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California Adventure

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California Adventure

The perfect mix of jaw-dropping scenery and bustling city vibes. Tick off those must-see locations and earn yourself some bragging rights.

You’ve been California dreaming long enough, it’s time to make that dream a reality! Starting and ending in the City of Angels, this two-week adventure will have you marvelling at the depths of the Grand Canyon, soaking up the urban vibes of San Francisco, and cruising the famous Route 66. The ideal trip for those wanting the perfect mix of jaw-dropping scenery and bustling city vibes, you can tick off those must-see locations and earn yourself some epic bragging rights. This is America, where everything is bigger, and better. Let’s go!

We spend 14 days exploring USA. We visit Los Angeles, San Diego, Prescott, Mojave Desert, Sedona, Williams, Las Vegas, Mammoth Lakes, Death Valley, South Lake Tahoe, Bodie, San Francisco.

What Is Included...

  • Your Fantastic Busabout Crew

  • 13 nights Accommodation

  • 13 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners

  • All coach transport

  • Las Vegas party bus

  • Grand Canyon National Park entry

  • Death Valley National Park entrance

  • Bodie historic Ghost Town entrance

Trip Highlights
  • San Diego, overflowing with attractions and laid-back vibes
  • Drive along historic Route 66
  • Marvel at the vastness of the Grand Canyon
  • Sin City, Las Vegas
  • Swim in the emerald green waters of Lake Tahoe
  • Leave your heart in San Francisco
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Check these off your bucket list

LA LA
Santa Barbara Santa Barbara
Death Valley Death Valley

14 Day Itinerary

California Adventure 14 day itinerary

Day 1

Los Angeles to San Diego

What better way to start the adventure than with a scenic coastal cruise along the Pacific Coast Highway. We kick off the adventure with an early departure, and hit the road towards our destination of San Diego. This route is pure Southern California coastal beauty, and you’ll have a front row seat to the stunning views of surf and sand! After a stop in Orange County, we make our arrival around lunchtime. Considered by many to have the best climate in the United States, San Diego is overflowing with laid-back vibes. We’ll start by exploring Downtown, the vibrant cultural hub of the city where you’ll see a mix of historic Spanish architecture, and gleaming modern high rises. There’s a tonne of attractions to see, like Little Italy, the Museum of Man, and the USS Midway Museum. Later we’ll explore the Gaslamp Quarter, which is a Victorian-style area and host to some of the best bars and restaurants in the city! There’s something for every type of partygoer here.

Day 2

San Diego

The day is yours to get out and experience San Diego however you choose. If you’re wanting to check out some key attractions, head to Balboa Park - this 1,200-acre park is the site of the San Diego Zoo, sunken butterfly garden and the California Tower. If you want to wander around some shops and galleries, then North Park is the area for you. You’ll also find a lot of craft beer breweries and cocktail lounges here. For the ultimate American experience, try and catch a San Diego Padres baseball game at PetCo Park in Downtown! Later this afternoon we’ll hit the beaches. Pacific Beach is the perfect spot to sit in the sand and enjoy the coastal views and we’ll watch the sun sink beneath the waves along this picturesque stretch of coastline, before grabbing some dinner and enjoying the local bars.

Day 3

San Diego to Mojave Desert to Prescott

Settle into the comfy coach, we get back on the road this morning. Admire the rugged dry landscape and the Joshua trees of the Mojave Desert as we make our way towards Arizona. We’ll have a break along the way at the Algodones Dunes, and stop to take some photos. This afternoon we’ll arrive into Prescott. More of a small city than a town, it is set amongst the gorgeous landscape in Northern Arizona, surrounded by gorgeous granite mountains, ponderosa pine forests and lakes. This is a great place for adventure seekers and culture lovers alike! Here we’ll get a chance to discover many historic landmarks and highlights, including the Phippen Museum, an art space specialising in Western art. Later on we’ll visit Whiskey Row, which used to be home to over 40 saloons. Now it makes up the vibrant downtown area, brimming with shops and restaurants.

