Chicago to the Golden Gate

East Coast USA Self-drive Package

(13 days/12 nights ? begins Chicago, ends San Francisco) 

Day 01 - Wed: Chicago Arrival 
Arrive in Chicago and transfer independently to your hotel where you will meet with your AmericanTours escort in the evening. Hotel: Quality Inn & Suites 

Day 02 - Thu: Chicago - Sioux City 
Travel through Midwest farm country abundant in corn fields, wheat fields and dairy farms. Then we cross the mighty Mississippi River and travel into the state of Iowa to arrive just as Lewis & Clark did 200 years ago on the banks of the Missouri River when we overnight in Sioux City. Hotel: Clarion Hotel 

Day 03 - Fri: Sioux City - Badlands National Park - Mt. Rushmore National Memorial - Deadwood/Rapid City 
Travel westward through the grasslands of South Dakota and onwards to Badlands National Park, once home to the buffalo and antelope, and filled with strange shaped and colorful rock formations. Then we continue on to the Black Hills, sacred to the Plains Indians and home to Mount Rushmore - an enormous monument to four of the great presidents of America - Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. Spend an evening at leisure. Hotel: Mineral Palace Hotel 

Day 04 - Sat: Deadwood/Rapid City - Bighorn Mountains - Cody 
Enter the 'Equality State', Wyoming, which has twelve mountain ranges intermixed with deserts and rolling grasslands, and continue to Cody for the night. (If overnight in Cody is not possible due to weather or adverse road conditions in Yellowstone, overnight will be in Billings/Livingston, Montana.) Hotel: Buffalo Bill Village Holiday Inn 

Day 05 - Sun: Cody - Yellowstone National Park 
Drive past the mountains in Wyoming to Yellowstone - America's first National Park - and enjoy a sightseeing tour of this immense geothermal wonderland, including geysers, waterfalls, wildlife and canyons. Highlights will include Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Canyon's majestic falls, and the beautiful Hayden Valley. Hotel: Days Inn West Yellowstone 

Day 06 - Mon: Yellowstone National Park - Grand Teton National Park - Salt Lake City 
Travel through Grand Teton National Park (weather permitting) and see awesome mountain peaks towering over 13,000 ft. (4,000 meters). Later, arrive in the Mormon State of Utah and take a short city tour of its capital, Salt Lake City. The followers of Brigham Young built one of the best-planned cities in the country. See the State Capitol building and visit famed Temple Square and the Tabernacle before arriving at the hotel for the evening. Hotel: Best Western Garden Inn 

Day 07 - Tue: Salt Lake City - Bryce Canyon National Park 
Continue today to spectacular Bryce Canyon, where a tour through a multi-colored world of sandstone spires and pinnacles will dazzle the eye. Nature's artistry has created rocks in thousands of shapes, sizes and colors, beautiful in their setting against the unusually deep blue sky. Enjoy the evening at leisure. Hotel: Bryce View Lodge 

Day 08 - Wed: Bryce - Lake Powell - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff 
Depart Bryce Canyon this morning and journey to stunning Lake Powell, where crystal blue water laps against towering red-rock canyon walls. Lake Powell is the second-largest manmade lake in America, and one in a series of lakes formed by the damming of the Colorado River. Then visit colossal Grand Canyon National Park, one of the seven great natural wonders of the world. Stop at the Desert View Tower on the South Rim to fully experience this miledeep canyon - plunging gorges, rising spires, extinct volcanoes and below the rim, the winding Colorado River. Overnight in Flagstaff. Hotel: Ramada Limited 

Day 09 - Thu: Flagstaff - Route 66/Seligman - Las Vegas 
Continue to Las Vegas, the dazzling 'Entertainment Capital of the World', where round-the-clock shopping, nightly shows, and of course gambling are available. Remainder of the day is at leisure for you to enjoy the many attractions that Las Vegas has to offer. In addition to world-class shopping, bustling casinos and Broadwaycaliber shows, you might simply stroll the famous Strip, taking in its amazing sights and sounds, or lie by the pool at your hotel, soaking up the sun. Make sure to bring your appetite, as Las Vegas boasts some of the country's top restaurants. Hotel: Circus Circus 

Day 10 - Fri: Las Vegas - Mojave Desert - Los Angeles 
Travel to Los Angeles via the Mojave Desert, home of the world's tallest thermometer, at 134 feet (41 meters) high. Strands of unique Joshua trees dot the mountainous landscape. Upon arrival in Los Angeles you will enjoy a tour through the City of Angels including Hollywood, Sunset Strip and parts of Beverly Hills, before reaching your hotel. Hotel: 2 nights South Bay Hilton 

Day 11 - Sat: Los Angeles 
Today we suggest an optional full-day tour visiting the world's largest movie studio and theme park: Universal Studios, where Hollywood puts you so close you can hear the cameras rolling. Get an inside look at the sets and uncover the behind the scenes secrets of legendary films or perhaps, for the more adventurous, take one of the Studio's feature rides including Jurassic Park and Revenge of the Mummy. A universe of excitement awaits in one of California's premier attractions. 

Day 12 - Sun: Los Angeles - Santa Barbara - Pismo Beach 
Leave Los Angeles in the morning and travel north through one of California's favourite vacation spots, Santa Barbara, where palmlined walkways border white sandy beaches. The city is famous for its mission and Spanish heritage. Continue to Pismo Beach. Hotel: Best Western Casa Grande Inn 

Day 13 - Mon: Pismo Beach - Carmel/Monterey - San Francisco 
This morning we leave Pismo Beach and make our way north to Carmel, home of actor/director Clint Eastwood. Enjoy browsing the shops and galleries of this famous artists' colony. Then, traveling further north, visit Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf. Stroll the Pier to Cannery Row, brought to fame by John Steinbeck's novel. In the afternoon pass the fertile valleys of Castroville and Santa Clara en route to San Francisco, the 'City by the Bay'. Tour concludes upon arrival at the hotel in San Francisco by approximately 20:00 hours.

Prices

Hotels as stated   May - Jul 07 departures From £1036 Aug - Sep 07 departures From £1071  Prices are per person based on two sharing, a twin or double room on a room only basis.  Flights NOT included.

Departures 2007

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Jun 6, 13 Jul 4, 11, 18 Aug 1, 15, 29 Sep 5, 12, 19

Tour Includes

Accommodations & transportation throughout State and local taxes  All American Picnic Mount Rushmore Salt Lake City Tour Los Angeles City Tour Entrance Fees where stated

Tour Excludes

Meals except where stated Airport transfers Excursions & entrance fees except where stated.