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San Francisco - Yosemite
Best of Both Worlds from big city to big open space. This tour will take you from the bright lights of the big city of San Francisco to the bright stars of the big skies of Yosemite. We think this is a match made in heaven and hope you'll enjoy both destinations. San Francisco and Yosemite are so close yet so far apart.
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San FranciscoIt may well be Americas greatest city - and San Francisco is a favorite for us at Topic Tours. San Francisco has some of the most distinctive landmarks in the USA, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fishermans Wharf, Mission Dolores, Alcatraz, Chinatown, and Golden Gate Park, and cable cars, Americas only moving national historic landmark, all set against a backdrop of unique natural beauty.
To some, San Francisco means fresh seafood, and you can still see the fishing fleet along the pier. The city has an opera, ballet and symphony, as well as theatres, clubs, museums and galleries, making it a great destination for arts and entertainment. To others it means excellent restaurants, and youll see why Conde-Nast readers voted San Francisco the worlds best city for dining.
Access to Californias vineyards makes San Francisco an oenophiles city. Its easy to understand why some see the city as an outdoors and sports mecca, whether its participation sports such as running, golf, or kayaking or taking in a pro team. History buffs will find San Francisco an amazing place and revel in Gold Rush history as well as a cultural melting pot. Cinema fans will probably recognize scenes from some classic films.
In San Francisco, theres something for everyone. Argonaut HotelEverything old is new again. The Argonaut Hotel is the newest hotel on Fishermans Wharf, opened in 2004, in an historic 1907 warehouse. The waterfront location of the Argonaut offers breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island and is only steps from the Cannery, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square.
The guestrooms are decorated in a unique nautical theme and some have brick walls, old wooden timbers or steel doors, original architecture from the old warehouse. All rooms have TV, stereo, CD/DVD, 2-line telephones with voicemail and internet access, coffeemakers, mini-bars, comfy robes, iron and board, hairdryers and Aveda bath products. The Argonaut Hotel is fully ADA accessible and also has a fitness salon and business center.
All visitors to San Francisco spend a lot of their time on Fishermans Wharf. Now you can stay there too. Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park - located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of central California - is a setting so spectacular and awe-inspiring that it is often referred to as the "Crown Jewel" of the National Park system. Earthquakes, glaciers and other forces of nature over millions of years have left indelible footprints on the landscape that are still visible in the towering granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, steep mountains and deep alpine lakes. They beckon visitors to explore, climb, photograph and experience their grandeur.
Encompassing 1,170 square miles, an area the size of the state of Rhode Island, this unique destination offers both expansive wilderness as well as comfortable guest services. Yosemite National Park is like four separate parks in one, with each season offering a truly unique and new experience. Whether its cascading waterfalls in the spring, quiet snow-filled meadows in the winter, breathtaking autumn colors or star-spangled summer nights, the beauty of Yosemite is constantly changing. Each season is not only a feast of visual delights, but also offers its own set of programs, tours and experiences.
We hope you'll mark your calendar to visit and revisit Yosemite National Park with Topic Tours. Yosemite LodgeNested next to the base of Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Lodge is an ideal place to stay while exploring the wilderness. The Lodge is the departure point for trips to Half Dome, Glacier Point, or one of the many trails. Although still with a rustic feel, the modern world has reached Yosemite Lodge, which now has wireless, as well as television and telephone throughout. The spacious lodge rooms each offer one queen or two double beds, a desk, private bath, and a patio or balcony with views of the great outdoors.
Yosemite Lodge is a self-contained village, with three restaurants, a cocktail lounge, an outdoor pool, a gift shop featuring Native American art, bike rentals, an amphitheater, and a post office.
Yosemite Lodge is much more than just a place to lay your head after a day exploring the park.
Itinerary
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| Saturday Home - San Francisco Argonaut Hotel (D) |
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Arrive in San Francisco and check in at the Hotel, in the 'heart' of downtown San Francisco and beautiful city by the bay. After checking in, you will join the other tour participants/members in the Hospitality Suite and begin relaxing with special pampering while getting acquainted with our tour manager and staff members. In the evening there will be a cocktail party and reception followed by a Welcome Dinner at the Argent Hotel. |
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| Sunday San Francisco Argonaut Hotel (B D) |
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After brunch, we'll meet in the Hospitality Suite for afternoon activities, and sightseeing and/or shopping excursions. In the evening there will be a cocktail party followed by a group dinner. |
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| Monday San Francisco - Yosemite Yosemite Lodge (B L D) |
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Today, we'll depart the Argonaut Hotel and travel by deluxe motorcoach to Yosemite National Park, stopping enroute at a winery. In the evening there will be a cocktail party followed by a group dinner. |
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| Tuesday Yosemite National Park Yosemite Lodge (B L D) |
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The morning will consist of topic-related activities or presentations. There will be a mid afternoon break for a group lunch and free time. We'll reconvene in the afternoon for more topic-related activities or presentations. In the evening there will be a cocktail party followed by a group dinner. |
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| Wednesday Yosemite National Park Yosemite Lodge (B L D) |
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The morning will consist of topic-related activities or presentations. There will be a mid afternoon break for a group lunch and free time. We'll then travel by deluxe motorcoach to Taft Point and Glacier Point for spectacular views of Yosemite Valley, all within short walks. We'll then continue toward the south park entrance and spend a magical hour walking and relaxing in Mariposa Grove, a forest of sequoias. These ancient giants, bathed in late-afternoon sunlight as they have been for more than a thousand years, will cast a spell you will always remember! We'll have drinks, appetisers, and dinner at the impressive Tenaya Lodge with some free time to browse the gift shop or enjoy the warmth of their massive fireplace. We'll then return to Yosemite Lodge. |
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| Thursday Yosemite National Park Yosemite Lodge (B L D) |
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The morning will consist of topic-related activities or presentations. We'll then transfer to the world-famous Ahwahnee Lodge for a delicious lunch and plenty of leisure time to enjoy the majestic atmosphere of the public rooms and gardens. At the Yosemite Visitor Center, explore the Indian Cultures Exhibit, the reproduction of an Ahwahneeche village, and the Ansel Adams Gallery. In the afternoon, we'll take a leisurely walk along the trail to Yosemite Falls. In the evening there will be a cocktail party followed by a group dinner. |
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| Friday Yosemite - San Francisco Argonaut Hotel (B L D) |
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After breakfast, we'll board our deluxe motorcoach for the scenic drive out of the Yosemite Valley and our return trip to the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco. Enroute we'll do additional sightseeing and stop for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is at our leisure. In the evening there will be a cocktail party followed by a Farewell Dinner. |
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| Saturday San Francisco - Home (No Meals Included) |
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Today you'll transfer to the airport on your own for your return trip home. |
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