Day 4

Prescott to Sedona to Williams

This morning we climb back aboard the coach and say farewell to Prescott. We have a short drive to our first stop in Jerome, a charming National Historic Landmark on Cleopatra Hill. Meander around the hilly, winding streets and you’ll discover countless galleries and art studios! After another short stint on the coach we’ll arrive in Sedona, arguably one of the most beautiful places in the United States, this is the Arizona’s desert gem. With over 1.8 million acres of national pine forest, red-rock mountains and steep canyons, these sacred lands of ‘healing and spiritual renewal’ make for the perfect escape. While we’re here you can take an optional Jeep tour of Sedona, showing you the countryside over a 2-hour trip! Grab some lunch from one of many restaurant options before we head to Williams for a mid-afternoon arrival.

Day 5

Grand Canyon

Get ready to tick off a major bucket list location: the Grand Canyon! You’ll be glad you have the entire day to explore this jaw-dropping sight. On arrival you can decide how to best spend your time here. There are plenty of scenic hikes if you feel like getting active but for those who want to see the views from a bird's-eye perspective, there are optional helicopter flights available. After an epic day we’ll climb aboard the coach and head back to Williams, where you can compare your experiences and snaps from the day. Tonight you can spend the evening as you wish, so catch up on some rest or get out and see more of the city. There are various choices for restaurants, so why not head out with your travel comrades and try some of the local food?

Day 6

Williams to Las Vegas

It’s time to join the famous Route 66! We’ll depart from Williams and make our way along this iconic highway. The first stop is Seligman, the legendary town which makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. Then it’s back on the road until we stop for a lunch break in Kingman - this place has the Route 66 Museum, and an In-N-Out Burger, if you haven’t yet tried one! Later we’ll make it to the ghost town of Santa Claus, where we’ll take a group photo. This afternoon you’ll get to marvel at the engineering feat of the Hoover Dam, make sure you’ve saved some battery on your phone for pics! Next stop, Las Vegas. We’ll check out the famous Fremont Street and give you some free time to explore, then we’ll go for a unique dining experience at the Heart Attack Grill, where the wait staff are dressed as medical staff, and you get spanked if you don’t finish your meal. Afterwards we’ll hit the Strip, and visit a rooftop bar to take it all in.

Day 7

Las Vegas

The City of Sin awaits! You have free time today, so hit the Strip in the daylight and marvel at the famous hotels like The Bellagio, MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay. For shopping visit Downtown Container Park, and for museum fans the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum are must-sees! If you want to experience the great outdoors and see the stunning scenery, it’s only a short drive to Red Rock Conservation Park. This place has 19 walking trails, so you can take in the crimson rock formations and vibrant desert colours. We’ll meet in the early evening, and start the night off in style with an included party bus! If you’re up for it, tonight there’s an optional trip to see a Cirque du Soleil show. Then it’s time to continue the party on the famous Strip, and see where the night takes us!

Day 8

Las Vegas to Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes

This morning we leave the bright lights and casinos of Las Vegas behind, and head for the unforgettable mountain vistas of Mammoth Lakes. Make sure you bring some snacks and drinks for the road this morning. We’ll be driving through some of the most diverse and beautiful landscape in the country, starting with Death Valley - the lowest, driest and hottest place in America with desert landscapes. We’ll stop at a viewpoint to take in Death Valley’s mountain-size sand dunes, below-sea-level salt flats, mysterious singing rocks, and colourful sandstone canyons. Back on the road, and we’ll have our next stop just south of Lone Pine, the perfect place to take pictures of the impressive Sierra Nevada Range and Mount Whitney - the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states! We’ll arrive later this afternoon at the stunning Mammoth Lakes, where you can get checked in and settled before we drive to see the nearby Devil’s Postpile. Then it’s back to Mammoth Lakes for dinner and a debrief of the day’s events!

