Majestic California: The Pacific, Redwoods and Yosemite

•   Fun in Yosemite and Sierra National Forest with tram rides, gold panning, hiking and rock-wall climbing

Day 1: Arrive San Francisco
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf. A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to the ideally located Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf. We’ll kick off your family adventure at tonight’s welcome reception in the “city by the bay.”
Overnight: Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Penguins, planets & a bay cruise in San Francisco
With beautiful San Francisco Bay, all those famous hills – the city is built on 43 of them – and the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge dominating its skyline, San Francisco is one of the most recognizable cities on earth... and tons of fun to visit! A busy day of exploration in the “world’s favorite city” begins with a city sightseeing tour that takes you to the newly rebuilt California Academy of Sciences for a visit. Bursting with life from the splashing penguins in African Hall to the wildflowers on its 2.5 acre “living roof,” this landmark of “green” architecture features a planetarium, natural history museum, aquarium and living rainforest. This afternoon join us on a narrated cruise of San Francisco Bay; pass under the Golden Gate Bridge and see historic Alcatraz Island. The evening is free to enjoy as you wish.
Overnight: Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Travel through time in Gold Rush country
Set out from San Francisco toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains today, stopping at a wind farm. Those “aliens” you’ll see are wind turbines that help turn wind power into electricity! Continue on to Jamestown for lunch in a historic 1859 hotel. Your destination today is the Tenaya Lodge, a classic mountain resort just outside Yosemite National Park’s southern gate in the Sierra National Forest. If you wish, don climbing gear for the chance to tackle the lodge’s rock-climbing wall*, exclusive to Tauck guests until 7:00 PM; enjoy dinner at leisure.
Overnight: Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp, CA
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Giant trees & a ride on a moonlight dinner train
Yosemite National Park contains five of North America’s seven “life zones”; discover its magnificent waterfalls, glacier-hewn gorges and towering granite walls with your family today! This morning’s open-air tram ride along the floor of the spectacular Yosemite Valley is a great way to see many of the park’s highlights. You can choose to return to Tenaya Lodge for lunch on your own and an afternoon spent swimming, hiking, or engaging in optional activities such as mountain biking or horseback riding. Or explore Yosemite as you please; it’s the perfect place to wade in a river, take a hike or participate in one of the park’s ranger programs. Your family adventures continue after sunset on tonight’s guided “flashlight hike” in the Sierra National Forest; see nature in a whole different light – literally – as you explore the wilderness by flashlight and by starlight.
Overnight: Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp, CA
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5: A tram ride in Yosemite & "flashlight hike"
Yosemite National Park contains five of North America’s seven “life zones”; discover its magnificent waterfalls, glacier-hewn gorges and towering granite walls with your family today! This morning’s open-air tram ride along the floor of the spectacular Yosemite Valley is a great way to see many of the park’s highlights. You can choose to return to Tenaya Lodge for lunch on your own and an afternoon spent swimming, hiking, or engaging in optional activities such as mountain biking or horseback riding. Or explore Yosemite as you please; it’s the perfect place to wade in a river, take a hike or participate in one of the park’s ranger programs. Your family adventures continue after sunset on tonight’s guided “flashlight hike” in the Sierra National Forest; see nature in a whole different light – literally – as you explore the wilderness by flashlight and by starlight.
