Tour Best Of California (Classic, 9 Days) | Visit United States of America

Guide

: Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols. Our highly-skilled Travel Director will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas. From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.

Transport

: Enjoy the comfort of Insight’s luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches. Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available). If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Meals

San Francisco: Enjoy a delightful Welcome Dinner with your fellow travellers and Travel Director at your hotel. Monterey: Have your choice of three local restaurants during your Dine-Around evening in Monterey. Santa Barbara: Savour a delicious dining experience at one of sunny Santa Barbara’s famous local restaurants, Opal Restaurant & Bar. Los Angeles: Join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a Celebration Dinner with wine at Nick and Stef’s Steakhouse, named ‘Best Steakhouse in the Country’ by the Food Network. Dining Summary: 8 Breakfast (B), and 4 Dinner with Wine (DW)

Accommodation

San Francisco: Hyatt Regency Embarcadero Yosemite National Park: Stay in the park and enjoy Yosemite after the crowds have left, just a short walk to Yosemite Falls. Monterey: Located on Cannery Row, InterContinental The Clement Monterey is a beautiful waterfront hotel in California, overlooking Monterey Bay. Santa Barbara: Stay at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Enjoy beautiful views and a serene stay right on the beach. Los Angeles: Stay at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown situated within walking distance of the city’s most noteworthy attractions.

Others

Choose between two carefully selected activities Los Angeles: Choose to visit to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Los Angeles: Rated the #1 Automotive museum in the world, the Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration of the automobile and its impact on global life and culture. Visit 25 galleries and see more than 350 vehicles on display. : Our Well-Being Directors take a proactive approach to your welfare ensuring all well-being regulations are met (available on tours with 21 or more guests). : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues. : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day. San Francisco: Hop aboard an iconic cable car for a ride along the picturesque streets. Visit the Cable Car Museum in the Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. San Francisco: Linking San Francisco to Marin County across the three-mile Golden Gate strait, this magnificent suspension bridge was built between 1933 and 1937. Renowned as an engineering marvel due to the precise planning, design and construction processes that were applied, all over treacherous open water, it remains one of America’s most fascinating landmarks. Paso Robles: Enjoy a guided visit and wine tasting in the heart of Central California Wine Country. Santa Barbara: Walk along Santa Barbara’s Historic State Street to Stearns Wharf. Santa Barbara: Visit Mission Santa Barbara, a historic Spanish mission founded by the Franciscan order in 1786. Los Angeles: Ride the historic funicular, Angel’s Flight Railway in Downtown L.A. Los Angeles: Drive along Sunset Boulevard, see the Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre. Los Angeles: Choose to visit to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Los Angeles: Rated the #1 Automotive museum in the world, the Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration of the automobile and its impact on global life and culture. Visit 25 galleries and see more than 350 vehicles on display. Yosemite National Park: Join a Local Expert Park Ranger for a tram tour of the Valley Floor. Learn about the park and its history, see some of its most iconic rock formations and waterfalls, and admire the scenery from Tunnel View. Salinas (CA): Otherwise known as the "The Salad Bowl of the World", Salinas offers the chance to enjoy a farmer’s agricultural tour of an heirloom artichoke farm. Venice Beach: Join a passionate and knowledgeable Local Expert for a walking tour of Venice Beach, Muscle Beach, the Canals and Walkways and explain Abbot Kinney’s role in the development of the ‘Venice of America’. Los Angeles: Join a Local Expert for a behind-the-scenes tour of a historic downtown theatre not open to the public. Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert’s fascinating commentary. We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door. Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you’ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.

Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Insight Vacations through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. While highly recommended, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are no longer required for guests traveling with us from January 1, 2023 onward. It is your client’s responsibly to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destinations visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than the above. No refunds will be given if they are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to failure to comply with these requirements.

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Flights

International flights are not included.

Optional

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE WALK & SAUSALITO Stroll across the 1.7 mile span of the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge and learn how the bridge was an engineering marvel and about the people who gave so much time to build this icon of San Francisco. Arrive in the quaint seaside community of Sausalito and have time to leisurely browse the charming shops or have lunch along the picturesque bay. Your adventure concludes with a wondrous ferry cruise across the bay, passing haunting Alcatraz Island and catching an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Approx. duration: 3.5 hours Adult Price: 39.00

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Day 1 Day 1: San Francisco, The City By The Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: San Francisco, The City By The Bay

California here we come. A mix of modern glamour and bohemian charms, you’ve arrived in the Golden Gate City, a location famous for its rolling hills, colourful houses and eclectic architecture. You’ll be picked up at San Francisco International Airport and whisked straight to your hotel. Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner with wine.
Day 2 Day 2: Exploring San Francisco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Exploring San Francisco

