Your incredible 14-day best of the west itinerary
DAY 1
WELCOME TO LA YOUR EPIC AMERICAN ADVENTURE STARTS IN THE CITY OF ANGELS. AFTER A SHORT TRANSFER TO BEVERLY HILLS, ENJOY A WELCOME RECEPTION AT YOUR FIRST HOTEL, THE BEVERLY HILLS MARRIOTT.
DAY 2
LA TO
SAN DIEGO TODAY YOU WILL TRAVEL TO SAN DIEGO. TAKE A TOUR FROM THE VICTORIAN GASLAMP QUARTER (WHERE YOU’LL BE STAYING AT THE CENTRE OF THINGS IN THE WESTIN HOTEL) TO THE BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND MUSEUMS OF BALBOA
PARK. ENJOY SOME FREE TIME BEFORE JOINING YOUR TRAVELLING COMPANIONS FOR DINNER.
DAY 3
SAN DIEGO TO SCOTTSDALE
THIS AFTERNOON YOU’LL ARRIVE IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, KNOWN FOR ITS SPA RESORTS AND GOLF COURSES (BOTH JUST MINUTES FROM THE EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON, WHERE YOU’LL BE STAYING). THE EVENING IS FREE FOR YOU TO ENJOY.
DAY 4
GRAND CANYON AFTER A STOP IN THE COLOURFUL ARTISTS’ ENCLAVE OF SEDONA, YOU’LL TRAVEL NORTH THROUGH
THE COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST. THIS AFTERNOON YOU’LL EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE GREAT NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD: THE GRAND CANYON. TAKE IN THE ASTOUNDING VIEWS AND LEARN ABOUT THE AMAZING GEOLOGY. TONIGHT YOU’LL BE STAYING IN THE NATIONAL PARK LODGES – A RARE CHANCE TO SPEND THE NIGHT CLOSE TO NATURE, JUST A STONE’S THROW FROM THE GRAND CANYON ITSELF.
DAY5
LAS VEGAS YOU’LL HEAD TO THE GLITTERING LIGHTS OF LAS VEGAS, WHERE YOU’LL SPEND TWO NIGHTS RIGHT AT THE HEART OF THE STRIP IN AN UPGRADED BURGUNDY ROOM AT THE FAMOUS PARIS LAS VEGAS HOTEL.
DAY6
EXPLORING LAS VEGAS THE POSSIBILITIES FOR ENTERTAINMENT IN VEGAS ARE ENDLESS: YOU CAN HIT THE CASINOS AND THE SHOPS, THEN ENJOY LUNCH AT ONE OF THE CITY’S ELEGANT RESTAURANTS. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN RIDE ON THE HIGH ROLLER, THE WORLD’S TALLEST OBSERVATION WHEEL. OR PERHAPS YOU’D PREFER TO RELAX BY THE HOTEL POOL. THIS EVENING YOU WILL DINE AT ONE OF THE LAVISH BUFFETS VEGAS IS FAMOUS FOR.
DAY 7
MOJAVE DESERT TO MAMMOTH LAKES
TODAY YOU’LL TRAVEL THROUGH THE MOJAVE DESERT TO MAMMOTH LAKES, A POPULAR ALPINE RESORT. THIS EVENING IS FREE FOR YOU TO ENJOY. STAY AT DOUBLETREE HOTEL IN FRESNO (3 MAY DEPARTURE) OR THE WESTIN MONACHE RESORT IN MAMMOTH LAKES (21 JUNE DEPARTURE).
DAY 8
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AS YOU TRAVEL DOWN THROUGH THE SIERRA NEVADA AND THE STUNNING TIOGA PASS (WEATHER PERMITTING) INTO THE YOSEMITE VALLEY, YOU WILL SEE TWO SPECTACULAR WATERFALLS: BRIDALVEIL AND YOSEMITE. SPEND THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON IN THE NATIONAL PARK, THEN STAY THE NIGHT AT THE BEST WESTERN PLUS YOSEMITE WAY STATION.
DAY 9
WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO LEAVING THE MOUNTAINS, YOU’LL HEAD NORTH TO SPEND TIME IN NAPA, A CITY AT THE HEART OF CALIFORNIA’S WINE COUNTRY.
