August 6—19, 2018

August 6. We will depart Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport on the morning of Monday, Aug. 7, 2018 on a direct flight to Seattle, WA. Upon arrival in Seattle we will go immediately to Pike’s Market for lunch, looking and shopping. From the Market we will go to the iconic Space Needle for a trip to the top and a bird’s-eye view of the Puget Sound and surrounding area. We will then check-in at our hotel to rest up for the adventure before us. Naturally we will enjoy a great dinner together before calling it a night.

August 7

Today we will head south and begin to enjoy the magical experience of US Highway 101. Our first destination is Astoria, where we ride the Riverfront Trolley take a close up and personal look at the Astoria Column. From here we will head out to Cannon Beach, one of the most picturesque towns on the entire pacific Coast. Our oceanfront lodging will give everyone a chance to experience the brisk weather of the Pacific Northwest and we will enjoy a leisurely dinner together and get an early start the next day.

August 8

Today we will take another meandering trip down the coast with plenty of opportunities to stop and take photographs. We will stop for shopping and tasting at the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory, which attracts more than a million visitors a year. We will continue along the coast to Coos Bay, our overnight destination. On the way we will stop for a visit to the Newport Oregon Coast Aquarium and for photo opportunities at Seal Rock. We will again stay in oceanfront accommodations with a million-dollar view.

August 9

A highlight for today will be a dune buggy ride along the National Sea Shore. Buckle up and get ready to enjoy this thrilling ride and enjoy the spectacular dunes—some as high as ten story buildings. It will be one of the most exciting hours of the entire trip. In the afternoon we will get our first look at the giant redwood trees of Redwood National Forest before reaching our destination for the evening—Eureka, CA. We will enjoy classic coastal food at a legendary local restaurant in the evening.

August 10

Today we will cross the Mendocino County as we make our way to the historic Ft. Bragg area–not the one with the marines. A highlight of the day will be a ride on the Skunk Train, which runs 40 miles from Fort Bragg on the coast to Willits on US Highway 101. Along the way, the tracks cross some 30 bridges and trestles and pass through two deep mountain tunnels. The half-way point of Northspur is a popular lunch spot, giving passengers a chance to snack before heading back to Fort Bragg. Along the way, you pass through beautiful stretches of redwoods. Overnight lodging in the Ft. Bragg/Mendocino area.

August 11

Today we will continue to head south along the California coast and pass through the Avenue of Giants—a two lane stretch of highway guarded by California Redwoods. We will cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge where we will spend the next two days in San Francisco at our Fishermen’s Wharf hotel. We will have a grand dinner on the Wharf and you will have time to explore the area on your own.

August 12

Today we will have a guided tour of the City by the Bay as we see all the major sites—Coit Tower, Haight-Ashbury, Chinatown, Union Square—and, of course—Alcatraz. In the evening we will explore Pier 39 at the Embarcadero, with plenty of time to shop grab dinner, and explore on your own.

August 13

The scenery will continue to get even more dramatic today as we make our way along perhaps the most beautiful 100-mile stretch of coastline in the world. We will visit Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and Monterey as we stop frequently for phot-ops as we make it down through the heart of the Big Sur, to San Simeon, for our overnight stay.

August 14

This will be an amazing day as we visit Hearst Castle and St. Luis Obispo and a few other picturesque spots before reaching our overnight destination, Santa Barbara.

August 15

Our first stop today is the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Semi Valley. After paying our respects to Mr. Reagan we will head to LA where we will stay for two nights. During our time here we will visit the Kodak Theatre, walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, check out the Santa Monica Pier, drive down Sunset Boulevard and stroll down Rodeo Drive. We will also check out the awesome views of the Hollywood sign from Griffith Observatory, and visit Universal Studios for the back lot tour. The order of these events is still being determined.

August 16

See schedule for August 16—today is a continuation of the things we did not get to do yesterday.

August 17

We say goodbye to LA and head to our final destination, San Diego. Our afternoon will be spent visiting Balboa Park and the World Famous San Diego Zoo before checking into our accommodations for the evening.

August 18

Today we will visit the top attractions in the city—Sea Port Village, Old Towne, and the USS Midway. We will top off our trip with a sunset harbor cruise.

August 19

We will head for the airport this morning, probably tired and maybe a little bit broke—but with a million dollars-worth of memories that will stay with us forever.

The all-inclusive price of this trip is $4299 per person, based on double occupancy. A 400.00 deposit per person will reserve your spot with the balance due on April 1, 2018.