West Coast and Yosemite 2012 

We depart London on our flight to Seattle, which enjoys a superb natural setting on the shores of Elliot Bay. Our base for two nights in Seattle is the historic Mayflower Park Hotel.

Our morning sightseeing tour of Seattle includes the bustling Pike Place Market, downtown Seattle and the lively waterfront. There may also be time to visit the futuristic Space Needle, built for the World Fair in 1962. This afternoon we visit the Museum of Flight, whose collection includes Concorde and the first US presidential jet, Air Force One.

The journey south to Sacramento begins as we board Amtrak's flagship train, the Coast Starlight. Sit back and relax as the train winds through the spectacular Willamette Pass of the Cascades, Klamath Falls and Mount Shasta. Accommodation is in comfortable two-berth cabins with all meals included.

We leave the train in Sacramento and travel by coach into the beautiful Yosemite National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty with towering granite cliffs, thundering waterfalls, dramatic mountains and deep alpine lakes. We enjoy a tour of the Valley, taking in views of Half Dome, the 3,000 foot (914m) vertical granite monolith of El Capitan, and the spectacular Bridal Veil Falls. We overnight at the Yosemite Lodge, situated at the foot of Yosemite Falls, in the heart of the Park and ideally located to watch the sun setting on the dramatic granite cliffs.

This morning we travel on the narrow-gauge Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad along tracks used for logging at the turn of the 20th century. Relax and enjoy the journey through the Sierra National Forest. Following lunch we drive to San Francisco, where we spend four nights at the Radisson Fisherman's Wharf.

Sightseeing on our first morning includes the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, the downtown and financial districts and Fisherman's Wharf, with its resident seals, street entertainers and shops. In the afternoon we cruise across San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz Island and enjoy an audio tour of the famous prison which once held notorious criminals such as Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud, the 'Birdman of Alcatraz'. Our tour of the island takes us into the prison itself, seeing the cells as they were, with examples of some escape attempts on display.

Today we head out of the city to the beautiful Napa Valley, home to California's most successful wine region. At Napa station, we begin with a wine-tasting session and then board the lovingly restored Pullman cars of the Napa Valley Wine Train for an excursion along the valley. A gourmet lunch is served in the dining car as we travel past numerous vineyards to St Helena station. We return to San Francisco by coach, our route taking us via the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito.

Your day is free to spend exactly as you wish. If you haven't already taken a ride on the iconic tramways and visited the Cable Car Museum, today could be a good day to do so. Visit the famous winding Lombard Street, which has the distinction of being 'the most crooked street in the world"! Alternatively seek inspiration at San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art, or explore the vibrant streets of Chinatown. A trip to Haight-Ashbury takes you into one of the city's most fashionable areas, famous for its association with the hippy culture of the 1960s.

We rejoin the Coast Starlight for the daytime rail journey past San José and along the stunning coastline of California. We relax on board before arriving in Santa Barbara, a coastal city often referred to as the 'American Riviera' because of its Mediterranean climate. We spend two nights at the Pepper Tree Inn, a Spanish style hotel close to the downtown area.

Today you are free to relax in the hotel's private gardens or to explore Santa Barbara. Much of the architecture in the city is Spanish Colonial in style, with characteristic white buildings and red roofs. Santa Barbara is also home to one of the oldest Missions in North America, dating back to 1786. The waterfront area is a delight explore, with several beautiful beaches and a lively harbour.

We leave Santa Barbara after breakfast on the Pacific Surfliner to Los Angeles. On arrival we visit Hollywood with time to see the footprints of the stars at Mann's Chinese Theatre or stroll along the legendary Hollywood Boulevard. We spend the night at the Hotel Maya, located directly on the waterfront in Long Beach and with views of the historic RMS Queen Mary.

From LA, we rejoin the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego, a delightful city and our home for two nights, the Sofia Hotel. On Day 13 we spend the morning visiting the sights of San Diego including Balboa Park and the historic Old Town. We also explore downtown San Diego, its beautiful waterfront and Coronado Island. The rest of your day is free at leisure.

You have a morning at leisure to relax, or perhaps explore the outdoor attractions of San Diego further. We transfer to San Diego Airport for our flight to London, arriving mid-morning of Day 15.