Family California Adventure

Itinerary Highlights

Enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, express access to theme park rides and shows with your VIP Universal Studios Hollywood tickets
Enjoy Santa Barbara's relaxed Mediterranean style where you can learn to surf in Santa Barbara or take a paddle board tour around the harbour
Stop off at Piedras Blancas and watch the comical antics of the resident elephant seal colony
Discover Yosemite National Park's breathtaking scenery and nature trails
Best time to travel April - October

What's Included

Accommodation Throughout
Car Hire
International Flights

14 nights from £6,199 per person

Sarah

Travel Specialist

01244 433 057

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect North America holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

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The Central California Coast is the perfect choice for an action-packed family holiday. Our flexible California Coast Family Adventure takes in the best this well-travelled route has to offer. Stay sea-side at Santa Monica and stroll along the promenade watching street entertainers and on to the famous Santa Monica Pier. Spend a day at Universal Studios Hollywood, a real working film studio where you can go back stage and watch how movies and television productions are created. Be stunned at elaborate stage and stunts shows and get your heart pumping on movie-themed thrill rides.

For a calmer and more sedate experience, sit back and enjoy the relaxed Mediterranean scene at Santa Barbara, with historic missions, fabulous beaches and quaint tree-lined shopping streets. While here learn to surf. The famous Big Sur coastal drive starts for real at Pismo Beach, before starting the scenic drive, spend time racing around the dunes and beach in a dune buggy.

The Big Sur on California's rugged central coast offers one of the world's most dramatic coastal drives. there are many opportunities to stop and take in the breath-taking vistas and unique experiences such as Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. At family focused Carmel Valley Ranch you are free to enjoy the amenities, there is time to take a horseback ride across the meadows and redwood forests as well as become a bee-keeper at the resorts bee-hives.

Stop in Monterey on your drive to Yosemite and take a cruise out on Monterey Bay, get up-close to sea otter, sea lions and dolphins and watch whales breach in the distance. Explore Yosemite Valley’s waterfalls, hike family-friendly trails, marvel at giant sequoias, stargaze, and bond over campfires in nature’s breathtaking playground.

In San Francisco hop on and off wherever you wish on the famous Big Bus Tour, travel across the Golden Gate Bridge and walk cell-lined corridors of the former high-security prison of Alcatraz.

Itinerary

Day 1 Los Angeles

On arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, collect your rental vehicle and drive to Santa Monica. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at your leisure. Take a stroll to the famous Santa Monica Pier, the endpoint of Route 66. Ride the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel or stroll up to Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only parade of shops, cafes and restaurants. Head south to Venice Beach. Walk along the Venice Boardwalk, watch street performers, and explore the quirky shops and take a peaceful walk through the picturesque Venice Canals, a hidden gem in the area.

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Pool Deck, Viceroy Santa Monica, California, USA

Exterior of Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica

Lobby at Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica

Day 2 Universal Studios VIP Experience

With your 'Universal Studios VIP Experience' you get priority access to each attraction and priority seating at each of the shows. You will be guided around Universal Studios and gain exclusive access to award-winning movie sets and explore areas not open to the general public. Get your adrenaline pumping on thrilling theme park rides and watch breath-taking stunt shows.

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Day 3 Los Angeles City Highlights

Visit Griffith Observatory, an iconic landmark for stunning views of LA and the Hollywood Sign. Explore the exhibits and the planetarium shows before visiting Holly Boulevard to see the stars along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre. Sample a variety of cuisines Grand Central Market, a historic food hall, before visiting the free Broad Museum to explore its collection of contemporary art. Admire the stunning architecture or take a guided tour of Walt Disney Concert Hall before ending the day with views of LA from one of the rooftop bars like Perch or The Rooftop at The Standard.

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Day 4 Los Angeles - Santa Barbara (95 miles)

Affectionately known as the American Riviera, this charming Mediterranean inspired seaside town is less than a two hour drive north of Los Angeles and offers a wonderfully relaxed ambiance. This family friendly resort offers wonderful beaches including Butterfly Beach where celebrities often hang out, or for the more active family there are mountain bike and hiking trails and sailing trips out to the Channel Islands National Park.

