Page 13 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – November/December 2021

TRAVEL
California Dreamin’
Soak Up the Sunshine and Blue Pacific Waters
By Judie Karhan
California’s coastline mesmerizes the observer. The seemingly endless, sparkling Pacific Ocean hugs long stretches of alternating sandy and rocky beaches, the waters punctuated by surfers and sunning seal lions. Driving from Northern to Southern California, a traveler will experience a unique blend of sights, from cosmopolitan cities to peaceful coastal communities.
In San Francisco, clamoring cable cars lumber up and
down steep streets in some of the city’s most interesting neighborhoods. The cityscapes are among the most stunning in the world. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf, bustling with excitement over the fresh catches of the day; walk across the often fog- enshrouded Golden Gate Bridge or take a walking tour of Chinatown; visit trendy Sausalito on the other side of the bay, or hop on a bay cruise circling around famous Alcatraz Island.
Travel southward along the Pacific Coast Highway to reach Monterey and enter the 17-Mile Drive on the peninsula, one of the state’s most scenic drives. In Monterey you can visit Mission Carmel, the second of California’s 21 Spanish Missions. Also enjoy some time in Carmel-By-The-Sea, a lovely artistic seaside town. Explore popular Cannery Row, take a whale watching excursion on Monterey Bay or visit the highly acclaimed Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Venture farther south along Pacific Coast Highway 1 between Carmel and San Simeon for 90 miles and you will experience one the most unforgettable drives in America. Continue traveling through Big Sur, with its towering mountains on
one side and the crashing Pacific Ocean on the other. In San Simeon, you can tour famous Hearst Castle, the grandiose vision of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst.
Arriving in Paso Robles, you’ll experience an all-together different vibe, where laid-back cowboy country meets one
of the state’s best wine regions. Tour the historic downtown and visit a local winery with underground caves. Continue
on to arrive in the affluent beachside town of Santa Barbara, where palm trees reach skyward against a lovely backdrop of Mediterranean-style architecture.
In Los Angeles, the scenery and atmosphere changes yet again. Stroll along famous Rodeo Drive where you’ll find some of the
most expensive stores in the world, see the handprints at famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the iconic Hollywood sign. Los Angeles’ many museums include car collections at the Peterson Automotive Museum and the Academy of Motion Pictures.
One of the best ways to get to San Diego from Los Angeles
is by taking Amtrak’s Surfliner Train, which departs from Union Station. Travel through Orange County as the train moves closer to the coastline before reaching picturesque San Diego. With a hop on and off trolley pass, many of San Diego’s best attractions can be seen effortlessly, including Old Town, Balboa Park, the historic Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village and Hotel Coronado.
AAA Central Penn invites you to experience these California highlights, and much more, on a Coastal California with Big Sur tour in May 2022 – a beautiful time to visit the Golden State.
COASTAL CALIFORNIA
WITH BIG SUR
MAY 7 – 17, 2022
$3,929* per person, double occupancy
HIGHLIGHTS
San Francisco | Monterey | Pacific Coast Highway Drive | Big Sur Paso Robles | Be My Guest lunch at the Groves on 41 Olive Oil Ranch Hollywood | Rodeo Drive | San Diego
For reservations and information, contact your local AAA Travel Agent at 888-743-2844.
*Rates are subject to availability at time of booking and include taxes, fees and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. All pricing and included features are based on a minimum of 20 passengers. Airfare is currently not included in the price of the trip. Airfare will be added when rates and schedules become available and may have a payment and cancellation schedule that is different from the land tour.
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