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The tour begins with a pick-up from your hotel. After a quick stop to pick up picnic supplies for lunch (price not included; pre-order options available) from a local organic deli and market, you’ll head north across the Golden Gate Bridge. You will be immediately rewarded with sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay: Alcatraz Island, the city skyline, and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean are just a few of the picturesque vistas from this remarkable bridge. Next, we’ll wind our way through the coastal mountains of the Marin Headlands and past Mt. Tamalpais (the highest point in the North Bay region), leaving the rush of the city behind and setting the pace for a relaxing day out in the country. Once in Sonoma County, dairy farms and vineyards provide an inspiring introduction to the rolling hills and beautiful valleys that have supplied the world with fantastic wines for over 60 years. Your professional guide will give you details about the region, wine, and the day's itinerary so that you can truly appreciate your experience. The first stop will be the Benziger Family Winery & Biodynamic Vineyard, where you will enjoy a close-up look at the vineyards, fermentation facility, and crush pad on a comfortable tram tour. You’ll also have a chance to walk through their barrel caves! The tour is approximately 45 minutes long, and includes a special tasting of Benziger's biodynamic and other award-winning wines. After your tasting, enjoy your picnic lunch (included: see menu for pre-order options) in a quiet spot at one of the local wineries, surrounded by views of the beautiful countryside and vineyards. In the afternoon, you will head over to famed Napa County for more wine tasting in Oakville, Yountville, or in the town of Napa. The landscape of rolling hills laced with rows of wine grapes is impressive and will provide a romantic backdrop for memorable photographs. On the return trip, you’ll make one more photo stop above the Golden Gate Bridge - a must-do if you've never witnessed the awe-inspiring view of San Francisco from the Marin Headlands! At the end of the tour you will return to your San Francisco accommodations (around 6pm). **note: To best suit the needs of our partner wineries and our guests, it is sometimes necessary to slightly alter the itinerary of the tour. In the wintertime there is less daylight and some tasting rooms may have shorter open-hours. Your group may also make a detour to Muir Woods National Monument. If this is not an original item in your itinerary, please be aware that your entrance fee will be covered and you are welcome to enjoy the cafe and have a delicious warm breakfast or a cup of coffee in lieu of exploring the woods. Highlights: Golden Gate Bridge Marin Headlands 45 min Benziger Winery Tram Tour Napa AND Sonoma Counties Lunch INCLUDED! Excellent wine varietals for all tastes and preferences Inclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop-off Narrated guided tour Benziger Winery Tram Tour ($20 retail value) Organic, local picnic lunch (choice of turkey, ham, roast beef, or vegetarian sandwich) Wine tasting at 4-5 unique wineries (some tasting fees may apply; proper ID required for tasting) Lunch Options: Turkey with whole wheat bread, mayo, mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion comes with: pasta salad, piece of fruit, & cookie or brownie Roast Beef with whole wheat bread, mayo, mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion comes with: potato salad, piece of fruit, & cookie or brownie Ham with whole wheat bread, mayo, mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onio n comes with: potato salad, piece of fruit, & cookie or brownie Vegetarian with whole wheat bread, mayo, mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickle, onion, olives, sprouts, pepperoncini, cucumber comes with: coleslaw, piece of fruit, & cookie or brownie
Set off for a full day excursion to Normandy from Paris with an official guide. Set off from your Paris accommodation at 06:30 for our central Paris agency. Relax during the journey by luxury air-conditioned coach before arriving at the Caen Memorial Museum at around 10:15. The Caen Memorial Museum retraces the various stages of the conflict that took place during the Second World War. Your guided tour will give you the chance to see everyday objects from life during occupation, maps, and models of military vehicles, as well as film screenings that recreate the emotions of D-Day and the Battle for Normandy. The visit continues with an included lunch at the restaurant in the Caen Memorial Museum. Menu* Starter Buffet: Légumes crus de saison et leur vinaigrette(tomates, concombres, carottes) Salades composées Charcuterie *** Table served hot dish Fondant de poulet farci aux cèpes Galette de pommes de terre / Julienne de légumes *** Chesse and Dessert Buffet: Fromages normands (Pont l’Evêque et Camembert) Tarte normande Salade de fruits Tarte au chocolat Teurgoule ** Pain de campagne (farmhouse bread) *** Drinks: Bordeaux wine (1 bottle for 4) Eau de source Coffee * Example of menu, subject to modification without any notice In the afternoon, your tour will continue to several of the iconic landmarks that played a part in the landings. Your first stop will be at the Pointe du Hoc, overlooking the hundred-foot-high cliffs. Stormed by the American Rangers on D-Day, it was one of the key German fortified sites along the Normandy coast and was equipped, at that time, with a number of heavy artillery posts. You will then visit the famous American Cemetery at Saint Laurent, located just above Omaha Beach. This 170-acre site is home to 9,387 perfectly aligned white marble headstones, a memorial, chapel, and the Garden of the Missing. It pays tribute to all the American soldiers who died during the Second World War. A small trail leads down the hill to Omaha Beach, giving you the opportunity to walk across the sand. You will have one hour to spend here. Following this visit, you will stop at Arromanches, a historic town known for its artificial port, which was built as part of the Normandy landings. The harbour saw the unloading of almost 10,000 tons of equipment. You can still make out the floating reinforced concrete "Phoenix" constructions in the water. Finally, you will make a short photo-stop near Juno Beach and its cemetery, one of the key D-Day landing beaches for Canadian troops. Return to your Paris accommodation is scheduled for around 21:30.
