Chicago to Golden Gate & Beyond

Escorted Coach Tours in the USA

(19 days/18 nights - begins Cicago, ends San Francisco) 

Day 01 - Wed: Chicago Arrival 
Arrive in Chicago and transfer independently to your hotel where you will meet with your tour guide 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 eyes. Enjoy the evening at leisure. Hotel: Bryce Vew Lodge 

Day 08 - Wed: Bryce - Lake Powell - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff 
Depart Bryce Canyon this morning and journey to stunning Lake Powell. This is the second-largest man-made 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 mile-deep canyon; plunging gorges, rising spires, extinct volcanoes and below the rim, the winding Colorado River. Overnight in Flagstaff. Hotel: Ramada Limited escorted 

Day 09 - Thu: Flagstaff - Seligman/Route 66 - Las Vegas 
This morning depart Flagstaff and travel on to Las Vegas. Along the way, pass through Seligman, a town built along the famed Route 66 that looks as if it were frozen in time sixty years ago. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore the famous Las Vegas strip. Hotel: Circus Circus 

Day 10 - Fri: Las Vegas - 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 Studios' 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 
Travel north along the beautiful Pacific coast this morning, passing through the iconic beach communities of Santa Monica and Malibu. Further up the coast is one of California's favourite vacation spots, Santa Barbara, where palm-lined walkways border white sandy beaches. Stop for lunch here, and enjoy the Spanish heritage and architecture before continuing to the seaside town of 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 (and former Carmel mayor) Clint Eastwood. Enjoy browsing through the shops and galleries of this famous artists' colony. Then, travelling further north, you visit Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf. Enjoy a stroll along 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'. Hotel: Holiday Inn Civic Center 

Day 14 - Tue: San Francisco - Honolulu or Maui 
Transfer independently to the airport in time for your flight to either Honolulu or Maui. On arrival you will be met and receive the traditional flower lei greeting before transferring to your hotel for five nights of relaxation in the beautiful Hawaiian islands. Hotel: Honolulu: Ohana West or Maui: Royal Lahaina 

Days 15 to 1 - Wed to Sat: Hawaiian Islands 
Enjoy four relaxing, balmy days in this land of Aloha. Whether you go off the beaten path to explore, or simply lie by the ocean or pool to soak up the sun, this is sure to be one of the most memorable parts of your journey. Our locally based representative will be on hand to assist you with sightseeing and recommendations to make the most of your stay. 

Day 19 - Sun: Hawaii - San Francisco 
Leave the spirit of the islands behind and return to the mainland today. Your tour ends upon arrival in San Francisco.

Prices

Hotels as stated   May - Jul 07 departures With Honolulu option From £1713 With Maui option From £1864 Aug & Sep 07 departures With Honolulu option From £1748 With Maui option From £1899 Prices are per person based on two sharing, a twin or double room on a room only basis.  International 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 Salt Lake City Tour Los Angeles City Tour Return flights to Hawaii Entrance Fees where stated

Tour Excludes

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