Hawaii, Napa Valley and San Francisco 13 Days
This 13 day trip is about absorbing all of the good things in life offered by the laid back rhythm in northern California and Hawaii.
We'll start in San Francisco exploring the history of the city, visiting many of the world's most iconic locations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Buena Vista Cafe, ride the old historic tramline, see the Mission area where gay rights activism was taking off in the 1980s (see the film Milk with Sean Penn) the Dodgers Baseball Stadium and much much more aside. There'll be a day trip to Napa Valley to visit to exclusive wineries - one producing high quality French reds and the other producing the very best American sparkling wines - easily a match for Krug, Cristal and Dom Perignon. We'll dine in Carneros and on the way back head back to the small seaside town of Sausolito overlooking the Bay.
Once we're done exploring and discovering multiculutral San Francisco, we'll fly from San Francisco Airport to Honalulu where we'll be filling up on Hawaiin culture. There'll be visits to Pearl Harbour in order to see the incredibly well desinged military musuem, the WW1 and WW2 submarines of the US Navy, and other ships associated with those fatal few hours in early December 1941, bringing the Americans into the war and sealing the fate of the Fascist Axis powers of Germany, Japan and Italy.
Honalulu is a bustling city but relaxation can certainly be had here as there's no shortage of quality acommodations and places to dine. Many people enjoy walking the strip and seeing the famous Waikiki beach with its volleyball players and surfers. In terms of the history and culture offered by the city, there are some great galleries and museums to vist and many people like to walk up the inside of the extinct volcano crater at Diamond Head. The views are breathtaking and it only takes an hour to get up and the same down.
We'll explore the island a little more and then finish the trip off with a short flight to Lihue, the capital of Kauai, the next island north in the chain.
We'll settle in for some well deserved down time and a rest for three nights at a resort. There's plenty to keep people entertained on the island if relaxing at the pool or the beach isn't enough inclucing the spectacular botanic gardens at Limahuli, a short drive away. The food and drinks offering in Hawaii is spectacular, the nature and mountains have to be seen and the locals are friendly and accommodating. You're going to have to pinch yourself as this is paradise in American Polynesia - it's no wonder this is island was used for the filming of Jurassic World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Avatar, King Kong and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
It's the most beautiful paradise island on earth and we'll show you why.
Itinerary and Specifics
Higlights:
- Visit two of the best wineries in California, go behind the scenes and meet the winemakers through our connections
- Enjoy the story of Alcatraz and be surprised by just what a beautiful island it is in spite of the terrible reputation
- See the Golden Gate Bridge
- Enjoy some of the many wonderful cultural establishments and excellent food offering in San Francisco
- See Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park in California
- Enjoy the very best beauty and culture of Hawaii
- See two of the five substantial islands that make up the world's most beautiful chain of islands
- Enjoy Hawaiian food and drinks - very delicious
- Explore the nature on Kauai - serene palm trees on golden sandy beaches, lush mountains and botanic gardens.
- Learn about native Hawaiins - Polynesians who arrived by catameran-like double hulled canoes - see their art, understand their belief system, understand the process of assimilation by the US Government, relations with the United Kingdom, how Captain Cook came to his Waterloo.
- Visit the Dole Banana Plantation, see the Polynesian Cultural Centre and visit a coffee plantation.
- Visit a boutique chocolate maker - some of the best chocolate we'eve ever had.
- Return refreshed and delighted to have seen the most beautiful place on earth.
Included:
- All Interior flights from San Fran- Honalulu/ Honalulu-Lihue and Return Flights to Honalulu and San Francisco.
- 4 Star Accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast Basis
- Meet and Greet at Airport
- Transfers to and from hotel
- Expert driver/guide
- Comfortable touring vehicle
- Local knowledge, recommendations and help with any bookings you want to make
- Porterage - 1 piece per person in and out of hotels
Not included
- Flights - purchase your own flights in and out of destination
- Gratuities minimum recommneded $20 per person per day
- Lunches and Dinners - we like our guests to be able to choose their own dining options
- Any entrances to museums, attractions and concerts - most of what you're looking for will be free entrance anyway.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrive in San Francisco International Airport, Meet and Greet and Transfer to your hotel in the centre. We're going to meet the local guide and visit a couple of important places on foot today or by using public transport. We'll start with the Buena Vista Club for an Irish coffee in the place it was invented (some would say Shannon Airport in Ireland as the founding father was Jim Sheridan and the drinker was an American journalist). Hop on the historic street tram, ride the important areas of town and we'll take you to the Pier area where you can get some great food and learn more of the history. Overnight in San Franicsco for three nights.
