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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, Tulare, Merced, 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 Tulare, you’ll witness the vast Mojave Desert.
Enjoy sightseeing in Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Perhaps take a ride on San Francisco’s historic cable cars or enjoy an optional 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
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. 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
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–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.
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.”
Continental Breakfast
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–Tulare
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 Tulare in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Continental Breakfast
Day 9: Tulare–Yosemite National Park–Merced
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 Merced.
Continental Breakfast
Day 10: Merced–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.
Day 11: San Francisco
The day is free for you to explore more of this fascinating city. Choose from a variety of optional excursions or visit fascinating Alcatraz Prison. Get a close-up look at the infamous federal penitentiary that was off limits to the public for years.
*Consider advance ticket purchase for Alcatraz Island with the National Park Service.
Day 12: San Francisco
Your vacation ends this morning. Extend your vacation with extra nights and explore San Francisco further.
© 2021 Brightsun Travel
