Coastal California with Yosemite National Park and Rose Parade

Welcome to Los Angeles, La-La Land. Settle at your hotel and explore on your own. At 6 p.m. meet your Travel Director and travel companions for a Welcome Reception.

Make your way to Tinseltown, Hollywood, where you'll be joined by a Local Specialist for a guided walking tour taking in Hollywood's most famous icons: the Hollywood Sign, Grauman's Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Later, experience the glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills as you drive down famous Rodeo Drive, lined with high-end shops. The rest of the day is free for you to pursue your own interests.

Enjoy a celebration including New Year’s Eve dinner and the unforgettable chance to view America’s famous New Year’s celebration the next morning at the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Marvel at the dazzling pageantry of the bands and beautiful floats from your specially selected Reserved Grandstand seating right along the parade route. After the parade, get an up-close view and see the detail, the design and workmanship that goes into every float. Walk almost within arms reach of over 50 floats and see for yourself the creativity and imagination of the floral displays.

Head for Santa Monica to wander the shops or pier and then wind your way up the coast, past Malibu to idyllic Santa Barbara. Take time to enjoy this lovely community with the Santa Ynez Mountains on the horizon. Downtown, Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs reflect the city's Spanish colonial heritage. Visit Mission Santa Barbara, one of the 21 missions founded by the Spaniards along El Camino Real. This evening, your Regional Meal dinner is served at a local restaurant.

Continue north to Paso Robles where we'll Connect with Locals on an olive farm. Stroll through the olive groves with a glass of local wine, learn about the process of making olive oil, then enjoy a delicious Be My Guest meal.

Embark on a tour of the Monterey Peninsula featuring Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf, beautiful Pacific Grove and the famed 17-Mile Drive. View the iconic Lone Cypress Tree and Pebble Beach Golf Links, before arriving in the quaint township of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Enjoy time to explore before heading south toward Big Sur along the scenic Highway 1. Arrive at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park where you can stroll among the giant redwood trees. Enjoy a Regional Meal dinner at a local restaurant.

This morning, join your Local Specialists for a tour and tasting at Earthbound Organic Farms in Carmel Valley. Explore the difference between organic and conventional farming, taste different salads fresh from the farm and learn the about the farm's grassroots story. Ascend the western slopes of the Sierra Nevadas through Gold Country, passing Victorian-era townships and saloons from the Gold Rush era. Late afternoon, arrive in Yosemite.

Explore Yosemite National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stop at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, believed to be nearly 3,000 years old. Then board a private valley floor tram tour with a National Park Local Specialist to discover the spectacular and wild landscape of Yosemite Valley. Pass the misty splendor of Bridal Veil and gaze at the wonders of El Capitan and Half Dome. The afternoon is yours to do as you please: explore further, take a hike or stroll along the Merced River. Later this afternoon, drive down the Sierra to your hotel.

Celebrate the vibrant wine country of Northern California, enjoying lunch at leisure in Napa's Oxbow Public Market. We join a Local Specialist to craft our own combination of Carignane, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel at Ravenswood Winery. Arrive in San Francisco this evening, your home for the next two nights.

Start your San Francisco exploration that takes you to Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, fashionable Union Square and much more. End at San Francisco's famous Farmer's Market, featuring the Bay Area's best food artisans. Your afternoon is free to explore. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

Your journey ends with a transfer to San Francisco International Airport or extend your stay at the Fairmont San Francisco.