California Dreamin’ – The Coast, Redwoods & Rails

Day 1 – Coastal Train Ride, San Luis Obispo

From our departure points this morning we’ll travel aboard a deluxe motorcoach to downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station. All aboard Amtrak’s renowned Coast Starlight train for a spectacular, five-hour rail journey along California’s dramatic coastline and through its fertile valleys. We’ll travel along Point Conception and through Vandenberg Space Force Base, offering views of launch complexes and pristine, undeveloped coastline only visible by train. Enjoy an included boxed lunch onboard, with additional snacks and drinks available for purchase in the snack bar. Relax in your reclining seat or check out the view from the observation car, featuring windows that stretch up to the ceiling. Upon arrival in San Luis Obispo, we’ll reboard our motorcoach and continue the short distance to the charming Apple Farm Inn. Nestled beside San Luis Obispo Creek and embraced by rolling hills, the Apple Farm Inn is a “country rustic” Victorian-style inn situated among a lush, quiet garden setting. The Inn blends the country charm of yesteryear with all of the modern amenities of today. Enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ favorite this evening in charming and historic downtown San Luis Obispo. (Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2 – Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz

This morning we’ll travel north aboard our motorcoach to Monterey, offering a unique blend of historical significance, vibrant marine life, and a charming, relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy time at leisure at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf, featuring a variety of seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and the barking chorus of resident sea lions. This afternoon we’ll board a comfortable large vessel for a narrated whale watching cruise in Monterey Bay. A National Marine Sanctuary, Monterey Bay is known as the “Serengeti of the Sea” as it has an incredible biodiversity including sea birds, sea otters, harbor seals, dolphins and sea lions, commonly seen frolicking in the kelp beds and along the picturesque coastline. This time of year is when Humpback Whales and Blue Whales are migrating along the California coastline and Monterey Bay is a prime feeding location! Late this afternoon we’ll arrive in Santa Cruz, the vibrant coastal city known for its laid-back surf vibe and stunning natural beauty. We’ll stay overnight at the upscale, full-service Dream Inn, Santa Cruz’s premier beachfront hotel. This beloved local landmark, situated just steps from the legendary Cowell Beach features stylish, retro-chic rooms, each boasting a private balcony and dreamy ocean views! Enjoy the evening at leisure with dinner on your own at the inn’s Jack O’Neill Restaurant or walk to one of the eateries on the nearby Santa Cruz Wharf. (Breakfast)

Day 3 – San Francisco, Sonoma Valley

This morning we’ll travel north to San Francisco and enjoy time at leisure at the ever-popular Pier 39, known for its historic waterfront, spectacular bay views, delicious seafood and two levels of unique specialty shops. This afternoon we’ll cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and continue into the picturesque Sonoma Valley where we’ll enjoy an overnight stay. Enjoy time at leisure for dinner on your own in Healdsburg where a variety of restaurants encircle the charming Healdsburg Plaza. (Breakfast)

Day 4 – The Skunk Train, Eureka

We’ll continue north this morning to Willits and board The Skunk Train, the world-famous historic railroad that has been providing scenic rides through the redwood forests of Mendocino County since 1885. The vintage train cars are beautifully restored to reflect the charm and elegance of a bygone era, while the scenic journey that winds through majestic old-growth redwood groves, over scenic trestle bridges, through spectacular tunnels and into the heart of the Noyo River Canyon remains largely unchanged well over a century. This autumn-themed journey aboard the Pumpkin Express will take us deep into the wilderness where we’ll be surrounded by towering trees, lush ferns, the pristine waters of the Noyo River and a picturesque pumpkin patch set amidst the stunning natural surroundings. Enjoy an included lunch, seasonal treats onboard the train and an opportunity to walk through the pumpkin patch and choose a pumpkin as a keepsake. This afternoon we’ll continue north and begin a two-night stay in Eureka, the charming California town situated between Arcata and Humboldt Bays. Enjoy time at leisure this evening in Old Town Eureka, a restored waterfront district of unique shops, restaurants and galleries. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 5 – Redwood National Park, Eureka, Ferndale

This morning, we’ll be joined by a local guide as we travel north into the legendary Redwood National Park, truly a “Land of Giants.” Prepare to be awestruck as we enter an ancient forest where colossal coast redwoods soar over 300 feet, silent sentinels that have stood for more than 2,000 years! After an orientation at the visitor center, we’ll take easy, flat strolls along shaded trails, allowing us to stand directly beneath these titans and fully appreciate their majestic scale. This afternoon we’ll enjoy time at leisure in the Victorian village of Ferndale, one of the best- preserved enclaves of Victorian architecture on the West Coast. In Eureka we’ll admire the city’s numerous Victorian homes including the Carson Mansion, considered the grandest Victorian home in America! Enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ favorite this evening. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6 – Eureka, Journey Home

This morning we’ll visit the Sequoia Park Zoo, the oldest zoo in California and one of the smallest accredited zoos in the country. But this zoo has something that no other zoo can offer, Redwood Sky Walk! This self-guided, immersive, interpretive walkway will take you 100 feet up into the redwood canopy, providing a bird’s-eye view of the redwood forest and a better appreciation of the scale and grandeur of these towering trees. This afternoon we’ll arrive at the Eureka International Airport for an included, non-stop flight arriving in Los Angeles this afternoon. Back in Los Angeles, we’ll board a motorcoach and continue to our departure points with fond memories of our journey through California diverse landscapes. (Breakfast)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.