This exciting 15 day journey takes in the bright lights of cosmopolitan San Francisco, the beauty of Lake Tahoe, plus the stunning scenery of Highway 1 and an opportunity to visit three of California's most scenic National Parks - Yosemite, Sequoia and King's Canyon.
Covering a variety of landscapes, these famous sights and familiar named places will become reality and forever etched into your memory.
Please note that this is just an example itinerary for a Western USA Fly Drive holiday. Due to the sheer size of the region and the vast distances you often need to cover in order to visit the places you wish to see, we offer many different variations of this holiday.
If you do have a different route or length of holiday in mind, please email or call us on 01892 511894 so we can tailor your own unique holiday.
Days One to Three - San FranciscoFly Direct from London Heathrow to San Francisco with the airline of your choice.
Arrive San Francisco early afternoon and take a taxi from the airport to your hotel (approx. 40 mins) where you will be spending the next three nights.
Surrounded by San Francisco Bay and The Pacific Ocean, the 'City by the Bay' as it's known is arguably the most friendly and beautiful in America. With many impressive areas like Downtown Union Square, home to fantastic shopping with it's famous cable cars and the attractions of Fisherman's Wharf among them, there is so much to see and do! Perhaps start by taking a tour of the city, which includes the experience of driving over the Golden Gate Bridge. Alternatively, you can explore the city on foot and take the cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf which is packed with shops and restaurants and also home to the city's playful resident sealions at Pier 39.
San Francisco is home to a multicultural and multiethnic society that forms the diversity of neighbourhoods, each with its own identity. Enjoy the exotic bustle of Chinatown, relax into the cafe life of North Beach and shop until you drop around Union Square.
Get to know 'The City' with a walking tour and stroll around the fascinating neighbourhoods, as well as hop on and off the cable cars to get you up the long hills where you will get a great view of the city from Coit Tower. Take a cruise over to Alcatraz or take a classic 1955 Mack Fire Engine tour of the city.
You can also explore the countryside around San Francisco, visit Muir Woods and the great sequoias, relax in bohemian Sausalito, take a hot air balloon over the Wine Country - with some wine tasting afterwards!
Stay 3 nights.
Day Four - Old Sacramento (88 Miles)
After a leisurely breakfast, make your way to a convenient downtown location to collect your hire car before leaving the city and heading east to Sacramento. Founded in 1839 by John Sutter, the State capital is often overlooked by tourists seeking out better known destinations in other corners of the state. However this lovely city is well worth a visit and makes a great place to stop off en route to the shores of Lake Tahoe.
If you're interested in politics then head for the State Capitol, which features a park and museum on California history, or the Governor's Mansion. Anyone with an interest in trains will enjoy the Railroad Museum's massive collection of antique locomotives. Sacramento also has a great choice of restaurants and shops especially in historic Old Sacramento on the city's lovely waterfront.
Stay 1 night.
Day Five & Six- Lake Tahoe (117 Miles)
Continuing north, your journey will take you to the border of California and Nevada, and the largest alpine lake in America - Lake Tahoe. Whilst the busy south shore of the lake offers nightlife and Vegas style 24-hour casinos, instead head for the less populated north shore, site of most ski resorts where nature instead takes priority. Here you can relax and enjoy the superb scenery of one of the highest, deepest and coldest lakes in the world! If you are feeling a bit more active you can hire jet skis and kayaks on the south shore or take a scenic boat tour instead. The nearby Sierra Nevada offers hikers some excellent trails.
Stay 2 nights
Day Seven to Nine - Yosemite (250 Miles)
Leaving the north shore of Lake Tahoe early as you leisurely make your way south and the highlight of any visit to California - Yosemite National Park. Whether you want to simply stroll the valley floor or climb it's soaring straight edged cliffs, a visit to this geological wonderland is a must. As you drive through the stunning Yosemite Valley, you will marvel at one of the world's most amazing geological spectacles complete with three thousand foot cliffs, incredible waterfalls and oak, fir and cedar lined grassy meadows. Apart from the stunning scenery, there is also plenty of wildlife to spot too with deer, coyotes and black bears often seen here.
