Days 1 & 2

Arrive in Los Angeles on Day 1. Guests who have booked air through YMT will be greeted at the airport and transferred to their hotel in Hollywood. (Guest with individual air arrangements need to make their own way). On Day 2 begin your stay in tinsel town with our included sightseeing tour of the “City of Angels”.You will see many famous sights such as the Music Centre, Farmers Market, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard, and much more. The tour will end at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and its adjoining Hollywood and Highland Complex where you have time to visit Hollywood’s Walk of Fame or have lunch at one of the many eateries. In the afternoon, why not join your fellow travelers on an excursion: a tour past movie stars’ homes and hangouts or a guided visit inside Hollywood’s famous landmarks like Grauman’s Chinese Theatre? This evening, perhaps join an optional excursion to Santa Monica Beach. Well known for its Third Street Promenade offering great shopping, a multitude of restaurants, bars and nightclubs; as well as many talented street performers. Hotel: Hollywood Heights (or similar accommodations).

Day 3

Journey through rural America to Scottsdale, a modern city set in the year-round sunshine and oasis greenery of Arizona’s Valley of the Sun. Scottsdale boasts sunshine more than 300 days a year. Enjoy your evening at leisure. Hotel: Hospitality Suites (or similar accommodations).

Day 4

We leave Scottsdale heading north through the Arizona Desert passing cacti and desert flora. Travel through Oak Creek Canyon’s red deserts and enjoy a stop in the art community of Sedona. Then on to the south rim of the simply spectacular Grand Canyon. Before arriving at our overnight hotel within the National Park, we will be visiting points of interest along the rim of the Canyon. Stay overnight at a lodge in the National Park, just a short walk from the Canyon’s south rim from where you can watch the sunset. Hotel: Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (or similar accommodations).

Days 5 - 7

On Day 5 early risers could be in for an experience of a lifetime - Catch the sunrise over the Canyon, a truly astonishing spectacle of nature! As we depart, we drive to Kingman on Route 66, where we stop for lunch, then on through the desert to Las Vegas, Nevada for non-stop entertainment and state-of-the-art casinos. Stroll along Vegas’s ‘Strip’ to see the intricately themed hotels, call in at a casino or decide on something a bit quieter with an excursion to drift through the Black Canyon. At night you will have plenty of opportunity to see one of the spectacular Las Vegas shows. During the evening in this desert oasis, why not join our optional excursion and tour the exciting Las Vegas Strip. You will have ample opportunity for tours exploring the area or leisure time during this three night stay. Hotel: Bally’s (or similar accommodations).

Day 8

Cross the state line back into California and stop off at the ghost town of Calico which was restored in 1954. Between 1881 and 1896, Calico (named after the varicolored surrounding mountains) was a booming silver mining town of more than 1,200 people, with mines producing more than $13 million in ore. In 1895 the price of silver dropped, the mines stopped producing and Calico became a ghost town. From Calico, we continue to our overnight stay in Fresno, just south of Yosemite National Park. Hotel: Best Western Village Inn (or similar accommodations).

Day 9

Today you will be amazed by the unforgettable scenery of Yosemite National Park. Created by glaciers, Yosemite is a magnificent seven-mile long glacial valley, with waterfalls cascading down the steep cliff walls. We will descend down to the valley floor for truly breathtaking scenery. There is plenty of time here to take in the natural beauty of this National Park and see the sights like Bridal Veil Falls and perhaps enjoy a rustic picnic luncheon. Mid-afternoon, we will leave for the gold-rush town of Sonora where you will stay overnight. Hotel: Inns of California (or similar accommodations).

Day 10

Leave Sonora’s Victorian houses behind and travel through the High Sierra, heading for the shores of Lake Tahoe. Its crystal clear water stretches 22 miles long by 12 miles wide. Named “Big Water” by the Washoe Indians, Lake Tahoe holds enough water to cover the entire state of California to a depth of 14 inches. Breathe in the cool mountain air, as you stay overnight by the ‘Lake in the Sky’. Tonight, an optional Dinner Cruise is an excellent opportunity to see just how remarkably clear and deep blue the lake is. Hotel: Quality Inn & Suites (or similar accommodations).

Days 11 - 13

On Day 11 we travel from lakes and mountains to metropolitan San Francisco. Our route will take us via California’s capital city of Sacramento where we will stop at Old Town Sacramento. Further on we drive through the Napa and Sonoma valleys, well known for their wine production. We will make our way into the city, driving along the bay and entering by its most famous gateway, the Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy an included city tour upon arrival, showing you the major highlights such as Union Square, Chinatown, and Fisherman’s Wharf, where you will stay for 3 nights. On Day 12 and 13 there will be plenty to do under your own steam: Take a cable car ride, visit Telegraph Hill and Lombard Street (the most crooked street in the world), or spend some time shopping around Union Square. Alternatively, you will be able to join several optional excursions to visit the less accessible areas. You might choose to take a bay cruise, walk across the famous Golden Gate Bridge, or take to the Bay with a visit to Alcatraz Island. Hotel: Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf (or similar accommodations).

Day 14

As you bid San Francisco good bye, travel south to Monterey, a colorful town with a rich Spanish heritage and setting for Steinbeck’s novel, Cannery Row. Your journey is along the spellbinding 17 Mile Drive, which parallels the Pacific, by long beaches and little coves. You’ll stop for shopping in arty Carmel, before continuing to Lompoc for your overnight stay. Hotel: Comfort Inn Lompoc (or similar accommodations).

Day 15

As the tour winds to an end you will visit Solvang, once a settlement of Danish immigrants that has preserved its Scandinavian charm with its windmills and Danish pastry shops. Then on to Santa Barbara’s busy waterfront and historic Mission. Here you will have time for lunch on your own and enjoying the views across the Pacific. From Santa Barbara it is a short drive on to Los Angeles where you will overnight in the Los Angeles airport area. Hotel: Doubletree El Segundo (or similar accommodations).

Day 16

Return home, enjoying memories of picture postcard scenery and newfound friends. The courtesy shuttle will take you back to Los Angeles International Airport for your homebound flight.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations.

Note: By their nature, all tours vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights.

The Motor Coach Experience