Tour Itinerary

Tuesday, August 15 – Your Pacific Coast Journey will begin today with a non-stop flight from Salt Lake City to Oakland, California.  Then it is off to San Francisco where we will have a great photo opportunity at the Golden Gate Bridge before crossing over and enjoying the afternoon at Sausalito, the charming waterfront town across the bay from San Francisco.  We will overnight at the Santa Rosa Hampton Inn.

Wednesday, August 16 – Today we begin traveling Northbound on Highway 101 and also Historic Highway 1, right along the coast.  We will take an amazing 31-mile scenic drive known as the Avenue of the Giants.  Without a doubt the best way to view the redwoods is by a touring motor-coach with large windows and someone else driving at the wheel.  Have your cameras ready!  Next up is Eureka which has a history of fishing, farming and especially logging.  Today Eureka is a virtual open-air museum of architecture, dedicated to preserving one of the finest and largest collections of Victorian homes in the world.  Humboldt County is the heart of Northern California’s Redwood Empire.  This is where men journey to truly appreciate the tallest trees on earth.  We will stop by the famous Carson Mansion for a photo opportunity. Our dinner tonight is at the Samoa Cookhouse, the last surviving lumber camp cookhouse in the West.  (breakfast & dinner included)

Thursday, August 17th –After breakfast today we will continue traveling north and into Redwood National Park where we will take a short stroll through the Simpson-Reed Grove. This level walk ushers us past towering old-growth redwoods, goose pens, nursery trees, fern-covered glades and much more.  Truly walking among the giant redwood trees is one of life’s memorable moments.   We’ll make stops today in Crescent City, and have the option of visiting the Battery Point lighthouse.  We’ll make a fun stop in Klamath where you’ll get to visit Paul Bunyan and Babe, the big blue ox.  We’ll even visit a drive-thru tree, one of just 3 remaining redwoods that you can actually drive an automobile through.  Accommodations tonight will be in Klamath, California.   (breakfast  included)

Friday, August 18th –Today we travel along Oregon’s dramatic coastline where almost every mile has something intriguing waiting for you.  Highway 101 is never far from the pounding surf of the Pacific Ocean.  From the lush rain forests, to the rocky headlands, to the towering dunes, the Oregon Coast is truly one of the world’s most scenic byways.   We will stop in Gold Beach to enjoy a cruise up the spectacular Rogue River, taking you into Oregon’s rugged wilderness for a chance to see bald eagles, cormorants, seals and blue heron.  Continuing north we will end our day strolling North Bend’s lively boardwalk perched along scenic Coos Bay.  (breakfast included)

Saturday, August 19th – We’ll visit the Oregon Sand Dunes National Recreation Area, extending 50 miles from Coos Bay to Florence.  Here, we will get on a dune buggy for a thrilling ride over miles of sand.  (Yes, this is a popular attraction for senior tours in the area).  We will continue our shoreline drive where we will have an opportunity to visit the picturesque Heceta Head Lighthouse, one of the most famous and photographed lighthouses along the entire west coast.   We will continue our scenic coastal drive up the coast past Newport and onto our final destination of McMinnville. (breakfast included)

Sunday, August 20th –Today you can sleep in, enjoy a local worship service or take a dip in the hotel pool, but later this morning we are going out on the town and visit the fascinating Evergreen Aviation Museum.  Remember Howard Hughes’ giant airplane known as the Spruce Goose that was housed for years in Long Beach, California?  Well, it is now located in McMinnville, Oregon and we will learn all about its intriguing history as well as other sights to see.   We will make our way into Portland for a brief city tour and spend the night in a quiet neighborhood in Vancouver just across the mighty Columbia River in Washington state.  (breakfast included)

Monday, August 21st – Today we will enjoy the dramatic scenery as we explore the steep walls of the mighty Columbia River Gorge.  An informative visit to the Bonneville Dam will be made, and we will be able to see the determined salmon swim upriver and through the salmon ladders.  Have your cameras ready because we’ll also make a photo stop at Oregon’s 620-foot-high waterfall, Multnomah Falls.  We will enjoy a relaxing luncheon at Multnomah Falls before heading to the airport for our flight home with many great memories of our journey up Highway 1& 101.  (breakfast & luncheon included)