Day 9

Mammoth Lakes to Bodie to South Lake Tahoe

We start our drive to Lake Tahoe, and have our first stop to stretch our legs in Bodie, a genuine California gold-mining ghost town. You can walk down the deserted streets of a town that once had a population of nearly 10,000 people but is now preserved in a state of "arrested decay". Once you’ve explored we drive on to our destination: South Lake Tahoe, arriving early afternoon to check-in. Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in America, and Mark Twain himself dubbed this area “the fairest picture the whole earth affords.” Once you see it for yourself, you’ll see why. The water here is truly a tantalizing blue-green, surrounded by high green mountains. After lunch, we’ll visit Camp Richardson with views of Cave Rock and the accurately named Heavenly Valley. Then we’ll check out Emerald Bay, with great photo opportunities and the chance to swim in the waters. Tonight we’ll head out to dinner together, and for those who are game we may even visit some of the local casinos for a flutter!

Day 10

Day 10: South Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe prides itself on being America’s year-round adventure capital, so use your free time today to experience it. There are a tonne of outdoor activities to choose from, so take your pick. Visit a nearby beach for some swimming, take on one of the numerous hiking tracks around the lake, hire a mountain bike and hit the trails or hire a boat for a lake cruise. If you’d rather sit back and relax, you can catch a water taxi to explore a nearby bay on the lake. For those less keen on the outdoor activities, there’s plenty to keep you occupied; take a trip up the Heavenly Gondola, relax in a café or go shopping at Heavenly Village. However you decide to spend your day, we’re sure this spot will be a highlight!

Day 11

Day 11: South Lake Tahoe to San Francisco

We depart early this morning and head for the city of hip urban vibes, San Francisco. We’ll arrive around lunchtime, and you’ll have the full afternoon to explore the city. Before dinner we’ll regroup, and head up to Twin Peaks, for the view of a lifetime. Once we’ve all got our Insta-worthy shots, we’ll visit the intersection of Haight and Ashbury Streets in the city, where America’s hippie movement started in the 60s. Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead all lived in this area, and now it’s filled with quirky shops, bars, record stores, cafes and restaurants - soak up the burgeoning counterculture scene and grab a drink!

Day 12

Day 12: San Francisco

The day is yours to spend as you wish and explore to your heart’s content! We have an optional bike tour to cycle the beautiful waterfront and across the Golden Gate Bridge. We’ll grab a bite to eat in the seaside spot of Sausalito, before hopping on the ferry with the bikes and heading back to the city. If biking isn’t your thing, then you can walk the streets of San Fran or ride the iconic cable cars up and down the hills. Start off at Dolores Park and Alamo Square for sweeping views of downtown and see the “Painted Ladies” before heading to Union Square. From here, there is a cluster of close tourist hotspots like Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Exploratorium, Pier 39, the Golden Gate Bridge, the biggest Chinatown in North America, and Alcatraz! This evening we’ll visit the trendy Mission district, known for its vibrant murals and multitude of bars.

Day 13

Day 13: San Francisco to Los Angeles

We’ll leave our hearts in San Francisco and depart this morning, making our way to our first stop in San Luis Obispo. We’ll arrive in this quaint central coast college town around lunch time, where you can grab some lunch and check out the quirky Bubble-gum Alley - a small pedestrian alleyway, lined with bubble-gum! Then we’ll board the coach and continue our drive. Next up is Santa Barbara, the Mediterranean vibe of this beachside town is evident as soon as you drive through it. Low, Spanish-style buildings house numerous fancy cafes and small boutiques where the rich and famous retreat from their Hollywood lives. After having a wander, it’s back on the road until we reach our final destination of Los Angeles, arriving early evening. Head out tonight for drinks as we celebrate a phenomenal two weeks, and put the cherry on top of an epic adventure!

Day 14

Day 14: Los Angeles

Sadly the time has come to say farewell to your new friends and take any last group pics, as the tour comes to an end after breakfast. We’re sure you’ve made some incredible memories over the last two weeks, and we hope to see you again soon!

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Trip Information

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