California and National Parks

Get to know the real California on this scenic guided tour. Soak in magnificent vistas, sunny beaches, the culture of San Francisco, the glamour of Los Angeles, and the awe-inspiring majesty of the most popular national parks in California.

You can’t help falling in love with San Francisco. You’ll understand why people consider it one of California’s most scenic and culturally vibrant cities when you see the Golden Gate Bridge and Coit Tower.

To experience the majesty of nature, you can’t do better than Yosemite. Granite rock formations like Half Dome, and the pristine Yosemite Valley, are so beautiful they’ll take your breath away. Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are next door neighbors with matching sets of towering redwood groves. The world’s tallest trees are surrounded by over 1,000 miles of stunning wilderness.

If you’re a beach person, Santa Barbara is a dream come true. Southern California’s easygoing charm is at its brightest in this sunny retreat. Los Angeles, the hometown of the entertainment industry and a capital of glitz and glamour, truly needs no introduction. From the Sunset Strip and the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the world-famous Santa Monica Pier, the City of Angels is more than ready for its closeup. Experience it all on this tour of California and its most popular national parks.

Add-Ons

Alcatraz Island Tour & Pier 39 Dinner

Explore the island of Alcatraz.

Santa Maria Wine Tasting

Sample some of the finest California wines on this guided tour.

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Tour Includes

Sightseeing

• San Francisco
• 17-Mile Drive
• Monterey
• Yosemite National Park
• Kings Canyon National Park
• Sequoia National Park
• Pismo Beach
• Santa Maria
• Santa Barbara
• Los Angeles

Hotel Accommodations

• 9 Nights
• Moderate hotels based on twin/double occupancy

Meals

• 9 Breakfasts
• 1 Dinner

Service

• A professionally trained tour director who is knowledgeable about the area will provide you with a wealth of information. Their friendly service will make your trip a memorable experience.

Baggage Handling

• To and from your hotel room throughout your land tour for one piece of Checked Baggage per person.

California & National Parks Tour

Tour Starts:

San Francisco, California

Tour Ends:

Los Angeles, California

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Day 1

Arrive in San Francisco

Welcome to San Francisco! Guests who have purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations will be welcomed in the baggage claim area by a friendly YMT representative who will arrange your transfer to the hotel.

Spend the day at your leisure in one of California’s most beautiful and culturally rich cities. Enjoy diverse cuisine, incredible museums, parks, and dazzling architecture. The city is also home to historical landmarks including the colorful Victorian Painted Ladies, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the island prison of Alcatraz.

Hotel Caza or similar

Day 2

San Francisco

Discover the bustling “City by the Bay” during a morning panoramic tour. Look out at Alcatraz, see Nob Hill, and catch a glimpse of Lombard Street along with many

more exciting sights! Spend the evening relaxing in San Francisco. (B)

Hotel Caza or similar

Add-On: Alcatraz Island Tour & Pier 39 Dinner

Day 3

San Francisco to Monterey via 17-Mile Drive

This morning, head down the breathtaking 17-Mile Drive. Enjoy views of Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, taking the opportunity to snap a picture of the Lone Cypress on a quick stop before arriving in Monterey. Enjoy a city tour of the once-gritty waterfront town immortalized by John Steinbeck’s classic novel, Cannery Row. (B)

Holiday Inn Express Monterey Bay Seaside or similar

Day 4

Monterey to Oakhurst

Make your way to Oakhurst, a three-hour drive from Monterey. With scenic views of rolling hills, verdant forests and the rugged coastline, this promises to be an enjoyable drive. (B)

Hampton Inn Oakhurst-Yosemite or similar

Day 5

Yosemite National Park

Visit the awe-inspiring Yosemite National Park. This magnificent and diverse land with elevations ranging from 2,000 to over 13,000 feet abounds with spectacular granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, lush meadows, and towering trees. Discover Yosemite Valley, where you will find Half Dome, the park’s most recognizable feature. The iconic granite formation rises more than 4,700 feet above the valley floor. (B)

