California

California, here we come! You’ll have a very exciting day ahead of you! We’ll stop for lunch on the way to the airport and board our plane. In just a few hours, we’ll be in Sunny San Diego, California. After landing and getting our suitcases, a Rustad Tours bus will meet us, and we will begin our visit to California. After a very short ride, we will unpack and enjoy the Island Palms Hotel & Marina for a fun-filled three-night stay. You’re close to beaches, boardwalks, and a marina.

This morning, we’ll go exploring with our local guide on a city tour of San Diego and Coronado Island, known for their enchanting and natural beauty. We’ve picked Seaport Village, a picture-perfect place for waterfront shopping and dining (on your own). You’ll enjoy meandering along the winding paths in and out of the Victorian and Mexican-style shops and eateries. After lunch, we’ll explore the most visited naval ship in the world, the USS Midway Museum. Approximately 200,000 sailors served aboard this carrier, which was best known for several naval aviation breakthroughs and humanitarian missions. She operated for 47 years and saw action in Vietnam and Desert Storm. After being decommissioned in 1992, she now rests as a docked museum. This unique museum offers a close-up look at life on the “floating city” with audio tours of the various sections of the ship. This is a fascinating way to learn about military history on this iconic piece of Americana. Tonight is your chance to capture the magic of San Diego Harbor aboard a Flagship Dinner Cruise. This event combines delicious food with a scenic tour of San Diego Bay. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the lights of the city at night. The beautiful coastline and the twinkling stars provide awesome panoramic views. (B) (D)

Take a “Walk on the Wild Side” this morning as you tour the “Best Rated Zoo in the World”, the San Diego Zoo. Located on 100 acres of Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo was a pioneer in developing open-air, cageless exhibits that recreate natural habitats. The same exhibit features different animals that can be found side-by-side in the wild, along with native plant life. The California temperate and sunny maritime climate is well-suited for many of the plants and animals. The grounds are structured as an arboretum with rare plant collections and more than 700,000 exotic plants. They also raise food such as bamboo and eucalyptus trees to feed animals. You can view the zoo in a variety of ways, by guided bus, overhead tram, or walking at your leisure. This afternoon, you’ll enjoy a unique perspective of San Diego that you can only get from the water on the two-hour narrated cruise of the San Diego Harbor. You’ll learn the fascinating history of San Diego and its scenic waterfront architecture, landmarks, and Navy ships, and you’ll also get spectacular photo opportunities. By late afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel with plenty of time to check out the beautiful marina and explore dining options. (B)

This morning, we venture north along the scenic coastline to Los Angeles to the historic Farmers Market and The Grove. You’ll enjoy shopping and eating at this classic farmer’s market full of fresh fruits and vegetables. What else can you ask for?! This sprawling historic market also features a variety of trendy shops, restaurants, and gourmet grocery stores. Millions of visitors consider Hollywood an essential part of the Los Angeles experience. We’ll view some of the “must-see” locations along our Hollywood tour, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and the famous Hollywood sign. By late afternoon, we’ll travel to the Palm Garden Hotel for our evening accommodations. (B)

Our travels take us north on the famous Highway 101 that runs directly along the Pacific Ocean and features some of the coolest beaches and most beautiful scenery anywhere in California! As we arrive in the Santa Ynez Valley, you’ll think we were transported to Denmark! This charming little village of Solvang is complete with old-world Danish architecture, with facades that reflect traditional Danish-style buildings. This village was founded in the early 1900s by a group of Danes who traveled west to establish a Danish colony far, far away from Midwestern winters! As you explore this village, keep a lookout for a copy of the “Little Mermaid” statue from Copenhagen and the bust of famous Danish fable writer, Hans Christian Anderson. Hearst Castle is one of the most well-known mansions in our country. During our tour, you’ll hear the stories about the exotic lifestyle of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, the Hearst family, and their famous friends. Tonight, our hotel is right on the Pacific Ocean. Grab your camera and take some time to walk on the beach to snap a photo of the breathtaking sunset and the waves crashing ashore before enjoying a relaxing included evening meal! (B) (D)

No exploration of California’s central coastline would be complete without a sojourn to the Monterey Peninsula. Keep your cameras ready as we follow 17-Mile Drive’s red-dotted line to arrive at an enchanting world full of dramatic coastal cliffs, snow-white beaches, mystical forests, and the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Course and Pacific Grove, all lined up along the Pacific Coast of the Monterey Peninsula. Few places can live up to their mythology, but Monterey is a notable exception. The world-famous author, John Steinbeck, was a frequent visitor and drew inspiration from local landmarks. He immortalized iconic attractions such as Cannery Row, Old Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Monterey Aquarium, making Monterey a favorite destination for visitors from all around the world. We’ve arranged for you to have an included lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., where you’ll enjoy a “family fun” atmosphere. Their menu is directly inspired by the movie Forrest Gump. After lunch, you’ll have some free time to shop before we continue on to the Hotel Zephyr on Fisherman’s Wharf, in San Francisco, for a two-night stay. (B) (L)

