Natures Bounty

Day 1 – Welcome to the Wonder Valley Ranch!

From our departure points this morning we’ll travel by deluxe motorcoach into California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley – the southern section of the greater Central Valley. Following a morning rest stop and a stop for lunch on your own, we’ll continue into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada where we’ll soon arrive at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort, the 75-acre all-inclusive western-style guest ranch located in the scenic Wonder Valley east of Sanger. While enjoying a three-night leisure stay at California’s oldest guest ranch, we’ll appreciate the modern accommodations, paved walkways with antique lamps, gorgeous grounds and the attentive service. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a guided historic tour of the ranch followed by a nightly hosted “happy hour.” Following a scrumptious ranch buffet dinner, we’ll gather around the campfire and recall memories of warm family gatherings while sipping hot cider or cocoa amongst the good company of our fellow travelers. Enjoy a horse-drawn hayride for spectacular views of the night sky (weather permitting) and a magic show. (Dinner)

Day 2 – Fresno Fruit Trail with Farm Visits

Following an included breakfast at the ranch, we’ll board the motorcoach with our resort guide for sightseeing along Fresno County’s famed Fruit Trail – a collection of local family farms, orchards and packing houses amongst the fruit-filled countryside in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley. The Central Valley lies in the shadow of the vast Sierra Nevada and has been blessed with the perfect combination of sun, fertile soil, and water to produce an abundant variety of crops. This time of year, the countryside is typically alive with orchards full of ripe fruit literally bursting with flavor. We’ll experience the bounty and the beauty of the county first-hand as we travel amongst citrus groves, vineyards, plum, peach, nectarine and walnut orchards. Along the Trail we’ll enjoy an included lunch at a locals’ favorite and visit several family farms to meet the passionate owners, learn how they cultivate, harvest, pack and ship, as well as taste and savor their crops of stone fruit (plums, apricots, peaches, and nectarines) and juicy citrus varieties. We return to the resort later this afternoon to enjoy the hosted “happy hour,” an included dinner and original entertainment. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 – Kings Canyon National Park

After an included breakfast at the ranch, we’ll be joined by our resort guide and travel east into Kings Canyon National Park. The dramatic landscape here testifies to nature’s size, beauty, and diversity – huge mountains, rugged foothills and the world’s largest trees! After a stop at Grant’s Grove Visitor Center, we’ll continue to the General Grant Grove (elevation 6,600 feet). Protected by the federal government as General Grant National Park in 1890 – one of our nation’s first National Parks – this later became part of Kings Canyon National Park. On a leisurely, guided stroll along the paved General Grant Tree Trail through the General Grant Grove, you’ll stand in awe as you walk amongst trees that are 3,000 years old, measure 250 feet tall and 35 feet in diameter, with trunks weighing 1,400 tons. The Grove’s most famous and largest tree, is the General Grant Tree. The third largest tree in the world, this goliath measures 107 feet in circumference – that’s the same width as three lanes of traffic! The tree is almost 300 feet tall and has the largest base diameter of any tree in the world at more than 40 feet! Also along this same trail is the historic Gamlin Cabin and the Fallen Monarch, a hollow, downed sequoia. Because of its immense girth, it was once used as a stable for the U.S. Calvary’s horses. We’ll return to the resort this afternoon to enjoy an included lunch and time to relax or take advantage of the resort’s amenities and activities which include a swimming pool, hot tub, a lake for fishing and canoeing, tennis, horseshoe pits, a game pavilion with ping pong, foosball and pool tables, horseback riding (additional fee) and much more! This evening we’ll enjoy the hosted “happy hour,” an included dinner and original entertainment at the resort. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 – Journey Home

Following an included breakfast and a surprise activity at the resort, we’ll begin our journey home, making several rest stops and a stop for lunch on your own along the way. We’ll return to our drop-off points this evening with many fond memories of our time exploring Sequoias, the San Joaquin Valley and the fun we had at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort. (Breakfast)

If you prefer additional time at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort to take full advantage of the amenities and outdoor activities, you may choose to stay back at the resort on days 2 and/or 3 (though there is no discount for this option).

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.