Wine Country, Sequoia National Park, and the High Sierras
Wine Country – San Joaquin Valley – Sequoia National Park
Motor coach Tour Escorted by a Former Geography Professor
4 Days - Departs
Wednesday, September 8, 2010 Join us on a unique four day trip across
the center of California. This tour is truly a route of contrasts
- from breezy small town coastal communities to agricultural heartland to
thick forests, Dennis Napier, geography professor and tour director,
will be with the group throughout the tour to share his extensive knowledge of
the geography and geology involved in this incredible landscape.
Up the Central Coast
to Paso Robles
Day 1 – Wednesday, September 8th
Depart from
Mission Viejo 7:15 AM
Depart from
La Canada Park and Ride 8:30 AM
Depart from Ventura 9:30 AM
We’ll take a leisurely drive north up to a tasty lunch stop amid the rustic
setting of the Mission La Purisima, a favored stop for travelers since the
1800’s. Here we are treated to an included picnic lunch under the mighty oaks
before continuing to Montana De Oro State Park and Los Osos State
Reserve. A jewel of San Luis Obispo County, this area encompasses ancient
sand dunes and spectacular coastal scenery. A 1/2 mile trail leads us to a
low canopy of 600-800 year old live oaks where Chumash once lived.
Late
afternoon arrival at Eberle Winery to sample the grapes
and tour the winery’s aging caves before arriving for a restful night
at the Paso Robles Inn with its early California décor and beautifully landscaped
grounds. Dinner is on your own at the hotel or nearby restaurants. Afterwards,
you’ll not want to miss a stroll along the charming plaza where you can sample
the local olive oils and taste local wines.
San Joaquin Valley,
Kings Canyon and Sequoia
Day 2 - Thursday, September 9th
Rise early
to join an insider’s tour of the world of agriculture and physical
geography. Enjoy breakfast on your own while the bellmen collect the
luggage and bring it to the coach.
At 8:30 AM join Tour Director/Geography Professor, Dennis Napier, for an
informative and interesting tour across the center of our Golden State.
We’ll travel east towards the San Joaquin Valley, the lower part of the
Central Valley. Abundant resources and a stunningly varied
landscape of more than one million acres are irrigated on this land,
which grows the grapes, oranges, cotton and a wide array of other crops
that make the valley one of the nation’s leading agricultural leaders. Known as
California’s breadbasket, this long finger of fertile land is bounded by the
coastal mountain ranges to the west and the slopes of the Sierra Nevada to the
east. Dennis talks about the unique qualities of the Central Valley on our way
to the majestic mountains of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Imagine
turning back the clock 3,000 years - this is the realm of the giant
sequoias, the largest living trees on earth. We’ll spend the night at the
deluxe accommodations of the Wuksachi Lodge in the village at Sequoia
National Park.
Sequoia National Park,
Central Valley, Visalia
Day 3 – Friday, September 10th
Among
today’s highlights is a visit to the General Sherman tree. At 275 feet
high and 103 feet in circumference it is said to be the largest tree in the
world. We will also see the Lodgepole Visitor Center with its displays about
geologic history and plant life, and the Giant Forest’s granite dome
known as Morro Rock. In the Village, there will be time for lunch on your own
before the tour continues through Kings Canyon to the General Grant Highway and
down past the fertile valley farms on our way to historic Visalia, where we’ll
relive the San Joaquin Valley’s past days of farmers and railroaders. There are
some lovingly restored buildings along our route to the highly acclaimed
Vintage Press Restaurant where our farewell dinner will consist of salad, Baked
Chicken Phylo, dessert, and a beverage. We’ll overnight at the Visalia Marriott
Hotel.
Travel Home
Day 4 – Saturday, September 11th
Enjoy a
breakfast buffet at your hotel while luggage is collected and brought to the
coach for our 8:30 AM departure. Travel to Bakersfield through the fertile
farms of the valley - sampling the local produce at a roadside stand. We’ll
make stops for lunch and refreshments and expect to arrive home to Ventura, La Canada, and Mission Viejo between
5:30 and 6:30 PM.
$599 double occupancy, $720 single
occupancy
Tour Price includes:
·
Deluxe Motor Coach Tour
·
Refreshments served on board during the trip
·
Services of a Professional Tour Director
·
3 Nights Accommodations as described or similar
·
Luggage Handling throughout (One Bag per person)
·
Three Meals and One Winery Tour
·
National Park Entrance Fees
·
Sightseeing Throughout
Price do not include: Meals, unless listed, incidentals, and gratuities (Tour
Director, $5 per person per day is customary. And for the Motor coach
Driver $4-$5 per day)
DEPARTURES AND PARKING:
La Canada/Flintridge area
Orange County
Saddleback
College Mission Viejo
Lot #1,
enter on Avery Boulevard
Parking
permits may be purchased from dispenser
Ventura
Departure
and Parking location (near downtown Ventura) will be mailed with the final
itinerary.
Contact Information, for Reservations or
Questions
Saddleback
College, 949-582-4646
Museum of Ventura County, 805-641-1876 Ext 305 or membership@venturamuseum.org
For additional information or to reserve a space on the tour
Contact: Loretta at 805-641-3131, lorettadubois@gmail.com
Loretta DuBois, California Discovery Tours
1015
Belfast Lane
Ventura, CA 93001
Cancellations:
Refunds for
cancellations (less a processing fee) will be given if your space can be
resold. For trip cancellation and emergency
medical insurance see the information on travel insurance at www.californiadiscovery.com
Clothing:
Casual
clothes for traveling and comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Days
may be warm but evening and motor coach travel will warrant a sweater or
light jacket. Please refer to weather reports closer to the date of the
trip. Don't forget a camera; and binoculars add a great dimension
to sightseeing!
Wheelchairs and Health Issues - Please
Read Carefully:
Some
2-story Lodges may not have elevators, please advise us if you prefer a first
floor at these hotels. Many of the tours require participation in
excursions that can, by their nature, be physically demanding. Higher
elevations, walking tours, traveling a long distance on a motor coach with
limited access to your luggage, in addition to being exposed to weather
changes, are a few experiences you may encounter on tours. Medical attention
may be several hours to a day away in case of emergency. Thus you should only
participate in these outings if you are free of any physical disability that
would limit your participation. If you have any doubt about your ability to
safely participate in the activities you should consult your physician and
notify us of medical concerns prior or within three days of confirming this
tour reservation.
On this tour, the group will be traveling by motor coach for a full day,
with stops every two to three hours for refreshments. Cell phone
connections may not be accessible in mountain areas on the tour. Some
facilities can accommodate wheelchairs and the hotel telephone numbers are
listed on our itinerary for your reference. It is important that you
notify us immediately if you will be using a wheelchair or require any
assistance and we can advise you accordingly. Participants needing assistance
must have an attendant companion to take full responsibility for them and must
provide their own collapsible wheelchair.
It is important that you notify us immediately if you will be using a
wheelchair or require any special assistance and we can advise you accordingly.
Participants needing assistance must have an attendant companion to take full
responsibility for them and must provide their own collapsible wheelchair.
Responsibility:
Loretta
DuBois, California Discovery Tours, (Loretta DuBois Tours), Museum of
Ventura County and community colleges act strictly as agents for travel
arrangements and are not responsible for any damages a customer may suffer due
to the negligence of any individual entrusted with service. We shall not be
held liable for personal injury, property damages or delays due to mechanical
difficulties, weather conditions or any circumstances beyond our control.