Compare Western Wonders by Cosmos vs Southern California Dreaming by Tours of Distinction
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4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 12 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 2,409 | $ 3,199 |
| Price Per Day | $ 201 | $ 400 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
7 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners |
| Description | From the gorgeous national parks to the thrilling cities, this western U.S. tour through California, Arizona, and Nevada features unique rock formations, scenic drives, deep canyons, and sparkling waterfalls and lakes—not to mention fun in some of the world’s most famous cities. Your tour starts in Los Angeles, ends in San Francisco, and overnights along the way in Palm Springs, Scottsdale, Williams, Las Vegas, Selma, Sonora, and San Francisco. You’ll visit two of the West’s most famous and beautiful national parks, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and Yosemite National Park in California. Stroll the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and stand in awe as you witness the breathtaking scenery. In Yosemite National Park, have your camera ready for the giant granite domes, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, and more. But that’s not all…you’ll also witness spectacular scenery on your drives. Between Scottsdale and the Grand Canyon, you’ll see Arizona's Oak Creek Canyon, known as one of America’s most beautiful drives and home to brilliantly hued cliffs and rugged spires of sandstone, and you’ll stop in Sedona, with the massive red-rock formations that make the area famous. Between Williams and Las Vegas, watch for Joshua trees, which can grow to be more than 40 feet tall. Between Las Vegas and Selma, you’ll witness the vast Mojave Desert. Enjoy sightseeing in Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Perhaps consider a ride on San Francisco’s historic cable cars or enjoy an outing to Alcatraz Prison, the federal penitentiary that once housed Al Capone and other notorious criminals—the choice is yours! Free time in each city—including Las Vegas—gives you time to explore on your own or to take optional excursions. Breathtaking scenery, exciting cities, scenic drives, and more…this western U.S. tour is a perfect vacation for savvy, value-minded travelers. |
Celebrate California’s Hollywood vibe strolling down the Walk of Stars and shopping on Rodeo Drive…Chill Out cruising the sun-spangled Pacific coastline… Peace Out in the sophisticated serenity of Catalina Island… Fall in Love with wildlife at the San Diego Zoo… and, revel in the natural beauty and slick urban offerings of Palm Springs. This is California Dreaming. |
Day 1: LOS ANGELES
Welcome to Los Angeles! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Day 2: LOS ANGELES
Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Tinseltown. Drive through Hollywood and see the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. A historic gem, this world-famous cinema (formerly, Grauman’s) has hosted some of the most exclusive movie premieres in Hollywood history. The Dolby Theater (formerly the Kodak Theater) is the first permanent home of the glamorous Academy Awards. See the Hollywood Walk of Fame where iconic terrazzo stars grace block after city block of Hollywood Boulevard. Explore The Original Farmers Market, with more than 140 shops and restaurants then head to the Santa Monica Pier and the ultimate Southern California beach. The remainder of your day is at leisure; your Tour Director will have suggestions for further exploration of the city.
Day 3: LOS ANGELES–PALM SPRINGS
Journey to the desert oasis of Palm Springs. Ever since Hollywood stars first came here in the 1930s, laying claim to ranch-style estates and holding up in elite hotels, the clean, dry air and sunshine have made Palm Springs irresistible.
Day 4: PALM SPRINGS–SCOTTSDALE AREA
Travel through cacti-covered desert toward Old Town Scottsdale, where Western storefronts create an aura of the past. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore a taste of the Old West, with restaurants, shopping, and Western bars. With wooden beams, wagon wheels, and cowboy hats abundant, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the era of outlaws and saloons.
Day 5: SCOTTSDALE AREA–SEDONA–GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK–WILLIAMS
First stop today is a visit to Sedona, a center for Southwestern and New Age arts. Climb through Oak Creek Canyon with its weather-sculpted formations of dramatic, color-tinted crags. Then pass by the San Francisco Mountains and beautiful pine forests to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, take our optional helicopter flightseeing excursion for incomparable views of flame-colored walls plunging 6,093 feet into the Colorado River. Stay overnight in Williams, a picturesque mountain town with Route 66 as its main street. (CBreakfast)
Day 6: WILLIAMS–LAS VEGAS
Cross the old Mohave gold-strike country, that still has traces of century-old ghost towns set in the natural desert beauty. Look out for Joshua trees, a species of the lily family that grows to 40 feet high and can live for more than 300 years. Today’s destination is the man-made oasis in the Nevada desert that is Las Vegas, a fantastic city of feverish gambling, neon lights, and glamorous shows. An orientation tour upon arrival shows off many of the themed casino resorts along the colorful “Strip.” (CBreakfast)
Day 7: LAS VEGAS
The day is free for exploring on your own. Your Tour Director will have plenty of activities to choose from and will recommend favorite restaurants and shopping areas.
