5-day Northern California National Parks And Yosemite Tour From San Francisco

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1

Stop At: Union Square, Union Square, San Francisco, California
It all starts in one of the world’s greatest cities, San Francisco. You might want to come a few days early or stay over a bit to make sure you see all you can of The City by the Bay.

Stop At: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, 35 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5013
Pacific Coast beauty will surround you as your luxury coach heads south on Highway 1. In Monterey, you’ll have time to visit its world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and see all its creatures. You might want to check out the unusual art at the Dali 17 Museum. Want some exercise? You’ll have time to walk the city’s historic streets or check out the watersports center!

Stop At: 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, Monterey, CA 93953
You’ll enjoy our leisurely tour along 17-Mile Drive, which starts in Pacific Grove and winds through Pebble Beach and Carmel by the Sea.

Stop At: Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach, Monterey County, California
You’ll enjoy our leisurely tour along 17-Mile Drive, which starts in Pacific Grove and winds through Pebble Beach and Carmel by the Sea.

Stop At: Monterey Bay Recreation Trail, CA
After some relaxing free time in Carmel, you’ll arrive back in Monterey in time for a sunset welcome reception hosted by your Expedition Leader. Then, around sunset, capture another memory on a leisurely walk on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail.

Stop At: Monterey, Monterey, Monterey County, California
After some relaxing free time in Carmel, you’ll arrive back in Monterey in time for a sunset welcome reception hosted by your Expedition Leader.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Travelodge by Wyndham Monterey Bay (or similar)

Day 2: Day 2

Stop At: San Joaquin Valley, CA
After a buffet breakfast, we’ll cross the wide San Joaquin Valley and climb into the Sierra Nevada mountains to Yosemite. Your Expedition Leader will provide engaging, and sometimes humorous, details about the region’s history, geology and wildlife that will enhance the outdoor experience.

Stop At: Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Mariposa Grove Road, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Your entrance to Yosemite Valley will be at the Mariposa Grove, where 500 Giant Sequoia trees soar to the heavens.

Stop At: Yosemite National Park, Yosemite National Park, California
Your entrance to Yosemite Valley will be at the Mariposa Grove, where 500 Giant Sequoia trees soar to the heavens.

Stop At: Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
The flat, two-mile Grizzly Giant Loop Trail introduces you to the most famous inhabitants in the grove – the Bachelor, Three Graces, Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel trees.

Stop At: El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, CA
During our Yosemite stops at Inspiration Point and El Capitan Meadow, you again will experience nature’s handiwork the best way – in person.

Stop At: Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, CA
Keep your camera handy as you approach the Yosemite Valley floor because the memory-making sights never end -- Inspiration Point, El Capitan Meadow, Half Dome, Lower Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls.

Stop At: Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA
Keep your camera handy as you approach the Yosemite Valley floor because the memory-making sights never end -- Inspiration Point, El Capitan Meadow, Half Dome, Lower Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls.

Stop At: Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA
Keep your camera handy as you approach the Yosemite Valley floor because the memory-making sights never end -- Inspiration Point, El Capitan Meadow, Half Dome, Lower Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: You’ll spend a night just outside the gates of Yosemite park at View Lodge (or similar), where the views are amazing.

Day 3: Day 3

Stop At: Columbia, Columbia, California
After an early leisurely departure from Yosemite, lunch will be in the Gold Rush community of Columbia, where you can stroll and take old-timey selfies along the wooden sidewalks of this historic mining town and even take a stagecoach ride.

Stop At: Eldorado National Forest, 100 Forni Rd, Placerville, CA 95667-5310
You can rest a bit on the scenic drive through the El Dorado National Forest on the way to Lake Tahoe.

Stop At: Lake Tahoe (California), Lake Tahoe (California), California
The beauty of this glistening mountain jewel will energize you. And with all the seasonal activities in the area, that’s a good thing!

Stop At: Emerald Bay State Park, Hwy 89 at Emerald Bay The park is located 12 miles north of South Lake Tahoe, CA 96145
Take an Emerald Bay cruise, visit Vikingshold Castle, hike in the forest or walk on the beach. In winter, there’s skiing, snowboarding, and much more. Save some energy for night shows, fine dining and gaming at Harvey’s, Harrah’s, Dottie’s or the Lakeside Inn, where you’ll stay.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lakeside Inn - South Shore of Lake Tahoe or similar

Day 4: Day 4

Stop At: Lake Tahoe (California), Lake Tahoe (California), California
Your Expedition Leader will be raring to go the next day (where does all that energy come from?). But first, you’ll all enjoy a breakfast buffet in Lake Tahoe.

Stop At: Napa Valley, Napa Valley, California
Then it’s on to more great food and fine wine (with the emphasis on “fine”) as we travel through the scenic country of Napa and Sonoma valleys.

Stop At: Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
Then it’s on to more great food and fine wine (with the emphasis on “fine”) as we travel through the scenic country of Napa and Sonoma valleys.

Stop At: Oakville Grocery, 7856 St Helena Hwy, Oakville, CA 94562-9200
Stop No. 1 will be at the Oakville Grocery, full of locally sourced picnic items. Then its time for our first wine tasting with fruit of the vine selected exclusively for us by the winemaker. At some point, you may want to give a shout-out to George Calvert Young. He planted the first Napa Valley grapes in 1839. (Cheers, George!)

Enjoy a tasty picnic lunch with your tour companions and test food-wine pairings and see what delights your taste buds. Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or a wine-tasting novice, you’ll be warmed by the good company of the people in your tour and your friendly vineyard host.

You’ll make your second winery stop at a small family-owned winery in Sonoma Valley. Standing in their barrel room, you’ll experience an in-depth tour of the winemaking process. And you can add to your wine collection with wines not sold in retail stores.

Of course, we provide options for you. You can board the lovingly restored Napa Valley Wine Train and ride in a glass-domed Pullman car and get nostalgic about old-time rail travel as you dine on local cuisine and wine. (All aboard!)

Another alternative: a gourmet food-and-wine pairing dinner that will delight your palate. You’ll retire to your room at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn tired but so excited by the wine-country experiences of the day.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn or similar

Day 5: Day 5

Stop At: Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, California
You’re in the homestretch! On Day 5, we cruise toward Point Reyes, just a few miles from the northern span of the Golden Gate Bridge

Stop At: Point Reyes Lighthouse, 1 Bear Valley Rd, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA 94956-9740
The Point Reyes Lighthouse will provide you with a powerful new profile picture – one that captures your adventurous spirit. Descend the 300 wooden steps to its base and capture an indelible memory. Minutes away is the Cypress Tree Tunnel, another stunning site with can’t-miss photo potential.

Stop At: Muir Woods National Monument, 1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley, CA 94941-4205
When you’ve had your fill of locally sourced food, we have a special dessert – a stop at the Muir Woods National Monument and its ancient Coastal Redwood forest. Some trees rise 250 feet in the air and have stood for over 1,000 years.

Stop At: Golden Gate Bridge, US-101, San Francisco, CA 94129
Our last photo stop of the day comes at the northern footing of the Golden Gate, one of the most famous bridges in the world. Your selfie with the bridge is a forever keepsake.

Stop At: Sausalito, Sausalito, Marin County, California
Enjoy some time in this quaint Coastal Village before heading back to SF
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Filled with five days of fun and a lifetime of magical memories, you’ll arrive back at your San Francisco hotel inspired to start planning your next adventure.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: No accommodation provided