Itinerary Details
Coastal California, Napa & The Central Valley With San Francisco Extension
Day 1MARINA DEL REY (LOS ANGELES AREA) Your Small Group Discovery Tour Begins! At 6 pm, meet your tour director and traveling companions for a welcome drink. Small groups lead to big experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour!
ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in the Los Angeles area with a stroll down the Santa Monica Pier, lunch at the Marina del Rey waterfront, or visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Your Tour Director has suggestions for your night, and your GlobusGO mobile app puts all the possibilities right at your fingertips.
Day 2MARINA DEL REY–SANTA BARBARAAmerican Riviera Enjoy morning sightseeing on a Los Angeles city tour that takes you from Olvera Street, the oldest thoroughfare in the city, to Hollywood, the motion picture capital of the world. Depart Los Angeles for the “American Riviera,” Santa Barbara, and meet a Local Guide for a small group exclusive city tour including the Presidio District, State Street Promenade and the Stearns Wharf Pier. Explore the Santa Barbara Old Mission on a tour and see inside the neoclassical facade and symbolic twin towers. Discover the European religious imagery and Chumash designs inside the church, the Queen of the Missions. Marvel at the Spanish Colonial architecture throughout the city, including the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Tonight, celebrate the stunning scenery with dinner on the waterfront. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE With a Mediterranean-like climate, sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and world-famous wines, Santa Barbara is also known for outstanding food, sailing, and historic missions. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is an iconic landmark, with the clocktower featured in movies and the Spanish Colonial architecture an everlasting lesson in California history.
Day 3SANTA BARBARA–CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK–SOLVANG–PASO ROBLES Coastal California Discover the Santa Barbara coastline and see the Channel Islands National Park on a cruise in the Santa Barbara Harbor (weather permitting). Discover the rich biodiversity of the marine sanctuary, with opportunities to see sea lions, dolphins, and other marine wildlife. Travel through the Santa Ynez Mountains to the Danish town of Solvang and enjoy a local bakery treat. Continue to Paso Robles for a two-night stay. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEM Stroll the streets of Solvang and feel as though you’ve entered a charming Danish town with picturesque buildings and shops, restaurants and windmills that create a taste of Denmark in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Enjoy a traditional Danish pastry at Mortensen’s famous bakery.
Day 4PASO ROBLES. SAN LUIS OBISPO–PISMO BEACH Satisfied and Sustainable Meet the [LF] Junk Girls in San Luis Obispo and discover the art of sustainability. Explore their studio and shop for inspiration before working on your own metal-stamping project from recycled products during a Small Group Discovery Exclusive event. Explore local art murals in downtown San Luis Obispo, recognized as one of the “happiest” cities in the US. Continue to Paso Robles this afternoon to Cass Winery for a tour and tasting. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and a special evening event at Sensorio, where art, technology and nature intersect. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
ART THERAPY The Junk Girls breathe new life into well-loved treasures. Using recycled, repurposed, vintage, and antique from the USA, they refresh items for their store and workshop space in San Luis Obispo. The Junk Girls sustainability mission is in-step with the Globus family of brands Lighthouse Project, an initiative focused on sustainability and responsible travel.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SOLAR-POWERED FLOWERS When the sun sets in the hills of Paso Robles, the lights come on at Sensorio, one of California’s largest immersive art exhibitions. Walk on paths through more than 100,000 glowing bulbs, like bioluminescent flowers from a jewel-toned fantasy land. Explore several solar-powered exhibits that merge light and music technology with color for an illuminating experience.
Day 5PASO ROBLES–SAN MIGUEL–MONTEREYCentral Coast Scents Depart Paso Robles for San Miguel, a small community in the Central Coast with a rich agricultural heritage. Tour a [LF] lavender farm and explore the fragrant fields as you learn about their small batch processing. Continue to Monterey, home to the famous Cannery Row. Immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name, Cannery Row is filled with stories and vibrant sights along the waterfront of Monterey Bay. Consider a sunset cruise this evening or enjoy a walk on the pier for memorable views of the sunset. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
PURPLE REIGN Walk through the lavender fields during a visit to a working farm and explore nature one row at a time. Learn the difference between culinary and aromatic lavender and witness the rolling hills, hand-cultivation process and moderate valley temperatures, all essential for the best lavender crops.
