We pick you up early at your hotel in San Francisco and headed east, toward Yosemite National Park. We drive straight up to Yosemites under-explored high country, where you can spend the bulk of the afternoon hiking along Tuolumne Meadows and having a picnic lunch along the shores of the picturesque, granite-lined Tenaya Lake. As the afternoon draw into evening, we head towards Yosemites famous valley, where we enjoy dinner, and spend the night at the Ahwahnee Lodge.

The second day focuses again on Yosemite National Park. For the better part of half a day, we explore the Valley floor, visiting Yosemite Falls on a short hike, and stopping to search for climbers on El Capitan. From the Valley, we drive up to the spectacular overlook at Glacier Point, where we grab a bite to eat, and take another stroll to enjoy the commanding vistas of the entire park. Before departing Yosemite, we stop at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, where everyone gets a chance to stroll among the largest trees on the planet. Finally, we take advantage of the coolness of the evening to make the drive from Yosemite, across the Central Valley, and over to the coast, and Monterey, where we stay at a hotel.

After 2 days of heavy activities, we take this day pretty easy. A slow-paced drive along the windswept seascapes of 17-mile drive is followed by several hours of window shopping in Carmel-by-the-Sea, before a return trip to Cannery Row where we enjoy the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

After a day of relative calm on the Monterey Peninsula, we set back out on the road heading south. Our first stop brings us to Point Lobos State Park, where we enjoy a stroll along the rocky coastline, enjoying the company of numerous harbor seals and pelicans. After Point Lobos, we continue south, through Big Surs thrilling coastline, stopping for coffee at Nepenthe, and taking a walk through the coastal redwoods at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. After several stops for photos, we reach the end of the Big Sur coast, stopping briefly at Piedras Blancas to see the remaining bull elephant seals still occupying the beach at the end of the summer molt. Finally, here comes the second highlight of the day: Hearst Castle. The Experience Tour was a big hit with everyone, leaving Gary and Stella hungry for a second visit in the future to try some of the other tours. After the castle, dinner at the Brambles Dinner House in Cambria is the final item of the day.

Setting out early again, we head straight south from San Simeon, seeking to put some miles under us before lunch. A couple hours later, we arrive in the Danish town of Solvang, where the group takes some time for pancakes and a bit of a stroll to enjoy the towns atmosphere. Leaving Solvang, we take the back road through the Santa Ynez Mountains, before rejoining the coast at Santa Barbara, and continuing south. We ultimately approach Los Angeles from the west side, driving the length of Malibus coastline, before heading inland along Sunset Boulevard. A final turn down Rodeo Drive brings us to the hotel, where we can do some shopping on foot in Beverly Hills before settling in for the evening.

Today we spend the morning and early afternoon getting a glimpse of some of Los Angeless landmark attractions. A stop at Graumans Chinese Theatre in Hollywood gives us the time to see the requisite Walk of Fame and several other Hollywood landmarks. A short trip northeast give us a good camera shot of the Hollywood Sign, and then drive to the Venice Beach, we set out from Los Angeles a little before 14:00 for San Diego.