Welcome to San Francisco, the city by the Bay! This hill city is nestled on the tip of a peninsula and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. We’re off to explore colorful San Francisco with our local guide, taking in some of the great places San Francisco is known for such as St. Mary’s Cathedral, Twin Peaks, the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Trolley Cars, the colorful Victorian homes and a lot more. A spectacular afternoon is ahead as we take the Harbor Cruise. We’ll sail under the stunning Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge and cruise along San Francisco’s entire urban skyline. We’ll explore stunning landmarks such as Alcatraz Island, Coit Tower, Ferry Building, Transamerica Pyramid, Palace of Fine Arts, and much more! While enjoying the spectacular scenery, we’ll hear about the region’s natural history, architecture, and Native American culture. The rest of the day is yours to do more sightseeing. You might like to explore the wharf area, take a trolley ride, and taste some great cuisine options in San Francisco. (B)

Be “camera ready” today as we start our day by wandering through an ancient coastal giant redwood forest and exploring the artistic bayside enclave of Sausalito. We’ll travel across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge on smaller buses to visit Muir Woods National Monument. You’ll enjoy the peace and solitude through the cool, moist air as you stroll through 1000-year-old trees towering 260 feet tall. Lastly, we’ll enjoy a scenic drive through the quaint seaside village of Sausalito with a Mediterranean flair. You’ll want to soak up the stellar views of San Francisco’s skyline and browse the boutiques and art galleries along Sausalito’s waterfront. We leave the “City by the Bay” and travel southeast to the rugged foothills of the Sierra Nevada. First settled in 1849, Mariposa was at the south end of the Gold Rush chain of towns. After all the dreams of “striking it rich” had faded, many remnants were left behind from those early days. Mariposa has retained the small-town charm of a bygone era and remains one of only a handful of California towns without a stoplight. With Yosemite National Park in Mariposa’s backyard, tourism plays a major role in its economy. We’ll unpack for a two-night stay at our hotel accommodations. (B)

Yosemite National Park – an icon of America’s majestic natural beauty! Visitors from all over the world are drawn to its dramatic waterfalls, Ponderosa pines, abundant wildlife, and awe-inspiring cliffs such as Half Dome and El Capitan. Yosemite National Park, established in 1890, is our Nation’s third oldest National Park claiming to be the most visited park in the U.S. This morning, we’ll be taking a guided tour on one of the park’s motorcoaches with an expert tour guide sharing the park’s natural history and stories about the indigenous people, early settlers, and wildlife. Following the tour, you’ll have some time to explore on your own, such as hiking some of the trails and checking out the exhibits and informative displays in the Interpretive Center. There are gift shops and a cafeteria where you can have lunch on your own. After spending a day in the park, we return to our hotel for a relaxing evening. (B)

Our travels take us to Sacramento by late morning. News of the 1848 discovery of gold brought settlers to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and by 1876, the train was transporting the “gold seekers” to the Sacramento area. Sacramento quickly became the commercial center for the Gold Rush. The California State Railroad Museum was established here at the western terminus of the nation’s first Transcontinental Railroad. Today, we explore this museum and learn about railroad travel during the “Golden Age.” Later, we travel over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Reno, NV, and check into the beautiful Silver Legacy Resort Casino. You may even want to put a few nickels in the slots. (B)

Our trek toward home follows the footsteps of early pioneers across the trails (Interstate 80). Passing various mountain ranges, we’re soon out of Nevada and into Utah, taking our usual stops and an included lunch along the way. The Great Salt Lake Desert (which we travel through today) was once huge Lake Bonneville, an ancient freshwater lake. Today, it is called the Bonneville Salt Flats, where land speed records have been set on the circular speedway racetrack located within the flats. This evening, we stay in Salt Lake City. (B) (L)

Salt Lake City is Utah’s highest elevation capital and is bordered by the buoyant waters of Great Salt Lake and the snow-capped peaks of the Wasatch Mountain Range. It was founded by Brigham Young in 1847. A local guide joins us this morning for an area tour of the city, including the Mormon Tabernacle. The Mormon Tabernacle was completed in 1867 and was designed to allow the people to see and hear the speaker without any obstructions. It was constructed successfully so that support pillars would not be needed. It is so acoustically sensitive that a pin dropped at the pulpit can be heard in the back of the hall, 170 feet away. After hearing the tales of the historic past, seeing the highlights, and taking a break for an included meal, our coach heads towards home. Traveling out of Utah and into the “Cowboy State” of Wyoming, our hotel tonight is in Rawlins, Wyoming. (B) (L)

The wide, expansive countryside dominates the rural highways and byways of Wyoming through the small communities to Casper, and then onto Lusk, Wyoming, for an included lunch. We enter the Black Hills region this afternoon, one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America. This isolated mountain range rises from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extends into Wyoming. Sit back and relax as we wind our way through the pristine two-lane roads through stunning scenery and diverse terrain to our afternoon stop at Mt. Rushmore. This massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore reminds us of the rich heritage we all share from the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today. Tonight, we stay in Wall, SD, home of the famous Wall Drug. (B) (L)

This is our final day of the tour, and we’re heading home! Today’s journey takes us east across the Great Plains of South Dakota with an included noon meal at Al’s Oasis. We will return to Kerkhoven by early evening. Grab a cup of coffee and a cookie before you head home. We hope that you’ve enjoyed your “Winter Escape” vacation and will have fond memories of your vacation to California and beyond for years to come! (B) (L)