Day 6MONTEREY–CARMEL-BY-THE SEA–WINTERSSpectacular Scenery Explore Monterey this morning on an orientation tour before departing for the quaint resort town, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Enjoy a scenic drive along the famed 17-Mile Drive and marvel at the views of the Pacific Ocean. Continue to Winters for a two-night stay. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
SEASIDE STORYBOOK Feel the windswept spirit of the Pacific Ocean with a spectacular drive along 17-Mile Drive to the charming haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea. See its crooked cottages and twisted trees in the popular haunt of writers, artists, and celebrities. You’ll pass by sweeping sea views and rocky shores, visit the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Course and see the iconic Lone Cypress clinging to its rocky perch.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Enjoy two nights at Hotel Winters, a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown. Surrounded by orchards, farms, and vineyards, the quaint small town has delicious farm-to-table cuisine, easy walking trails, local shops, and tasting rooms.
Day 7WINTERS. DAVIS–WOODLANDSavory and Slow Welcome to Central Valley of California, home to a diverse range of agricultural product that feed the nation. Tour the University of California – Davis Arboretum and Public Gardens and discover the Good Life Garden. Depart Davis for the Bondolio Farm and Mill, an olive tree farm and olive oil production site. On a Small Group Exclusive tour with the owners, learn about olive oil and the road to creating an estate blend award-winning product. Enjoy lunch at the Savory Café and experience the flavors of the slow-food movement. This afternoon, explore the honey and mead movement in the Central Valley with a tour and tasting at The Hive. (B,L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Celebrate the slow-food movement with lunch at the Savory Café, where the “slow-food whisperer chef” presides over the kitchen and nearby community gardens. Enjoy private tours of olive oil, honey and mead producers in the Central Valley and hear the challenges and celebrations the family-owned businesses encounter in the agricultural hub of California.
Day 8WINTERS–NAPACalifornia Gold Depart Winters for the rolling hills of Napa, a world-famous wine region with more than 400 producers. Experience the Napa region on a Small Group Discovery exclusive private tour of the Napa and Sonoma area with a local guide and enjoy lunch at the Oxbow Public Market, a vibrant food marketplace in downtown Napa. Then, go beyond the corridor of Highway 29 for a private tour and tasting at a local winery. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NAPA TIME The deep-rooted vines of Napa Valley produce world-class wine and put Northern California on the world wine map in 1976, when a blind-tasting competition in France yielded winning results for Napa Valley wineries. Napa has serene countryside trails for walking, hot springs wellness experiences, a lively music scene and rich culinary choices to complement the vineyards and farms.
Day 9NAPA. SONOMAThe Vineyards are Calling Explore Sonoma this morning on a sightseeing tour. Well-known for wine production like the Napa Valley area, Sonoma has cooler temperatures influenced by the Pacific Ocean, has a thriving culinary scene and variety of parks and outdoor activities. Later, enjoy leisure time to explore additional wineries, or consider a guided bike ride or zipline experience for scenic views of the area. Return to Napa, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in the Sonoma and Napa. Your Tour Director has suggestions for local activities and your GlobusGO mobile app puts all the possibilities right at your fingertips.
Day 10SAN FRANCISCOCity by the Bay Wave goodbye to your Tour Director and Driver and continue your two-night stay in captivating San Francisco with free time to explore. Enjoy a hop-on, hop-off bus pass to tour the city of San Francisco on your own. Take a walk on Fisherman’s Wharf, indulge in fresh sourdough bread or a Ghirardelli chocolate or two in the stunning city by the bay. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HIGH SUSPENSE The Golden Gate Bridge was built in 1937 and is an iconic symbol of San Francisco. The suspension bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County and is an engineering marvel, as the road is suspended by cables and anchored at the end of the 1.7-mile-long bridge.
Day 11SAN FRANCISCOThe Gold City A full free day to explore San Francisco on your own. (B)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in San Francisco with a ride on a cable car, bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to scenic Sausalito, a walk by the Painted Ladies, lunch at the Wharf, or a visit to the Presidio. Your GlobusGO mobile app is always at your fingertips with maps and suggestions for the best day in Cali.
Day 12SAN FRANCISCO Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
