10 days Coastal California, Napa & the Central Valley (Tour AD)
Tour: AD - 10 day Los Angeles to San Francisco
Small groups lead to big experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour! Designed from the ground up for a maximum of 24 guests in North America, this Small Group Discovery tour has everything you need to explore with up-close-and-exclusive experiences that go beyond traditional tours.
From the City of Angels to the City by the Bay, California is calling from coastlines to central valley wines. Begin your California tour in Marina del Rey with guided sightseeing on Olvera Street and Hollywood. Head up the coast to the Spanish charm of Santa Barbara to explore the “American Riviera” to explore the Channel Islands and Colonial architecture of this Mediterranean jewel on the Pacific. Get a taste of Denmark amid the windmills of charming Solvang—with authentic Danish streets and pastry treats in the Santa Ynez Valley. Discover art and wine in California’s central valley, then wake up and smell the lavender in a San Miguel farm on the central coast. Feel a breeze in the Monterey Bay where Cannery Row inspired Steinbeck’s famous novel. Be inspired yourself on the waterfront where sea otters and a myriad of marine life flourish. Get in the swing of California life with a visit to Pebble Beach Golf Course and pass the iconic Lone Cypress tree as it clings to the rocky outcrops. Travel the rugged beauty of coastal views on the 17-mile drive to charming Carmel-by-the-Sea—a hamlet to steal your heart with storybook cottages and cobbled lanes beside the bracing ocean air. Go inward to the Central Valley to discover a wealth of agricultural treasures with tours and tastings. On to the rolling vineyards of Napa Valley where California wines hold their own in comparison to the finest French wines. Dig into the wine and culinary scene of Sonoma in the cool Pacific air to explore, eat, and enjoy a glass or two. This Small Group Discovery tour of California is always a good reason to celebrate!
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marina del Rey (Los Angeles Area), CA | Your Small Group Discovery Tour Begins! At 6 pm, meet your tour director and traveling companions for a welcome drink. Small groups lead to big experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour! |
| 2 | Marina del Rey - Santa Barbara | American Riviera. Enjoy morning sightseeing on a Los Angeles city tour that takes you from Olvera Street, the oldest thoroughfare in the city, to Hollywood, the motion picture capital of the world. Depart Los Angeles for the “American Riviera,” Santa Barbara, and meet a Local Guide for a small group exclusive city tour including the Presidio District, State Street Promenade and the Stearns Wharf Pier. Explore the Santa Barbara Old Mission on a tour and see inside the neoclassical facade and symbolic twin towers. Discover the European religious imagery and Chumash designs inside the church, the Queen of the Missions. Marvel at the Spanish Colonial architecture throughout the city, including the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Tonight, celebrate the stunning scenery with dinner on the waterfront. |
| 3 | Santa Barbara - Channel Islands National Park - Solvang - Paso Robles | Coastal California. Discover the Santa Barbara coastline and see the Channel Islands National Park on a cruise in the Santa Barbara Harbor (weather permitting). Discover the rich biodiversity of the marine sanctuary, with opportunities to see sea lions, dolphins, and other marine wildlife. Travel through the Santa Ynez Mountains to the Danish town of Solvang and enjoy a local bakery treat. Continue to Paso Robles for a two-night stay. |
| 4 | Paso Robles - San Luis Obispo - Pismo Beach | Satisfied and Sustainable. Meet the Globus Local Favorite Junk Girls in San Luis Obispo and discover the art of sustainability. Explore their studio and shop for inspiration before working on your own metal-stamping project from recycled products during a Small Group Discovery Exclusive event. Explore local art murals in downtown San Luis Obispo, recognized as one of the “happiest” cities in the US. Continue to Paso Robles this afternoon to Cass Winery for a tour and tasting. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and a special evening event at Sensorio, where art, technology and nature intersect. |
| 5 | Paso Robles - San Miguel - Monterey | Central Coast Scents. Depart Paso Robles for San Miguel, a small community in the Central Coast with a rich agricultural heritage. Tour a Globus Local Favorite lavender farm and explore the fragrant fields as you learn about their small batch processing. Continue to Monterey, home to the famous Cannery Row. Immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name, Cannery Row is filled with stories and vibrant sights along the waterfront of Monterey Bay. Consider a sunset cruise this evening or enjoy a walk on the pier for memorable views of the sunset. |
| 6 | Monterey - Carmel by the Sea - Winters | Spectacular Scenery. Explore Monterey this morning on an orientation tour before departing for the quaint resort town, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Enjoy a scenic drive along the famed 17-Mile Drive and marvel at the views of the Pacific Ocean. Continue to Winters for a two-night stay. |
| 7 | Winters - Davis - Woodland | Savory and Slow. Welcome to Central Valley of California, home to a diverse range of agricultural product that feed the nation. Tour the University of California – Davis Arboretum and Public Gardens and discover the Good Life Garden. Depart Davis for the Bondolio Farm and Mill, an olive tree farm and olive oil production site. On a Small Group Exclusive tour with the owners, learn about olive oil and the road to creating an estate blend award-winning product. Enjoy lunch at the Savory Café and experience the flavors of the slow-food movement. This afternoon, explore the honey and mead movement in the Central Valley with a tour and tasting at The Hive. |
| 8 | Winters - Napa | California Gold. Depart Winters for the rolling hills of Napa, a world-famous wine region with more than 400 producers. Experience the Napa region on a Small Group Discovery exclusive private tour of the Napa and Sonoma area with a local guide and enjoy lunch at the Oxbow Public Market, a vibrant food marketplace in downtown Napa. Then, go beyond the corridor of Highway 29 for a private tour and tasting at a local winery. |
| 9 | Napa - Sonoma | The Vineyards are Calling. Explore Sonoma this morning on a sightseeing tour. Well-known for wine production like the Napa Valley area, Sonoma has cooler temperatures influenced by the Pacific Ocean, has a thriving culinary scene and variety of parks and outdoor activities. Later, enjoy leisure time to explore additional wineries, or consider a guided bike ride or zipline experience for scenic views of the area. Return to Napa, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. |
| 10 | Napa - San Francisco | Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with a motorcoach drop at the San Francisco International Airport. Schedule departing flights after 12:30 pm. |