Enjoy the day in the splendour of Yosemite by taking a slow drive through the park to see the amazing scenery like El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls and Half Dome that Yosemite is famous for. Later on drive to Mariposa Grove to see the sequoia trees and visit the historic village of Wawona. Take time to enjoy the vast and fantastic view of the valley from Glacier Point overlook and if you feel energetic hike back down the 8 mile trail to the valley floor.
Today you could leave the car at Yosemite Village and instead ride the free shuttle that frequently loops around the valley, taking in all the points of interest. Perhaps take a short hike or two to see some of the many waterfalls in the park, or hire bikes to take you around one of the bicycle paths on the valley floor. For the more adventurous you could join a horseback trip through the park or even learn to mountaineer.
Stay 3 nights.
Day Ten & Eleven - Sequoia (171 miles)
Leaving Yosemite you will today be heading further south to Sequoia National Park, which lies sprawled across the heart of the Sierra Nevada along with Kings Canyon National Park. Your journey down through the mainly agricultural San Joaquin Valley will take you through several towns, home to many an ice cream parlour and a perfect place to break your journey en route. Both parks are home to the largest groves of giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada. Bears, deer, and numerous smaller animals and birds depend on the parks' miles of wild habitat for year-round breeding and feeding grounds. Stay for 2 nights.
Spend the day exploring Sequoia with its many paths leading through forests and meadows. Be sure to visit the Giant Forest Museum where you can learn about the lifecycle of the Sequoias and also Lodgepole Village, host to fascinating geological displays and film shows. Leave plenty of time to see Kings Canyon, with it's maze like canyons and isolated lakes as it's often much less busy than it's neighbour Kings Canyon. There are many other activities you can do in both of these areas, including fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
Stay 2 nights.
Day Twelve & Thirteen - Cambria/San Simeon (223 Miles)
Make an early start after breakfast and begin your journey from California's interior to the Central Coast and the Big Sur. Truly one of the most remarkable drives in the whole of the USA, this scenic road links a string of quintessential Californian resorts offering a landscape rich in superb ocean views, plunging cliffs and rolling hills. Joining the coast hald way between Los Angeles and San Francisco you will drive north to the seaside towns of Cambria or San Simeon where you will spend the next 2 nights.
Start the day by visiting amazing Hearst Castle, the former holiday home of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst . Often the slopes below the castle are shrouded in coastal fog giving it a particularly eery feel. This extravagant private home is packed with treasures and is worth a visit. With a landscape of Sea, Mountains and river canyons lined with redwood Groves spend the rest of the day exploring The Big Sur Coast. Don't miss a visit to the nearby Julia Pfeiffer State Park ,which offers some of the best day hikes in the area including a great cliff top walk that overlooks Mcway Falls crashing onto the sands below.
Stay 2 nights.
Days Fourteen - Half Moon Bay (227 Miles)
Today your drive along the final Stretch of this most famous of coastlines, will take you where The Big Sur becomes the Monterey Peninsula. Stop and enjoy some of the interesting places en route such as Carmel, a village with a community of artists and writers that has delightful shopping and galleries lying alongside a beautiful white sand beach.
It's larger and equally delightful neighbour Monterey has a historic boardwalk with a 1911 carousel and 1924 roller coaster. Here you can visit Cannery Row made famous by John Steinbeck and take in the galleries and restaurants that have replaced the original canneries. Along Fisherman's Wharf, art galleries, handicraft shops and the Wharf Theatre have super-ceded the commercial fishing activities of the early 20th century. Monterey is also home to a world class Aquarium. By early evening you will arrive at Half Moon Bay, an idyllic enclave just 45 minutes south of San Francisco where you will spend your last night. The town has many appealing places to stay and an array of fine restaurants.
Stay 1 night.
Day Fifteen - San Francisco/Home (30 Miles)
Enjoy a leisurely morning and time for some last minute souvenir shopping in Half Moon Bay before you will head back to San Francisco airport to drop off your car and board your overnight flight home.
Total Mileage - 1106 miles
Package Includes:
- 14 nights accommodation and tax
- A travel packet with itinerary, maps, suggestions, brochures
Not Included:
- Flights to and from the UK
- Car rental
- Meals unless mentioned
Price From £941 Per Person based on 2 sharing - reducations for 3 or 4 sharing
For a full quotation please email or telephone (01892) 511894