TRAVEL ADVENTURES - AMERICA
Shorebirds, Missions and Lighthouses
The Cultural and Natural History of the Central Coast of California

DAY 1 – SATURDAY, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA:

  • Welcome to San Luis Obispo and Shorebirds, Missions and Lighthouses

    Our wine and California history adventure begins in the beautiful Central Coast city of San Luis Obispo (SLO) located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on Highway 101. Our lodging will be at the Apple Farm, famous for its Victorian country charm and its operating grist mill. Dinner will be at 6:30 pm in the Apple Farm Restaurant. (D)

DAY 2 – SUNDAY, SAN LUIS OBISPO / MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA:

  • Morro Bay State Park

    Our next stop is on the waterfront for our exploration of the harbor and estuary with Sea Life Studies, Inc. aboard one of the charter boats from Virg’s Landing. After our boat trip, we will head for our nights lodging at the beautiful El Morro Masterpiece Motel where we will have the opportunity to taste of some of the finest Central Coast cheeses and wine wines. Dinner tonight is back on the embarcadero at Dorn’s Breakers Café a fixture for years on the Morro Bay waterfront. (B/PL/D)

DAY 3 – MONDAY, MORRO BAY / MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA:

  • After breakfast, we begin our journey north with several stops along the way including one at the famous Morro Rock where we will watch for peregrine falcons and playful sea otters, which have made a dramatic comeback from near-extinction.

    Hearst Castle

    Elephant Seal

  • Next, as we head to Monterey, California we break out of the redwood forest to views from high up on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean: hidden coves, shorebirds and marine mammals. A little further on is Point Sur State Historic Park which is home to the Point Sur Lightstation which sits 361 feet above the surf on a large volcanic rock. First lit on August 1, 1889 the lighthouse has remained in continuous operation. After a short visit to Point Sur, we head to our next three night’s lodging at the Sand Dollar Inn, located in Old Town Monterey. Following some time to freshen up, we enjoy dinner at The Fish Hopper Restaurant which, besides outstanding food, offers spectacular panoramic views of the beautiful Monterey Bay from every table. (B/L/D)

DAY 4 – TUESDAY, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA:

  • Monterey Bay Aquarium

    Lunch will be at Monterey Jack’s Fish House known for its fresh local seafood. While we are walking along Cannery Row or The Wharf we have great views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary which runs from north of San Francisco south to Cambria, and encompasses 276 miles of shoreline and 5,322 square miles of ocean. After lunch we walk out on Old Fisherman’s Wharf to the 75 foot Magnum Force, the largest, and most comfortable boat operating in Monterey Bay, for a 2 1/2 to 3 hour bay cruise. While out on the bay we will have the chance to observe marine mammals such as the orca (killer whale), bottlenose dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, pacific white-sided dolphin as well as seabirds such as loons, grebes, black-footed albatross and shearwaters. After our trip on the bay, we head back to the Sand Dollar Inn before dinner at The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and a leisurely walk back along Cannery Row to our motel. (B/L/D)

DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA:

  • White pelicans, Elkhorn Slough

DAY 6 – THURSDAY, MONTEREY BAY / PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA :

  • Mission Senora de la Soledad

    A couple of miles away is another of William Randolph Hearst’s properties, The Hacienda in San Antonio Valley, designed and built by Julia Morgan as a hunting lodge for Hearst’s guest to La Cuesta Encantada across the mountains in San Simeon. Following our picnic lunch, we continue south to the Mission San Miguel Arcangel which was founded on July 25, 1797 by Father Fermin Lasuen eight miles north of the present city of Paso Robles, California. After our visit, we head into Paso Robles and our night’s lodging at the quaint Adelaide Inn with dinner a true Central Coast cowboy saloon, F. McLintocks. (B/PL/D)

DAY 7 – FRIDAY, PASO ROBLES / SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA:

  • Mission San Luis
  • Obispo de Tolosa

DAY 8 – SATURDAY, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA:

  • Have a Safe Trip

    The final breakfast will be according to your personal schedule at the Apple Farm Restaurant. Have a safe trip home; we look forward to seeing you again. (B)

  • Shorebirds, Missions and Lighthouses Experience Includes

    Duncan Rollo: Certified Tour Director, Certified Interpretive Guide, Certified Interpretive Trainer with 34 years of western park experience as a Chief Interpreter, Resource Manager, Park Supervisor and Law Enforcement Officer

    Experienced local interpreters and researchers

    Carolyn Emanuel, Certified Tour Manager, Certified Interpretive Guide with 25 years of touring, and visiting New Mexico’s Art Galleries, Navajo Indian reservations and museums. National Outdoor Leadership School and Wilderness Medicine Institute Wilderness First Aid certification, American Heart Association CPR certified, and a Experienced Certified Interpretive Guide.

    B – Breakfast

    CB – Continental Breakfast

    L – Lunch

    PL – Picnic Lunch

    D - Dinner