The tours are sold only through community colleges and the Ventura County Museum. As the tour coordinator, I will be pleased to provide additional details and answer questions. You may contact me, Loretta Dubois at 805-641-3131 or by email at lorettadubois@gmail.com
Saddleback College Community
Education
949-582-4646
28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Fax 949- 364-6245
Tours depart: Parking Lot 1 near Campus Security, Avery Boulevard entrance to the college.
Amtrak tour departs from the Irvine Station at 15215 Barranca Street (free parking).
Museum of Ventura County
805-641-1876 Ext. 305
100 E. Main St
Ventura, CA, 93001-2698
Please contact the colleges or museum directly for their tour offerings and complete details including departure points, parking arrangements, cancellation policies, etc. If you would like to receive California Discovery email announcements, just send your email address to lorettadubois@gmail.com
Our trips are filled with friendly interesting adults of all types and ages. People like you; taking a break from busy schedules to enjoy seeing old friends, meeting new ones, or just relaxing with a good book and beautiful scenery.
What are the ratings of the lodgings provided in the
tours?
The hotels and lodges are usually listed in the AAA Tour Book and are frequently rated 3 Diamond. In the National Parks, the lodges are comfortable but casual and they may not have air-conditioning, television or elevators in 2-story buildings. In Death Valley, we book the Furnace Creek Lodge, in Yosemite we book Yosemite Lodge or the 3 Diamond Yosemite View Lodge, an upgraded hotel directly outside the park, and on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon we book the Maswick Lodge.
Is luggage handling included on the overnight trips?
When available, we include luggage handling (one bag per person). On some Amtrak tours, you may be responsible for your own luggage if Amtrak does not have the service to check the luggage to our final destination and if the red caps are not available to assist us at the stations. We do not assume any responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged luggage or personal property.
How strenuous are the trips?
Many of our excursions are motor coach sightseeing but some tours include a docent guided or walking tour. Most of the trips that are listed in the Spring programs include some walking. Docent guided tours are usually one to two hour walking tours and we suggest you wear comfortable shoes. On some overnight trips, our hotel may have buildings that are spread out over the hotel property and our rooms may be over a block from the hotel lobby and restaurant.
Do the tours accommodate wheelchairs and other health issues?
Many of the tours require participation in excursions that can, by their nature, be physically demanding. Higher elevations, walking tours, traveling a long distance 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 prior and notify us of medical concerns prior to booking the trip.
Some facilities may accommodate wheelchairs. Wheelchair accessible tours may be available at the Hearst Castle with two weeks notice. It is important that you notify us if you will be using a wheelchair and we can advise you accordingly. Participants needing assistance must provide their own collapsible wheelchair and have an attendant companion to take full responsibility for them.
Any suggestion about clothing?
On most of the tours, we suggest casual clothes, dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes. Please check the average temperature of the tour destination in your local newspaper and wear the appropriate clothing. On motor coach tours, you may leave that extra sweater or jacket in the coach if the weather turns warm during the day. Remember the weather will be cooler, particularly in the evenings, as you travel north, to the mountains or to the coastal areas.
What if I have special dietary needs?
We will try to accommodate special needs but we cannot guarantee that the restaurants on our tours will have a menu that suits you. You are always welcome to bring special foods on the coach.
Are seats assigned on the motor coach?
On day tours, passengers board the coach and usually keep the same seat throughout the day. On overnight trips, we assign seats with daily seat rotation. The passengers move down two seats on the door side and back two seats on the drivers side after lunch and the next morning of the tour.
Are gratuities included?
Gratuities to hotels for luggage handling (one bag per person) and servers at restaurants are included in your tour price. Tips to drivers, tour directors and step-on-guides are not included. The tours are all escorted by professional tour directors. This is a personal expression of thanks and it should come directly from the passengers. As a guideline, gratuities to each generally average $3 for a day tour and $4 to $5 per day on the overnight trips.