Yosemite Spring Fling

Day 1 – Welcome to the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite! (Thursday, April 16)

From our departure points we’ll travel aboard a deluxe motorcoach this morning into California’s fertile Central Valley. Following a morning rest stop and a stop for lunch on your own, we’ll begin our journey from the Central Valley into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Here, two miles from the south entrance of Yosemite National Park, situated on 35 secluded acres amongst a noble evergreen forest at 5,300 feet in elevation, is the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. We’ll enjoy a two-night stay at this elegant, rustic-chic AAA Four Diamond mountain retreat that offers an experience that is classic, yet perfectly modern. This full-service resort features an expansive lobby with a roaring fire in the giant stone fireplace, an indoor pool and spa, room service and a full-service restaurant offering a wide range of cuisine. Enjoy the balance of the evening at leisure with dinner on your own.

Day 2 – Yosemite National Park (Friday, April 17)

Following an included breakfast at the lodge, our full day of exploration in Yosemite National Park begins when we are joined onboard our motorcoach by a knowledgable and charismatic Yosemite Conservancy guide. Preserved as a national park in 1890, Yosemite features a grand collection of picturesque waterfalls, serene meadows and historic structures nestled amongst a pine forest and unique, glacier-shaped cliffs and rock faces. At Tunnel View we’ll get our first view of the spectacular Yosemite Valley, including one of the West’s most photographed landmarks, Half Dome. Opposite this icon is El Capitan, towering 3,593 feet above the valley floor – the undisputed king of the granite monoliths is arguably Earth’s largest single piece of granite! We’ll descend into Yosemite Valley, the prized jewel of Yosemite National Park. This eight-mile long, 4,000-foot deep geologic marvel is lined by towering cliffs and glacially sculpted, polished rock. Although glacially carved valleys with similar features exist elsewhere in the world, none can compete with what legendary naturalist John Muir proclaimed the “Incomparable Valley.” We’ll take a short, leisurely walk to the base of the 620-foot Bridalveil Fall, one of Yosemite’s iconic waterfalls. We’ll enjoy an included, three-course lunch in the grand dining room of The Ahwahnee, Yosemite’s crown jewel. A National Historic landmark built in 1927, this destination for royalty and presidents is renowned for its stunning architecture. It blends historic charm with modern elegance and offers a perfect balance of history, luxury and world-class hospitality. The dining room is a grand and historic space featuring a massive, high ceiling supported by huge sugar pine trusses, striking granite pillars, and immense windows that flood the room with natural light. This afternoon we’ll enjoy time at leisure in Yosemite Village, home to the national park visitor center, the famed Ansel Adams Gallery of photographic art, the Village Store and a variety of historic buildings. This afternoon, join your guide on an leisurely walk to the base of the thunderous Yosemite Falls. Impressive for its sheer height, the cascade plunges an astounding 2,425 feet across three sections, making it the highest waterfall in North America and fifth highest on the planet! We’ll return to the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite late this afternoon leaving the balance of the evening for you to relax and take advantage of the swimming pool and spa, restaurant and expansive lobby. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 – Ride the Rails, Fresno, Journey Home (Saturday, April 18)

After an included breakfast at the lodge, we’ll travel the short distance to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. We’ll take a step back in time as we board “The Logger,” an historic, narrow gauge steam train that winds through the Sierra Nevada Forest on tracks once used by 19th century logging trains. As we enjoy the stunning views of the majestic trees from the open cars, the train conductor will provide narration and point out where lumberjacks once felled mighty trees used to build the nearby town of Madera. Back onboard the motorcoach, we’ll continue south to Fresno, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. This region has a deep Basque heritage, tracing back to immigrants who came to California during the Gold Rush but found more success as sheepherders in the ranchlands of the San Joaquin Valley. We’ll enjoy an included, traditional Basque meal at a locals’ favorite. This family-style feast features fresh bread, homemade soup, fried chicken, charbroiled lamp chops, a variety of sides, house wine, and dessert – providing a hearty, authentic and memorable finale to a spectacular journey. This afternoon we continue south toward Southern California making a rest stop enroute. We return to our departure points this evening with many fond memories of the giant granite cliffs, peaceful meadows and thundering waterfalls on our “spring fling” in Yosemite. (Breakfast, Lunch)

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.