Northern California

From the iconic to the unexpected, the city of San Francisco never ceases to surprise. Kick-start your Northern California holiday in the cosmopolitan city by the Bay. Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception at your hotel.

Fuel up for a full day of indulging in San Francisco’s many sites. Admire the eclectic mix of Victorian and Modern architecture, vibrant culture, and cuisines of one of the world's most livable and iconic cities. Embark on a morning exploration tour that takes you from the lively hotspot of Fisherman's Wharf to Union Square. This afternoon offers a deeper look into two of the city’s iconic spots. After lunch, enjoy a relaxing ferry cruise to the quaint seaside community of Sausalito with time for shopping. This evening is at your leisure. Perhaps choose to join an optional guided walking tour of Chinatown including a delicious feast and a city illumination tour.

Start off your day with a guided Golden Gate Bridge walk across the 1.7-mile span of the magnificent "bridge that couldn't be built." As you gaze across the water (one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World), learn how this iconic engineering marvel was constructed. Continue to Sonoma and Napa Valley. Today, we'll visit a local winery and enjoy a unique experience and exploration of wine with a tasting. Enjoy an included lunch this afternoon with your fellow travelers.

Enjoy a visit to California's State Capitol before traveling through the scenic, fertile Sacramento River Valley to find yourself in the alpine splendor of Lake Tahoe. Its clear blue waters surrounded by evergreen pines and rocky outcrops provides you with a picturesque scenery to behold.

Touch the sky and embark on a scenic road-trip into the Sierra Nevada mountain range, winding along the Tioga Pass to California’s UNESCO-listed Yosemite National Park. Marvel at the incredible natural beauty that inspired naturalist John Muir to dub Yosemite Valley the “Incomparable Valley”, passing the colossal granite faces of El Capitan and the misty splendor of Bridalveil Fall. Tonight, our Stays with Stories brings us into the park at Yosemite Valley Lodge.   Tioga Pass: weather conditions may cause Tioga Pass to be closed to traffic, typically from mid-October to the end of May. In this case, an alternate entry point to Yosemite will be used entering through the west side of the park. While this may not cause a change in overnight, sightseeing will be affected this day.

After breakfast, head to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (seasonal), home to over 500 mature trees and the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite National Park. Continue to Monterey where we’ll Connect With Locals and enjoy a Farm-to-Table Be My Guest experience including the freshest local ingredients. Meet Todd and Jordan Champagne who have been dedicated to providing simple, delicious and farm driven foods for the local community from their storefront Happy Girl Kitchen Co.

The pinch-me moments continue as we follow the sun-kissed California coast, cruising scenic 17-Mile Drive. Visit the Salinas Valley where you'll love this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with an agricultural education tour to learn about fruit, vegetables and advanced farming techniques. You'll visit one of the oldest family farms in Monterey County and taste a local delicacy. We return to Monterey, home to Cannery Row, immortalized in the John Steinbeck novel. You’ll have some time to unwind at your hotel or stroll through the streets of Monterey. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a festive Farewell Dinner.

California’s towering redwoods provide an imposing backdrop for this morning. We continue to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park where we’ll have an opportunity to walk amongst these giants that have stood for over a thousand years. We return to the golden city of San Francisco where you might consider extending your stay. Complimentary airport drop off at San Francisco International Airport is scheduled for 1:00 PM. Please be aware when booking your flights.