Overnight: Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp, CA
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6: Through farmland & mountains to Monterey
Say goodbye to the wonders of Yosemite National Park as you set off across the heart of northern California for the Pacific Coast. On your way, visit the Mariposa Museum & History Center, chronicling the history and diverse cultures of Mariposa County. See California’s only operational five-stamp gold ore mill, a one-room miner’s cabin, an authentic “Mother Lode” saloon, a one-room school and an extensive Miwok Indian display. Your travels continue westward across the San Joaquin Valley and into Merced for a rollicking fun lunch at Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ, complete with western-themed entertainment, a tree house to climb in and a mechanical bull to ride*. Travel through the scenic Coast Mountains to the California coast this afternoon and tour the Monterey Peninsula along the 17-Mile Drive to the renowned Pebble Beach golf course. Spend the next two nights in seaside Monterey at the Portola Hotel & Spa, right on Fisherman’s Wharf, near Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Overnight: Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey, CA
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: Aquatic adventures on Monterey Bay
Start the day with your choice of included “adventures by the sea.” You can choose a bicycle tour* along the coast, a kayak adventure* in Monterey Bay, or a self-guided walking tour of old Monterey, once the capital of California. Join us for a behind-the-scenes visit at the award-winning Monterey Bay Aquarium in late afternoon. It borders one of the largest underwater canyons on earth and is home to more than 350,000 marine animals and plants. Its 200 galleries and exhibits introduce you to an amazing underwater world, including giant octopuses, jellyfish, large green sea turtles, barracuda, sharks and coral reefs, as well as natural displays that showcase playful otters and endearing black-footed penguins. Your visit ends with a special farewell dinner right here at the Aquarium in seaside Monterey.
Overnight: Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey, CA
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Journey Home
Tour ends: Monterey. Fly home any time; a transfer is included from Portola Hotel & Spa to Monterey Peninsula Airport. For those flying home from San Francisco International Airport, one group transfer is included from Monterey for flights departing after 12:00 noon. You should allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
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Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

California, here we come... on an unforgettable Tauck Bridges family adventure through the best of the “Golden State”! From fantastic San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge to the wonders of Yosemite, a grove of giant sequoias hundreds of years old, the legends and lore of Gold Rush country and the oceanfront treasures of Monterey Bay, you’ll have so much family fun you’ll forget how much you’re discovering along the way! Accommodations close to Fisherman’s Wharf, at a classic wilderness lodge just outside Yosemite, and in a historic hacienda resort in Monterey put you right in the heart of it all! Cruise under and cross over the Golden Gate Bridge, and discover Fisherman’s Wharf in one-of-a-kind San Francisco. See splashing penguins and more at the newly reopened California Academy of Sciences. Pan for gold just like the old-time prospectors did in a historic Gold Rush town. Discover Yosemite’s wonders via open-air tram. Ride back in time aboard a moonlight dinner train in Sierra National Forest. See giant sequoias hundreds of years old as you ride a tram through the Mariposa Grove. Meet delightful marine life on a behind-the-scenes tour of the award-winning Monterey Bay Aquarium. Choose to go biking, kayaking or setting off on a walking tour of seaside Monterey. Day 1 – Arrive San Francisco Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf. A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to the ideally located Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf. We’ll kick off your family adventure at tonight’s welcome reception in the “city by the bay.” Meals D Day 2 – Penguins, planets & a bay cruise in San Francisco With beautiful San Francisco Bay, all those famous hills – the city is built on 43 of them – and the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge dominating its skyline, San Francisco is one of the most recognizable cities on earth... and tons of fun to visit! A busy day of exploration in the “world’s favorite city” begins with a city sightseeing tour that takes you to the newly rebuilt California Academy of Sciences for a visit. Bursting with life from the splashing penguins in African Hall to the wildflowers on its 2.5 acre “living roof,” this landmark of “green” architecture features a planetarium, natural history museum, aquarium and living rainforest. This afternoon join us on a narrated cruise of San Francisco Bay; pass