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Day 1: Tuesday, April 6 – California – The Golden State – The
Golden Sun - Gold Poppies and Gold. It’s the Gold that brought the
early settlers to California, but it is the Golden sun that brings
our groups out west. Rustad Tours will leave this morning for on an
exciting vacation that will take us across the plains of Nebraska,
over the mountains of Wyoming, through the Salt Flats of Nevada to
the state of California! Today is a travel day with stops every
couple of hours and late this afternoon we overnight in Kearney,
Nebraska. (L)
Day 2: Wednesday, April 7 – Just before we arrived in Kearney
last night, our coach drove under the Great Platte River Road
Archway Monument. This is a museum built across I-80 depicting
the Westward Movement. Our morning begins by visiting this museum.
Stepping on an escalator we ride to the top, enter the back of a
covered wagon and step into the past. By following the foot steps of
these early pioneers across the trails, which lead to California,
reminds us of the hardships they endured and how luxurious our coach
is in comparison. This evening we bed down in a comfortable hotel
room in Rawlins, Wyoming instead of under the covered wagon. (B) (L)
Day 3: Thursday, April 8 – Wyoming is known as the land of
firsts. Traveling through the countryside shows us the state is also
first in natural beauty. Crossing the Rocky Mountains and the Great
Divide we descend to Salt Lake City, Utah. This afternoon a local
guide will join us for an area tour of Salt Lake City. After
hearing tales of the historic past and seeing the highlights we
check into our accommodations in downtown Salt Lake City. (B) (L)
Day 4: Friday, April 9– Salt Lake is named that for a reason.
The salt content is six times saltier than the ocean and will buoy a
human body, if you can stand the smell. The Great Salt Lake
Desert, (which we travel through today) was once huge Lake
Bonneville, an ancient fresh water lake. Today it is called the
Bonneville Salt Flats, where land speed records have been set on
the circular speedway race track located within the flats. A noon
lunch is included in Elko, Nevada and tonight our accommodations are
in Reno, Nevada. (B) (L)
Day 5: Saturday, April 10 – To get to California there is one
more mountain range to cross, the Sierra Nevada. Our routing
will bring us along the south shore of Lake Tahoe, into the
state of California! After driving by California’s State Capital
in Sacramento, we enjoy free time for a noon lunch and shopping in
the Historic Area. Late this afternoon our coach arrives at
the Radisson Hotel for a two-night stay in the Fisherman’s Wharf
area of San Francisco. (B)
Day 6: Sunday, April 11 – It is Sunday morning and a great time
to tour the City. A local guide joins us and we are off to explore
San Francisco. This afternoon, we enjoy a Harbor Cruise
and free time in the Wharf area. The San Francisco Trolley is
a short walk from our hotel for anyone interested in a trolley ride!
(B)
Day 7: Monday, April 12 – This morning, we leave the busy city
life behind and drive to Monterey, California. After we drive the
17-mile loop to Carmel; (maybe seeing the sea lions or seals),
we skirt the Coast Mountains and travel on to San Simeon. !! Tonight
will be a great time to walk to the Pacific Ocean and watch the
waves crashing ashore! (B)
Day 8: Tuesday, April 13 – On the outskirts of San Simeon is one
of the most well-known mansions in our country, the Hearst Castle.
Our morning begins with a tour of the mansion and a video telling us
of the lifestyle of the Hearst family and their friends. We continue
south along Highway 101 to Solvang, California, a
small city known for its strong Danish culture. Everyone will enjoy
free time to visit the many shops and enjoy a Danish lunch. Late
afternoon we check into the Country Inn and Suites in Camarillo for
our overnight stay. (B)
Day 9: Wednesday, April 14 – Today will be an amazing day for
the average mid-western tourist. Joining the many lanes of traffic
and traveling to Los Angeles, a local city guide will join us for a
tour of the ‘city of Angels.’ You’ll tour through
Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive; see Mann’s Chinese Theater
and, Hollywood, the tar pits and homes. Noon meal is on
your own at the well-known Farmer’s Market. Later our driver
will ease the coach into the traffic to travel south on I-5 to our
accommodations in San Diego, California. Our hotel for three nights
is Bayside! From here we will do one day tours of Southern
California! (B)
Day 10: Thursday, April 15 – We begin our day with a step on
guide who will join us for a morning tour of San Diego! Noon
lunch will be (on your own) at the Seaport Village. A
highlight this afternoon is a 2 hour Harbor Cruise of San Diego.
Returning to our hotel by the Bay, there will be plenty of time to
enjoy the Bay area. (B)
Day 11: Friday, April 16 – Southern California has more to see
than their coastline and today we go to the famous San Diego Zoo!
Highlights include walk-through aviaries, koalas, giant pandas,
monkey, and gorillas, you can go absolutely ape in here! On the way
back to the hotel, we’ll do a little drive around and take in the
beach. This evening we enjoy dinner at Old Town. (B) (D)
Day 12: Saturday, April 17 – Sea World is a short ride
from our hotel. Before leaving the San Diego area we go visit Shamu
and get up close and personal with the marine life. This 189 acre
adventure park has shows, attractions, and rides. There are exhibits
on manatees, shows where trained animals perform, and a whole lot
more. Mid-afternoon we depart San Diego for a relaxed drive to
Garden City where we tour the Crystal Cathedral before
checking into the Hilton Garden Inn. (B)
Day 13: Sunday, April 18 – We have a very interesting day ahead
of us! Leaving the LA area, we turn east and skirt the edge
of the Mojave Desert on the way to Las Vegas, Nevada! You may
catch glimpses of the sand dunes, Joshua trees, and see the
mountains and mesas from a distance. Tonight we have reservations in
Las Vegas at the Fitzgerald Casino Hotel! The evening is free to try
your luck at the machines. (B) (D)
Day 14: Monday, April 19 – After a busy night in Las Vegas, you
may rest as our travels take us through a corner of Arizona and back
to Utah. Keep one eye open so you don’t miss the pretty mountain
scenery and the red rocks. Arriving to Zion National Park, we stop
for lunch and to buy a postcard in the tourist town of Springdale.
This afternoon you’ll marvel at the beauty of Zion while riding
through the park. Tonight we stay in Richfield, Utah. (B)
Day 15: Tuesday, April 20 – Utah is known for its beautiful
National Parks. But we also pass wonderful views of mountains,
canyons, cliffs and forests on our way to Grand Junction, Colorado,
where lunch is included. This afternoon we cross the Colorado
Rockies on the way to the hotel in Westminster, a suburb of Denver.
(B) (L)
Day 16: Wednesday, April 21 – Our travels today take us north of
Denver to Lusk, Wyoming for an included lunch before driving into
the Black Hills of South Dakota. A stop is made at Mt. Rushmore.
If you haven’t been here before you’ll be amazed at the
Presidents heads carved out of the mountain. If you have been here
you’ll see that the heads are the same, but the visitor’s center is
new and first class. Tonight we stay in Wall, SD. This evening is
free to browse Wall Drug, have a nickel cup of coffee or eat
a buffalo burger. (B) (L)
Day 17: Thursday, April 22 – The last day of your California
vacation will include a stop at Al’s Oasis where lunch
is included. Early evening we return to our home base in
Kerkhoven with wonderful memories of the most populated state in our
country! CALIFORNIA!! (B) (L)
TOUR COST PER
PERSON
Single $3,300 - Double $2,550
- Triple
$2,400 - Quad $2,250
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