Great Western American Adventure

15 days / San Francisco to Las Vegas, from $3,765 per person, double occupancy

Featuring Napa & Sonoma, Monterey, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell and More!

Departure Dates Available in 2009:

May 1, 8, 15, 29
June 12, 19
July 10, 27
August 7, 21
September 4, 18
October 2

To check space availability or to register, contact SMA Tours at (800) 239-7444.

Itinerary

DAY 1 – ARRIVE SAN FRANCISCO

Welcome to California! Take a complimentary transfer from San Francisco International Airport to your hotel, where you will meet your Tour Director this afternoon. Join us at 6 p.m. for a Welcome Reception at the hotel.
Hotel: Omni San Francisco.

DAY 2 – SAN FRANCISCO SIGHTSEEING

Spend the morning taking in the bustling activity on Union Square, the famous cable cars, the stately Victorian homes of Alamo Squareand the beautiful Golden Gate Park. After a free afternoon, join your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a walking tour through Chinatown, followed by a Chinese banquet at a local restaurant. (B,HD)

DAY 3 – SAN FRANCISCO – NAPA & SONOMA

Enter California’s lush premier wine country to visit Sonoma with its historic plaza and quaint shops, cafes and restaurants. Enjoy a tour and tasting at a local winery. Later, head for the town of Napa to board the beautifully restored Napa Valley Wine Train. Enjoy fine dining and wine tasting while travelling through the Napa Valley’s picturesque landscape.
Hotel: The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort & Spa. (B,L)

DAY 4 – SONOMA VALLEY – YOSEMITE

Travel through California’s Gold Country to spend the night inside Yosemite National Park, close to the highest waterfall in North America. View the rock formations of El Capitan and Half Dome and abundant wildlife.
Hotel: Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. (B)

DAY 5 – YOSEMITE – MONTEREY

Early risers can enjoy the peace and quiet of Yosemite Valley, or take a short walk to the Yosemite Falls. Drive through the fertile San Joaquin Valley, stopping at a historic fruit stand en-route to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Browse the art galleries and shops on Ocean Avenue, then travel along the scenic 17-Mile-Drive. Pass the Pebble Beach Golf Course and multi-million dollar mansions before arriving at Monterey. End the day with a lecture and private dinner at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with time to view the exhibits.
Hotel: Monterey Marriott. (B,HD)

DAY 6 – MONTEREY – SANTA BARBARA

Head south to San Simeon for a guided tour of Hearst Castle, the grandiose estate of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. Continue through the vineyards of the Central Coast to the elegant resort of Santa Barbara. Enjoy an orientation tour of this seaside paradise before checking into your beachfront hotel.
Hotel: Hotel Mar Monte. (B,DA)

DAY 7 – SANTA BARBARA – LOS ANGELES

Visit the Mission Santa Barbara and learn about the chain of 21 California Missions along California’s El Camino Real. Then, journey along spectacular Santa Monica Bay, passing through glamorous Malibu on your way to Santa Monica. Take time to stroll along Third Street Promenade. Visit the JP Getty Center with its collection of Western art, set against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens and breathtaking views. Drive along Sunset Boulevard, through Bel Air and chic Beverly Hills to your elegant hotel, enjoying one of the most enviable locations in Los Angeles.
Hotel: Intercontinental Century City. (B)

DAY 8 – HOLLYWOOD SIGHTSEEING

Board special minibuses to cruise past movie stars’ mansions, while enjoying stories from your guide about celebrities past and present. In Hollywood, see the Hollywood Sign, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now enjoy a private tour of the Kodak Theatre, home to the Academy Awards ceremony. The afternoon is free. Perhaps join our optional Universal Studios Hollywood Tram Tour? (B)

DAY 9 – LOS ANGELES – SCOTTSDALE

Travel across the Mojave Desert to Scottsdale. Enjoy the resort’s facilities or visit Old Town Scottsdale.
Hotel: Scottsdale Marriott Suites Old Town. (B)

