Hearst Castle, Clydesdales, & the California Coast

Embark on a captivating journey through California's Hidden Coastal Wonders and Timeless Charm

 

Discover the magic of California’s Golden Coast on a four-day journey steeped in rich history, natural beauty, and luminous artistry. Your home for three nights is the charming Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo—a boutique retreat where cozy comfort meets vintage elegance, wrapped in warm hospitality.

 

Step into California’s past at La Purísima Mission in Lompoc, the state’s most authentically restored mission. Peaceful gardens and winding trails invite quiet reflection amid 200-year-old adobe walls. Motor along the iconic Highway 1 to Piedras Blancas, where a docent-led visit to the Elephant Seal Rookery reveals the fascinating lives of these massive marine mammals in their wild coastal sanctuary.

 

In San Simeon, ascend the rolling hills to Hearst Castle, where lavish rooms, sweeping terraces, and priceless collections reflect the extravagant dreams of William Randolph Hearst. The accompanying IMAX film, Building the Dream, brings his vision to life with cinematic brilliance.

 

As twilight descends, the hills of Paso Robles come alive at Sensorio, Bruce Munro’s glowing dreamscape of light and color. Savor courtyard dining or cocktails amid live acoustic music under the stars, then wander through a dazzling Field of Light—a rolling sea of 100,000 fiber-optic blooms. With access to all exhibits, including Dimensions, a multisensory sound-and-light experience, and the captivating new FOSO installation, this evening is a spellbinding sensory escape. Don’t miss the intimate Airstream Bar area, where ethereal music and artful lighting offer a moment of relaxation among the magic of Dimensions.

 

The next day, explore the coastal village of Cambria, known for its artistic charm and local treasures. Pick up a famous olallieberry mini-pie from Linn’s Bakery for later indulgence before heading to the hills for a memorable visit to Covell Clydesdale Ranch. Enjoy a narrated wagon tour through rolling pastures, meet the majestic Clydesdales, and sit down to a ranch-style BBQ lunch, lovingly prepared by the Covell family. It’s a moment of rustic beauty and heartfelt hospitality you won’t forget.

 

That evening, indulge in a grand finale at the fabulously flamboyant Madonna Inn—an iconic feast for the senses. Inside its famously eccentric dining room, enjoy an elegant dinner with your choice of prime rib, halibut steak, or a vegetarian entrée. The atmosphere alone provides an experience that lasts a lifetime.

 

On the way home, enjoy a narrated trolley tour of the storybook town of Solvang, with time for lunch, shopping, and sweet Danish treats. Later, cap off your coastal adventure with a vibrant, aviation-themed dinner on your own at the Proud Bird Food Bazaar near LAX.

 

From history and wildlife to glowing hillsides and Clydesdale kisses, this tour blends every flavor of California’s Central Coast into one extraordinary escape. Let yourself be enchanted—reserve your seat today!

 

Tour Fares:

• $1695 per person double occupancy

• $1995 per person single occupancy

 

Early Booking Savings:

Save $100 per person off the above fares when you book by July 10!

 

Deposit and Final Payment:

• A deposit of $150 per person (plus optional CPP) is due at the time of booking.

• Final Balance Due 45 days prior to departure date

 

Cancellation Protection (CPP):

Make your booking fully refundable with our add-on CPP, which allows you to cancel at any time for any reason and receive a full refund, no questions asked!

• $125 per person, double or triple occupancy

• $150 per person, single occupancy

 

Hearst Castle

 

Hearst Castle's Neptune Pool

 

Sensorio's Field of Light

 

Sensorio's Dimentsions Art Installation

 

Tara Covell with her Clydesdale Horses at Covell Ranch

 

wild Elephant Seal Rookery

 

Prime Rib Dinner at Madonna Inn

 

 

Danish Village of Solvang

 

Narrated Trolley Tour of Solvang

 

Sensorio Field of Light

 

Sensorio Dimensions Installation

 

Piedras Elephant Seal Rookery

 

Apple Farm Inn

 

Covell Ranch Clydesdales

 

 

 

Tour Managers: *Christina Koohmarey

 

Activity Level: High

Considerable walking is involved at most locations visited on this tour, including areas with uneven or unpaved surfaces and inclines. Each day involves stepping on and off the coach several times as we visit a variety of locations. Hearst Castle has 150 stairs to climb Covell Ranch is a private working horse ranch, and stepping up onto the wagon may be challenging for individuals with physical limitations. There is no alternative means of touring the horse ranch.

 

What's Included in the Tour Fare

• Round-trip luxury motor coach transportation from pickup locations throughout San Diego County

• Professional Tour Manager throughout the trip

• Complimentary bottled water and snacks on the coach

• Visit to downtown Ventura for lunch on own

• Visit La Purisima Mission State Park

• Three-night stay at the charming Apple Farm Inn, San Luis Obispo

• Docent-led experience at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery

• Docent-guided tour of Hearst Castle

• Full-access pass to Sensorio Field of Light and specialty art installations in Pasa Robles

• Visit to the artisan village of Cambria

• Gourmet dinner at the extravagant Madonna Inn

• Narrated wagon tour, interaction with Clydesdale horses, and a family-cooked BBQ lunch at Covell Ranch

• Guided trolley tour of Solvang

• Meal stop at the aviation-themed Proud Bird Food Bazaar

• 6 meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 2 dinners (see meal choices below for pre-selected entrees)

 

What's Not Included in the Tour Fare

• Meals not listed in the itinerary

• Travel insurance

• Cancellation Protection

• Room incidentals

• Alcoholic beverages

• Gratuities for the Tour Manager & Driver

 

Choose Your Hearst Castle Tour  And Meals During The Booking Process

• The Grand Rooms Tour:

