, delicious seafood, spectacular sights
and unique shopping. Whether you dine on seafood or steak,
your view will be of a bustling harbor with the Golden Gate
Bridge arching above it. Hopefully, we can enjoy one of the
most breathtaking sunsets in the world and an after-dinner
stroll as our time in “The City by the Bay” draws
to a memorable close.
The
Crown Jewel of Parks
We board our comfortable motorcoach for a ride through San
Joaquin Valley, known as the nation’s salad bowl. The
rambling hills grow steeper as they ascend into the Sierra
Nevada chain and the spectacular mountain and valley scenery
of Yosemite National Park. This land is sacred to Native Americans,
a mine of gold and broken dreams for generations of prospectors
and a favorite of landscape photographer Ansel Adams. The park
harbors a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows and forests
that include groves of giant sequoias.
We begin our Yosemite adventure with a narrated tour of Mariposa
Grove of Giant Sequoias. Share the wonder of this ancient and
beautiful grove as you hear about the history these magnificent
trees have seen. Giant Sequoias, considered to be the most
massive living thing on earth, can live from 1,000 - 3,000
years. Three groves totaling 700 trees are located in the park.
Our riverside lodge is nestled at the foot of a mountain. Before
our bountiful dinner, enjoy the clean mountain air as you walk
the forest paths or relax on shady benches.
We continue our Yosemite visit with a tour of the Yosemite
Valley Floor to see the park’s grandeur and natural treasures.
We see El Capitan, a one-mile thick granite mountain and the
thundering Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America.
An afternoon is yours to choose among Ansel Adam’s gallery,
the Indian Village, a hike to the base of a waterfall or other
activities. Birdwatchers may spot a great grey owl, Peregrine
falcon or pileated woodpecker while animal lovers will be on
the lookout for mule deer, bighorn sheep and black bears. The
awe-inspiring sight of a golden eagle is not rare.
A
Lake for Lovers
On our way to Lake Tahoe, the largest and deepest alpine lake
in North America, we drive through the rugged mountains and
lush forests of the High Sierras. We learn why Lake Tahoe is
one of America’s most beloved natural attractions. Our
two-night stay gives us ample time to explore its enchantments.
For festive evenings, the lake has casinos and great entertainment.
We see turquoise waters curve into breathtaking forests in
this indisputable photographer’s paradise. Delight in
the midday splendor of the lake from the open air deck or the
enclosed passenger cabin of our cruise boat, the MS Dixie II.
You will see through the clear waters to the bay’s underwater
state park. We pass castles and mansions tucked between inlets
and picturesque points. A mystical island floats on the tranquil
waters.
The
Old West and New Wine
Old Sacramento, dating back to the gold rush days, is our next
destination. More than 200 shops will take us back to the Old
West as we search for new treasures in gold-rush era structures.
Enjoy this visit to the 1800s setting before we move on to
the rolling hills of California’s wine country. We tour
a winery in Sonoma, the very heart of the vineyards, before
our farewell dinner.
Now that we have said hello to California, we will never say
goodbye. Memories too sparkling to fade will always be with
us.
