Ultimate Pacific Northwest & California Tour

Welcome to beautiful Seattle, Washington! 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. If you made other flight arrangements, please make your own way to the hotel.

The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure, which is a real treat in the Emerald City. Some of the popular sites include Pike Place Market, where you should always keep your eyes peeled for flying fish, the Space Needle, and Pioneer Square.

Your day starts with a tour of the Museum of Flight. The museum is home to the original Boeing factory and over 150 aircraft including JFK’s Air Force One and jets from WWI and WWII. After lunch on your own at Pike Place Market, you’ll enjoy a tour of Seattle, often considered the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy a relaxing evening on your own or join an optional dinner and visit to the Space Needle. (B)

Mount St. Helens is known worldwide as the site of the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history, when it erupted in May of 1980. Enjoy stunning views of the mountain, including the crater caused by the eruption, before continuing on to Portland. After an included lunch, the evening in Portland is yours to enjoy. (B, L)

Travel into the thickly forested Cascade Mountains this morning to enjoy some of Oregon’s most breathtaking scenery. Highlights of your tour include the Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall waterfall found in the stunning Mt. Hood National Forest.

Continue to Hood River, a charming town where the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Range meet. Enjoy lunch on your own. Return to Portland for a city tour and free time at the International Rose Test Garden, where you can see and smell over 650 varieties of roses. (B)

Take a stunning scenic drive down the Oregon coast to Newport. In Newport, enjoy a tour of the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This world class facility is dedicated to Oregon’s marine wildlife. Enjoy a relaxed evening on your own. Newport has been popular with tourists since the 1800s, and has great dining and plenty to do. (B)

Travel down to Medford, a delightful town in the heart of the breathtaking Rogue Valley. Many of Oregon’s finest wines are produced right here in Medford, which you can learn more about on an optional wine tour this afternoon. (B)

Spend the day experiencing the world-famous Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States whose vibrantly blue and stunningly clear water make it one of the prettiest lakes in the country. Surrounded by towering cliffs and a thick forest of old growth pines, Crater Lake is nestled in what remains of a dormant volcano that erupted nearly 8,000 years ago. (B)

Continue south to the Golden State, where your first stop after a beautiful drive will be Redwood National Park, home of the world’s tallest trees. Enjoy a tour of this World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, where some trees are over 370 feet high. Stop in Crescent City, then continue to Eureka. Eureka’s Old Town is famous for its classic Victoria homes, which you will see on an informative panoramic tour. (B)

See more amazing Redwoods at Avenue of the Giants on your way to San Francisco, where you will enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B)

Your day starts with a tour including Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge, likely the world’s most photographed suspension bridge. Look out into the bay at the notorious Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Enjoy a farewell lunch at Pier 39. Join us for an optional bay cruise or cable car tour with dinner on Pier 39 for an additional fee, or take both! (B, L)

Today you will have time to explore San Francisco on your own with an included city pass that includes your choice of two entrances to the city’s top attractions.

San Francisco is 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. (B)

This morning, enjoy a panoramic city tour. Look out at Alcatraz, see Nob Hill, and catch a glimpse of Lombard Street along with many more exciting sights! Cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, San Francisco’s idyllic and much smaller neighbor. Enjoy lunch on your own and an included tour of this artistic enclave. Many of Sausalito’s residents live in house boats in the bay. Spend the evening relaxing in San Francisco. (B)

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)

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. Half Dome’s sheer cliff face is nearly vertical, making it irresistible to the world’s best rock climbers. (B)

Continue to Kings Canyon, where you will find ancient giant sequoias and redwoods in Grant Grove. At the center of Grant Grove is the General Giant Tree, the second largest tree in the world. This 3,000-year-old wonder stands almost 270 feet tall with a base circumference of 107 feet! With terrain ranging from sun-soaked foothills to alpine forests, a huge variety of wildlife calls this national park home. Look out for animals including gray foxes, bobcats, marmots, eagles, and bears. (B)

Take a pleasant drive to the thick forests of Sequoia National Park, which is adjacent to Kings Canyon and just as magnificent. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and administered by the National Park Service along with Kings Canyon National Park, 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 and is a centuries old display of the power of nature. The Giant Forest, where you’ll find General Sherman, contains five of the ten largest trees on Earth. (B)

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 red oak smoked barbecue! (B)

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)

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 an included farewell lunch on the Santa Monica Pier, which has endless views and its very own amusement park. (B, L)

Welcome to beautiful Seattle, Washington! 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. If you made other flight arrangements, please make your own way to the hotel.

The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure, which is a real treat in the Emerald City. Some of the popular sites include Pike Place Market, where you should always keep your eyes peeled for flying fish, the Space Needle, and Pioneer Square.

