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Arrive at the airport, pick-up your rental car and proceed to the hotel. San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the US. It’s a compact and approachable place, where downtown streets rise on impossible gradients to reveal stunning views of the city, the bay and beyond. San Francisco is culturally vibrant and ethnically diverse; as a result, it has evolved into the urban jewel of California’s coast. Very typical for this city are the cable cars and rows of elaborate redwood Victorian-Style houses. Curiously, it contains the biggest China Town outside China.
Accommodations:
(STD) Whitcomb Hotel or similar (2 nights).
(SUP) Pickwick Hotel or similar (2 nights).
Today, you are free to enjoy the many sights and sounds of San Francisco. Take a cable car ride from Fisherman’s Wharf. Another major attraction is Alcatraz, a small island located in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It served as lighthouse, a military fortification, and finally as a federal prison until 1963. The rangers give excellent guided tours detailing the history and legends surrounding “The Rock.” Spend the day in Golden Gate Park. Golden Gate Park offers dozens of fun things to do. Top sights are the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden. Don’t miss the local resident buffalo herd. This evening dine in one of San Francisco’s many distinctive neighborhoods. From Chinatown to the very Italian flavored North Beach, each offers its own distinctive culture and cuisine.
Depart the bustle of San Francisco and drive toward Yosemite National Park. The striking beauty of Yosemite is due in part to the Yosemite Valley whose flat floor contrasts with nearly vertical granite walls. The granite cliffs, including the El Capitan monolith, Glacier Point, and Half Dome all tower as major waterfalls tumble over them. In addition to the Valley, Yosemite includes an extensive high-mountain wilderness of peaks, rivers, meadows, and groves of giant sequoia trees. Extensive visitor activities, facilities, and services are available. At Yosemite Village, you can visit the Valley Visitor Center and see its orientation film, publications, theater programs, and exhibits highlighting the natural and human history of the area. Self-guiding trails start nearby. Elsewhere in Yosemite Valley, you can gaze up at the waterfalls; visit Mirror Lake/Meadow in the East Valley and the famous “Tunnel View” of Yosemite Valley at Wawona Tunnel. A one night stay has been arranged at the Yosemite area.
Accommodations:
(STD & SUP) Cedar Lodge or similar (1 night).
Leave the Yosemite area behind and drive toward Nevada. Along the way, you may want to pass through Death Valley National Park. Death Valley is a desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains and multicolored rock layers. It is also one of the most arid places on earth and the hottest and driest of the National Parks within the United States with temperatures reaching 134°F (56.6°C) in the summer. Surprisingly, an average yearly rain-fall of 2 inches (5 cm) has proven sufficient for the over 900 species of plants and animals that thrive in this harsh environment. Stop at Father Crawley and Zabriskie Point for a spectacular view of the Panamint Mountains and Sand Dunes and at Furnace Creek where you may want to choose to have a light lunch. Continue to Las Vegas where an overnight stay has been arranged. Las Vegas has something to offer everyone. From the outrageous live shows to the excitement of casinos, the action never stops from morning to night. Tonight, stroll down Las Vegas Boulevard, also known as “the strip”, for a foretaste of this spectacular city.
Accommodations:
(STD) Circus Circus Hotel & Casino or similar (1 night).
(SUP) Tropicana Resort & Casino or similar (1 night).
Leave the Vegas excitement behind and drive toward Zion National Park. You will be greeted by gigantic sandstone monoliths and hear the soft rush of the Virgin River. The Narrows are Zion’s famous slot canyons. These are narrow stone crevices formed with colorful stripes caused by years of water, wind and erosion. The result is a hiker’s paradise. In the park and along the river there are a variety of trails and paved pathways for explorers of all skill levels. In addition, there is a complimentary shuttle system that runs throughout the park. By utilizing this, you can visit the Zion’s other major attractions such as the Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock and Angels Landing. Stop at the Visitor Center for information on guided tours and park history. Continue on to Bryce for an overnight stay.
Accommodations:
(STD) Bryce View Lodge or similar (1 night).
(SUP) Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon or similar (1 night).
This morning visit Bryce Canyon National Park. Dramatically different from Zion, Bryce contains “amphitheatres” of colorful eroded rock formations. These spires of rock are called hoodoos. It is their uniqueness that sets Bryce apart from anywhere else. Light reflecting on the hoodoos at different times of day change the colorful scene of the park. There are a variety of walking trails in the park. Horseback riding is another popular way to see the highlights of the park. Continue traveling through canyon country to Arches National Park. Here you will encounter over 2,000 natural freestanding sandstone arches. The number varies from day to day, as old arches crumble and new ones form. The most famous of these is Delicate Arch. The best viewing of this impressive arch is done off the roadway and on a trail. It is well worth the hike to encounter it up close. At the Visitor Center, rangers offer guided walks and nature talks. Keep your eyes open for desert bighorn sheep. These famous residents tend to blend in with the landscape; a sighting is a special treat.
Accommodations:
(STD) Big Horn Lodge or similar (1 night).
(SUP) Ramada Inn Downtown or similar (1 night).
In the morning visit to Dead Horse Point from where you may view Canyonlands with its spectacular rock formations and great variety of colors. Immediately after, continue via Cortez to Mesa Verde National Park. This park consists of more than 4,000 ruin sites, which include 600 cliff dwellings; these magnificent sites include the famous Balcony House and Cliff Palace. Visit Spruce Tree House, constructed between AD 1211 and 1278 by the ancestors of the Puebloan peoples of the Southwest. The dwelling contains about 130 rooms and 8 kivas, or ceremonial chambers, built into a natural cave. Continue to Durango. This great city, nestled in the picturesque San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado was built as a mining supply and smelting center during the gold and silver era.
