Days 1 & 2 – Home to Denver, CO
We start our journey westward with lunch and coffee breaks along the way. We overnight in Lincoln and then arrive in the mile high city of Denver. Enjoy dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants in downtown Denver then spend the evening taking in the sights and sounds of this magnificent city!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Day 2)
Hotel: Country Inn & Suites – Lincoln, Hampton Inn & Suites – Denver
Day 3 – Denver to Grand Junction, CO
Rise early and have a delicious breakfast before our early morning departure on Amtrak. We will take to the rails from Denver to Grand Junction, watching the city fade away and the glorious mountain scenery come into view for the next several hours. The day ends with an included meal and memories of a wonderful train ride through the Colorado beauty!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express
Day 4 – Grand Junction to Kayenta, AZ
Wake up to an included breakfast at the hotel before another day of travel begins! This morning we see the Colorado Monument (weather permitting) before enjoying a leisurely, included lunch at Red Cliff’s Lodge. We arrive at our home for the evening in Kayenta with dinner included, and then your evening is yours to do as you please.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Inn
Day 5 – Kayenta to Williams, AZ
Another busy day ahead, so fuel up on a hearty breakfast at the hotel before departing for a visit to The Cameron Trading Post & gift shop which offers Native American jewelry and baskets, Navajo etched pottery and a variety of Grand Canyon souvenirs. Visit the rug room and witness the art of rug weaving in action with rug weaver Elsie Gander as she weaves Navajo rugs demonstrating this intricate art. Afterwards we’ll head over to the Grand Canyon where we will get marvelous views of this remarkable natural wonder. After our exciting afternoon at the Grand Canyon we head to Williams, AZ where we will spend the evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Grand Canyon Railway Hotel
Day 6 – Williams to San Diego, CA
A sensational breakfast buffet awaits you before continuing our journey westward to the gloriously beautiful and warm city of San Diego! With lunch and coffee stops along the way, we arrive in San Diego where we will check into our hotel and then have an included dinner with beautiful views of the San Diego Bay. Fly group joins us today.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Embassy Suites San Diego Bay Downtown
Day 7 – San Diego
We begin our day with an included breakfast before our step-on guide joins us for a city tour of San Diego. Take notes on what you see so you can remember where it is you want to spend more of your free time! This afternoon we take a harbor cruise where you can see the skyline of San Diego and maybe catch a glimpse of some sea creatures. This evening is yours to do as you please.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 – San Diego
Lions, tigers and bears…oh my! Today we head to the San Diego Zoo where you will see the largest koala colony outside of Australia! Ever wonder what a Tasmanian Devil looks like…you’ll find out here! View the giant Panda and get a glimpse of the Pygmy Hippopotamus, plus much more! Your day will be filled with special experiences and entertaining animals! The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 – San Diego
Relax this morning! You have the day free to do as you please! Roam the streets of San Diego and explore The Gaslamp Quarter which is the historic heart of San Diego. It is a 16 block historical neighborhood in Downtown San Diego and is only a short walk from our hotel. You will find interesting shops and boutiques, numerous restaurants and entertainment; take in the sights, eat your way thru the city…but save enough room for a wonderful dinner at Costa Azul before taking in a show at the Lamb’s Player’s Theatre on Coronado Island this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 – San Diego to Long Beach
Enjoy breakfast one last morning in the warm city of San Diego before we start our journey north to the city of Long Beach! Our first stop this morning is at San Juan Capistrano Mission for a self-guided audio tour. Find out why the Cliff Swallows return to this very Mission each and every year! Afterwards, we will drive to the well-known beach of Huntington where you can stroll on the sands of the Pacific Ocean or enjoy a quiet, leisurely lunch. Once you are fed and relaxed from the sounds of the ocean waves, we head to the Queen Mary for a grand tour and fantastic dinner on the ship. We then check into our home away from home in Long Beach for the next two nights.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Best Western Plus Long Beach
Day 11 – Long Beach
This morning we rise early for our departure on the Catalina Express! We will head over to Catalina Island for the day where we will have a step-on guide join us to give us a grand tour of the island! After our tour you can go snorkeling, kayaking, hiking or biking! Stroll along Avalon’s quaint Mediterranean style streets where you’ll find a variety of specialty shops offering everything from resort-style clothing to handmade gift items and artwork, or just relax on the beach! Any way you decide to spend your day ~ it will be wonderful! Return to the mainland in time to enjoy dinner and the evening at your leisure.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 – Long Beach to Pismo Beach
