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California Sea to Sky

11 Days Total, 9 Riding Days

Trip Overview

The California Sea to Sky holiday not only travels the best of the shoreline, but adds little known routes like Highway #49 and combines the “must do's” of Yosemite and Sonoma to offer a truly comprehensive California motorcycle vacation.

In 2007 we added an extra day on to the California Sea to Sky holiday. The trip now offers nine days of riding, allowing us to ride more of the spectacular California coastline, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, overnight in Carmel and a tour of Hearst Castle.

 

What to Expect

California’s Highway #1 is famous for being one of the world’s most beautiful coastal routes. But what few people know is that hidden in the hills of the interior are also some wonderful, picturesque mountain routes.

For the last several years, we’ve run trips to California and, without a doubt, the best time to ride is in October. Early fall offers the driest part of the season and least traffic — all the kids are back in school. Highway #1, which can be packed with camper vans in the summer, is next to empty.

We start the trip in San Francisco at 6 p.m. with a welcome dinner on famous Fisherman’s Wharf.

The following morning we head through Golden Gate Park to the ocean. We turn south and follow the coast to Monterey Bay, the renowned setting of John Steinback’s novel Cannery Row and also home to some excellent aquariums. In the afternoon, we make a short ride through famous Big Sur where we will spend the night just south of there atop the cliffs of Ragged Point.

Our next day ride snakes along a beautiful section of coastline where many movies have been shot against the dramatic sights. We stop at the famous Hearst Castle, which is included in your trip. Before stopping for the night in Cambria, we stop to watch a colony of Elephant Seals basking on the beach, enjoying the afternoon sun.

Next morning, we ride down to Morro Bay and cut inland. We round some wonderful curves before we skirt past Los Padres National Forest, then the road straightens and we ride for Fresno.

Special thanks to previous guests Chuck & Stella, who live in the Fresno area and were kind enough to introduce us to a fun stretch of road and a great little new lunch spot called ‘Humphrey Station’. On past trips we had stopped at a place called the ‘Hofbrau House’ that is no longer open.

Once outside Fresno, the road starts to wind up into the foothills of Yosemite National Park. We stay the next two nights just outside the park at a great Lodge (where ‘The Great Outdoors’ with John Candy & Dan Akroyd was filmed) called Bass Lake Lodge.

On the day off, we ride into Yosemite and take in a route known as the Valley loop. Those who want to add a few miles to the day can take Tioga Road to Tuolumne Meadows at an elevation of almost 9000 feet above sea level.

While the rest of the world goes to work, we ride one of California’s hidden treasures: Highway #49 to Grass Valley. Lots of curves, mountain vistas, rolling meadows and light traffic await.

We stay the night at the wonderful Holbrooke Hotel, #914 on California’s Historical Landmark Registry, complete with a working glass elevator, a charming pub in the lobby and great food. The Holbrooke is sure to be a memorable stop.

The next day we ride out of Gold County and back towards the Pacific Ocean. Highway #20 takes us to Clear Lake where Brandon has found us lunch with a view. The afternoon holds a pretty ride through the Redwoods to Mendocino. We dine and relax at the Mendocino Hotel overlooking the sea, where sharp eyes may spot a whale spouting in October.

From Mendocino, we ride another great stretch of coastline before cutting inland at Stewart’s point towards wine country. Your guides serve up a wonderful picnic lunch overlooking Sonoma Lake. That afternoon, we ride the vineyards of Geyserville and Calistoga en route to California best wines.

The following two nights, we stay right on the village square in Sonoma at the Eldorado Hotel. For those who want to ride, a great trip to Lake Berryessa beckons. For wine enthusiasts, Brandon offers his very own, patented Sonoma Valley wine tour on the day off.

The next morning we ride back towards the coast and Bodega Bay. We follow Highway #1 south to Stinson Beach then ride through Mill Valley to Sausalito.

