2024 California Coast and Grand Canyon


March 1st – March 14th, 2024

Tour Directors: Colin & Dianne Markusson

306.536.8879


Join Colin & Dianne Markusson, jump aboard PA Northern bus in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and if there’s time, other spots along the route.

ITINERARY

Meals as indicated B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner.

Day 1 Mar 1 Friday PRINCE ALBERT SK – LETHBRIDGE AB. Meet and greet your fellow passengers as they board the coach along the route today. Traveling west through the southern parts of the province. Overnight in Lethbridge. 

Day 2 Mar 2 Saturday LETHBRIDGE AB – IDAHO FALLS ID B. Travelling through Montana and Idaho, along the picturesque Lewis and Clarke expedition route, we will pass the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Park, featuring winding trails and rivers and stunning scenery. Overnight in Idaho Falls.  

Day 3 Mar 3 Sunday IDAHO FALLS – RENO NV B. Idaho is all about beauty, ruggedness and rock formations with iconic waterfalls and prehistoric pictographs. The Perrini Memorial Bridge spans the Snake River. Its minimalist construction and impressive height offers breathtaking scenery and BASE jumping for the more adventuresome. Tonight, we stay at the Best Western Boomtown Casino nestled in the scenic foothills of the Sierras close to downtown Reno.  The hotel features a steakhouse, a lobster buffet eatery, a Mexican restaurant, a deli, a sports bar, 24/7 coffee shop, a casino and indoor pool. 

Day 4 Mar 4 Monday RENO NV – SAN FRANCISCO CA B. While traveling to San Fran you will be passing some gorgeous scenery and historical sights. Lake Tahoe, to Sacramento the capital of California, where Old Sacramento takes visitors back to the Gold Rush era with wooden walkways and wagon rides. Then begins the numerous wineries throughout the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Sonoma’s numerous grape plantations, wine-making facilities, festivals and art exhibitions is the destination for wine lovers who savour the rich flavours of high-quality wines. The east side of San Francisco Bay is known for the University of California, Berkeley - the birthplace of the 1960s Free Speech Movement. Lake Merrit, a salt water lake surrounded by park land, and the Bonsai Gardens are attractions located within city limits. This afternoon you are booked for a San Francisco Bay Cruise. You will sail underneath the Golden Gate Bridge, past sea lions on Pier 39, around mysterious Alcatraz Island and along the historic waterfront. There is both indoor and outdoor seating with full narration describing major landmarks as you sail by. The next 2 nights you will be in prime location on Fisherman’s Wharf. There are souvenir shops, stalls selling crab and clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls and post card views of the bay, Golden Gate and Alcatraz. At Ghirardelli Square, boutiques and eateries reside in the famed former chocolate factory.  

unsplash photo credit: leo korman

Day 5 Mar 5 Tuesday SAN FRANCISCO CA FREE MORNING & AFTERNOON CITY TOUR B. Free morning to do as you wish. There is a wax Museum near the hotel and your chance to get your photo taken with a celebrity. After lunch you will do the highlights of San Francisco with a Step On Guide. Including Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Nob Hill, Marina District, Union Square, Pacific Heights, Haight / Ashbury, China town, Mission-Delores, Twin Peaks for a panoramic view of the city, Park Presidio, North Beach, cross Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito and Lombard Street with eight tight switchback turns in 600 feet of road. Around one million cars drive down it every year.  

Day 6 Mar 6 Wednesday SAN FRANCISCO CA – CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA CA B. Today is all about the spectacular views and taking your time. Traveling along the coastline at a pace where you can relax and enjoy your surroundings. There will be many stops along the way for photos, sights, history and taking in the sea breeze air. Along the route will be Devil’s Slide, Half Moon Bay, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Ano Nuevo State Park, Shark Fin Cove, Nature Bridges State Park, and Santa Cruz historic boardwalk built in 1904 on the remains of old bathhouses. The Pezzini Farms outpost has produced heirloom Green Globe artichokes for over 80 years. Drive by Monterey’s old fisherman’s wharf, along Lighthouse Ave Pacific Grove, stop in at Lover’s Point Park, see the Kissing Rock, John Denver’s memorial and enter the infamous 17-mile drive with Spanish Bay, Cypress Point, Pascadero Point and Pebble Beach. Then off to Carmel-By-The-Sea beach. Carmel is a wealthy beach town, with quirky little shops and eateries, but the most amazing is the beach at sunset. Overnight in Carmel-By-The-Sea. 

