Description
San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay and lots more – experience the best of California on this amazing 10 night fly drive getaway. Located on the West Coast of the United States, California is the third largest state by area and its terrain includes cliff-lined beaches and stunning coastlines, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Redwood forests, the Mojave Desert and the iconic city of Los Angeles. With its sensational coastlines, dramatic deserts, and rugged mountains, California offers wide-open spaces and city sights where scenic road trips and adrenaline-fuelled adventures are enjoyed by all ages.
Hotel Carlton, San Francisco
Let’s get this trip off to a flying start with a 2 night San Francisco stay at the Carlton Hotel, conveniently set in the vibrant Nob Hill neighbourhood close to the lively restaurants, bars and other attractions of Union Square and Polk Street and just a short stroll away from the historic California Street Cable Car.
Get together and begin planning tomorrow’s adventures with a complimentary glass of wine and some live music at the at the welcoming afternoon reception where the hotel’s friendly staff will surely recommend their favourite local spots to help you discover San Francisco’s hidden treasures.
This well-situated hotel is close to the popular Museum of Modern Art and the lively sights and sounds of Chinatown as well as a fully loaded Westfield shopping centre that’s just waiting to be explored – get ready for some holiday souvenir and bargain hunting!
Other must see land mark attractions in the local area include the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, AT&T Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants and of course those famous Cable Cars. Finally to avoid disappointment make sure you book your trip to Alcatraz in advance of your visit to this fabulous city!
The friendly and welcoming staff of the Carlton Hotel will help to get your 10 night Californian adventure off to the best possible start!
Hotel Paradox, Santa Cruz
It’s time to say bye bye to San Francisco and hello to Santa Cruz and a two night stay at the Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection where the magnificent countryside, fantastic beaches, world class wineries and the laid back vibe of Santa Cruz and the surrounding area are right at your fingertips.
The hotel is located about a mile from the lively Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and slightly further from downtown Santa Cruz where you’ll find a great choice of restaurants and a funky shopping scene. Beyond the hotel there are plenty of entertaining and recreational activities for everyone to enjoy – spend an hour or so walking, cycling or Segway riding along West coast Drive and savour some of the spectacular coastal views and lively attractions that Santa Cruz has to offer. Take the tour at the Mystery Spot and be amazed as water and balls seem to run uphill – fantastic fun for all the family. The spectacular Californian coastline of the Santa Cruz area offers fantastic days by the beach, surfing, fishing, kayaking and dolphin and whale watching cruises, and of course the chance to meet up with other local wildlife like sea otters and seals.
Hotel Pacific, Monterey Bay
Back on the road again as we make our way to Monterey where we’ll spend the next two nights at the elegant Pacific Hotel, an all-suite Spanish Colonial Style hotel with a fantastic location within walking distance of some of Monterey’s most iconic attractions including Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and the Monterey Aquarium.
The hotel’s convenient Monterey Bay setting just a stroll away from the best of downtown Monterey makes the Pacific Hotel the perfect base for your Monterey stopover. It’s just a short stroll from the hotel to amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium. No California coastal itinerary is complete without a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium! Serving as a premier aquarium on the West Coast, and a global leader in ocean research and conservation, this is the place that inspired the setting of Pixar’s Finding Dory and the BBC’s Big Blue Live. The Aquarium’s 322,000 square feet showcase Pacific Ocean habitats with acclaimed marine exhibits such as the three-story Kelp Forest, one-million-gallon Open Sea exhibit, and the two-story home to charismatic Sea Otters. Expansive ocean-front decks overlook the sea and behind-the-scenes tours show how the Aquarium cares for thousands of live animals and their habitats. Get up close and personal with the cuddly sea otters, noisy penguins, and lots more at this wonderful attraction.
You’re also only a short drive from Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 17 Mile Drive, world famous wineries and the grandeur of the Big Sur Coast. This spectacular coastline offers unique kayaking and whale watching adventures and the chance to encounter other local wildlife such as otters, sea lions and much more. A trip to the John Steinbeck Museum & House is well worth a visit, just a short 25 minute dirve away. And of course no trip to Monterey would be complete without a visit to Cannery Row or Fisherman’s Wharf both easily accessible from this magnificent Monterey base.
Kinney Hotel, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo is our penultimate stop with a two night stay at the recently redesigned Kinney Hotel set conveniently close to downtown San Luis Obispo and handy for lots of the area’s popular visitor attractions, historic landmarks and wineries. Fresh and funky the hotel’s rooms come with a host of home comforts including free Wi-Fi, 55”HDTVs, Starbucks CV1 Coffee Brewers; minifridges, and bathrooms with complimentary toiletries.
The Kinney Hotel is a great base for exploring all that San Luis Obispo has to offer – be sure to take a ride on the SLO trolley on its loop through downtown San Luis Obispo, it’s a relaxing way to find out lots more about this wonderful destination.
Take time to visit the historical Mission in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo and stroll through the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, have some family fun at the SLO Children’s Museum, shop and dine on Higuera Street and if you fancy a few holes head on out to Dairy Creek Golf Course for some fun on the fairways. Other local attractions include Bubblegum Alley, the iconic Madonna Inn for the world-famous Pink Champagne cake, or Hearst Castle once the private residence of publishing magnate William Rudolph Hearst and now a National Historic Landmark, and of course the amazing wineries of the SLO Wine Country’s Edna Valley – there’s plenty to keep everyone busy at San Luis Obispo!
Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort, Oxnard
Last and final destination on this wonderful fly drive getaway is the seaside city of Oxnard and a two night stay at the oceanfront Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort. The resort’s desirable beachside location right beside the Channel Islands harbour means it’s only a short walk to lots of restaurants, fantastic beaches, exciting watersports, and charming cruises.
The hotel’s state of the art fitness centre is the perfect spot for keeping up to date with your holiday workout routines and for some poolside downtime kick back and enjoy the Californian sunshine at the outdoor resort style pool. Tennis fans can challenge their travelling companions to a set or two on the resort’s all weather tennis court.
The stunning Californian coastline provides the perfect backdrop for a day by the ocean – take the short stroll down to the shore for the perfect beachside picnic then maybe head on over to Ventura pier, hire some tackle and see what’s biting. Other outdoor activities close to the resort include boogie boarding, paddle boarding, kayaking, mountain biking and beach cruisers – hire a bike for the day and get rolling along the local cycle paths and trails on two wheels instead of four for a change.
Other local attractions includes the Channel Island’s National Park, one of the USA’s most magnificent treasures and only accessible by a short private charter flight or ocean voyage, Ventura County Fairground home to the famous Ventura County Fair, Ventura Harbour Village, Seaside Park and the shops at the Collection at Riverpark and Pacific View Mall– just the place to pick up some last minute holiday bargains and souvenirs for the folks back home.
