Come along on a special 3-day excursion to Hearst Castle and experience the magnificence of this legendary mansion fully decorated for the holidays.
Book NowCome along on a special 3-day excursion to Hearst Castle and experience the magnificence of this legendary mansion, fully decorated as it would have been for the holidays in the Castle's heyday of the 1920s and '30s. Embark on a guided tour of the mansion and marvel at opulent surroundings, including the two 18-foot-tall Christmas trees in the Assembly Room and the massive Dining Room decked out in holiday splendor. You'll also have time to browse the Visitor Center and see the IMAX film Building the Dream. Spend two nights at the charming Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo. Your excursion offers five meals including a welcome dinner at Olive Garden, as well as visits to Santa Barbara, the artisan village of Cambria, and the Danish village of Solvang, known for its unique Christmas shopping and traditional architecture.
Tour Fare:
$995 per person double occupancy
$1165 per person single occupancy
Book NOW Savings:
Book now and save $100 off the above fare while seats last!
Cancellatin Protection:
$90 per person, double or triple occupancy
$105 per person, single occupancy
Deposit and Final Payment:
A deposit of $150 per person due at time of booking
Final Balance for Dec. 8 Departue due Oct. 24
Final Balance for Dec. 15 Departue due Oct. 30
3-day Excursion
All times and routing are approximate and subject to change without notice.
DAY 1
Today, we embark on a scenic journey along California's stunning coastline, heading north toward Santa Barbara. Our first stop is at the historic Old Mission Santa Barbara, where you'll have the opportunity to capture some beautiful photos. Next, we'll visit the famous Stearns Wharf for free time to explore the waterfront arts and crafts show and enjoy lunch on your own in this lively coastal town. In the afternoon, we continue our journey to San Luis Obispo, where we'll check in at the charming Apple Farm Inn. This delightful inn offers a warm, country-inspired atmosphere with individually decorated rooms, cozy fireplaces, and picturesque gardens. This evening, we'll enjoy a delicious dinner together at the Olive Garden Restaurant.
DDAY 2
Your day begins with a complimentary breakfast at the hotel before we set off on a short tour of San Luis Obispo, followed by a visit to the charming town of Harmony, with its tiny population of just 18 residents. From there, we'll make our way to the picturesque seaside village of Cambria, where you'll have time to explore its unique galleries and boutiques and enjoy lunch on your own. Nestled between pine-covered hills and a rugged coastline, Cambria is a true artist's haven. Afterward, we'll stop at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, the only place in the world where you can easily observe these fascinating creatures year-round. Our journey continues to the Hearst Castle Visitor Center, where you can browse for souvenirs and watch the IMAX film Building the Dream. Next, you'll experience the holiday magic of Hearst Castle, beautifully decorated as it might have been in the 1920s and '30s. A guided tour of the castle will showcase its lavish interiors, including the magnificent 18-foot Christmas trees in the Assembly Room. Enjoy a delicious dinner this evening is at the San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill.
B, DDAY 3
After breakfast at the hotel this morning, we begin our return journey southbound, stopping to visit the Danish village of Solvang. Founded by a small group of Danish settlers in 1911, Solvang today is known as the Danish Capital of America and blends charming Old World architectural styles with flower-lined streets to create a delightfully walkable village. Millions of decorations and twinkling Christmas lights adorn the village as the aroma of chocolate, baked goods and coffee fill the quaint streets. Enjoy a tasty, included lunch before continuing on to San Diego with new acquaintances and colorful memories of a Vintage Christmas at Hearst Castle.
B, LB=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Tour Manager: 12/8 - Bobbie Lona* 12/15 - Christina Koohmarey*
Considerable walking is involved at most locations visited on this tour including some areas with uneven or unpaved surfaces and inclines. For more details on required phsyical activity, see the Hearst Castle tour below.
Holiday Tour Pysical Requirements:
The Holiday Twilight Tour** is 75 minutes in length and includes approximately 190 steps each way, up and down, and a 2/3-mile walk. An accessibly-designed Holiday Twilight Tour may be available for disabled guests who have difficulty climbing stairs or standing and walking for extended periods of time. The ADA tour has limited availability and must be selected during the booking process, when available.There are loaner wheelchairs available for this version of the tour if needed. (Waitlist for ADA tour is also available.) Single and multiple-pronged canes are allowed on all tours as long as they have rubber tips. Seat canes are not allowed. There are single canes available for guests to borrow.
** The Twilight Tour may be replaced with the daytime holiday tour. Holiday castle decorations and indoor holiday lights and trees are part of both evening and daytime tours, and both are complete Hearst Castle discovery tours.
Description of Holiday Twilight Tour
Discover why the holiday season was an exceptionally festive time for Mr. Hearst and his guests. Share in the splendor as you wind your way through the grounds, Casa del Sol-guest house, and the grand social rooms of Casa Grande. This special seasonal tour showcases abundant holiday decorations with numerous Christmas trees, including two towering trees. View Mr. Hearsts celebrated art collection in the warm glow of thousands of holiday lights. Your knowledgeable guide will share stories of holiday festivities during the estates heyday.
Round-trip luxury motor coach transportation
Professional Tour Manager throughout the trip
Complimentary bottled water and snacks on the coach
Visit Santa Barbara with a photo stop at Old Mission Santa Barbara
Two-night accommodations at Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo
Welcome dinner at Olive Garden
Time on own in Cambria
Holiday walking tour of Hearst Castle
Visit San Luis Obispo with photo stop at Bubblegum Alley
Time for shopping and included lunch in Solvang
5 meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 2 dinners
Day 1 - Included 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 sautéed in a garlic sauce, tossed with asparagus, tomatoes and angel hair Pasta.
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.*
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 - Included San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill Dinner Choices
All entrees include a green salad, table bread, coffee, tea or soft drink
Topped with lemon dill butter. Served with rice and vegetables
Chicken breast marinated in herbs and lemon. Served with rice and vegetables
Topped with tomato, basil, capers, mushrooms, garlic, olive oil, parmesan and herbs. Served with garlic cheese bread.
vanilla ice cream with chocolate topping
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Travel insurance
Room incidentals
Alcoholic beverages
Gratuities for the Tour Manager & Driver
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.
A deposit of $150 per person is required to secure your booking, with the final balance due 45 days prior to departure.
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.
You may cancel your booking forty-five (45) or more days prior to the tours 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.
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.
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 todays 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.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Name | Address | Times |
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Carlsbad | La Costa Avenue Park & Ride East side of I-5, at 710 La Costa Ave, 92024. | View |
La Mesa | Park & Ride #22 lot - 8703 Murray Dr, 91942 Narrow Park & Ride Across from Wells Fargo Bank | View |
Mission Valley | 2005 Camino Del Este San Diego, CA 92108; Street parking only | View |
University City | 6245 Kantor Street, San Diego, CA 92122 Street parking only. Do not enter parking lot. | View |
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