unsplash photo credit: dave herring

Day 7 Mar 7 Thursday CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA - LOS ANGELES CA B. Continue down the California coastline with Wildcat Creek Bridge, Garrapata State Park and Calla Lily Valley. It’s bluff overlooking the ocean is covered in calla lilies during blooming season. Pass Notley’s Landing, stop at Castle Rock Viewpoint and Bixby Creek Bridge. Pass Hurricane Point Vista, Great Sur Vista Point, Point Sur turn-of-the-century Lighthouse. It is best toured on a moonlit night, as it is supposedly haunted. Explore Pfeiffer Beach, famous for its purple sand, caused by manganese and garnet particles. You can see the tide pools and the Keyhole Rock. Next is McWay Falls and Anderson Canyon Observation Deck. McWay Falls is one of the only 7 North American Waterfalls that empty into the ocean. Stop for lunch in Big Sur then travel through Monterey County and Salinas Valley and onto Los Angeles for overnight. 

Day 8 Mar 8 Friday LOS ANGELES CA – LAS VEGAS NV B. Morning tour of the LA sights. A step on guide will take you to Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign, view of the city, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater and the Dolby Theatre where the Oscars are held. Cruise by the famous Sunset Strip, stop by the Beverly Hills sign and cruise by Rodeo Drive. After lunch travel to Barstow’s shopping-mall featuring a variety of brand-name & designer outlet stores. Next point of interest is the Lotto Store at Primm, one of the world's busiest lottery stores. Las Vegas, the home of gambling prohibits lottery tickets. Primm is the closest place for residents and Nevada people in the area to purchase them. Just before getting to Las Vegas take a minute or two at the Seven Magic Mountains. A desert art installation to represent the meeting of artificial and natural, the passing highway traffic, and the surrounding mountains and lakes. Get settled into your hotel for the next two nights, have dinner and wander down Freemont Street catch the show at the top of every hour. 

Unsplash Photo Credits (L - R): Henning Witzel, Venti Views, Mike Fox, Julian Paefgen, Sung Shin, FeelingVegas

Day 9 Mar 9 Saturday LAS VEGAS NV FREE DAY ON YOUR OWN B. Rest, recoup, explore, experience! Spend the “free day” in Vegas as you please!  Perhaps you’d like to book a stage show?  See the sights via limo, tram, monorail, shuttle… or maybe tour “the Strip” and “Freemont” on the “RTC Transit”?  The entire day is yours to enjoy!

unsplash photo credit: tom gainor

Day 10 Mar 10 Sunday LAS VEGAS – WILLIAMS AZ B L. Tour the Hoover Dam, constructed between 1931 and 1936. It controls the flooding of Colorado River, irrigates over 1.5 million acres of land, provides water for over 16 million people and supports Lake Mead recreational activities. It is habitat to fish and wildlife and provides power to over 500 thousand homes. Next is lunch and the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon, with a breathtaking horseshoe-shaped glass bridge. There’s simply no thrill like stepping out on glass thousands of feet in the air, but the view is fabulous. This afternoon, visit the Historic Route 66 Museum, an important part of American history, learn how the coasts of this country were brought together and how life thrived upon the stretches of this legendary road that has come to be known as the Mother Road, located in the "heart" of the longest remaining stretch of the 2400 miles that was Route 66. Tonight you will lay your head in Williams, surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. 

Day 11 Mar 11 Monday WILLIAMS AZ - TRAIN RIDE – KANAB AZ B. This morning you will travel the same tracks that early adventurers to the Grand Canyon followed. Board the train in Williams and arrive at the Grand Canyon Depot that was built in 1910. Tour on your own in the Historic Village, the canyon, its buildings and exhibits. Your motor coach will join you later to take you to Kanab for overnight. Kanab is a small town known as the gateway to Southern Utah built on tourism with beautiful red rock cliffs, welcoming hospitality and tourism spots.  

