Sequoias & Wonder Valley Ranch Holiday

Day 1 – Welcome to the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort!

From our departure points this morning we’ll travel by deluxe motorcoach into California’s 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. This afternoon we’ll 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. We’ll enjoy a three-night leisure stay at California’s oldest guest ranch featuring modern accommodations, paved walkways with antique lamps, gorgeous grounds and the attentive service. And this time of year the ranch is decked out for the holidays! 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 – Central Valley Sightseeing, Wonder Valley Ranch Resort

Following an included breakfast, we’ll board the motorcoach and travel to Fresno to tour the Forestiere Underground Gardens. With a docent-guide, we’ll explore this staggering network of underground tunnels, chambers, and grottos that meanders for some 10 acres. The gardens were built by Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere between 1906 to 1946, using only shovels, picks, and other hand tools to create this catacomb-like compound that features a fishing pond, chapel and open-air skylights, so that his collection of fruit trees and grape vines could thrive and bear fruit, even underground. Should inclement weather prevent a tour of Forestiere Gardens, alternative sightseeing in Fresno will be arranged. We continue our exploration of Fresno’s European influence with an included traditional Basque meal at a locals’ favorite. This family-style meal includes fresh bread, homemade soup, a variety of sides, fried chicken, charbroiled lamp chops, ice cream and house wine. We return to the resort with time at leisure to relax or take advantage of a wide variety of activities including a swimming pool and hot tub, a lake for fishing and canoeing, tennis, basketball, volleyball, horseshoe pits, a game pavilion with ping pong, foosball and pool tables, cornhole, horseback riding (additional fee), archery (additional fee) and much more! This evening we’ll enjoy an included dinner followed by a variety of holiday activities and entertainment including cookie decorating, country crafts, a gift wrapping station, a holiday movie, holiday photo booth and more! (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 – Kings Canyon National Park, Wonder Valley Ranch Resort

After an included breakfast, we’ll be joined by our resort guide and travel east into Kings Canyon National Park. After a stop at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, we’ll continue to the General Grant Grove (elevation 6,600 feet). On a leisurely stroll along the 1/3 mile paved loop General Grant Tree Trail, we’ll stand in awe as we walk amongst this sequoia forest with giant sequoia trees that are 3,000 years old 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! Named in 1867 for General Ulysses S. Grant, The General Grant Tree was proclaimed “The Nation’s Christmas Tree” in 1926 by President Calvin Coolidge. We return to the resort for an included lunch and an afternoon at leisure to relax and enjoy the resort’s amenities and activities. Should inclement weather prevent us from visiting Kings Canyon National Park, we’ll remain at the resort for a day of holiday fun including Christmas carols and holiday-themed games. This evening we’ll all gather in the Lakeshore Lounge where a Christmas tree towers over the hall which is aglow from the candlelight and crackling fire in the large stone fireplace with stockings affixed. Sit back and enjoy an included holiday feast and live show called A Christmas in Time. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 – Journey Home

Following an included breakfast and a surprise activity at the resort, we’ll begin our journey home. We’ll make several rest stops and a stop for lunch on your own along the way as we travel south towards Southern California. We’ll return to our drop-off points this evening with many fond memories of our old-fashioned holiday at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort. (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.