Day 1 Fly to Los Angeles
Fly to LAX International Airport and
transfer to downtown Los Angeles for
1 night at the Millennium Biltmore or
similar hotel. Free time to visit the Disney
Performing Arts Center, Cathedral of the
Angels, or the Staples Center, or to shop
downtown.
Day 2 Train from Los Angeles to
Monterey (L, D)
Morning transfer to nearby Union Station
to board our deluxe private train car for
our mid-morning departure. Ride the
rails north along the California coast and
interior farmlands to Monterey. En route
enjoy gourmet meals plus included wine
& cocktails. Arrive in Salinas in the early
evening and transfer to our Monterey Bay
Embassy Suites Hotel for a 2-night stay.
Day 3 Monterey & Carmel (B, D)
Morning visit to the world famous Monterey
Aquarium, home to over 500 species of
marine life and a one-million gallon fish
tank. Enjoy free time for shopping at
adjacent Cannery Row. This afternoon, we
motor along scenic 17 Mile Drive with stops
in Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach Lodge, &
Lone Cypress Point followed by free time in
quaint Carmel Village to shop & browse the
art galleries. Return to our hotel for cocktail
hour prior to a seafood dinner at Fisherman’s
Wharf.
Day 4 Monterey to Coarsegold (B, L, D)
Motor east to Salinas, lettuce capital of the
world and boyhood home of author John
Steinbeck. Visit the National Steinbeck
Center, dedicated to the life and works of
one of America’s most endearing authors.
Learn about his novels “East of Eden” and
“The Grapes of Wrath.” Enjoy a home
cooked lunch at the original house of young Steinbeck. Then drive across the fertile San
Joaquin Valley, past Fresno, to
the town of Coarsegold and our deluxe Chukchansi Gold Indian gaming casino for 2 nights.
Day 5 Day Trip to Yosemite National
Park (B, L)
Spend a full day exploring one of America’s
truly great natural wonders – Yosemite
National Park – originally set aside for
posterity by Abraham Lincoln in 1864.
Enjoy a tour of the Valley floor with stops at
Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and Half Dome
Rock. In October, the fall foliage should
be at its peak. Stop at the world famous
Ahwahnee Lodge for an included lunch
before returning to our hotel.
Day 6 Coarsegold to Tulare (B, L, D)
Motor up into the magnificent Sierra Nevada
Mountains along scenic General’s Highway,
named in 1875 by conservationist John
Muir. Visit Kings Canyon National Park
and marvel at the awesome 6,000 foot deep
granite canyon carved by the Kings River.
Stop for a picnic lunch at Grant Grove,
home to General Grant Tree & Fallen
Monarch. Then arrive at Sequoia National
Park to visit the Giant Forest, home of the
General Sherman Tree, a 275-foot high
redwood tree with a 36-foot diameter. Later,
arrive at the Town & Country Lodge and
enjoy our Farewell Dinner.
Day 7 Tulare to Los Angeles (B)
Return by coach to the Central Valley as we
make our way back to Southern California.
Arrive mid day at LAX airport for your
return flight home.
NOTE: This tour involves high altitude day visits to Sequoia & Yosemite parks (7,200 feet) but no overnights at this altitude. It is advisable to check with your doctor if you are affected by high altitude.