DAY 10 – SCOTTSDALE – GRAND CANYON

Head north to the towering red rocks of Sedona. Browse the stores, galleries and restaurants, or join an optional 4WD excursion through the superb landscape. Enjoy one of Arizona’s finest drives through Oak Creek Canyon, before spending a peaceful night inside Grand Canyon National Park. A stroll with your Tour Director provides spectacular views as the sun sets on the canyon walls. Tonight, enjoy dinner in the Thunderbird Room, featuring magnificent views of the Grand Canyon’s south rim.
Hotel: National Park Lodges. (B,HD)

DAY 11 – GRAND CANYON – LAKE POWELL

This morning maybe take a short hike to watch the sun rise over the canyon or board the park shuttle to the various lookout points. Optional flightseeing tours by helicopter or plane are available from your Tour Director. Later, head to the Historic Cameron Trading Post, featuring Native American arts and crafts. Continue through the mesas and buttes of the Painted Desert and the Navajo Indian Reservation. Stop at Glen Canyon Dam before arriving at the lakefront resort. Take a leisurely cruise on spectacular Lake Powell and explore Antelope Canyon, with its steep, red sandstone walls.
Hotel: Lake Powell Resort (guaranteed Lake View Rooms.) (B,D)

DAY 12 – LAKE POWELL AT LEISURE

The entire day is yours to relax and enjoy the resort’s facilities. Perhaps take an optional float trip down the Colorado river, a scenic flight over the lake, or join our complimentary excursion to Monument Valley Tribal Park for a guided tour. The choice is yours. (B)

DAY 13 – LAKE POWELL – BRYCE OR ZION

Visit Bryce Canyon National Park and enjoy a leisurely walk along Sunset Point to view the great amphitheatre of odd-shaped monoliths known as “hoodoos.” Time at leisure on your own before checking in at the lodge. Selected departures will continue on to Zion National Park for overnight.
Hotel: Bryce Canyon Lodge or Zion Park Lodge. (B,D)

DAY 14 – BRYCE OR ZION – LAS VEGAS

Travel through more amazing scenery to the lush cliff-and-canyon landscape of Zion National Park. Join a private Zion Canyon Shuttle with live commentary to experience the scenic highlights of the park, followed by some time at leisure. A complete change of scenery awaits you on arrival in Las Vegas where the rest of the day is yours to do as you please.
Hotel: Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, a Sheraton Hotel. (B)

DAY 15 – DEPART LAS VEGAS

Your adventure ends with a complimentary transfer to Las Vegas International Airport. (B)

Tour Details

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• In-depth sightseeing tours of San Francisco and Los Angeles
• Orientation tours of Carmel, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills
• 14 Full Breakfasts
• 2 Hotel Dinners, 3 Highlight Dinners in San Francisco, Monterey & the Grand Canyon, and 1 Dine-Around in Santa Barbara
• 1 Lunch aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train
• Wine tasting and tour in California’s premier wine growing district
• Guided tour of Hearst Castle - the palatial estate of William Randolph Hearst
• Private guided tour of the Kodak Theatre
• Cruise on spectacular Lake Powell and explore Antelope Canyon

Excursions & Sights

• See Union Square, the cable cars, Pacific Heights and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
• Wander around historic Sonoma and explore the beautiful Spanish Sonoma Plaza
• Experience the natural beauty and wildlife of Yosemite National Park
• Visit picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea and browse the shops on Ocean Avenue
• Take the scenic 17-Mile-Drive past Pebble Beach Golf Course and fabulous mansions
• Drive down Santa Barbara’s State Street, view the Court House and Stearns Wharf
• Travel along beautiful Santa Monica Bay past Malibu and celebrities’ beachfront homes
• In Santa Monica, stroll along the popular Third Street Promenade
• Drive along Sunset Boulevard, see the Hollywood Walk of Fame & Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
• Visit the artist colony of Sedona, set in the splendour of Red Rock Country
• Drive through the dramatic landscape of Oak Creek Canyon
• Travel the length of scenic Desert View Drive along the Grand Canyon’s South Rim
• Stop at the Historic Cameron Trading Post featuring a collection of Native American arts and crafts
• Journey through the Painted Desert and Navajo Indian Reservation
• Stop at Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center & learn about the Colorado River Storage Project
• Join a guided tour of Monument Valley Tribal Park
• Explore the rugged beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park
• Enjoy a leisurely walk along Sunset Point to view the “hoodoos.”
• Drive through the breathtaking scenery of Red Canyon and the giant Checkerboard Mesa

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