Monterey-Carmel-Pebble Beach

On this exciting trip, especially designed for our Senior clients and friends, we will visit the Monterey Peninsula for a fun-filled and relaxing 3 Day/4 Night adventure, filled with plenty of time to relax and enjoy the amazing views, spectacular scenery and delightful ambience of this coastal oasis.  From the dramatic panoramas of the famed 17 Mile Drive and Big Sur coastline to the fairytale cottages of charming Carmel-by-the-Sea, the inviting and picturesque Peninsula is a truly inspired California getaway. A visit to the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and a trip through time on historic Cannery Row merely scratch the surface of things to see, do and taste within this diverse and treasured destination.  

Our drive today will feature a scenic drive from San Francisco along the coast to Monterey.  Possible lunch stop in Half Moon Bay then an afternoon arrival in Monterey.  Today will feature a relaxing guided history tour and nature walk at Asilomar State Beach, an historic and ecologically diverse beachfront park nestled along the edge of the Pacific.  We then check in at the Monterey Marriott Hotel in the heart of downtown Monterey.  Group dinner tonight at a highly rated nearby restaurant. (D)

We enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then visit the excellent Pacific Grove Natural History Museum, a living field guide of the California Central Coast showcasing local native plants, animals, geology and culture.  We will enjoy a private visit specially arranged by museum staff before the museum opens to the general public!

Next, we head to the Pebble Beach's 17 Mile Drive for a scenic drive along the famous roadway that has been the stuff of legends for decades.  We pass some of the most famous golf courses in world, multi-million dollar mansions, and such iconic stops as the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock and some of the best views of the rocky Pacific shoreline.  We will stop for siteseeing at the historic Pebble Beach Lodge and then head to the charming enclave of Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Enjoy some free time to take in the charming streets, historic inns and cafes and the many shops and galleries that Carmel is famous for. 

Our final adventure today will be a drive along the coast to Big Sur, the rugged stretch of coastline known for its winding turns, dramatic bridges perched high above seaside cliffs and spectacular views of the often-misty coastline.

Return to the hotel in the afternoon then a group dinner at the hotel's excellent restaurant.  (B, D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we start our day with a drive to historic Moss Landing, where we will enjoy a scenic cruise on the Elkhorn Slough marine sanctuary.  Our journey will be aboard a specially-designed catamaran that is the perfect vessel for enjoying the beauty and scenery of the calm waters of this maritime wilderness.  A naturalist will be on board to provide insight into the natural wonders of the slough, known for its abundance of wildlife like otters, sea lions, dozens of native bird species and more!

After our maritime adventure, we enjoy lunch in one of Moss Landing's seafood-focused restaurants.  We will then be met by a local agricultural tour guide, who will take us on a short tour of nearby farmland in Castroville, known as the "Artichoke Center of the World".  We will visit an artichoke farm store where you will have time to shop for all sorts of gourmet artichoke-based treats and snacks.

Return to Monterey in the afternoon.  Free time for an optional visit to the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, relax at the hotel, or enjoy local attractions like Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row.  Dinner on your own at your choice of the many excellent restaurants in the area. (B, L)

We head out this morning on our tour's final day and drive North to Santa Cruz, where we will enjoy a marvelous adventure in the Redwood Forest abord the Roaring Camp Railroad.  This picturesque journey through the coastal redwoods offers  intimate up-close viewing of one of the best groves of coastal redwoods in California.  This delightful rail adventure travels over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.  Roaring Camp’s steam engines date from 1890 and are among the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

After a group lunch at the train depot, we then re-board our coach for the journey home.  Afternoon arrival back in the Bay Area.  (B, L)