California Gold 7 Days/6 Nights

Welcome to California! Today you arrive in the San Francisco Bay Area to begin your splendid California Gold experience. Upon arrival, meet your Tour Director and transfer to your hotel for check in. Famous for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and colorful cable cars as well as its signature cuisine, including Dungeness crab, Bay shrimp, and the handcrafted tradition of sourdough bread – San Francisco invites you to discover her splendors. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers. (D)

Rise and shine with a glorious breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a San Francisco City Tour that takes you to explore the Civic Center area, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park, Union Square, Seal Rocks, Pacific Heights, and Pier 39. Take your adventure onto the water as you head out to experience a San Francisco Bay Cruise showcasing the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the city’s skyline. This afternoon you will have plenty of time to delve into San Francisco at your own pace with the remainder of the day at leisure. Take some time to stroll the storefronts of Fisherman’s Wharf, sample a chowder-filled sourdough bread bowl, or take a cable car ride. Alternately, join an optional excursion to Muir Woods where you can see some of the oldest and the tallest Redwood trees in the world. (B)

Have breakfast at your hotel and then enjoy a scenic drive across the Golden Gate Bridge as you head toward picture-perfect Sausalito. Here you can browse the many art galleries, shop in the town’s eclectic boutiques and take in the spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay area. This afternoon, join a Winery Tour and Tasting in California’s most popular wine region where you can sample renowned vintages and learn about wine making. Further along you will set out towards California’s capital, Sacramento, and close the day at your River City hotel where you will enjoy a two-night stay. (B)

After breakfast at your hotel, the gems of Napa Valley await you! Hop onboard the Napa Valley Wine Train for an exciting excursion that includes a wine tasting experience and lunch as you travel the rails across scenic wine country. You are certain to enjoy this unforgettable time reminiscent of the glamour days of luxury rail travel as you ride in authentically restored Pullman rail cars. Next, visit Old Town Sacramento, the commercial hub of the Gold Rush Era. This captivating area brimming with shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues retains its 1800’s charm, featuring original storefronts and wooden sidewalks. (B,L)

Power up with breakfast at your hotel and get ready for an amazing Sierra Nevada Rail Journey this morning. Travel through breathtaking snowcapped Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Lake Tahoe area and disembark in Truckee. Here you will board your deluxe motor coach and head on towards the acclaimed resort area of Lake Tahoe. The South Lake Tahoe area along the California-Nevada state line will be your home base for the next two nights of this vacation adventure. (B)

Savor breakfast at your hotel before embarking on an excursion that will take you through Nevada’s historic Carson City on your way to Virginia City, site of the Comstock Lode – the first major discovery of silver ore in the United States, and named after American miner Henry Comstock. This famous Old West town was once the west’s mining metropolis, featuring notable residents Mark Twain and Bret Harte. Next on the day’s exciting agenda, enjoy a Lake Tahoe Paddle Wheeler Cruise and take in the picturesque vistas of Emerald Bay and the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains. This evening, join together with your fellow travelers and new friends to share in a Farewell Dinner at a popular local restaurant. (B,D)

After breakfast, transfer to the Sacramento airport for your return flight home chock-full of experiences, adventures, and memories to share of your California Gold vacation. (B)