Accommodations:
(STD) Durango Downtown Inn or similar (1 night).
(SUP) Historic Strater Hotel or similar (1 night).
After we cross the continental divide we make a stop in the surprising green valley of Chama, the last leg of the Rio Grande Railway. A lunchtime arrival in Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico and the second oldest city in the USA, will allow you time for touring Old Town Santa Fe with its three different cultures, Spanish, Indian and American. Some of this city’s highlights are the State Building, San Miguel Church which is the oldest church in the US, Loretto Chapel with its Miraculous floating staircase, and Governor’s Palace which houses the most extensive museum collection spanning the history of Santa Fe and the Southwest. Native Americans ply their arts and crafts outside the buildings facing the central Plaza just as they have for over 400 years. Jewelry, pottery, and more are spread out on blankets for you to admire and purchase. Continue your journey in route to Albuquerque for an overnight stay.
Accommodations:
(STD) Baymont Inn & Suites Downtown or similar (1 night).
(SUP) Crowne Plaza Albuquerque or similar (1 night).
Start the day with a visit to Old Town Albuquerque where you can walk through history around its original central plaza. Uniquely distinctive Southwestern items can be found in numerous shops and boutiques. The tour continues west for a visit to Canyon De Chelly and its magnificent vistas. Canyon de Chelly is part of the Navajo Reservation. Stop at the Visitor Center and proceed via the South Rim from which you can admire the Ancient Ruins and geologic structures. These ancient ruins were once home to the thriving Anasazi Indian community. The steep, stained walls of the canyon have helped preserve these petroglyphs and cliff dwellings. From here you will also see Spider Rock; this spectacular geologic feature is a sandstone spire that rises 800 feet from the canyon floor. You may recognize it, as it has served as the scene of a number of television commercials. Continue to Kayenta for an overnight stay.
Accommodations:
(STD) Kayenta Monument Valley Inn or similar (1 night). (SUP) Goulding’s Lodge or similar (1 night).
Today, visit Monument Valley. This Valley provides perhaps the most enduring and definitive images of the American West. The isolated red mesas and buttes surrounded by empty, sandy desert have been filmed and photographed countless times over the years for movies, advertisements and holiday brochures. Because of this, the area may seem quite familiar, even on your first visit. Stop at the Cameron Trading Post where you can have lunch and purchase local Indian crafts. The tour continues to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon where you can visit Desert View, Mather Point, Yavapai and Bright Angel Lodge. The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, its amazing landscape awes and inspires. It is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River over a six million year period. The Canyon is between 1500 and 2700 meters above sea level.
Accommodations:
(STD & SUP) Grand Canyon Lodging* or similar (1 night).
* 1 night in-park accommodations are offered on a first-come, first served basis depending on availability. Early booking is essential; otherwise, similar accommodations near the park will be provided.
The journey continues as you depart the Grand Canyon through scenic Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona for a lunch stop. Oak Creek Canyon is a spectacular 16-mile gorge with streams and waterfalls between sheer rock walls. Breathtaking in its red rock beauty, the Canyon with its clear perennial stream provides a strong contrast to the Sedona’s red rocks. After lunch continue to Phoenix or Scottsdale for a mid-afternoon arrival. This evening visit the “Old Town” area of Scottsdale. In addition to multiple galleries and exclusive shops, here you will find excellent collection of Southwestern and Native American art and handicrafts for sale. Enjoy the regional flavors of the southwest cooking style at one of the multiple restaurants in this area.
Accommodations:
(STD) Sleep Inn N. Scottsdale. or similar (1 night).
(SUP) Embassy Suites Phoenix or similar (1 night).
Leave Scottsdale behind and head west toward Los Angeles through scenic desert country where you will encounter the exclusive resort town of Palm Springs. Situated in the shadow of the San Jacinto Peak, Palm Springs serves as a playground to the rich and famous; it brims with lush farming land and manicured golf courses which does not conform to the typical desert image. Take a ride on the Aerial Tramway, a popular attraction that takes you from the desert to snow-capped mountains. This cable car ride ascends Mt. San Jacitno. At the top, there are hiking trails, mule rides, a cocktail bar and a restaurant. Afterward, continue to Los Angeles for a two-night stay. Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the United States. Home to famous movie stars and the infamous landmark, the Hollywood sign, it is a city brimming with culture and happenings. This big metropolis has many regions with distinct flavors and communities.
Accommodations:
(STD) Figueroa Hotel or similar (2 nights).
(SUP) Millennium Biltmore Hotel or similar (2 nights).
Today, explore the City of Angels. Visit the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Take a stroll along the Walk of Fame and see the names of celebrities commemorated in pink stars along the sidewalk. Visit Mann’s Chinese Theater, the best-preserved of the movie palaces from Hollywood’s golden era. Known for its celebrity hand and footprints in the forecourt, over 200 impressions are yours to discover. Drive through Beverly Hills, the most famous neighborhood in the United States and glimpse exclusive homes of celebrities. Shop the famous Rodeo Drive, where luxury retail commands the street. Have lunch in Venice Beach, home to famous Muscle Beach, where the sand and surf are secondary to the lively scene of people that inhabit the sidewalk. Or, make your way to Anaheim and visit the “Happiest place on earth.” Disneyland is home to your favorite characters like Mickey Mouse. Here you will find entertainment for the young and the young at heart. In the evening have dinner at one of the many ethnic neighborhoods and experience the distinct flavors of authentic dishes.
Depart at leisure to Los Angeles International Airport. Drop-off rental car.
This tour explores the scenic Pacific Coast of California driving east from San Francisco. Continue into Nevada and visit Yosemite National park on your way to the excitement of Las Vegas. Visit two of Utah’s best National Parks before returning to Los Angeles via the Grand Canyon.
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