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7
DAYS • 8 MEALS
California,
here we come! From San Francisco to Hollywood, discover the
breathtaking vistas of the California coastline. Scenic towns,
a magnificent
Wine Train and all the glitter of Hollywood await you.
San
Francisco – The Golden City by the Bay
Your California Coastal tour begins with three nights in San
Francisco, considered America’s playground for its fun
activities. Also named one of the world’s top cities,
San Francisco is a cultural and culinary wonderland, where the
spirit of the Gold Rush continues to fill the air. From the
Golden Gate Bridge to Chinatown to Alcatraz, you will ride the
cable cars, see the world’s most crooked street and stroll
Fisherman’s Wharf. You won’t be able to resist the
goodies at The Ghirardelli Chocolate Ice Cream Shop at Ghirardelli
Square, and when you cruise on San Francisco Bay, you’ll
leave your heart here as well.
The
Napa Valley Wine Train
Imagine yourself riding in meticulously restored vintage rail
cars traveling through the beautiful Napa Valley. Your waiter
brings you a freshly prepared gourmet lunch served on white
table linen while the view of vineyards and wineries pass by
your window. This is not just a train ride, but a culinary experience
as well, and the Napa Valley Wine Train is one of the most unique
and best Napa restaurants. Locally famous Executive Chef, Kelly
MacDonald uses only the freshest seasonal ingredients, earth-friendly
produce, humanely-raised meats, and line caught or responsibly-farmed
fish. This relaxing three hour journey travels the 36
miles round-trip between the historic town of Napa and the quaint
village of St. Helena.
B.
R. Cohn Winery
Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley is B.R. Cohn Winery.
This small, family operated winery is surrounded by the 90-acre
Olive Hill Estate Vineyard. We tour the winery and taste some
of the fine wines which have placed B.R. Cohn among the leaders
of great California wine producers. In addition to its
award-winning wines, B.R. Cohn makes world-class California
olive oils and vinegars. The Estate Olive Oil is crafted from
140-year-old French Picholine olive trees imported from France
in the mid 1800s, which surround the estate.
Amtrak’s
Coast Starlight Route
Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of all train
routes, Amtrak’s Coast Starlight links the greatest cities
on the west coast. Operating daily between Seattle and Los Angeles,
we get a taste of what this spectacular journey is all about
while enjoying the comfort of coach class which includes big,
comfortable seats, plenty of legroom, larger pillows and available
at-seat meal service. Boarding in San Francisco, we travel south
along the Diablo Mountain Range which gives way to fertile valleys.
Long stretches of the Pacific Ocean shoreline and the “American
Riviera” town of Santa Barbara provide a stunning backdrop
for the journey into Los Angeles.
Hooray
for Hollywood!
Begin the day in Malibu with breakfast on the coast. Framed
by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu
is home to countless movie stars and has been called “27
Miles of Scenic Beauty.” Touring today will include
Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills and Bel
Air. Then it’s off to the Disney Concert Hall, home of
the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, with its 9,000 panes
of steel designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Next, stroll
Hollywood Boulevard, stopping at the Highlands Complex and the
Kodak Theater, home to the Academy Awards, and see the Hollywood
Walk of Fame. You’ll love seeing the legendary Grauman’s
Chinese Theater, with handprints and footprints of every Golden
Age star. We’ll travel down Sunset Strip on our way to
the historic Farmer’s Market, where you can enjoy lunch
on your own. The Farmer’s Market now features a trolley,
gourmet shops, and a town center.
Los
Angeles As You Like It!
Today is free for you to explore Los Angeles on your own. The
largest city in California and the second largest in the United
States, Los Angeles is bubbling with excitement and activity.
If you wish, you can take an optional visit to the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library. Located in Simi Valley the Museum and
Presidential Library features a full-scale replica of Reagan’s
Oval Office, a piece of the famous Berlin Wall and the Air Force
One Pavilion, complete with a presidential limousine, an Irish
Pub and Reagan’s “flying White House,” Air
Force One. Step aboard the same aircraft which flew the president
over 660,000 miles and to 26 countries and 46 U.S. states. Also
popular is an optional visit to Universal Studios, the world’s
largest motion picture and television studio. While there take
a tour of the back lot by tram and visit the sets and soundstages
where hundreds of stars created our favorite movies and television
shows.
Hotel
Accommodations
Days One through Three – Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf,
San Francisco, California
Days Four through Six – Beverly Garland Holiday Inn, Hollywood,
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