Day 2
We're off to some esclusive vineyards in the north of Napa and into Carneros. We're going to stop for some photographs at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and then northwards. The scenery has to be seen to be believed, once these vineyards were sheep ranching stations and now they are the most expensive wine areas in the world. Come back off the vineyards and wineries where you'll be educated by the wine makers and guides and we'll get into the most import part, the tasting. The proof is in the pudding as they say. Napa does Cabernet, Pinot and Chardonnay as good if not better than anyone else in the world. We'll have a nice meal in Sausalito on the Bay and take the boat from there back to the Harbour in San Francisco where you can enjoy the sights before heading back to your hotel.
Day 3
Today is a day for culture, seeing the sights of San Francisco and visiting a couple of museums and galleries, or just enjoying the vibe. The city has a lot to offer.
Day 4
Today we're heading north east and inland to the spectacular scenery at Lake Tahoe. This is a favourite hiking and scenery spot for the locals in Northern California and we are sure you'll enjoy one of the most beautiful spots in California as much as we do. There are many dining options and entertainment too. Spend the night up here.
Day 5
Today is spent at Yosemite National Park, the first National Park in the country, promoted by President Roosevelt and the Scotsman John Muir. We'll overnight nearby and get ready for our flight to Hawaii tomorrow morning.
Day 6
After a leisurely breakfast, we'll head to San Francisco Airport for our flight to Honalulu. It's about four hours in the air but the hospitality on board with Hawaiian Air is great. Arriving in Honalulu on Oahu, one of the larger islands, we'll be met at the airport by our local guide and transport to take us to the hotel for check-in. We're here for three nights.
Day 7
Today we explore the island with spectacular scenery heading north to the Dole Banana Plantation, Coffee Plantation, Polynesian Cultural Centre and Chocolate Boutique. The chocolate gelato are to die for. The main attraction of course in Hawaii is the scenery and understanding Hawaiin culture, we'll see plenty of both today.
Day 8
Today we spend locally following our big day of discovery yesterday. We visit the Honalulu Musuem of Art (top class) and Iolani Palace (Hawaiin Royalty Official Residence). We've got to head over to the Aloha Beer Company for food and a few drinks as well. The welcome is fantastic, their food excellent and the beers out of this world. It's a wonderful way to meet some locals.
Day 9
Today it's all about Pearl Harbour - you could easily spend 8 hours here but we think five should be enough to take in the entire site. You get a boat out on the bay included in the visit to see the largest and most famous ships in December 1941 scuttled by the Japanese Imperial Air Force, see a WW1 American Submarine and go right inside, visit the musuem which explains life for Japanese-Hawaiins and the outcome of the battle. We love this attraction, we think it's one of the best military and cultural visits in the world. No visit to Hawaii is complete without understanding American involvement in WW2 and the ambition of the Japanese Imperial Command.
Day 10
Today we'll leave Oahu and the busy city of Honalulu for some relaxation. We're over to Lihue, a 40 minute flight, from Honalulu Airport and onto the island of Kauai. This is a really interesting island known for its stunning scenery, greenery, botanic gardens and hospitality. We'll stay three nights near Lihue.
Day 11
Today we go up the north east side of the island to a botanic paradise where native species of Hawaiin plantlife are being maintained and preserved. We'll see a village and understand how the natives used to live. We'll stop off in a couple of coves with time to walk the beaches and take pictures. On the way back down, we'll lunch and come back to Lihue in time for visiting the excellent Kauai musuem which explains native dress, native language, native games and social life, as well as invasions, foreign policy of the islands, American influence, fishing and farming culture and much more.
Day 12
Today is a day at leisure at Poipu Beach and surrounds. We'll provide transport. On the way back we'll see some stunning scenery and take you to spots for excellent pictures and waterfalls.
Day 13
Today we leave Lihue and Kauai for the island of Oahu and its capital Honalulu. From there, we're back to San Francisco and home.
This is one of the greatest trips we offer and we hope you've enjoyed spectacular nature, culture, art, history, galleries, sandy beaches, excellent food and wine and much, much more. On this occasion, it's even more than the trip of a lifetime - we think Hawaii is the most beautiful place on the Globe, so stop Dreaming and see the place you always wanted to go, with us taking care of you every step of the way.