Vineyards, Bounty & Bay – A Central Coast Getaway

Day 1 – Coastal Train Ride, Pismo Beach

We set out from our departure points this morning aboard a deluxe motorcoach and travel to downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station to board Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train for a memorable, five-hour rail journey along California’s spectacular coastline and through its fertile valleys to San Luis Obispo. We’ll travel along Point Conception and through Vandenberg Space Force Base where you’ll see the launch complexes and beautiful undeveloped coastline which is only visible by train. We’ll enjoy an included boxed lunch onboard along with a snack bar selling snacks and drinks. Enjoy the relaxing ride in your reclining seat or check out the view from the observation car featuring windows that stretch up to the ceiling offering unparalleled and expansive views. Upon arrival in San Luis Obispo, we’ll reboard our motorcoach and continue the short distance to Pismo Beach, the classic beach town that features incredible, expansive vistas of the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy a relaxing, three-night stay in an oceanview room with private balcony at an upscale, full-service, oceanfront Pismo Beach hotel that features a contemporary and stylish design along with a bit of fun and nostalgia. This coastal hideaway that sits atop a bluff overlooking Pismo Beach features a heated pool with multiple spas, four terraces – including a rooftop terrace with fire pits, an on-site restaurant and stair access to the unspoiled sandy beach below. (Lunch)

Day 2 – Paso Robles, Culinary Treats

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. We return to the hotel late this afternoon with the evening at leisure this evening. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 – Morro Bay, Cambria

Following an included breakfast, we’ll travel north to Cambria and visit a unique ranch – in fact, this Clydesdale horse ranch is the only place on earth where you can visit majestic Clydesdale horses grazing on nearly 2,000 acres of rolling pastures speckled with pristine Monterey Pines and an exquisite view of the Pacific Ocean! This family has been breeding Clydesdales here for over 30 years, while showing them all across the U.S. and Canada, and now they’re sharing their Clydesdales and their passion for them with us. We’ll board an open-air trailer for a driving tour through the ranch learning about the history of the ranch and taking in the incredible views. We’ll enjoy an included lunch in a picturesque setting and an opportunity to meet the horses – truly sweet and gentle giants. This afternoon we’ll enjoy time at leisure browsing the charming shops, boutiques and galleries in Cambria’s quaint and historic East Village. This seaside village nestled in a forest of towering Monterey Pines is also a renowned artists’ colony. The galleries offer an eclectic selection of everything from art glass to watercolor painting, nature photography to abstracts created by both well-known and local artists. Then, we’ll travel south to Morro Bay, the charming, seaside fishing village that sits in the shadow of the famous, 576-foot high, dome-shaped Morro Rock, known as the “Gibraltar of the Pacific.” We’ll enjoy a narrated cruise on Morro Bay to fully appreciate the beauty and variety of wildlife in the bay. This evening, enjoy dinner on your own at one of the restaurants within walking distance of the hotel or take advantage of motorcoach transportation provided to downtown San Luis Obispo’s Farmers’ Market and street faire (weather permitting). Enjoy time at leisure strolling amongst four lively and historic blocks filled with just-picked produce for sale, local restaurants selling a variety of barbecued specialties and entertaining local performers. This one-night-a-week event is undoubtedly one of the most treasured events on the Central Coast and has a long history of bringing locals and visitors together to eat, shop, listen to music and connect. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 – Santa Barbara, Journey Home

After an included breakfast, we’ll travel south to a luffa farm nestled into the small town of Nipomo. When you hear the word “luffa,” do soft, fluffy gourds come to mind? Contrary to popular belief, luffas don’t come from the sea but grow inside of what looks like a large squash. Learn about the 12,000-15,000 heirloom luffas that are grown and harvested here without any harsh treatments resulting in a soft, washable, non-abrasive plant-based sponge. We’ll continue south and enjoy an included lunch at a locals’ favorite in Santa Barbara, the coastal city nicknamed “The American Riviera” for its Mediterranean climate, stunning scenery, and relaxed atmosphere. We’ll continue south to our drop-off points, arriving this evening with many fond memories of our time exploring the vineyards, bounty and bay along California’s sublime 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.