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California's Gold  Coast
2008 Itinerary featuring 11 days from $3,490     Best Sellers  Rail Journey  Two Week  US National Parks  
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Discover the many treasures that lie along the Gold Coast with Tauck on a California travel adventure. Experience the rugged natural beauty of Yosemite National Park and the spectacular coastal vistas along the incomparable Pacific Coast Highway. Enjoy the allure and glamour of city life in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where sightseeing includes Nob Hill, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the magnificent J. Paul Getty Museum. Unique Tauck experiences include a rail journey from Los Angeles to San Diego; visits to the extraordinary vineyards of Napa Valley, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Hearst Castle; a private dinner cruise on San Diego Bay; and private tours of the fascinating San Diego Zoo and the historic Gold Rush town of Columbia. California travel with Tauck also includes the very finest hotels each night, from award-winning city properties to luxurious coastal resorts.
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2008 Itinerary


Day 1 - Arrive San Francisco, a California travel highlight
California travel Tauck-style begins at The Westin San Francisco Market Street at 5:30 PM. San Francisco, the beautiful city by the bay, wins awards year after year as the "world's favorite city" - from the cultural arts to intriguing architecture and diverse cuisine, discover what makes this city special. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: The Westin San Francisco Market Street, CA

Day 2 - Head to the wineries of Napa Valley
This morning get a taste of what this exciting city has to offer with a brief sightseeing tour that includes Nob Hill, Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf. Head over the Golden Gate Bridge to Napa Valley and a day exploring some of the world’s finest vineyards. A winery tour and a wine tasting are quintessential California travel experiences – and today's will be long remembered; return to San Francisco mid-afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: The Westin San Francisco Market Street, CA

Day 3 – Get a taste of Gold Fever!
Today in the Gold Country of California travel through the communities created during the boom years in the 1800s. A private tour of the historic Gold Rush town of Columbia introduces you to miners and merchants of the era, who ride the stagecoaches, pan for gold and conduct their business as it once was done in bygone days. Head into the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Yosemite National Park for two nights at one of the most distinctive hotels inside a national park - it's a National Historic Landmark.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Ahwahnee, Yosemite National Park, CA

Day 4 – A national treasure - Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park's unequaled splendors range from magnificent waterfalls to spectacular glacier-hewn gorges, and represent five of the seven life zones found in North America, all in an area about the size of Rhode Island. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is yours to explore as you please for the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Ahwahnee, Yosemite National Park, CA

Day 5 - Monterey and the 17-Mile Drive
En route to the California coast travel through the farmland of the San Joaquin Valley to the beautiful and historic coastal city of Monterey. Travel the 17-Mile Drive through Del Monte Forest to Cypress Point. Your exquisite hotel is situated within walking distance of Monterey’s famed Cannery Row and Fisherman’s Wharf. Dine this evening at your leisure at Fresh Cream Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Monterey Harbor; one of Monterey's leading restaurants, it was voted by Condé Nast Traveler as one of America's best 100 restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Pacific, Monterey, CA

Day 6 - What's under the Pacific - Monterey Bay Aquarium
View the underwater world at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, home to 200 award-winning galleries and exhibits. Following your visit, the rest of the day is spent exploring as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Pacific, Monterey, CA

Day 7 - A day of drama - Big Sur and Hearst Castle
Tauck's California travel expertise takes you on one of the most scenic drives in North America along Pacific Coast Highway 1. View the rugged coastline of Big Sur as the dramatic road weaves its way southward along the Pacific Ocean. Stop along the way to marvel at the elaborate adornments of Hearst Castle, the grandiose, "study in excess" estate of publisher William Randolph Hearst.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Cliffs Resort, Shell Beach, CA

Day 8 - Get ready for your close-up in Los Angeles
From Santa Barbara, California travel to Los Angeles, one of the world's great entertainment capitals. Visit the magnificent J. Paul Getty Museum, featuring an extensive collection of pre-20th century European art and sculpture, before arriving at your hotel, adjacent to Beverly Hills in L.A.’s chic Westside.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, CA

Day 9 - California travel dreamin' – a scenic rail journey
After some free time in San Juan Capistrano, board the Pacific Surfliner for a scenic rail journey along the Pacific Coast. Before arriving in southern California travel through Del Mar, Encinitas, and Cardiff-by-the-Sea to San Diego. A brief tour introduces you to this vibrant city, which grew from Spanish California’s first mission.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego, CA

Day 10 - Private visit, San Diego Zoo / San Diego Bay dinner cruise
Enjoy a private insider’s tour of the world’s largest zoo, the San Diego Zoo, featuring more than 4,000 animals. The afternoon is free for you to spend in San Diego as you please. Reminisce about your California travel adventures aboard an unforgettable dinner cruise on San Diego Bay featuring gourmet cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego, CA

Day 11 - Journey Home
California travel with Tauck ends in San Diego. Fly home anytime. A transfer to the airport is included; checkout time is 12:00 pm. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast

California travel at its best – departures fill quickly, so don't delay – book today!



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