Get ready for a fun-filled day exploring the city. Hop aboard an iconic cable car for a ride along the picturesque streets. Visit the Cable Car Museum in the Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. Afterwards, take in the city with a few photo stops. Visit the bucolic Golden Gate Park, before walking across the emblematic Golden Gate Bridge and travelling on to the city of Sausalito. A scenic ferry ride will bring you back to San Francisco, where the rest of your day is at leisure. Your Travel Director is on hand to make suggestions for making the most of your evening.
Day 3 Day 3: Yosemite National Park, A Unesco World Heritage Site
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Yosemite National Park, A Unesco World Heritage Site

Today you’ll witness the mountainous scenery of Yosemite National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travelling through California’s Gold Country, you’ll drive through the imposing Sierra Nevada mountains. Explore spectacular waterfalls and striking rock formations of El Capitan and Half Dome on a ranger-led valley floor tour. Rest up on your free evening at your lodge, located inside the park and close to Yosemite Falls, North America’s highest waterfall. On a clear evening you’ll be able to take in the sparkling night sky over the park.
Day 4 Day 4: Yosemite National Park To Monterey
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Yosemite National Park To Monterey

Leave Yosemite behind as you take in the Sierras before you are swept through the fertile San Joaquin Valley, also known as the “food basket of the world”. Stop at the Merced Fruit Barn which features its diverse produce. In Salinas, the heart of "The Salad Bowl of the World", enjoy a farmer’s agricultural tour of a local farm, known for heirloom artichokes. Once in Monterey you’ll head to your hotel situated on the waterfront street Cannery Row.
Day 5 Day 5: Monterey, The Cradle Of History
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Monterey, The Cradle Of History

Today you’ll journey to Carmel-by-the-Sea, a quaint seaside community where you’ll have ample free time. As you travel along Pacific Coast Highway, enjoy a relaxing drive across the Monterey Peninsula and along 17-Mile Drive. Stop at Pebble Beach and its world-renowned links, as well as Lone Cypress and Seal and Bird Rocks for a glimpse of sunbathing seals and sea lions. A Dine-Around Evening awaits upon your return to Monterey, with your choice of three local restaurants.
Day 6 Day 6: The American Riviera
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: The American Riviera

Head on to sunny Santa Barbara. Along the way, experience a guided tour and wine tasting served at a Paso Robles winery. On arrival, Santa Barbara greets you with its white buildings, terracotta roofs, beautiful weather and an array of bars and restaurants. Walk along a portion of palm tree lined State Street, the heartbeat of Santa Barbara and stop at the Spanish-Colonial style County Courthouse. In the evening, dinner with wine awaits at the local Opal Restaurant & Bar, a Santa Barbara favourite for 20 years serving eclectic California cuisine.
Day 7 Day 7: Santa Monica And The City Of Angels
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Santa Monica And The City Of Angels

Visit iconic Mission Santa Barbara, before making your way to Santa Monica and Venice. A Local Expert will take you on a walking tour of Venice Beach, Muscle Beach, the Canals and Walkways and explain Abbot Kinney’s role in the development of the ‘Venice of America’. Continue on to your modern L.A. hotel, in the city’s entertainment district.
Day 8 Day 8: The Glitz And Glam Of L.A.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: The Glitz And Glam Of L.A.

Explore Los Angeles with your Travel Director. Experience a bit of nostalgia in Downtown as you ride aboard the lovingly restored Angel’s Flight Railway. Next, you will be treated to an exclusive and private guided visit of the Los Angeles Theatre, a grandiose historic movie palace that is closed to the public. Visit Hollywood and Highland, where observation decks allow for the best views of the Hollywood sign. See the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre as you walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Drive along the famous Sunset Strip to Beverly Hills before walking along Rodeo Drive. Select a visit to either the Petersen Automotive Museum or the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for a Your Choice experience. Tonight, toast to your journey at a Celebration Dinner at Nick and Stef’s Steakhouse.
Day 9 Day 9: Depart Los Angeles
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Depart Los Angeles

It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travellers before a transfer takes you to Los Angeles International Airport. If you would like to see more, perhaps extend your stay in the City of Angels.

9 days tour

Best Of California (Classic, 9 Days)

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip Best Of California (Classic, 9 Days)

Day 1: San Francisco, The City By The Bay

Day 2: Exploring San Francisco

Day 3: Yosemite National Park, A Unesco World Heritage Site

Day 4: Yosemite National Park To Monterey

Day 5: Monterey, The Cradle Of History

Day 6: The American Riviera

Day 7: Santa Monica And The City Of Angels

Day 8: The Glitz And Glam Of L.A.

Day 9: Depart Los Angeles

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