central california coast

Day 1	LOS ANGELES
Arrive in Los Angeles and proceed to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Whether it's Universal Studios or Disneyland, the beach or Beverly Hills, there is much to see and do in the 'City of Angels'

Day 2

LOS ANGELES

Take the day to explore and experience the city that has come to epitomize the American Dream –the gilded opulence of Beverly Hills and Malibu, the legendary beaches, prestigious museums and art galleries, fabulous theater, and the fantasy worlds of Disneyland, and Universal Studios. Of course, no trip to L.A. would be complete without a stop at the Venice Beach Boardwalk or a visit to Mann's Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Day 3	LOS ANGELES » BAKERSFIELD » SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK (198 mi / 317 km)
Get an early start out of Los Angeles and head northeast through Bakersfield and into the Central Valley, part of the “fruit basket of the world.” From Visalia, head into Sequoia National Park for the Big Trees or, during the summer, into Kings Canyon National Park for spectacular views along the road.

Day 4

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK » YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK (225 mi / 362 km)

Before leaving Sequoia National Park, be sure to visit the Giant Forest area to see the famous General Sherman Tree and the large granite dome Moro Rock. Travel through Fresno, the raisin capital of the world in the agricultural heartland of the Central Valley. Continue to Yosemite National Park and take in all the famous sites: Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome and Cathedral Spires. Take some time to walk or hike along one of the many trails throughout the park.

Day 5

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK » SAN FRANCISCO (193 mi / 310 km)

Take some time to visit magnificent Yosemite early in the morning. The most picturesque spots in Yosemite can be seen from the valley floor: Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome and Cathedral Spires. Continue to San Francisco in the afternoon as you pass through scenic Gold Rush Country before crossing the Oakland Bay Bridge to enter America’s favorite city by the sea. This cosmopolitan city rests on 40 hills surrounded on one side by the Pacific Ocean and on the other by the San Francisco Bay. There is so much to see with breathtaking views around every hilltop.

Day 6

SAN FRANCISCO

Today, tour and explore this unique city and its setting. Take a ride on the famous San Francisco Cable Cars for a visit to the Cable Car Museum, stroll through Chinatown, or take a boat tour of Alcatraz. Perhaps cross the bay on a ferry to Sausalito for a first-hand look at local galleries with great views of the bay. If time permits, make the short drive north over the Golden Gate Bridge to California’s premier wine regions of Napa and Sonoma.

Day 7

SAN FRANCISCO » 17-MILE DRIVE » MONTEREY (120 mi / 195 km)

Leave your heart in San Francisco and depart south along the scenic Pacific Coast to Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay. While in historic Monterey, visit California’s first customs house and Cannery Row made famous through John Steinbeck’s book of the same name. Take the 17-Mile Drive, a scenic coastal route through the Del Monte Forest that includes The Lone Cypress Point and world famous Pebble Beach to Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Day 8	MONTEREY » CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST (91 mi / 145 km)
Plan for a leisurely morning before continuing along the spectacular California coast. There is plenty of time today to enjoy everything along the way. Stop for pictures at Hurricane Point, enjoy the redwoods in Big Sur, visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon, walk on the beach in Grover Beach or through the unique turn-of-the-century downtown of Arroyo Grande.

Day 9

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST » SANTA BARBARA » LOS ANGELES (216 mi / 348 km)

Continue south to the well-known community of millionaires and movie stars, Santa Barbara. Located at the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains, this stylish beach community offers a relaxed atmosphere with a Mediterranean climate. California’s “Queen of the Missions” is located on a hillside overlooking the city. Make a stop at the ornate and historic courthouse before continuing on to Ventura, Malibu and finally Los Angeles.

Day 10	LOS ANGELES
Spend the day at leisure, or take the opportunity for last minute sightseeing before your departure