This morning we take a scenic drive along Highway 101 up to Santa Barbara where we will enjoy a marvelous, included lunch at Chuck’s Waterfront Grill. After lunch we continue our coastal drive and arrive at our destination for the evening at Pismo Beach where you can enjoy dinner on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Best Western Plus Shore Cliff Lodge ~ Pismo Beach
Day 13 – Pismo Beach to Monterey
Begin the day with a mouth-watering breakfast at the hotel before we depart for our journey northward to Monterey. We will make stops along the way, with the first being the famous Hearst Castle which is now a historic house museum and a California State Park. With a personal collection of ancient art, sculptures, furniture, relics and more, William Randolph Hearst amassed a collection that still rivals museums today. He used almost every square inch of the hilltop California estate to showcase it all. After our tour, we will enjoy an included lunch at a nearby restaurant. Just a few minutes north of Hearst Castle at San Simeon, we’ll find another excuse to pull off the road and take in the view of the Pacific coastline. The best reason to stop at this turnout is the chance to see some very big, very bizarre creatures. Elephant Seals hang out at this beach and along the California coastline from December through March. We’ll arrive in Monterey for our two nights stay with enough time for you to enjoy the evening on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Hotel Pacific
Day 14 – Monterey
Rise and shine to a wonderful breakfast before boarding the motorcoach as we head on over to Monterey Bay Aquarium; one of the most outstanding aquariums around! Afterwards, spend a few hours on Cannery Row with its restaurants, shops, and wine & beer tastings – a fun afternoon strolling this area along the beach of Monterey! Return to the hotel in time to get ready for a fabulous meal on Fisherman’s Wharf.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express
Day 15 – Monterey to Reno, NV
Enjoy one last breakfast near the ocean before the fly group departs and the coach group starts heading inland on their drive to Reno! We will make a stop at Old Sacramento where you will have time for some shopping and lunch on your own. We depart Old Sacramento and travel onto Reno for the evening. Enjoy dinner and the evening on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn
Day 16 – Reno to Wendover, UT
This morning we head eastward towards home with coffee stops and lunch along the way. Arrive in Wendover, Utah where we will enjoy a dinner buffet at The Rainbow Casino Resort after checking into our hotel, for the evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Best Western Plus
Day 17 – Wendover to Salt Lake City, UT
We depart Wendover this morning and head to the great Bonneville Salt Flats; Imagine a place so flat you seem to see the curvature of the planet and so barren not even the simplest life forms can exist. We arrive in Salt Lake City where we will tour the magnificent Temple Square, a 10-acre complex owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and located in the center of Salt Lake City. After touring the complex you can enjoy lunch on your own with some time to roam around or do some shopping at the mall directly across the street. We’ll check into our hotel where you can enjoy dinner on your own before we return to Temple Square this evening for the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal. Not an event you will soon forget!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn
Day 18 – Salt Lake City to Cheyenne, WY
After a wonderful nights rest and a great breakfast, we depart for Cheyenne, Wyoming and our home for the evening. We will have coffee stops and lunch along the way with an included meal at The Historic Plains Hotel for our farewell dinner, where we can reminisce about all the wonderful things we’ve enjoyed on this fabulous tour of Warm Southern California!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Inn
Days 19 & 20 – Cheyenne to Lincoln, NE to Home
A hot breakfast and coffee await you before boarding our luxury motorcoach as we head back to Lincoln, Nebraska. On the way we will stop for an included lunch at Big Ole’s where an adventure story awaits you at every possible turn in this quaint, yet unique restaurant. We will then drive to the World’s largest train switching yard and the Golden Spike Tower, where you will get unbelievable views of train tracks and railroad cars from seven stories up while hearing the history of the switching yard from past railroaders. The next morning our final leg of our journey brings us back home! With new friendships made and a few old ones rekindled, there will be much to talk about! We know that you will have many memories to share of your wonderful Warm Southern California Tour!!!
Included Meals: 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches
Hotel: Country Inn & Suites
Motorcoach Per Person Pricing Information
Flyaway Per Person Pricing Information
Motorcoach Travel Protection Per Person
Flyaway Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
Motorcoach Option: 33 Included Meals, Activities & Hotels as stated, Luxury Motorcoach.
Flyaway Option: Roundtrip airfare from MSP including all baggage fees, taxes & surcharges (approx. $75 per person included), 15 Meals, all activities as stated in brochure, Hotels
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
Scenic Amtrak Ride to Grand Junction
Lunch at Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab
Grand Canyon
Lamb’s Player’s Theatre Coronado Island
Queen Mary Tour & Dinner
San Juan Capistrano Mission
Bonneville Salt Flats
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Rehearsal
San Diego Bay Cruise
San Diego Zoo
Catalina Island
Hearst Castle
Monterey Bay Aquarium