Take out your cameras! We roll into San Francisco on the epic ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. We snap group photos of the gang in front California’s most photographed landmark, then we celebrate our ride together back at the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Want a longer trip?

Combine California Sea to Sky with Coast to California.

Trip Highlights

• Highway #1 through Santa Cruz, Monterey and Carmel as well as Hearst Castle
• Fresno and Cholame (James Dean Memorial)
• Yosemite National Park and Mariposa
• Sierra Wineries and Grass Valley
• Clear Lake and Fort Bragg
• Lake Sonoma and Geyserville
• Sonoma & Napa Valley wine tours
• Santa Rosa, Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf

Route

All routes are subject to change due to unforseen events.

Day 1
Arrive in San Francisco, CA for Tour Orientation and Meet & Greet Dinner. (meet up with Coast to California)

Day 2
San Francisco to Big Sur, CA

Day 3
Big Sur to Cambria, CA (visit to Hearst Castle)

Day 4
Cambria to Oakhurst, CA

Day 5
Day off in Oakhurst, CA (ride into Yosemite Nat’l Park)

Day 6
Oakhurst to Grass Valley, CA

Day 7
Grass Valley to Mendocino, CA

Day 8
Mendocino to Sonoma, CA

Day 9
Day off in Sonoma, CA

Day 10
Sonoma to San Francisco, CA

Day 11
Travel Day

Included in Your Holiday

Our tours feature; all up-scale accommodation, gourmet meals, motorcycle rental & insurance, chase vehicle for luggage / passengers / spare motorcycles, guide service, maps, fees for parks / ferries / activities, and transfers to/from Whistler, B.C.

INCLUDED in the price of the holiday:

• All upscale accommodation, including first & last nights stay.
• All high quality breakfasts & dinners (except off-days), NEVER a set menu, order what you want!
• Motorcycle rental and insurance, bikes are washed & maintained routinely, guests are welcome to trade bikes around.
• Chase vehicle for luggage, spare bikes and weary passengers.
• Top notch and experienced guided service.
• Transfers to/from Whistler, B.C.
• Holiday handbooks complete with maps and activity information.
• Entrance fees to National Parks.
• Fares for ferries and scheduled activities.
• Snacks & refreshments at scheduled stops.
• Rain-suits (just to keep the sun shining)

NOT included in the price of the holiday:

• Fuel not included for your motorcycle (approx. $15-$20/day CAD).
• Alcoholic beverages not included with meals.
• Most lunches, and all meals on optional riding days.
• Airfare is not included in the tour price.
• Non-scheduled activities on off-days
• Personal Travel/Medical Insurance

More information

• Looking to share a room to help keep costs down?
• Have safety or other questions?
• Want to know about extra activities and fun stuff?
• Curious about the Hotels we stay in?
• Ready to see the bikes?
• Ready to read what our guests have to say?

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• Coast to California
  Offering the best of both the Canadian and American west coast, the Coast to California holiday starts in Vancouver, travels to the BC interior and follows the Okanagan Valley south over the international border to the Columbia Gorge. We visit Mount St. Helens and head west to the Pacific Ocean before turning south along the Oregon Coastline to California.
  
  Once in California, we ride Northern California's “Forgotten Coast,” followed by a stop in Mendocino on the way to finish the ride in Sonoma wine country. This 15-day, one-way holiday presents without a doubt the most diverse scenery of any Rocky Mountain holiday and offers the best of both the Canadian and American West Coast.
  
  Guests should be aware that this particular tour will begin in Vancouver, B.C. and end in San Francisco, CA. Because of the one-way nature of the tour, Harley Davidson bikes are unfortunately not available for this particular holiday.

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Testimonials

Joanne and I thank all of you for the wonderful holiday - for me, the best vacation ever. We visited the Wells in Pennsylvania last weekend. John and I pass on our desire for a tour of the Northeast in 2004! Bye for now…

Byron England, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

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