under the Golden Gate Bridge and see historic Alcatraz Island. The evening is free to enjoy as you wish. Meals BL Day 3 – Travel through time in Gold Rush country Set out from San Francisco toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains today, stopping at a wind farm. Those “aliens” you’ll see are wind turbines that help turn wind power into electricity! Continue on to Jamestown for lunch in a historic 1859 hotel. Your destination today is the Tenaya Lodge, a classic mountain resort just outside Yosemite National Park’s southern gate in the Sierra National Forest. If you wish, don climbing gear for the chance to tackle the lodge’s rock-climbing wall*, exclusive to Tauck guests until 7:00 PM; enjoy dinner at leisure. Meals BLD Day 4 – Giant trees & a ride on a moonlight dinner train Some of the biggest living things on earth reside just a short drive from your lodge in Yosemite National Park’s Mariposa Grove, home to a grove of giant sequoias hundreds of years old! See them up-close today aboard the Big Trees Tram Tour, winding your way among these living treasures. As you ride, look up... and up... and up... at humongous sequoias whose colorful names include the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Faithful Couple, and the famous Grizzly Giant. After lunch on your own, try your luck at panning for gold, just like the old-time prospectors did. Tonight, an evening aboard the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad’s Moonlight Special begins with a barbecue dinner, accompanied by the melodies of the Sugar Pine Singers. Then it’s “all aboard” The Logger for a narrow-gauge rail excursion powered by a restored vintage Shay steam locomotive. Gather around the campfire for a sing-along during a stopover in the canyon, and hear that lonesome whistle blow as you chug home in the moonlight! Meals BD Day 5 – A tram ride in Yosemite & “flashlight hike” Yosemite National Park contains five of North America’s seven “life zones”; discover its magnificent waterfalls, glacier-hewn gorges and towering granite walls with your family today! This morning’s open-air tram ride along the floor of the spectacular Yosemite Valley is a great way to see many of the park’s highlights. You can choose to return to Tenaya Lodge for lunch on your own and an afternoon spent swimming, hiking, or engaging in optional activities such as mountain biking or horseback riding. Or explore Yosemite as you please; it’s the perfect place to wade in a river, take a hike or participate in one of the park’s ranger programs. Your family adventures continue after sunset on tonight’s guided “flashlight hike” in the Sierra National Forest; see nature in a whole different light – literally – as you explore the wilderness by flashlight and by starlight. Meals B Day 6 – Through farmland & mountains to Monterey Say goodbye to the wonders of Yosemite National Park as you set off across the heart of northern California for the Pacific Coast. On your way, visit the Mariposa Museum & History Center, chronicling the history and diverse cultures of Mariposa County. See California’s only operational five-stamp gold ore mill, a one-room miner’s cabin, an authentic “Mother Lode” saloon, a one-room school and an extensive Miwok Indian display. Your travels continue westward across the San Joaquin Valley and into Merced for a rollicking fun lunch at Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ, complete with western-themed entertainment, a tree house to climb in and a mechanical bull to ride*. Travel through the scenic Coast Mountains to the California coast this afternoon and tour the Monterey Peninsula along the 17-Mile Drive to the renowned Pebble Beach golf course. Spend the next two nights in seaside Monterey at the Portola Hotel & Spa, right on Fisherman’s Wharf, near Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Meals BL Day 7 – Aquatic adventures on Monterey Bay Start the day with your choice of included “adventures by the sea.” You can choose a bicycle tour* along the coast, a kayak adventure* in Monterey Bay, or a self-guided walking tour of old Monterey, once the capital of California. Join us for a behind-the-scenes visit at the award-winning Monterey Bay Aquarium in late afternoon. It borders one of the largest underwater canyons on earth and is home to more than 350,000 marine animals and plants. Its 200 galleries and exhibits introduce you to an amazing underwater world, including giant octopuses, jellyfish, large green sea turtles, barracuda, sharks and coral reefs, as well as natural displays that showcase playful otters and endearing black-footed penguins. Your visit ends with a special farewell dinner right here at the Aquarium in seaside Monterey. Meals BD Day 8 – Journey home Tour ends: Monterey. Fly home any time; a transfer is included from Portola Hotel & Spa to Monterey Peninsula Airport. For those flying home from San Francisco International Airport, one group transfer is included from Monterey for flights departing after 12:00 noon. You should allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Meals B

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