Day 8: LAS VEGAS–SELMA
Departing the neon lights of Las Vegas, we continue across the desert landscape of Nevada before crossing into California. See the vast Mojave Desert, which covers one-fifth of California. Pass through the agricultural land and overnight in Selma in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Day 9: SELMA–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–SONORA
This morning, we enter Yosemite National Park, a wonderland of spectacular lakes, giant granite domes, towering pinnacles, cascading waterfalls, and lush forests. Next, drive to Sonora.
Day 10: SONORA–SAN FRANCISCO
This morning, we continue west to the “Golden Gate City” of San Francisco, famous for its cable cars. After lunch, included sightseeing takes in the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge, Nob Hill, and bustling Fisherman’s Wharf. (CBreakfast)
Day 11: SAN FRANCISCO
The day is free for you to explore more of this fascinating city. Perhaps visit legendary Alcatraz Prison and get a close-up look at the infamous federal penitentiary that was off limits to the public for years or choose from a variety of optional excursions.
NOTE:Consider advance ticket purchase for Alcatraz Island with the National Park Service.
Day 12: SAN FRANCISCO
Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore San Francisco further.
Day 1 - Arrive Los Angeles, California
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Los Angeles. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, we transfer to our hotel in Santa Monica. After some down-time, we have dinner at a local restaurant.
LA is much more than Hollywood. It is America’s second oldest city and entertainment capital and has 75 miles of pristine coastline, the San Gabriel Mountain Range and an ideal climate to explore year-round. Plus, let’s not forget impressive Galleries, Museums and a thriving chef scene. Oh, and the shopping is second-to-none. Do not leave LA without making your own local purchase.
Our hotel for 2 nights is the DoubleTree in Santa Monica which is one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Beach Cities in the World. We are ideally situated to enjoy the iconic Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade, numerous restaurants, shopping and cultural attractions that have attracted celebrities for decades. (D)
Day 2 - Los Angeles
After breakfast, we journey through the city of Los Angeles on a tour guided by a local. Sights include: Downtown, Olvera Street -Old Town, Hollywood & Mann’s Chinese Theater, Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive, Farmer’s Market, Chinatown & Little Tokyo.… Look-out for the Hollywood Sign! This afternoon, have your own ”Red Carpet Moment” on the Hollywood Walk-of-Fame Tour. Afterwards, we will enjoy dinner in the area. (B,D)
Day 3 - Los Angeles
The second largest city in America offers so much! Today is at leisure to discover everything Los Angeles is know for. Your Tour Director can offer many great ideas for sightseeing. (B)
Day 4 - Los Angeles - Catalina Island - San Diego
This morning, a short ferry ride will take us to the town of Avalon on Catalina Island! The town surrounds beautiful Avalon Bay on the southeast end of Catalina Island. We will take a guided tour off-the-beaten-path along “Skyline Drive” which travels 10 miles into the Island’s lush and protected wilderness area. Keep an eye out for spectacular vistas, ocean views and the largest of their inhabitants –the Buffalo!
Enjoy some free time on Catalina before we ferry to Dana Point and transfer to San Diego. Upon arrival, we check in to our centrally located hotel for our 2 night stay.
With near perfect weather year-round, 70 miles of spectacular coastline, world-class attractions and a thriving urban core, complete with a sophisticated art, dining and nightlife scene, San Diego has earned the name of California’s Beach City. (B)
Day 5 - San Diego
After breakfast, we head to the San Diego Zoo. Our visit includes entrance to the Zoo (with bus tour). This100-acre (40-hectare) zoo is home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. The afternoon is at leisure to explore America’s Beach City. Some great sights to check out include:the Coronado, USS Midway & Maritime Museum to name a few. We have an Italian dinner tonight in the historic Gaslamp Quarter. (B,D)
Day 6 - Palm Springs, CA
This morning, say goodbye to San Diego & the Pacific Ocean as we journey inland to Palm Springs. The Aerial Tramway in Palm Springs is the world’s largest rotating tram car and travels over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting riders to the pristine wilderness of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Once at the top, we have lunch with spectacular views! After, we transfer to our hotel and check in for our 2 night stay. Tonight is at leisure for you to explore your hotel and the surrounding area on your own.
Palm Springs is a desert oasis set in the Coachella Valley. For more than half a century, Palm Springs has been a playground for Hollywood celebrities—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Elizabeth Taylor all visited here often. Today, this trending and vibrant city has a unique food and drinks scene, a plethora of outdoor activities & great health escapes. (B,L)
Day 7 - Palm Springs
Discover Palm Springs on a 2.5 hour bus tour of the place that was once known as ‘Hollywood’s Playground.’ Your guide will provide commentary on stars who have lived in this exclusive California destination: including luminaries like Marilyn Monroe, Nat King Cole, and Elvis Presley. The remainder of the day is at leisure until our dinner this evening. Later, we embark on a Stargazing experience. (B,D)
Day 8 - Depart Palm Springs
This morning, we head to the airport and check in for our flight. Upon arrival, transfer home with memories of that California Sunshine.