W&H EXPERIENCE THEN
IT’S ON TO SONOMA, CONSIDERED THE BIRTHPLACE OF CALIFORNIAN WINEMAKING, WHERE YOU’LL
VISIT RAVENSWOOD WINERY TO JOIN WINE EXPERT PETER GRIFFITH FOR A HANDS-ON BLENDING EXPERIENCE. MIX AND MATCH DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF ZINFANDEL, PETITE SIRAH AND CARIGNANE TO CREATE YOUR PERFECT BLEND – THEN TAKE HOME A BOTTLE OF YOUR CREATION. LATER YOU WILL CROSS THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR A DINNER TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS FABULOUS CITY. YOUR HOTEL FOR THE EVENING IS THE WORLD-FAMOUS FAIRMONT SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH IS RIGHT AT THE HEART OF THE CITY ON
TOP OF PRESTIGIOUS NOB HILL.
DAY 10
DISCOVER SAN FRANCISCO
TODAY YOU WILL EMBARK ON A MORNING EXPLORATION FROM BUSTLING FISHERMAN’S WHARF TO BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN GATE PARK. W&H EXPERIENCE JOIN A LOCAL FOOD EXPERT FOR A CULINARY TASTING TOUR THROUGH THE HISTORIC FERRY BUILDING, WHERE YOU’LL FIND MANY
OF THE CITY’S TRENDIEST FOOD ARTISANS, AND THE FAMOUS FARMERS’ MARKET. THIS AFTERNOON GIVES YOU
SOME FREE TIME TO EXPLORE
THIS SPECTACULAR CITY.
DAY 11
CARMEL TO MONTEREY YOU’LL SPEND A LEISURELY MORNING IN SAN FRANCISCO BEFORE HEADING TO CARMEL. HERE YOU CAN BROWSE THE SHOPS IN THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGE OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, WANDER DOWN TO THE WATER’S EDGE OR ENJOY A CAPPUCCINO AT A LOCAL CAFÉ. YOU’LL STAY AT THE WATERFRONT PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA FOR THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS.
DAY 12
MONTEREY AFTER TAKING IN BREATHTAKING PACIFIC VIEWS ALONG 17-MILE DRIVE, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS LONE CYPRESS, YOU’LL SPEND THE REST OF YOUR DAY EXPLORING THE HISTORIC WATERFRONT DISTRICT AND CANNERY ROW IN MONTEREY. DON’T MISS THE AQUARIUM, TOO. W&H EXPERIENCE THIS EVENING A FRIENDLY LOCAL BISTRO, HAPPY GIRL KITCHEN, CLOSES ITS DOORS AS THE OWNERS HOST YOU FOR A PRIVATE “BE MY GUEST” DINNER.
DAY13
MONTEREY TO SANTA BARBARA TODAY YOU’LL HEAD SOUTH TO SEE ANOTHER ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT OF CALIFORNIAN CULTURE. W&H EXPERIENCE ENJOY A BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR OF AN OLIVE FARM IN CALIFORNIA’S PASO ROBLES AREA, WHERE YOU’LL TASTE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF OLIVE OIL AND TOUR THE OLIVE GROVES. YOUR NEXT STOP IS SUN-KISSED SANTA BARBARA. THIS EVENING, HAVE DINNER AT STELLA MARE’S BISTRO, WHICH BLENDS FRENCH AND CALIFORNIA CUISINES. YOU’LL SPEND YOUR LAST NIGHT AT THE FESS PARKER: A DOUBLETREE BY HILTON RESORT, WHICH IS NAMED AFTER THE 50S HOLLYWOOD ACTOR AND OVERLOOKS SANTA BARBARA’S FAMOUS PALM-LINED BEACH.
DAY 14
SANTA BARBARA TO LA YOUR DAY BEGINS WITH SANTA BARBARA’S GOLDEN BEACHES AND ELEGANT SPANISH REVIVAL BUILDINGS. NEXT YOU’LL HEAD SOUTH TO HOLLYWOOD, SEE THE WORLD-FAMOUS SIGN AND GRAUMAN’S CHINESE THEATRE, THE SCENE OF FILM PREMIERES, AND THE STAR-STUDDED WALK OF FAME. SAY GOODBYE TO LOS ANGELES AS YOU RIDE DOWN SUNSET BOULEVARD AND THROUGH BEVERLY HILLS EN ROUTE TO LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND YOUR AFTERNOON FLIGHT HOME.