The day begins with a hotel pick-up between 06:15 and 07:00. Heading east across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge offers great views of the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge. En Route to the park we cross through the Central Valley, where we will stop at a fruit stand for some local produce. Famous for its rich volcanic soil, the Central Valley is the largest agricultural region in the United States. The section we drive through is best known for specialty fruits and nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cherries, and strawberries. After this quick rest stop, we enter the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Continuing into the mountains brings us to California gold country and the gold rush town of Groveland before we wind our way into Yosemite National Park. Maps in hand, we begin with a one and a half hour in-coach narrated tour of Yosemite's glaciated valley. You will see famous waterfalls and rock formations including Yosemite Falls - the tallest waterfall in North America - El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, Sentinel Dome, and much more. During the tour you will see Yosemite Valley from a number of great vantage points, the best of which is perhaps Inspiration Point. At 4,500 feet above sea level, this viewpoint gives you a commanding view east up the valley. Yosemite is a mecca for rock climbers, and the sight of people climbing El Capitan's 3,200 ft. (1000m) sheer rock face is quite amazing. Because of our small group size, we can incorporate multiple photo stops into our tour so you can better enjoy your time in the park. After the tour, we stop for the afternoon near the base of Yosemite Falls, where there are a variety of options for lunch (not included). After eating, you will have 3-4 hours of free time to explore the valley as you choose. You can walk to the base of Yosemite Falls, check out the visitor center, visit the Ansel Adams Gallery, stop in at the Ahwahnee Hotel, rent a cruiser bike, or hike some of the trails that originate from the valley. Although you could spend three weeks in Yosemite, the three hours you get on your own is enough time to understand why Yosemite is one of America's most popular national parks. Regrouping again in the late afternoon, we head for San Francisco, stopping for a short break before arriving back in the city and dropping you at your lodging between 8:30 and 9:00pm. Highlights: See El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Inspiration Point (aka Tunnel View), and Yosemite Village Free time in Yosemite Valley to explore/hike Eco-friendly transport in biodiesel mini-coaches Inclusions: Complimentary pickup/dropoff from your San Francisco hotel Full-time professional, knowledgeable guide Narrated in-coach tour of Yosemite (1.5 hrs) 3 hours of free time in the Valley Yosemite Park entrance fee Transportation to/from Yosemite in biofuel mini-coach Not Included: Meals (stops will be made to purchase food) Guide gratuity (optional) Gear List: May-Oct: Camera & charger Small bag that can fit under seat Spending money for incidentals and lunch Sneakers or hiking boots Swimwear, towel, sandals (optional) Bug spray Sun protection Water bottle Nov-Apr** - Additional items recommended are: Warm clothing, coat Knit hat, gloves **Winter temperatures in Yosemite are on average 50 F/10 C, but can be as low as 28 F/-2 C.
Please note: Guests should dress elegantly If you want to take your time at the Eiffel Tower after dinner, you can reach the 2nd floor with no extra fee taking only the stairs. You can do the cruise later on youe own (Port de la Bourbonnais, Bateaux Parisians company, in front of the Eiffel Tower. Departure every hour until 9:30pm). It is recommended to inform the hostess about it. The skip-the-line access is subjet to the Eiffel Towr procedures: The Vigipirate plan, the security control or an unforeseen crowd can slow down the entrance. Enjoy a delicious dinner in this chic, contemporary Eiffel Tower restaurant in Paris. Menu*: Trout marinated in Manakara peppercorns, fromage blanc with herbs and a citrus fruit reduction ** Roasted poultry supreme, mashed potatoes with jerusalem artichoke and a truffle oil emulsion ** Crousti Eiffel with praline chocolate, custard cream sauce ** Château de Lagorce - AOC Bordeaux (Rouge) Château Tariquet - IGP Côtes de Gascogne (Blanc) Les Celliers de Ramatuelle - AOP Côtes de Provence (Rosé) Mineral water & coffee Child menu (-12 years old)* King prawns in mild spices, celeriac remoulade and grapefruit with pomegranate seed vinaigrette ** Sautéed cod steak and herb mashed potatoes or Roasted poultry supreme and herb mashed potatoes ** Tour Eiffel with chocolate and a praline custard sauce ** Soft
Facilities and Access Entrance and parking: The castle is reached on foot along a causeway from West Park slipway in St Helier. Visitors can either walk at low tide or catch the pirate-themed Castle Ferry (small charge applies) at high or low tide. Public parking is available in Patriotic Street, the Waterfront or in parking bays off Victoria Avenue. Buses and cycle routes: All bus routes terminate at Liberation Station which is a short walk away. Jersey cycle route 1 Refreshments: A coffee shop is on the premises – members receive 10% with their voucher (found in your voucher pack) Gift Shop: Jersey Heritage gift shops, selling gifts, souvenirs, books and toys are located at Elizabeth Castle and in the Castle Ferry kiosk. Access arrangements: Unfortunately the site is not suitable for people with mobility impairment Dogs: No dogs allowed, except guide dogs Hearing loop available at reception and a portable hearing loop is available for groups if requested in advance
