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About this tour

From San Diego to Seattle, this vacation highlights the Pacific Coast’s beauty and most exciting cities. Start your trip in San Diego, California’s second-largest city, with a sightseeing tour and time to explore the city on your own. Then head to Los Angeles, home to musical and film celebrities, and tour some of Los Angeles’ most popular sights. Enjoy the shoreline from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara, where you visit the 200-year-old mission, then head to Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated. On your way to San Francisco, stop at Hearst Castle, the opulent mansion of wealthy newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst—with splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions purchased at an estimated $50 million. Continue to San Francisco, famous for its cable cars and steep streets, and spend three overnights. See the city’s famous landmarks on your sightseeing tour and enjoy time to explore on your own. Of course, a trip to this area would not be complete without a stop in the wine-growing valley of Sonoma. Enjoy a guided tour and wine tasting at one of the well-known Sonoma wineries. Then view the world's tallest trees in spectacular Redwood National Park and along Avenue of the Giants. You even have the opportunity to see an 1,800-year-old redwood before heading north into Oregon. Enjoy some of Oregon’s beautiful coastal towns, including Bandon-by-the-Sea, Coos Bay, Florence, Tillamook, and Newport. In Portland, Oregon’s largest city, your sightseeing tour shows you why Portland is better known as the “City of Roses”—with its numerous parks and beautiful flower gardens. Then head to Seattle and enjoy a sightseeing tour including the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and more. Your trip ends in Seattle with time to explore on your own. If you want to see the amazing cities and beautiful sights along the Pacific Coast, this vacation is for you!

San Francisco, In San Diego, Bandon-by-the-Sea, and Seattle; Grauman’s Chinese Theatre; Hollywood Walk of Fame; 200-year-old Mission; Hearst Castle; Bandon Lighthouse; Oregon Coast Aquarium; International Rose Test Garden at Washington Park; Volcano Visitors Center., Portland, Los Angeles

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Sun. SAN DIEGO.

Welcome to San Diego, California’s second-largest city. Time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2: Mon. SAN DIEGO.

Enjoy blue skies on 70 miles of beaches with a Mediterranean climate. This morning features a sightseeing tour including downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, and Old Town San Diego. This afternoon, experience San Diego at your leisure. Take in the Maritime Museum or the celebrated San Diego Zoo.

Day 3: Tue. SAN DIEGO–LOS ANGELES.

Today, continue on your coastal journey to Los Angeles, the “City of Angels” and home to Universal Studios® as well as your favorite musical and film celebrities. Tour Los Angeles and visit Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where nearly 200 movie stars have left their hand and footprints, and see the popular Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Day 4: Wed. LOS ANGELES.

The day is free for your own exploration. Visit Hollywood and the Hollywood History Museum, located in the old Max Factor Building. Stroll Olvera Street, the heart of the original Spanish Mission, or visit the Getty Center with its wonderful art collection. Take a tour around Universal Studios or spend the day at magical Disneyland®. This evening your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions for dining and shopping.

Day 5: Thu. LOS ANGELES–SANTA BARBARA–SOLVANG–SAN LUIS OBISPO.

This morning, leave the motion picture capital of the world behind as you follow the shoreline from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara. The Spanish influence is apparent in Santa Barbara with quaint whitewashed and tile-roofed buildings. Visit the impressive 200-year-old MISSION with its world-famous twin bell towers. Afterward, enjoy a stroll along the wharf and lunch on your own. Up next: Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated with picturesque buildings and windmills. Free time to browse through the charming shops featuring Danish imports and rich pastries.

Day 6: Fri. SAN LUIS OBISPO–SAN SIMEON–MONTEREY–SAN FRANCISCO.

This morning, journey north to San Simeon and visit HEARST CASTLE, the opulent mansion of wealthy newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. See the splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions. The tour shows off the highlights of the impressive 123-acre estate. On to Monterey and Cannery Row, immortalized by John Steinbeck. Time here to explore on your own before heading to the Golden Gate city of San Francisco, famous for its steep hills and cable cars.

Day 7: Sat. SAN FRANCISCO.

This morning, included sightseeing takes in the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge, bustling Fisherman’s Wharf, and Nob Hill. In the evening, how about dinner at popular Fisherman’s Wharf? You’ll end the night with an illumination tour of San Francisco.

Day 8: Sun. SAN FRANCISCO.

This morning, visit the famous and fascinating ALCATRAZ PRISON. Get a close-up look at the infamous federal penitentiary that was off limits to the public for years. Afterward, the day is yours to delve deeper into this fascinating city. Your Tour Director will suggest more sightseeing attractions as well as favorite places to shop and dine.Note: The Alcatraz Prison visit is a value of $26.00

Day 9: Mon. SAN FRANCISCO–WINE COUNTRY–EUREKA.

