Welcome to San Jose! You’ll begin your small group tour – California Coast Food & Wine Trail, at this center of innovation and affluence. It may be the Capital of the Silicon Valley and home to a range of Fortune 500 companies, but it’s also the start of your unforgettable gastronomic California tour along the stunning coast. There’s no better way to kick start your flavour-filled journey than a Welcome Reception to get to know your Travel Director and fellow travel companions.

Gain a true sense of what it’s like to live in Silicon Valley when you embark on a downtown walking tour where you’ll get to view all the highlights of this innovative city, from the Plaza de Cesar Chávez and Circle of Palms Plaza to the San Jose Museum of Art and St. James Park. A visit to San Jose would not be complete without gaining a deep understanding of what drives this major technological hub and you’ll enjoy a self-guided visit to The Tech Museum of Innovation, a science and technology center where you’ll have an opportunity to get hands-on and learn about everything from social robots to cyber detectives. Visit Henry Cowell State ark to hike amongst Redwoods. The next stop is Santa Cruz, where you’ll have the evening to explore the city on your terms.

Start your morning at Harley Farms. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, see the animals and learn how their locally made chevre, fromage blanc, ricotta and feta consistently win awards for their taste and quality. It's the perfect place for a picnic lunch before you can slow down in Santa Cruz, a surfer’s paradise and haven for beach lovers. After lunch you will have a photo stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse State Park, one of the tallest lighthouses in America. Natural Bridges State Beach is where you’ll begin your self-guided walk past tide pools and admiring the incredible rock formations that jut out into the ocean. In the afternoon stroll down the longest wooden pier in the USA with a cup of clam chowder, keeping your eyes peeled for seals, sea lions and dolphins that frequent Monterey Bay.

You’ll want to remember every irresistible inch of today’s drive along the Monterey Peninsula, committing to memory all the highlights of Big Sur and one of the world’s most scenic journeys – 17-Mile Drive. Skirting the blue waters of the Pacific, you’ll make a stop at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the top courses in the country. An iconic championship venue, Pebble Beach Golf Links justifiably earns its rank as the top public golf course in the country, and you’ll learn how it has hosted more U.S. Opens than any other course in the past five decades. Dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches and lush forests line this part of your California tour and you’ll immerse yourself in the beauty of your surrounds, stopping for photos at the Lone Cypress, arguably the most iconic symbol of 17-Mile Drive. On your next stop at Carmel-By-The Sea, you’ll gain a deep appreciation of what it must be like to live in this rich artistic small beach city on California’s Monterey Peninsula. You’ll have some time for lunch and a stroll past its fairy-tale cottages and galleries before settling in for the highlight of the day and your epic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur. You won’t be able to tear your eyes away from the dramatic coastline you’ve only seen in movies as you snake along Highway 1. This is what dreams are made of and you’ll pass such highlights as Bixby Bridge as you skirt deep Pacific blue on one side and lush green hilly landscapes on the other towards tonight’s overnight stay in San Luis Obispo with the Pacific on one side and towering cliffs on the other.

We begin today with a leisurely walk of the Montaña De Oro State Park taking in beautiful views of the park’s tide pools, beaches, rock islands and natural beaches. It’s the perfect start to an unforgettable day in Morro Bay where you’ll Connect With Locals after lunch on your own and board a coastal cruise learning about the local marine life as you watch sea otters feast on shellfish and hear stories about what it’s like to live and work here from the boat captain. SLO CAL is the place to be this evening and you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding how to spend your evening and what to eat. Don’t miss the chance to try out some of the area’s delicious wines, or the vibrant craft-brewing, cider and distillery scene.

Your last day in southern California will be a real treat for foodies as we join the mother-daughter duo of Karen and Jennifer Talent at the Groves on 41 Olive Oil Ranch where you get to Connect With Locals for a tasting of their award-winning olive oil, followed by a hosted Be My Guest Lunch at Cass Café where you get to indulge in the famous local wine of the area. Our last stop today is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, learning about the production on a local farm. Your hosts from the local CalPoly Institute will take you on a walking tour of the farm and you’ll leave knowing that your visit has helped to sustain the agricultural education program that the farm supports. Then it’s back to the city after a day in California wine country to enjoy one final evening with your travel companions at your leisure, no doubt raising a glass to the epic day you’ve had in sunny Southern California.

Your California tour of coast, food and wine has come to an end. Depart at leisure from San Luis Obispo Airport.