California's Central Valley Adventure
Back to California
California's Central Valley Adventure10 nights From £1465 per person
Price includes: Flights, accommodation and car hire
Day 1 Fly from the UK to San Francisco
Known as the ‘City by the Bay’, San Francisco is a compact city and easy to get around on foot, by cable car or street car line. Enjoy Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Chinatown and Union Square as well as the fantastic shopping and nightlife. Take a bike tour of Golden Gate Park and cycle across the iconic bridge before returning to the city by boat from Sausalito – a great way to get a different perspective on this city. Head out to Haight-Ashbury, the 1960s hippie hang-out, where you will still find unique and interesting cafes and stores.
Stay one night in San Francisco
Day 2 Collect a car and drive to Winters, approx. 70 miles
This charming small town is a world-away from the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento, yet within very easy reach. Located in the heart of Northern California, Winters offers plenty of local flavour, countryside experiences and historic architecture. Throughout the years, Winters has retained its historic charm and rural lifestyle and you will find plenty of green space, unique shopping, wine tasting rooms, world class cuisine and an opera house overlooking Main Street.
Stay two night in Winters
Day 4 Drive to Madera, approx. 175 miles
Aptly named Madera, the Spanish word for wood, was originally a lumber producing town. Today this small town thrives on its proximity to Yosemite National Park and the swimming, fishing and boating at Bass Lake. Wine lovers can discover the area’s small, family-owned wineries on the Madera Wine Trail and learn something of the old-world techniques as well as state-of-the art technology used here.
Stay two nights in Madera
Day 6 Drive to Visalia, approx. 65 miles
Nestled in the foothills below Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Visalia is a perfect base to explore these incredible parks, home to giant redwoods, huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons and vast caverns. The scenery is stunning and there are always plenty of things to see and do in the area from hiking, biking, white-water rafting and horseback adventures. Downtown is a perfect place to experience the local flavour of the area, lined with shops, locally owned restaurants, a brewery district and other small businesses, you will find blocks of restored historic structures and a unique mix of old and new establishments that add to its character.
Stay two nights in Visalia
Day 8 Drive to Bakersfield, approx. 130 miles
Continuing the Central Valley theme, Bakersfield offers bountiful produce, quality wine and craft breweries, but also country music. In the 1950's and 60's Bakersfield became an unlikely birthplace for a new sound – The Bakersfield Sound and is recognised as ‘The Country Music Capital of the West Coast’ and ‘Nashville West’. A short drive from the city puts you in the Southern Sierra Nevada where one can experience top-rated white-water rafting, fly-fishing and hiking.
Stay two nights in Bakersfield
Day 10 Drive to Los Angeles, approx. 115 miles
Discover the different neighbourhoods associated with the LA lifestyle, including hip and trendy West Hollywood (or WeHo if you’re in the know!), glamorous Beverly Hills and the beach cities of Santa Monica, Venice and Marina Del Ray. Stroll along the Walk of Fame in Hollywood and visit Graumann’s Chinese Theatre. Head into the Hollywood Hills to get a closer glimpse of the sign, or take a tour of the movie stars homes. You can ‘ride the movies’ at Universal Studios, or visit the original Disneyland in Anaheim and its newer neighbour Disney’s California Adventure.
Stay one night in Los Angeles
Day 11 Return your car to Los Angeles Airport in time to check-in for your flight