Staying at

Lobby at Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara

Almeria King Room at Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara

Pool from Miradore Deck at Hotel Californian

Day 5 Santa Barbara Surfing Lessons or Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Book surfing lessons with a local company and join your instructor at Leadbetter Beach near Santa Barbara Marina to learn to surf, a fun family activity. You will learn to stand up on your board, balance and ride the perfect wave. Once you are ready paddle out with your instructor and put the skills you have just learned in to practice and surf back to shore. Alternatively book a stand-up paddle boarding tour of the harbour or visit the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and peruse the exhibits. Purchase a day pass for the Trolley Bus Tour that will transport you to some of Santa Barbara's highlights.

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Day 6 Santa Barbara

Enjoy a morning stroll along Stearns Wharf and breakfast on Santa Barbara Pier. Relax on Butterfly Beach, enjoy a picnic at Shoreline Park, and browse shops on State Street. Afternoon brings a hike in the nearby hills while in the evening enjoy sunset views and a casual dinner, creating lasting memories in this coastal paradise.

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Day 7 Pismo Beach Dune Buggy , Elephant Seals & Big Sur Coastal VIstas

Stop off at Pismo Beach and add a dune buggy adventure through the sand dunes of Pismo Beach. Continue along California's Central Coast on the famous scenic highway, The Big Sur. Stop off at Piedras Blancas where Elephant Seals laze on the beach year-round. The scenery along this coastal drive is spectacular so make sure you leave a good few hours to explore and stop off to enjoy the breath-taking vistas.

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Lobby Lounge at Carmel Valley Ranch, California

Family Fun at Carmel Valley Ranch, California

Day 8 Bee-Keeping at Carmel Valley Ranch

You may choose to just lay back and enjoy the range of family facilities at Carmel Valley Ranch or get out and explore one of the most charming and quaintest seaside towns in California, Carmel-by-the-Sea. A wonderful experience at Carmel Valley Ranch is experiencing bee-keeping. For dinner we recommend you drive in to the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea and dine at one of the quaint restaurants or Hog's Breath Pub.

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Day 9 Carmel-by-the- Sea

A day in Carmel-by-the-Sea starts with a stroll along the white sands of Carmel Beach, followed by exploring art galleries and boutique shops on Ocean Avenue. Enjoy a picnic at Mission Trail Park or wine tasting at a local vineyard. End with a sunset dinner at a cozy bistro, savoring the town’s charm and coastal beauty.

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Day 10 Carmel to Yosemite National Park (185 miles)

Continue your self-drive adventure to Yosemite National Park. Along the way stop off in the Monterey area for an exhilarating whale-watching adventure, allowing you to see migrating whales and the abundance of marine life. Different times of year bring in different mammals, but you can almost always see whales, sea otters, and dolphins.

Staying at

Exterior, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, California, USA

Lobby, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, California, USA

Aerial, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, California, USA

Day 11 Yosemite National Park

Start with a scenic drive into Yosemite Valley, stopping at Tunnel View for iconic vistas. Hike the family-friendly Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, then enjoy a picnic by the Merced River. Visit the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and let kids explore the hands-on exhibits. End the day with stargazing and a cozy campfire at your lodge.

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Day 12 Yosemite National Park

Head to Glacier Point for breathtaking views of Half Dome and the valley. Take a short hike to Taft Point or Sentinel Dome. After lunch, explore Mariposa Grove to see giant sequoias. Return to the valley for a leisurely bike ride or a dip in the river. Conclude with a hearty family dinner and reminiscing about the day’s adventures.

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Day 13 Yosemite to San Francisco (205 miles)

Departing Yosemite Valley, you’ll wind through the Sierra Nevada foothills, passing forests, rivers, and rolling golden hills. Stop in Groveland or Oakdale for a break. As you approach the Bay Area, the landscape shifts to urban sprawl, culminating in iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge welcoming you to San Francisco.

Staying at

The Presidential Suite Balcony at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, California, USA

The Presidential Suite at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, California, USA

Lobby area at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, California, USA

Day 14 San Francisco Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour plus Alcatraz

The perfect way to get your bearings of San Francisco is on the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour. There are 20 points where you can stop off along the whole route. From Fisherman's Wharf you will take the short boat journey across the harbour to 'The Rock'. Explore the infamous former federal prison of Alcatraz on a self-guided tour. In the evening we recommend you visit the Mission District, a residential area where the main street is lined with unique boutiques and funky eateries.

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Fairmont San Francisco City Rooftop View

king executive premiere guest room at st regis san francisco

Day 15 Travel Home

The last day of your Family California Adventure, trundle up and down the hilly streets on a tram (cable car) or pick up some last minute shopping down on Market Street or one of the Outlet Malls on the outskirts of the city before dropping your rental vehicle off at the airport for your flight home or onward destination.