Day 1
Fly to San Francisco
Arrive in San Francisco and transfer independently to your hotel for a couple of nights stay.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Express Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
Day 2
San Francisco
A full day to explore this exciting city – cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge, take a ride on a tram and enjoy the attractions of Fisherman’s Wharf.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Express Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
Day 3
San Francisco – Monterey (111 miles)
Pick up your hire car, head out of the city and onto iconic Highway 1. We suggest a lunch stop in the quirky seaside resort of Santa Cruz – the birthplace of surfing and a real slice of Americana with its boardwalk and Giant Dipper. Continue around the wide sweep of Monterey Bay into Monterey itself. Enjoy an evening in Cannery Row, where you’ll find fun shops and friendly restaurants.
Overnight: InterContinental The Clement Monterey
Day 4
Monterey
A full day to explore Monterey Bay, where you can relax on one of the lovely beaches, or perhaps visit the award winning Aquarium featuring 35,000 creatures in innovative surroundings. Later in the afternoon you might want to take the short drive over to Carmel-by-the-Sea, one of our favourite places with its eccentric architecture, charming cafes and quirky boutiques. Enjoy a glass of local wine whilst people watching. If you go to iconic Terry’s Bar you’ll also be able to dog watch during their “Yappy Hour”!
Overnight: InterContinental The Clement Monterey
Day 5
Monterey – Cambria (105 miles)
Today will be the highlight of your road trip, taking the world famous drive along scenic Highway 1 running along the coastal headlands through Big Sur. Pause at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park where you can stroll to the beautiful waterfall, admire the magnificent redwood trees and take in the coastal views. Allow time to visit Hearst Castle, a unique mansion built in the 1920’s, filled with unique artefacts and interesting stories. We suggest you take the Grand Rooms tour which takes and hour – remember to keep your eyes open to spot one of the zebra which freely roam the park. It’s then just a short hop to Cambria for your overnight stay.
Overnight: Cambria Pines Lodge
Day 6
Cambria
A day to relax, so take the 5 minute drive to Moonstone Beach Park where you will find a lovely beach in a pretty setting. Either pick up some goodies en route for a picnic or visit one of the lovely inns and cafes in the area. For anyone with an excess of energy, there are walking trails in the nearby Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, which will lead you through pine forest to the rocky shoreline. There is an abundance of vineyards and wineries in this area, so you can spend the evenings sampling the local fayre.
Overnight: Cambria Pines Lodge
Day 7
Cambria – Santa Barbara (127 miles)
Your destination today is the charming Spanish-influenced seaside resort of Santa Barbara, but don’t be in such a rush to get there that you miss out on a visit to beautiful Morro Bay. Here sealions and sea otters live in the sheltered lagoon, and you can either watch them from the shore or take a boat trip to get up close and personal. It’s worth staying here until lunchtime, if you’re a fan of super fresh seafood and the harbour is lined with restaurants offering local scallops, shrimp, crab, oysters, cod and more. Continue to Santa Barbara, where the backdrop of the Santa Ynez mountains will take your breath away. After checking into your hotel, enjoy a late afternoon swim on East Beach.
Overnight: Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
Day 8
Santa Barbara – Anaheim / Disneyland (129 miles)
Today you can choose to spend the day on the beach before heading south to Anaheim, or depending on peer pressure, drive straight there to get your dose of Disneyland. But because this is a tailormade itinerary, you may decide to change this itinerary by spending another couple of nights to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara.
Overnight: Wyndham Garden Anaheim
Days 9 & 10
Anaheim / Disneyland
You have two full days to enjoy the attractions of the area, which include the original Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park where Pixar and Disney stories are brought to life, and Knott’s Berry Farm 160 acre thrill-seekers haven home to the world’s first looping coaster. There is also LEGOLAND California and Universal Studios Hollywood – where you can enjoy the ultimate movie experience.
Overnight: Wyndham Garden Anaheim
Day 11
Anaheim - Los Angeles Airport (34 miles)
You’ll have a few more hours to enjoy the fun and sun of California before you leave for LAX for your flight home
