ART HISTORY ALIVE

Presents

California: Coast, Castle, and Cabernet

 

 

DAY 1

Arrival at the Hotel Orchard, San Francisco, where we will begin our tour. After check-in we will wander from our hotel and spend the remainder of this day exploring one of the greatest cities in the world. Dinner in "the city".

 

DAY 2

After breakfast at our hotel, we will walk two blocks to the gates of Chinatown, the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. This is an amazing place where we will shop, have a Chinese tea tasting, and visit some back alleys. After lunch we will divide our time between shopping in Union Square and/or North Beach, the colorful Italian area of San Francisco.

 

DAY 3

After a leisurely breakfast we will depart SF for the drive to Carmel, California. We will check into Clint Eastwood's, The Inn at Mission Ranch, and head back into pretty little Carmel by way of the Mission. One of the original 21 California Missions, Mission Carmel is one of the prettiest. I will drive you along the ocean front homes and then we will wander the shops before dinner "back at the ranch."

 

DAY 4

Moving south down the Pacific Coast Highway we will stop for lunch at gorgeous Cielo. In the heart of Big Sur you will see and taste why this restaurant is a favorite. The view is spectacular. Next stop, the sweet little town of Cambria, California, and our lovely hotel on Moonstone Beach. You will fall asleep to the sound of waves but not before some fun shopping and a delicious dinner at Brambles.

 

DAY 5

This morning after breakfast we will make the short drive up the hill to the home of William Randolph Hearst and his girlfriend Marion Davies. This is just a little place where they liked to invite a few friends up for a simple dinner party now and again. Not. Just prior to the tour of this castle we will watch a wonderful docudrama that will put everything in perspective by giving us a rich backdrop for the tour. Following our guided tour we will head inland through a handsome pass in the mountains, wine tasting along the way. The wines coming out of this area are delicious and winning some awards. I will be very interested to see if you agree. This evening we will check into the old Paso Robles Inn for a steakhouse dinner and some rest.

 

DAY 6

Today after breakfast we will make the three-hour drive up the center of the state, to Santa Cruz, California. This is a surf capitol and you will spend the night in a little cliff side hotel overlooking the long Municipal Wharf with its restaurants and shops, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. In addition, on our way north, we will stop for lunch in a Mexican garden restaurant and visit Mission San Juan Bautista. This little town is like stepping back into the 1800's, very western, and pristine. It seems John Wayne might be just around the corner. That evening, if you feel like a walk on the Boardwalk, a corn dog, or even a ride on the prize winning wooden rollercoaster, that is what we will do.

 

DAY 7

After a light breakfast at your hotel we will travel into the Santa Cruz mountains to Henry Cowell State Park for a short hike and a picnic lunch among the giant redwoods. These 1,000-year-old Pacific Redwood that soar 180 feet into the sky will astound you. From the park, it is back to San Francisco for our last evening and dinner together in this beautiful city. Oceanfront for breakfast, in the mountains with the redwoods for lunch, and chic San Francisco for dinner. This is California!!!

 

DAY 8

Departures for home just in time for Mother's Day.

 

*All prices are based on double occupancy, and a group size of six. Single occupancy is available with a price supplement. Hotels, meals, wines, museum admissions, all ground transportation and medical insurance are included. Airfare, and roundtrip transfers from airport to hotel, and hotel to airport, are not included. Prices of European trips may require adjustment due to exchange rate fluctuations. AHA is happy to advise on the purchase of airline tickets and airport transfers. We know who to call.