  Gather in the grand social rooms of Casa Grande—the largest house at Hearst Castle—to experience what it was like to be a guest at this hilltop retreat. This tour is recommended forfirst-time visitors and has the fewest stairs to climb. An ADA accessible version of this tour is limited to a maximum of four guests on a first come first serve basis. Learn more about the Grand Suites Tour and its physical requirements
  Upstairs Suites Tour:

• The Upstairs Suites Tour guides visitors through the estate’s upstairs guest accommodations and Mr. Hearst’s private quarters on the third floor. Learn more about the Upstairs Suites Tour and its physical requirements
  Cottages & Kitchens Tour:

• The Cottages & Kitchen Tour allows visitors to see both the most personal and most practical areas of The Enchanted Hill, in both the main house and the smaller houses. Learn more about the Cottages & Kitchens Tour and its physical requirements

 

Day 1 - Olive Garden Dinner Choices:

All entrees include unlimited breadsticks and famous house salad, as well as choice of fountain drinks, fresh brewed iced tea, hot coffee, or hot tea.

• Tour of Italy:

  Three Olive Garden classics all on one plate! Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico* and signature Fettuccine Alfredo – all with homemade sauces made fresh every morning.

• Shrimp Scampi:

  Shrimp sautéed in a garlic sauce, tossed with asparagus, tomatoes and angel hair Pasta.

• Eggplant Parmigiana:

  Hand-breaded eggplant, lightly fried and topped with marinara and melted mozzarella. Served with a side of spaghetti.

• Spaghetti & Meatballs:

  Spaghetti and meatballs with your choice of marinara or meat sauce.*

• Chicken Alfredo:

  Creamy alfredo sauce made from scratch with ingredients like parmesan, cream, garlic and butter, served with fettuccine pasta and topped with sliced grilled chicken.

• Dessert: 

  Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping.

 

*Meat sauce is made with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage

 

Day 2 - San Simeon Beach Grill Lunch Choices:

All entrees come with a green salad, table bread, vanilla ice cream with chocolate topping, coffee, tea or soft drink

• Grilled Salmon with rice and vegetables

• Mediterranean Chicken with rice and vegetables

• Pasta Riviera (Vegetarian)

 

Day 3 - Madonna Inn Dinner Choices:

All entrees include a Green Salad, chef’s vegetable, Whipped Potatoes, served with house made dinner rolls, coffee and tea beverage service, and dessert

• Prime Rib:

      Traditional thick cut and delightfully roasted, this generously portioned entree is seasoned with rosemary, and served au jus style

• Halibut Steak:

        An impressive 8 oz. filet of broiled Alaskan loin steak selected for its light texture and beautiful presentation

• Vegetarian Option TBD:

 

How to Book Your Reservation

Making your reservation is easy. Simply click the Book Now button above to select your date and confirm your space online, 24/7. You can also call the DayTripper Tours reservations department at (619) 334-3394 during business hours of M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Deposit and Final Payment

A deposit of $150 per person is required to secure your booking, with the final balance due 45 days prior to departure.

 

Smartphones

Although not necessary to fully enjoy your trip, a personal smartphone and personal headset can greatly enhance your tour experience. Take high-quality photos, share your experience on social media in real time, search for nearby restaurants and topics of interest, set reminders, and more.

 

45-Day Cancellation Deadline

• If you purchased the optional Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) before the cancellation deadline, your tour is fully refundable at any time (see below). If you did not purchase the CPP you may cancel your booking forty-five (45) or more days prior to the tour’s departure date to receive a refund less a $100 per person cancellation fee. Alternatively, when you cancel your booking forty-five (45) or more days prior to the departure date, we can waive the cancellation fee and transfer the full amount to another tour or a non-refundable voucher, which can be applied to any future excursion booked within one year of the original tour date. Cancellations within 45 days of departure are nonrefundable and nontransferable for any reason if you did not purchase the optional CPP.

• Passenger name changes, deviations, or other changes made by the passenger after the final payment deadline has passed will be assessed a $50 per person change fee plus any fees incurred by the service providers. No refunds, transfers or credits can be issued for any reason on bookings canceled after the cancellation deadline. Travel insurance is available through Travelex during the booking process.

 

Optional Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) - Cancel for any reason and receive a full refund

• DayTripper Tours offers an optional Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) for this tour. The CPP allows you to cancel your reservation for any reason at least two or more hours prior to your scheduled departure time for a full refund (less the cost of the CPP). The CPP may be purchased prior to the tour’s stated cancellation deadline. To cancel your reservation please call (619) 334-3394 during business hours to notify a reservations agent, or leave a time-stamped voice message after hours at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure time, and your refund will be processed. The CPP cost for multi-day motor coach tours is $5 for each $50 increment of the full, non-discounted tour fare plus any add-on options. CPP does not cover the single supplement of the remaining traveler when a traveling companion cancels from a double occupancy reservation. The CPP is not insurance, but rather an agreed-upon cancellation fee paid in advance for the right to cancel a reservation according to the terms stated in this clause. Protect yourself even further with Travel Insurance (see below). CPP is not offered on tours that include air, rail, or cruise line transportation.

 

Protect Your Investment with Travel Insurance

• At DayTripper Tours, we recommend you purchase insurance to help protect against unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss, or even sudden sickness or injury, all of which could impact your excursion. In today’s ever-changing travel environment, you can relax and enjoy your trip with the security of knowing those unexpected circumstances are covered by a travel protection plan. You can purchase travel insurance from any company you choose; however, for your convenience we offer travel protection through Travelex Insurance Services (CA Agency License #0D10209). For more information and to receive a quote, click here. Please note: Your policy must be purchased on or before the date you submit your final payment for the tour in order to be eligible for the pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver.

 

*Tour Manager is subject to change without notice.

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