Leave San Francisco and cross over the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. Head north into the wine-growing valley of Sonoma. Enjoy a guided tour and WINE TASTING at one of the well-known wineries. Afterward, travel the AVENUE OF THE GIANTS. This world-famous scenic drive is a 31-mile portion of Highway 101 with 51,222 acres of redwood groves. Arrival in Eureka, California’s premier lumber center, situated on scenic Humboldt Bay. On the way to your hotel, see the grand Carson Mansion, once the home of a local lumber baron.

Day 10: Tue. EUREKA–REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK–BANDON-BY-THE-SEA–COOS BAY.

Travel the coastal highway through REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK with its majestic sequoias, then drive to the seacoast town of Bandon-by-the-Sea. A sightseeing tour will show you its beauty and charm, and includes a photo stop at the Bandon Lighthouse. Overnight in the town of Coos Bay.

Day 11: Wed. COOS BAY–FLORENCE–NEWPORT.

Today is all about scenic beauty at a leisurely pace. First is the quaint town of Florence, one of Oregon’s most beautiful and charming cities along the coast. Time on your own to explore historic Old Town with its shops, boutiques, and coffee houses. From Florence, continue north through the SIUSLAW NATIONAL FOREST past popular beach resorts to one of Oregon’s favorite vacation spots—Newport on pretty Yaquina Bay. Late this afternoon, visit the OREGON COAST AQUARIUM.

Day 12: Thu. NEWPORT–TILLAMOOK–PORTLAND.

For a taste of the dramatic Oregon coastline we follow the Three Capes Scenic Route to Tillamook. Watch for the signs that tell you the brief story of the ghost community, now gone, that existed there 35 to 55 years ago. Enjoy a break in Tillamook, best known for its famous cheese and tasty saltwater taffy, before heading to Portland, Oregon’s largest city. A sightseeing tour shows why Portland is better known as the “City of Roses” with its numerous parks and beautiful flower gardens. Visit the largest rose garden in the U.S.—WASHINGTON PARK INTERNATIONAL ROSE TEST GARDEN. Time on your own to explore.

Day 13: Fri. PORTLAND–SEATTLE.

Today, cross the majestic Columbia River and head north into Washington State to the VOLCANO VISITORS CENTER to learn of the dramatic eruption of Mount St. Helens. Then, weather permitting, see ice-clad dormant volcano Mount Rainier before reaching Seattle. This afternoon’s sightseeing includes the Seattle Center, site of the 1962 World Fair and the 605-foot-high Space Needle, and a stop at the colorful Pike Place Market. Tonight, join your fellow traveling companions for an optional waterfront meal and panoramic views from the observation deck of the Space Needle.

Day 14: Sat. SEATTLE.

The day is free for you to explore the “Emerald City.” Perhaps take a sightseeing tour that soaks up the Asian flavor of the International District. Explore downtown, take a ferry across Puget Sound, or just relax and experience the spectacular views of Elliott Bay and enjoy fresh seafood.

Day 15: Sun. SEATTLE.

The trip ends this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

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About Cosmos

Well organized tours and good value for money. Cosmos is the budget version of Globus (they are owned by the same company). The difference would be that Cosmos would not have hotels in as central locations and they do not have as many things included in the price but rather offer those things as optionals at an extra charge.

Traveler profile

Generally younger age range than globus. Average age of passengers is in the 50s (vs. 60s for Globus). But all ages will go on the tours. Most passengers are American.

Group size

Maximum 50 people on a bus, buses are usually fully booked during peak season

Tour directors

Newly hired tour directors and those with less experience are usually assigned to these tours to increase their experience

Hotel type

Generally stay in 3-star hotels. Not all hotels will be centrally located (which helps Cosmos keep the price down)

What's included

Many excursions are 'extra' with Cosmos.

Free time

Cosmos tours usually bank in at least a few half days of free time (more if you choose not to go on the optional excursions)

Booking Policy

CANCELLATIONS & CANCELLATION FEES:
If cancellation is received by Globus before the final payment date of your vacation, your non-refundable deposit and Travel Protection premiums will be retained in addition to any airline-imposed fees or penalties. For individual reservations, the following per person cancellation fees apply. Total price does not include discounts, promotions, or special incentives. (For group reservations, refer to the Group Policy.)

STANDARD CANCELLATION FEES:

* 45-22 days prior to commencement of services: 20% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
* 21-8 days prior to commencement of services: 30% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
* 7-1 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
* On departure day and later: 100% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums

* Prices do not include taxes and fees, may not include airfare and are based on double occupancy. Tour information including pricing may not be up to date.

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