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3-Nights USA Road Trip- Highway 1 and San Fran Sun - 18-to-Thirtysomethings

California
3-Nights USA Road Trip- Highway 1 and San Fran Sun - 18-to-Thirtysomethings
California
G Adventures
Vacation Offer ID 1533183
Reference this number when contacting our travel specialist.
Overview

G Adventures

USA Road Trip- Highway 1 and San Fran Sun
Rugged coastal cliffs, waterfalls crashing into the sea, and small seaside towns, what’s not to like? This short but sweet four-day trip has it all plus a whole lot more as you travel up the California coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Check out the chill vibes in Santa Monica, wander through mist and forests in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and see redwoods along Half Moon Bay. There will be no shortage of beautiful scenery and fun activities along the way. The perfect mini getaway!

Highlights
Drive up the coast from Los Angeles to Santa Margarita with stops in Santa Monica and San Luis Obispo, Check out the Elephant Seals along Highway 1, Embark on a hike through the dramatic scenery in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Make pit stops in Carmel and Monterey for some exploring, Adventure your way through San Francisco to spot all the famous landmarks.

Accommodation
Participation camping (2 nts), Hotel (1 nt).

Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.

Group Size Notes
Max 13.

Meals Included
2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group. Stops in Santa Monica and San Luis Obispo for free time. Visit to see the Elephant Seal. Quick hike in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Short stops in Carmel and Monterey. San Francisco orientation tour and free time for sightseeing. All transportation between destinations and to/from included activities.

Featured Destinations

Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz, CA

Located 65 mi/105 km south of San Francisco, Santa Cruz is in many ways the quintessential California town, combining a laid-back counterculture atmosphere with plenty of shore activities and, of course, surfing. The historic boardwalk contains one of the oldest amusement-park areas on the West Coast. One of its roller coasters is a National Historic Landmark, but the park also includes a state-of-the-art coaster and an amusement area with special effects and robotics.

The prominence of surfing in Santa Cruz can be judged by the statue the city erected to celebrate the sport. There are several places along the coast to shoot the curls (or watch others do it). Steamer's Lane, off Lighthouse Field State Beach, is the town's most famous spot, and Cowell Beach and Manresa State Beach are also popular.

Whether you can hang 10 or not, you'll enjoy the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, contained in a lighthouse off West Cliff Drive, near Lighthouse Field State Beach. It covers the sport from its infancy in the 1930s, explaining changes in board technology and chronicling the stars of the surfing world. Phone 831-420-6289. http://www.santacruzsurfingmuseum.org.

Of course, the town's numerous beaches can be used for activities aside from surfing. You could, for instance, hang out on the beach. There are also fishing and swimming for those who want to be active, and sailboat cruises for viewing the beach from the bay.

There's a lot of shoreline to choose from in the Santa Cruz area, so you should be able to find a beach to fit your activities and temperament. We like Natural Bridges State Beach for the monarch butterflies that congregate there October-March. For a more upscale beach-town experience, you can drive 6 mi/9 km to enjoy Capitola's beaches and shops. This delightful resort village has some exceptional bed-and-breakfast inns and shorefront fine-dining restaurants.

The University of California at Santa Cruz campus is located in the hills overlooking the town and bay. The campus' modern architecture blends impressively with the redwood-forest surroundings. http://www.ucsc.edu.

If you're in Santa Cruz between December and March, don't miss the chance to see the elephant seals bellow, snort and frolic during breeding season at Ano Nuevo State Reserve in Pescadero, about 20 mi/32 km north of the city. Guided walks along the dunes area of the reserve are available by reservation only—make your plans at least a month in advance because the walking tours are very popular. The reserve is one of only two mainland seal-breeding colonies in the world. Because the state began limiting access to the area in the 1970s, the seal population has grown from only 35 to more than 3,000 animals. Phone 650-879-2025. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523.

Another must-see near Santa Cruz is one of the area's redwood parks—most notably Big Basin Redwood State Park, a hiker's park about 25 mi/40 km up-canyon from Santa Cruz. (It was California's first state park.) Another good spot for inspirational hiking is nearby Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

A historic narrow-gauge railway, the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad, carries sightseers from Felton to the beach in Santa Cruz through Roaring Camp. Their Redwood Forest Steam Train goes from Roaring Camp to Bear Mountain and back. http://www.roaringcamp.com.

Destination Guide
Santa Margarita
San Francisco

San Francisco

Blessed with a viable fog-cooled and sun-kissed climate and a dramatic landscape, the San Francisco Bay Area is a visual feast where neither water nor hills are ever too far away. Add to this the cultural medley: Within every neighborhood, from Santa Cruz to Oakland to Mill Valley, a diversity of tastes and interest is thriving. See it in the cuisine, the bookstores, the arts, and the recreational opportunities. To embrace all San Francisco has to offer get out and explore. Walk the streets, drive across the Bay Bridge, go south down the peninsula to Silicon Valley and cruise along the San Mateo coast. Find great sights, museums, art, culture, and family fun attractions. There is a plethora of attractions and activities to satisfy the desires of every one who visits.
Destination Guide
Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Much of Los Angeles lies in a fairly flat basin, surrounded by mountains and ocean. Although the Santa Monica Mountains, one of the most unheralded of the city’s remaining natural treasures, splits LA between the familiar sights of La-La Land to the south and the charmless suburbs to the north, the metropolis is easily traversed. Places for visitors to explore include Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, the central strip of Wilshire Boulevard with faded Art Deco "Miracle Mile" zone and good museums, and the beach towns of Santa Monica and Venice, where visitors can stroll along the former’s remodeled pier and Third Street Promenade outdoor mall, or visit the latter’s famed Muscle Beach and oceanside Boardwalk. Lengthier trips to LA may include the old-fashioned charm of Old Pasadena, home of ever-popular Rose Parade and Bowl, Downtown, site of much city heritage and setting for what skyscrapers the area does have, the South Bay, the place to find the region’s second biggest city of Long Beach, and Malibu, where visitors can try to get a glimpse of movie stars and assorted celebrities.
Destination Guide

View Full Itinerary

Valid Date Ranges

May 2025
05/28/2025 05/31/2025 $929 per person
June 2025
06/02/2025 06/05/2025 $929 per person
06/19/2025 06/22/2025 $929 per person
July 2025
07/10/2025 07/13/2025 $969 per person
07/28/2025 07/31/2025 $969 per person
August 2025
08/19/2025 08/22/2025 $969 per person
September 2025
09/16/2025 09/19/2025 $969 per person
May 2026
05/18/2026 05/21/2026 $929 per person
June 2026
06/06/2026 06/09/2026 $929 per person
06/11/2026 06/14/2026 $929 per person
July 2026
07/11/2026 07/14/2026 $929 per person
07/16/2026 07/19/2026 $929 per person
August 2026
08/15/2026 08/18/2026 $929 per person
September 2026
09/22/2026 09/25/2026 $929 per person
Pricing is per person, land only, in US dollars and based on double occupancy. For specific validity dates, discount amount and tour information, please return to the promotion in question. Promotion valid on G Adventures small group tours excluding Independent, MS Expedition or National Geographic Journeys, unless otherwise stated. Promotion applicable to new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Does not apply to airfare (unless otherwise stated), pre-/post-accommodation, 'My Own Room' or 'My Own Tent', transfers, theme packs, insurance, polar kayaking & camping excursions or other in-country services. G Adventures reserves the right to withdraw this offer from sale at any time. Itinerary and map subject to change. Please click here for a description of the travel style options provided by G Adventures.
 
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
 

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.