Monday, 5/9/2011 - Journey to San Francisco
After leaving from our departure points this morning, we will enjoy a continental breakfast onboard the coach as we make our way to San Francisco. Arriving into the heart of the city in the late afternoon, we’ll make our way to Fisherman’s Wharf. Our hotel for four nights is conveniently located across the street from Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 and near the cable cars, Ghiradelli Square and the Cannery. This area is San Francisco’s most popular destination because it’s within walking distance of so many sites and great dining. Known for its historic waterfront, delicious seafood, spectacular sights and unique shopping, the Wharf offers a wide array of things to do. After checking in to the hotel, become better acquainted with your traveling companions as you enjoy an included multi-course family-style dinner in Chinatown – the largest Chinatown outside of Asia.

Tuesday, 5/10/2011 - San Francisco
This morning we’ll be joined by a local guide for a narrated driving tour of San Francisco to see all of the sights that have made this city so famous and so endearing. See Union Square, North Beach, the Financial District, Golden Gate Park and more. We’ll cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge for the Marine Headlands to get magnificent views of the San Francisco skyline. A highlight will be an included tour of Coit Tower overlooking the San Francisco waterfront from atop Telegraph Hill. Built to fulfill the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who left funds to be used to beautify the city she loved, Coit Tower is an icon on the San Francisco skyline. The murals decorating the lobby were painted in 1934 by 25 artists and are simply spectacular. On our tour today we’ll also highlight some of the new additions to San Francisco. See the incredible exhibits at the Exploratorium – a hands-on science museum cleverly constructed from materials as simple as light bulbs and boards. An included visit to the Disney Family Museum which chronicles the life and achievements of Walt Disney – a man who was first and foremost a storyteller himself. The museum tells Disney’s story in his own words and those of his family, friends, and co-workers through the use of listening stations, interactive media, and more than 200 video monitors. The museum’s 10 permanent galleries include the earliest known drawings of Mickey Mouse and a specially commissioned, 12-foot-diameter model of the Disneyland of Walt’s imagination, with attractions he developed himself. See the original animation notes and one of the original multiplane cameras used to make Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. An included dinner this evening at a restaurant on Pier 39.

Wednesday, 5/11/2011 - Angel Island
Following an included breakfast this morning we’ll enjoy a leisurely day in San Francisco beginning with a ferry ride to Angel Island for a guided tram tour of this lesser known jewel of the Bay. Sit back and relax as you take a fascinating journey into the island’s history and cultural past on a captivating, guided tram tour. Visit historic sites and enjoy breathtaking views of the Bay, San Francisco skyline, Sausalito, Tiburon and the Golden Gate Bridge, all from the comfort of an open-air tram. Because of its strategic location in the San Francisco Bay, Angel Island has been home to a long succession of peoples and activities, from the Coastal Miwok Indians who hunted here two thousand years to the U.S. Army and Navy and finally U.S. Customs. See Camp Reynolds, built by the U. S. Army in 1863 and the oldest permanent settlement on Angel Island; today it’s one of the best-preserved groups of Civil War military buildings in the country. See the underground NIKE Missile silo built during the Cold War. See the Immigration Station which was active from 1910 to 1940. Sometimes called the “Ellis Island of the West,” between 1910 and 1930, a million immigrants were processed before beginning their lives in America. Enjoy an included picnic lunch on the Island. Returning to the mainland, you’ll have the afternoon and evening to enjoy the City by the Bay at your leisure.

Thursday, 5/12/2011 - Sonoma Valley
This morning we will journey to the Sonoma Valley, one of the most widely recognized wine regions in the world. Vineyards have been part of the landscape here for more than 150 years and today the Valley is home to a plethora of awardwinning and unique wineries. Experience the rich flavor of this region with a tour and tasting at one of the wineries and included lunch in the Valley. This afternoon we’ll visit the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens in Santa Rosa. The famed horticulturist lived in this home for over 50 years and it was here that he conducted the plant-breeding experiments that made him world-renowned. His objective was to improve the quality of plants and thereby increase the world’s food supply. In his working career Burbank introduced more than 800 new varieties of plants including over 200 varieties of fruits, many vegetables, nuts and grains, and hundreds of ornamental flowers to the world. A docent-guided tour will showcase his Greek revival house, greenhouse and converted carriage house which are all registered National Historic Landmarks. Returning to San Francisco, you’ll have the evening to enjoy the city at your leisure.

Friday, 5/13/2011 - Journey Home
After breakfast, we start our journey home traveling along Highway 101, the Kings Highway. A stop for time at your leisure in the quaint Danish town of Solvang. Our memories of this spectacular tour to San Francisco and the Sonoma Valley not soon forgotten.