Day 12 Mar 12 Tuesday KANAB AZ – IDAHO FALLS ID B D. Coffee stop in Beaver UT, known for its black igneous rock houses and public buildings, quarried in the mountains east of Beaver. Butch Cassidy was born here and Philo T. Farnsworth, who pioneered television research, was born in Beaver County. Lunch stop and a little shopping in Provo, home to Brigham Young University and its museums.  Trails lead up Y Mountain for panoramic city views. Afternoon coffee in Brigham UT. This charming, leafy municipality in the shadow of verdant mountains, was named as one of the country's most beautiful historic downtowns, known for its peaches and its impressive Mormon temple. It annually celebrates Peach Days, the second weekend in September. This evening is your farewell party.  

Day 13 Mar 13 Wednesday IDAHO FALLS ID – LETHBRIDGE AB B. Morning stop in Dillon MT, with its wild surroundings, keeps one foot in its vibrant and colorful past, with many historic buildings and monuments, including its public library. Every year, people travel to experience the carefully preserved Old West sites. It was once the largest exporter of sheep wool in Montana. Stop in Helena, capital city of Montana, founded as a gold camp during the Montana gold rush, making Helena a wealthy city, with approximately 50 millionaires inhabiting the area by 1888. Now, known as a community of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts. Afternoon stop in Shelby MT, once a cattle town, is now home to oil and agriculture. Stop at Duty Free for your last chance to buy USA. Cross the border into Canada and overnight in Lethbridge. 

Day 14 Mar 14 Thursday LETHBRIDGE AB – HOME B. Head home with cherished memories and new found friends. Stop for coffee in Medicine Hat. Lunch in Swift Current. Coffee in Regina. Pit stop in Saskatoon and last stop in Prince Albert.


Itinerary subject to change without notice.


Make the tour fit your schedule, contact Dana in Prince Albert Office at 1.800.665.0171 for a fly option.

For more information or to book:

Call: 306.763.7415 or 800.665.0171 ask for Dana Email: info@lobsticktravel.com

Visit our office by phone appointment only: #2 - 17th Street East Prince Albert SK S6V 1G5

2024 CALIFORNIA COAST AND GRAND CANYON TOUR INCLUDES:

- PA Northern Bus Lines, driver, sound and entertainment system, lavatory, comfortable reclining seats and coach cleaned daily.

- Hotel accommodations.

- Breakfast every morning ranging from continental to full hot buffet.

- Skywalk lunch, farewell dinner, the meals indicated as B, L, D.

- Views and photo ops of the California coastline from San Francisco to Monterey to Big Sur.

- Step on Guided tours of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

- Guided tour of Hoover Dam.

- Bay Cruise of San Francisco.

- Train ride from Williams to Grand Canyon Village.

- Opportunity to shop. 

- All tips for driver, step on guides and tour directors.

- Two Professional Tour Directors to welcome you and look after details. Their care and attention ensure you have a worry free tour.

PRICES:

$4,219.00 double     $3,699.00 triple

$5,999.00 single     $3,429.00 quad

TIPS, TAXES & FEES INCLUDED IN THESE PRICES.  DEPOSIT: $500.00 PER PERSON TO SECURE SEAT. BALANCE DUE: Jan 4, 2024.

PAY BY CASH, CHEQUE, CREDIT CARD or E-TRANSFER.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

On this tour some hotels may not offer luggage handling. Please be prepared to carry your own luggage.

PASSPORTS:

All passengers REQUIRE a valid passport for this tour and must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of return.

INSURANCE:

All passengers MUST HAVE adequate out of country medical insurance for this tour.

MANULIFE WORLD INSURANCE:

Lobstick Travel & Tours offer personalized coverage you need, to be financially protected against the cost of unexpected emergencies that can happen prior to or during your trip. For your insurance rates call Dana at Lobstick Travel 1.800.665.0171.

Passengers have the option to obtain insurance at their discretion. If you chose to decline or purchase insurance elsewhere, we require our Lobstick waiver form to be signed and returned to Dana.

CANCELLATION:

If you must cancel for any reason, contact Dana at Lobstick Travel 1.800.665.0171 IMMEDIATELY.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

applies the day you notify us

60 days or more prior to departure – loss of deposit

59 – 31 days prior to departure – lose 50% total cost

30 days or less prior to departure – lose 100% total cost