California Coast Food and Wine Trail end Los Angeles

Welcome to San Jose! You’ll begin your small group tour – California Coast Food & Wine Trail, at this center of innovation and affluence. It may be the Capital of the Silicon Valley and home to a range of Fortune 500 companies, but it’s also the start of your unforgettable gastronomic California tour along the stunning coast. There’s no better way to kick start your flavor-filled journey than a Welcome Reception to get to know your Travel Director and fellow travel companions.

Gain a true sense of what it’s like to live in Silicon Valley when you embark on a downtown walking tour where you’ll get to view all the highlights of this innovative city, from the Plaza de Cesar Chávez and Circle of Palms Plaza to the San Jose Museum of Art and St. James Park. A visit to San Jose would not be complete without gaining a deep understanding of what drives this major technological hub and you’ll enjoy a self-guided visit to The Tech Museum of Innovation, a science and technology center where you’ll have an opportunity to get hands-on and learn about everything from social robots to cyber detectives. Leave Silicon Valley for Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Immerse yourself amongst giants as you embark on a self-guided walk through California’s oldest state park, admiring its largest trees – some as tall as the Statue of Liberty. You’ll feel tiny in comparison to these ancient coast redwoods and discover how this redwood forest has evolved over the centuries. The next stop is Santa Cruz, where you’ll have the evening to explore the city on your terms.

Start your morning at Harley Farms. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, see the animals and learn how their locally made chevre, fromage blanc, ricotta and feta consistently win awards for their taste and quality. It's the perfect place for a picnic lunch before you can slow down in Santa Cruz, a surfer’s paradise and haven for beach lovers. Natural Bridges State Beach is where you’ll begin your self-guided walk past tide pools and admiring the incredible rock formations that jut out into the ocean. In the afternoon stroll down the longest wooden pier in the USA with a cup of clam chowder, keeping your eyes peeled for seals, sea lions and dolphins that frequent Monterey Bay.

You’ll want to remember every irresistible inch of today’s drive along the Monterey Peninsula, committing to memory all the highlights of Big Sur and one of the world’s most scenic journeys – 17-Mile Drive. Skirting the blue waters of the Pacific, you’ll make a stop at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the top courses in the country. An iconic championship venue, Pebble Beach Golf Links justifiably earns its rank as the top public golf course in the country, and you’ll learn how it has hosted more U.S. Opens than any other course in the past five decades. Dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches and lush forests line this part of your California tour and you’ll immerse yourself in the beauty of your surrounds, stopping for photos at the Lone Cypress, arguably the most iconic symbol of 17-Mile Drive. On your next stop at Carmel-By-The Sea, you’ll gain a deep appreciation of what it must be like to live in this rich artistic small beach city on California’s Monterey Peninsula. You’ll have some time for lunch and a stroll past its fairy-tale cottages and galleries before settling in for the highlight of the day and your epic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur. You won’t be able to tear your eyes away from the dramatic coastline you’ve only seen in movies as you snake along Highway 1. This is what dreams are made of and you’ll pass such highlights as Bixby Bridge as you skirt deep Pacific blue on one side and lush green hilly landscapes on the other towards tonight’s overnight stay in San Luis Obispo with the Pacific on one side and towering cliffs on the other.

We begin today with a leisurely walk of the Montaña De Oro State Park taking in beautiful views of the park’s tide pools, beaches, rock islands and natural beaches. It’s the perfect start to an unforgettable day in Morro Bay where you’ll Connect With Locals after lunch on your own and board a coastal cruise learning about the local marine life as you watch sea otters feast on shellfish and hear stories about what it’s like to live and work here from the boat captain. Back on land, your seafood journey continues, as you Dive Into Culture and learn how to shuck fresh oysters before enjoying a tasting of the local catch of Pacific Gold Oysters, and learn how these cold waters make for the perfect environment for these hardy oysters. SLO CAL is the place to be this evening and you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding how to spend your evening and what to eat. Don’t miss the chance to try out some of the area’s delicious wines, or the vibrant craft-brewing, cider and distillery scene.

Your last day in southern California will be a real treat for foodies and you’ll journey to Mt. Olive Organic Farm in Paso Robles for a taste extravaganza that should be the highlight of any California food tour. Learn how this organic family farm produces tasty olives, rich olive oil, seasonal vegetables, grass-fed meat and juicy fruits using sustainable practices. After getting to taste the oil yourself and learning the process of making oil, you’ll leave with a deep appreciation of how food can be produced in harmony with nature, perhaps inspired to source sustainably when you return home. For a taste of the good life, you’ll be treated to an exclusive Be My Guest experience and the best wine tour California has to offer at Parrish Vineyards. This family-run vineyard has its origins in the fascinating story of their grandfather who planted 500 acres of grapes pre-Prohibition. Today, the family manages 150 acres on three estate vineyards and specializes in Bordeaux varieties. You’ll meet your host, winemaker and owner David Parrish, whose mission is to create Napa-style Cabs in Paso’s limestone soils. Our last stop today is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at a local avocado farm where you’ll learn about the region’s agriculture. Your hosts from the local CalPoly will take you on a walking tour of the farm and you’ll leave knowing that your visit has helped to sustain the agricultural education program that the farm supports. Then it’s back to the city after a day in California wine country to enjoy one final evening with your travel companions at your leisure, no doubt raising a glass to the epic day you’ve had in sunny Southern California.

Your California tour of coast, food and wine has come to an end. Head to Los Angeles International Airport where you will arrive at approximately 1pm.