|
Q. Who goes on our trips?
A.
Our trips are filled with friendly interesting adults of all types and ages. People like yourself taking a break from busy schedules to enjoy seeing old friends, meeting new ones, or just relaxing with a good book and beautiful scenery.
Q. Do you have a mailing list?
A.
No, the tours are sold only through the community colleges and museum and we prefer that you contact them directly for their programs with tour details, parking, cancellation policies, etc. This web site in an informational site only. We will be adding new tours and if you would like to receive updates via e-mail, please send me your e-mail address.
Q. Who offers these these trips?
A.
Saddleback, Glendale, Los Angeles Valley College, Pierce College,Pasadena City College, and Santiago Canyon College's Community Services Education programs as well as the Ventura County Museum of History and Art provide an array of leisure activities, including tours and trips.
Q. How may I reach the colleges or museum if I am interested in signing up for a tour? Where are the tour departure points?
Saddleback College Community Education
28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Telephone (949)582-4646 Fax (949) 364-6245
http://www.saddleback-ce.com
Tours depart: Parking Lot 1 near Campus Security, Avery Boulevard entrance to the college.
Amtrak tour departs from the Irvine Station at 15215 Barranca St. (parking free).
Glendale College Community Services Education
1122 East Garfield Ave., Glendale, CA 91205
818-240-1000, Ext. 5015 ;Fax (818) 548-6216
www.glendale.edu/cse
Tours depart: Upper Parking Lot B-C, Mountain Street off the #2 Freeway
Amtrak departure from Glendale Amtrak Station
Los Angeles Valley College Community Services
5800 Fulton Avenue
Valley Glen, CA 91401-4096
(818) 947-2577 Ext. 4172 Fax (818) 947-2930
Tours depart: Lot G corner of Coldwater Canyon and Burbank Boulevard
Los Angeles Pierce College Extension
6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91371
Telephone (818) 719-6425 Fax (818) 703-1525
Tours depart from Parking Lot 1, Pierce College main campus on Winnetka Ave.
Ventura County Museum of History & Art
100 E. Main St
Ventura, CA, 93001-2698
Telephone (805) 653-0323 ext 17 for reservations
Pasadena City College Extended Learning
1570 East Colorado Boulevard, Rm D108
Pasadena, CA 91106
Telephone (626) 585-7607 Fax (626) 796-5204
Tours depart: PCC Parking Lot #5 (Bonnie & Del Mar Blvd.)
Santiago Canyon College Community Services
8045 E. Chapman Avenue, U-114
Orange, CA 92869
Telephone (714) 628-4960 Fax (714) 628-0474
Tours depart: RSCCD 2323 N. Broadway, Santa Ana
Amtrak departure from the Santa Ana Amtrak Station 1000 Santa Ana Blvd. Santa Ana
Q. What are the ratings on the lodgings provided in the tours?
A.
The hotels and lodges are usually listed in the AAA Tour Book and are frequently rataed 3 Diamond. In the National Parks, the lodges are comfortable but casual and they may not have air-conditioning, television nor elevators in the 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.
Q. Is luggage handling included on the overnight trips?
A.
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.
Q. How strenuous are the trips?
A.
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.
Q. Do the tours accomodate wheelchairs and other health issues?
A.
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.
Q. Any suggestion about clothing?
A.
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.
Q. What if I have special dietary needs?
A.
We will try to accommodate special needs but we cannot guarantee that the restaurants on our tours will have a menu that suit you. You are always welcome to bring special foods on the coach.
Q. Are seats assigned on the motor coach?
A.
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.
Q. Are gratuities included?
A.
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 $1 for a day tour and $2 to $3 per day on the overnight trips.
Further questions?
As the coordinator and tour escort for some of these day excursions and tours, I will be pleased to provide additional details and answer questions about the tours I have planned. You may contact me at
lorettadubois@earthlink.net
Or contact the colleges directly at
Glendale College Community Services Education
818-240-1000, Ext. 5015
Los Angeles Valley College Community Services
(818) 947-2577 Ext. 4172
Los Angeles Pierce College Extension
(818) 719-6425
Saddleback College Community Education
(949) 582-4650
Ventura County Museum of History & Art
(805) 653-0323 ext 15 or 17
Santiago Canyon College
(714)628-4960
|