Wyndham Visalia or similar

Day 6

King's Canyon National Park & Sequoia National Park

Continue to Kings Canyon, where you will find ancient sequoias and giant redwoods in Grant Grove. At its center is the General Grant Tree, the second largest in the world. This 3,000-year-old wonder stands almost 270 feet tall with a base circumference of 107 feet. Look out for gray foxes, bobcats and marmots, as well as eagles and bears. Next, head to Sequoia National Park, adjacent to Kings Canyon and just as magnificent. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sequoia is home to the largest living single-stem tree in the world. General Sherman stands 275 feet tall with a diameter of 25 feet. The Giant Forest, where you’ll find General Sherman, contains five of the ten largest trees on Earth. (B)

Wyndham Visalia or similar

Day 7

Pismo Beach & Santa Maria

Head west to the coast, stopping in Pismo Beach for lunch on your own. Spend the afternoon in Santa Maria, a city famous for its distinctive redoak smoked barbecue! (B)

Best Western Plus Big America or similar

Add-On: Santa Maria Wine Tasting

Day 8

Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

Visit Santa Barbara—the American Riviera—and enjoy its Spanish mission style architecture, mild Mediterranean climate, and stunning ocean views.

Take a self-guided tour of the lovely Santa Barbara Mission, where you can enjoy some of the best views in town. The “Queen of the Missions” is known for its magnificent twin bell towers, sprawling gardens, and the ocean views it enjoys from its position on a hill overlooking downtown Santa Barbara.

Continue to Los Angeles, where you will stop at the Getty Center. Enjoy amazing city views from this architecturally stunning art museum before a late afternoon arrival at your hotel. (B)

Holiday Inn LAX or similar

 

Day 9

Los Angeles

Today we take a guided tour of Los Angeles and Hollywood, seeing many of the highlights of the City of Angels. See Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the ornate TCL Chinese Theatre, and more. Enjoy a farewell dinner (included) on the Santa Monica Pier, which has endless views and its very own amusement park. (B, D)

Holiday Inn LAX or similar

Add-On: Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

Day 10

Depart for Home (B)

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. 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. By their nature, all tour 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. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.

YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.

FAQs

Add-Ons

Make your vacation extra special by adding optional excursions to your tour. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your trip, these experiences slot seamlessly into your package, and we’ll take care of all the logistics for you. Remember that adding an optional experience might increase the overall activity level of the tour, so always keep that in mind when planning your trip.

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Alcatraz Island Tour & Pier 39 Dinner

Explore one of the most infamous maximum-security prisons in the world, Alcatraz. Visit the Cell House and see where criminals such as Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and “Birdman” Robert Shroud were held. Tonight’s dinner will be at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. on Pier 39. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal and one of the best views in San Francisco.

Inclusions

• Alcatraz Island Tour
• 3-course dinner at Bubba Gump featuring a choice of entrées: Captain’s Fish & Chips, Coconut Shrimp,Half Rack of Ribs and Chicken Combo followed by Chef’s Choice of Dessert. Tax & gratuity included.

Note: The distance from the dock on Alcatraz to the Cell House which is located at the top of the island is about 1/4 of a mile and the elevation change is 130 feet . In the Cell House, there is an elevator to provide access to the second story. There is an uphill walk to visit the prison on Alcatraz Island. At the dock will be the accessible tram (S.E.A.T), which transports visitors with mobility impairments to the Cell House. This is provided on a first come first serve basis only, not guaranteed.

Duration: Approx. 6 hours (evening)

Activity Level: Active

Price: $115 USD

Santa Maria Wine Tasting

Famous for its wine industry, Santa Maria is a beautiful small city located in California’s Central Coast region. Enjoy learning about and sampling California wines.

Inclusions

• Wine tasting – 5, one ounce pours of their 5 most popular wines: Pinot Noir Rosé, Estate Chardonnay, Estate Pinot Noir, GSM, and Cabernet Sauvignon (subject to change)

Note: This is only available for 2024 tours

Duration: 1.5-2 hours (evening)

Activity Level: Easy

Price: $29 USD

Paramount Pictures Studio Tours

Explore over a century of Hollywood history and witness more in the making. During your visit, you’ll see where some of the most celebrated motion pictures and TV shows are made. Enjoy a classic Hollywood studio cart tours of historic and active backlot sets and prop warehouse.

Inclusions

• Paramount Studio Tour entrance and guided golf cart tour

Duration: 3 hours (Morning)

Activity Level: Easy

Price: $99 USD