Yosemite, Sequoia and the California Coast

Early rise to get out of the city and on our way to Yosemite National Park. You will travel across the Central Valley into the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and then climb up to Tioga Pass and Tuolumne Meadows, where you will enjoy lunch and the opportunity to hike in the Sierra Nevada along the John Muir Trail or up to one of the many high alpine lakes and granite peaks found in this area. Toward the end of the day, you will travel down into Yosemite Valley, where you will watch the sun setting on El Capitan, Half Dome, and the many waterfalls that will be cascading down the granite cliffs all around the valley. Our welcome dinner will be at the Majestic Yosemite Lodge.

Lodging – Tenaya Lodge

You will spend the day exploring the many areas in and around the valley, including the Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite visitor’s centers, Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, and walk along the Merced River to see Vernal Fall, Emerald Pool, Silver Apron and for those hearty souls, Nevada Fall. You will also have the opportunity to travel up to Glacier Point.

Lodging – Tenaya Lodge

This morning, you will depart Yosemite and move on to another equally beautiful region of the Sierra Nevada, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. En route to the next park, you will pass through the Fresno/Clovis metropolitan area. As you climb back up out of the Central Valley, you will enter Sequoia National Park and make your first stop at Grant Grove. In the afternoon, you will descend into Kings Canyon. You will see Grizzly Falls, Roaring River Falls, and explore Zumwalt Meadows. There are great walking/hiking trails here.

Lodging – Wuksachi Lodge (Delaware North), Sequoia National Park, CA

Today will be a day of further exploring the other sides of Sequoia National Park. You visit the General Sherman tree and many other groves of Sequoias in the region. In the early afternoon, you will say goodbye to the Sequoias and the Sierra Nevada and travel down into the Central Valley on your way to the California Coast and the Pacific Coast Highway. Our last stretch of road before you reach the coast will be through beautiful rolling hills of Paso Robles.

Lodging – Fog Catcher, Cambria, CA

This morning, you will depart Cambria and head up the coast along Pacific Coast Highway 1. This is a beautiful scenic drive along the coast that offers breathtaking views of lighthouses, wildlife, old-growth forests, and miles of rugged coastline. Something new will greet us at every turn. Once we reach Ragged Point, we will return to Cambria, CA and then travel inland along Highway 101 to Monterey, CA. In the afternoon, you will enjoy Cypress Cove and Point Lobos State Park and other areas surrounding Monterey itself.

Lodging – Monterey Bay Inn, Monterey, CA

This morning, you will have the opportunity to visit the Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park and enjoy seeing the Coastal Redwoods. These trees are some of the tallest trees in the world, over 300 ft high. Along the way, you will enjoy views of Bixby Bridge and other scenic views along the highway. Once finished, you will travel north to San Francisco and transfer to your hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf. If you arrive early, you will leave your bags at the hotel and start exploring the area. You then will enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner cruise with Hornblower Cruises in the San Francisco Bay. This boards at 7:00 PM and returns around 10:30 PM.

Lodging –Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA

This morning, you will enjoy a tour out to Alcatraz Island allowing you to explore this historic prison and island. Upon returning to shore, you will return to your hotel for check-out and airport transfers.