Central Coast Scarecrows, Wineries & Wild Horses

Day 1 – Santa Ynez Valley, Cambria

From our departure points this morning we’ll travel aboard a deluxe motorcoach towards California’s Central Coast. We’ll stop in the Santa Ynez Valley in the heart of Santa Barbara “Wine Country.” Blanketed with fertile vineyards and fruitful farms due in part to the region’s temperate weather, the Santa Ynez Valley is about as picturesque as it gets – small, historic towns surrounded by rolling hills with vineyards and horse ranches. We’ll enjoy an included lunch and wine tasting at an award-winning winery that features an idyllic setting. We’ll continue north and follow Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1) to the quaint seaside village of Cambria – the artists’ colony nestled in a forest of towering Monterey Pines along a craggy stretch of California coastline. We’ll enjoy a two-night stay in a charming boutique inn that features cozy fireplace rooms with a coastal décor and a driftwood-inspired design. This oceanfront gem is located on Cambria’s Moonstone Beach, recently voted one of the “10 Best Beaches in California” by the readers of USA Today. This spectacular stretch of coastline offers an easily accessible beach with driftwood and collectable shells and rocks, tide pools, a walkable bluff-top boardwalk and a spectacular vantage point for memorable sunsets. Transportation will be provided this evening to Cambria’s East Village, featuring a number of eateries with varied cuisines for dinner on your own. (Lunch)

Day 2 – Paso Robles Wine Country, Cambria

Following an included breakfast, we’ll travel along the backroads through the rolling hills of Paso Robles, famous for its fertile soil and a long growing season of warm days and cool evenings – perfect for growing award-winning olives and wine grapes! At a small and charming boutique olive farm, we’ll take a stroll amongst olive trees and learn their process of growing, harvesting, bottling and shipping. We’ll then do some olive oil tasting, savoring the different flavors and textures as you are guided through how to taste and what to look for in olive oil. The Paso Robles Wine Country is home to the oldest grapes in California – they were planted by Franciscan monks as they made their way north on El Camino Real in the late 1700s. With over 200 wineries, this wine region is not only the fastest growing wine region in the state, but more importantly, it’s producing world-class wines – especially Rhône varietals and blends. We’ll be the judges during an included lunch with wine tasting at an award-winning, boutique winery that is as picturesque as they come. We’ll return to Cambria with the afternoon at leisure to relax at the inn, take a walk on the beach or browse the charming shops, boutiques and galleries in Cambria’s quaint and historic village. This time of year Cambria is home to the annual Scarecrow Festival, when hundreds of imaginative and whimsical scarecrows descend upon this seaside village. Now in its 17th year, this festival was named ‘One of the Nation’s Top 10 Autumn Festivals’ by USA Today and “One of the Top 10 Scarecrow Festivals in the U.S. and Canada” by the Travel Channel. Transportation is available to Cambria this evening for dinner on your own. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 – Wild Horse Sanctuary, Journey Home

After an included breakfast, we’ll visit a small, family farm where a variety of pumpkins and winter squash are grown on-site. Pick the ones you like for an additional fee and we’ll store them for you during the ride home. The charming farm store is filled with fresh produce, gourds and variety of local items while friendly farm animals await your affection. This afternoon we’ll enjoy an included lunch at a 1,500-acre wild horse sanctuary that provides a safe haven to almost 400 wild horses, including 29 burros. A short, guided walking tour of the sanctuary will provide a unique opportunity to see how these spectacular creatures live in their natural environment as herd animals and maintain the natural behaviors and social structures they’re accustomed to in the wild. We’ll observe the herd, meet some of the mustangs and learn about the staff’s dedication to preserving the freedom, diversity, and habitat of America’s wild horses. This evening we’ll return to our drop-off points with many fond memories of our autumn escape to the Central Coast. (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.