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 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 views. Upon arrival in San Luis Obispo, we’ll reboard our motorcoach and continue the short distance to the charming Apple Farm Inn. Nestled by San Luis Obispo Creek and surrounded 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 comforts of today. Enjoy dinner on your own this evening at a variety of restaurants in charming and historic downtown San Luis Obispo. (Lunch)

Day 2 – Santa Cruz

This morning we’ll continue onboard our motorcoach to Santa Cruz and transition from land to sea when we board a sailing yacht for an unforgettable 2-hour lunch cruise in Monterey Bay. While enjoying an included lunch onboard, we’ll sail around the pristine waters of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary – rich with marine life including otters, sea lions, dolphins, jellyfish, diverse bird species and occasionally whales! This afternoon we’ll visit Santa Cruz’s Natural Bridges State Beach, a stunning coastal park home to an iconic natural rock arch that extends gracefully into the ocean. We’ll enjoy an overnight stay at the upscale Dream Inn, Santa Cruz’s premier beach-front hotel and a beloved local landmark. Set a few paces back from the sand and the surf, the Dream Inn sits directly atop the legendary Cowell Beach and is within walking distance of the Santa Cruz Wharf and the legendary Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Enjoy the balance of the evening at leisure to watch the colorful, awe-inspiring sunset from the ocean view balcony in your deluxe room. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3 – San Francisco, Sonoma Valley

We’ll continue north this morning to San Francisco and enjoy time at leisure for browsing and lunch on your own 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, the birthplace of California’s wine industry, with some vineyards dating back to the 1820s. Rolling hills, vineyards, and charming towns set against the backdrop of the Mayacamas Mountains provides the idyllic landscape for us to enjoy an included wine tasting at an award-winning winery. We'll enjoy an overnight stay at a deluxe hotel in the Sonoma Valley. (Breakfast)

Day 4 – The Skunk Train, Avenue of the Giants

This morning we’ll travel north 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 a delicious 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 through Avenue of the Giants, a magnificent, 31-mile scenic drive through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. This is the largest remaining stand of virgin redwoods in the world and they’re so close and so tall that they create a dramatic wall of enormous russet trunks rocketing skyward! This evening, we‘ll begin a two-night stay in Eureka, the charming California town situated between Arcata and Humboldt Bays. Enjoy time at leisure for dinner on your own in Old Town Eureka, a restored waterfront district of unique shops, restaurants and galleries. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 5 – Redwoods National Park, Eureka, Ferndale

A local guide will join us onboard this morning as we travel to Redwoods National Park, a “Land of Giants” that is home to giant coast redwoods over 300 feet tall and more than 2,000 years old! We’ll stop at the visitor center, enjoy an included picnic lunch and see these giant redwoods up-close while exploring the national park via several flat, easy trails. We’ll return to Eureka this afternoon for a driving tour focused on the city’s numerous Victorian homes including the Carson Mansion, considered the grandest Victorian home in America! Enjoy a stroll through the Victorian village of Ferndale, one of the best-preserved enclaves of Victorian architecture on the West Coast. (Breakfast, Lunch)

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. (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.