Your day starts with a tour of the Museum of Flight. The museum is home to the original Boeing factory and over 150 aircraft including JFK’s Air Force One and jets from WWI and WWII. Learn about the past, present and future of flight—from the Wright Brothers to the Concorde to NASA—in one of Seattle’s popular museums.

After lunch on your own at Pike Place Market, you’ll enjoy a tour of Seattle, often considered the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy a relaxing evening on your own or join an optional dinner and visit to the Space Needle. (B)

Mount St. Helens is known worldwide as the site of the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history, when it erupted in May of 1980. Enjoy stunning views of the mountain, including the crater caused by the eruption, before continuing on to Portland. After an included lunch, the evening in Portland is yours to enjoy. (B, L)

Travel into the thickly forested Cascade Mountains this morning to enjoy some of Oregon’s most breathtaking scenery. Highlights of your tour include the Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall waterfall found in the stunning Mt. Hood National Forest.

Continue to Hood River, a charming town where the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Range meet. Enjoy lunch on your own. Return to Portland for a city tour and free time at the International Rose Test Garden, where you can see and smell over 650 varieties of roses. (B)

Take a stunning scenic drive down the Oregon coast to Newport. In Newport, enjoy a tour of the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This world class facility is dedicated to Oregon’s marine wildlife. Enjoy a relaxed evening on your own. Newport has been popular with tourists since the 1800s, and has great dining and plenty to do. (B)

Travel down to Medford, a delightful town in the heart of the breathtaking Rogue Valley. Many of Oregon’s finest wines are produced right here in Medford, which you can learn more about on an optional wine tour this afternoon. (B)

Spend the day experiencing the world-famous Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States whose vibrantly blue and stunningly clear water make it one of the prettiest lakes in the country. Surrounded by towering cliffs and a thick forest of old growth pines, Crater Lake is nestled in what remains of a dormant volcano that erupted nearly 8,000 years ago. (B)

Continue south to the Golden State, where your first stop after a beautiful drive will be Redwood National Park, home of the world’s tallest trees. Enjoy a tour of this World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, where some trees are over 370 feet high. Stop in Crescent City, then continue to Eureka. Eureka’s Old Town is famous for its classic Victoria homes, which you will see on an informative panoramic tour. (B)

See more amazing Redwoods at Avenue of the Giants on your way to San Francisco, where you will enjoy the evening at your leisure. (B)

Your day starts with a tour including Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge, likely the world’s most photographed suspension bridge. Look out into the bay at the notorious Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Enjoy a farewell lunch at Pier 39. Join us for an optional bay cruise or cable car tour with dinner on Pier 39 for an additional fee, or take both! (B, L)

Today you will have time to explore San Francisco on your own with an included city pass that includes your choice of two entrances to the city’s top attractions.

San Francisco is 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. (B)

This morning, enjoy a panoramic city tour. Look out at Alcatraz, see Nob Hill, and catch a glimpse of Lombard Street along with many more exciting sights! Cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, San Francisco’s idyllic and much smaller neighbor. Enjoy lunch on your own and an included tour of this artistic enclave. Many of Sausalito’s residents live in house boats in the bay. Spend the evening relaxing in San Francisco, or join us for an optional sunset bay cruise and lively dinner at Pier 39. (B)

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)

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. Half Dome’s sheer cliff face is nearly vertical, making it irresistible to the world’s best rock climbers. (B)

Continue to Kings Canyon, where you will find ancient giant sequoias and redwoods in Grant Grove. At the center of Grant Grove is the General Giant Tree, the second largest tree in the world. This 3,000-year-old wonder stands almost 270 feet tall with a base circumference of 107 feet! With terrain ranging from sun-soaked foothills to alpine forests, a huge variety of wildlife calls this national park home. Look out for animals including gray foxes, bobcats, marmots, eagles, and bears. (B)

Take a pleasant drive to the thick forests of Sequoia National Park, which is adjacent to Kings Canyon and just as magnificent. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and administered by the National Park Service along with Kings Canyon National Park, 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 and is a centuries old display of the power of nature. The Giant Forest, where you’ll find General Sherman, contains five of the ten largest trees on Earth. (B)

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)

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)

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 an included farewell lunch on the Santa Monica Pier, which has endless views and its very own amusement park. (B, L)

Your San Diego extension begins with a memorable train ride down the coast. From Los Angeles’ famed Union Station, travel on the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego. Your non-escorted extension to California’s southernmost city is the perfect opportunity to soak up the sun and beachy vibes at your own pace. (B)

Explore San Diego at your leisure. San Diego is the quintessential California beach town, with amazing sightseeing, food, and activities available year-round. Enjoy the beach, the historical Gaslamp district, or some of the numerous museums and zoos in and around San Diego. (B)