Note: Participants should be able to get on/off a motorcoach, climb stairs where accommodations do not have elevator access to second floor rooms and be able to walk up to 1.5 mi/day on scheduled activities. Program is an active, moving adventure in which participants will be 'on the road' every day with access to your rooms at the beginning and end of each day. Porterage is not included so you will be responsible for transferring your luggage to and from the motor coach.

Afternoon: HOTEL CHECK-IN: Check into the hotel after 3:00pm.

PROGRAM REGISTRATION: After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and pick up your arrival packet which we'll review during our orientation session before dinner.

ORIENTATION: We'll have an overview of the program ahead and review the up-to-date schedule, responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, any other administrative issues, and answer your questions. Please be aware that local circumstances may require adjusting program elements. In the event of changes, we will notify you as quickly as possible. We appreciate your understanding.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel

NOTE FOR ALL MEALS: Menus are contracted for the program and are designed to offer balanced, healthy meals for the participants.

Since meals are served in a group setting, it is difficult to adjust to individual dietary requests. If you are unable to eat what is on the regular menu, a vegetarian alternative is available, if not already part of the menu. Since alternative meal arrangements have to be made in advance, please indicate your need for a vegetarian entree on the enclosed Participant Information Form. If you have other dietary concerns, you can order (at your own expense) from a different menu.

Evening: CROSSING POINTS: Participants introduce themselves to the rest of the group

Enjoy the remainder of the evening getting to know your fellow participants and discovering what you share beyond a love of lifelong learning.

Lodging: Courtyard San Diego Airport/Liberty Station

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: For San Diego tour, one must be able to get on/off the motorcoach and walk short distances. All of the destinations are flat terrain except at Point Loma/Cabrillo Monument. The Visitors Center is flat, but the walk up to the lighthouse is a moderate grade with good sidewalk – takes 5-10 minutes depending on speed.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: FIELD TRIP: All day bus trip, with step-on guide, exploring San Diego's history, different communities, and attractions including Coronado Island, Balboa Park, Old Town and Cabrillo National Monument

Lunch: Lunch at Casa Guadalajara

Enjoy an award-winning cuisine reflecting dishes of the regional villages of Mexico. Guests are served in a festive indoor dining room or colorful outdoor patio enhanced by enchanting gardens, tile fountains, strolling mariachis and, of course, giant frothy margaritas and handmade tortillas.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel

Evening: CLASS: Pacific Coast Highway related topic

Lodging: Courtyard San Diego Airport/Liberty Station

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Amount of walking at Surf Museum and downtown Laguna is based upon interest level. Guided walk of the Queen Mary is 90 minutes.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Motorcoach departs the hotel for our trip north on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)--one of the most beautiful road trips in the world.

We'll stop first at Oceanside to visit the California Surf Museum for a look at the history and culture of surfing in California.

Lunch: Lunch at the historic, ocean-front Hotel Laguna.

CLASS: During lunch, listen to a brief history of the Laguna Beach Art Colony.

After lunch, take time to explore downtown Laguna Beach where you'll find a casual walking environment in which you can explore galleries and one-of-a-kind shops along Forest and Ocean Aves.

Afternoon: Continue north by motorcoach to Long Beach and the Queen Mary.

FIELD TRIP: After checking into your stateroom, join our Behind-the-Scenes Guided Walk which offers a deeper look into the ship's history, from her construction and launch to her days as a passenger vessel and troopship.

Dinner: Dinner in the Promenade Cafe onboard the Queen Mary

The Promenade Cafe offers American favorites in a casual dining experience.

Evening: CLASS: 'J. Paul Getty and His Collection' introduces the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles which houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs.

Lodging: The Queen Mary Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: At Getty Center, a computer-operated tram runs from street-level entrance to top of hill. Getty Center art collection is displayed in four buildings, three of which have two floors; the fourth building has three floors. Walking between museum buildings is generally on flat, paved surfaces. Optional guided docent walks of art, architecture or gardens last about an hour. Elevators are available. Amount of walking is determined by interest level. Access to Getty Garden involves a slight incline.

Breakfast: Breakfast in Promenade Cafe onboard Queen Mary

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Motorcoach departs Queen Mary for Getty Center

The Getty Center presents the Getty's collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens, and breathtaking views. Explore the museum and grounds on your own or join one of the public tours.

Lunch: Lunch at the Getty Center will be on your own to give you an opportunity to view the art at your leisure.

•The Garden Terrace Café offers coffee, lunch, and snacks in an outdoor setting overlooking the Central Garden in the Exhibitions Pavilion building. •The Café at the Getty Center is a self-service café with an extensive menu which includes include pizza, sandwiches, burgers, soups, pastas and salads. •Reservations are suggested for the Restaurant, a full-service facility with views of the Santa Monica Mountains. Lunch is served Tuesday-Saturday 11:30AM-2:30PM. Make reservations for the restaurant by calling (310) 440-6810.

Afternoon: After checking into the hotel in the late afternoon, spend time walking along the Santa Barbara beach or Stearns Wharf, located across the street from hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant in Santa Barbara

Lodging: Harbor View Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Guided walk at the Santa Barbara Mission involves walking on uneven terrain; no elevators available.

Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Private guided walks through Santa Barbara Mission and Courthouse.

The "Queen of the Missions" was founded by Spanish Franciscan friars in 1786. The 10th of California's 21 missions, this is the only one to be continuously occupied and used since its founding. Explore eight restored rooms, the cloister gardens, chapel, historic cemetary, and beautiful Moorish fountains and courtyard.

Later we will enjoy a private one hour guided walk of the Santa Barbara Courthouse, the jewel in Santa Barbara's architectural crown. A bonus is the must-see view of Santa Barbara from the top of the 85 foot clock tower.

Lunch: Lunch on your own--Enjoy an opportunity to savor the flavors of Santa Barbara at the restaurant of your choice.

Afternoon: FREE AFTERNOON

Explore the sights of Santa Barbara on your own. Ride The Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle which provides frequent service along State Street and the Waterfront area. Shuttle buses and bus stops are marked with blue and black sailboat symbols and the shuttles travel on State Street from Sola Street to Stearns Wharf and along Cabrillo Boulevard.

Suggested sites are the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Art Museum, Zoo, Presidio State Historic Park, Maritime Museum, Ty Warner Sea Center, and Urban Wine Trail.

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant in Santa Barbara

Lodging: Harbor View Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Stops in Santa Ynez wine country may involve walking on uneven terrain in Los Olivos and vineyard. The visit to Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Colony requires walking on a boardwalk. There is no elevator at the hotel in San Simeon.

Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant in Santa Barbara

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Half day narrated bus tour of Santa Ynez Valley

Our guide is a local wine expert who has participated in every step of the winegrowing/winemaking process from pruning through picking, de-stemming, crushing, pressing, fermenting, maturing, racking, bottling and, of course, drinking.

Our first stop, Los Olivos, is a charming historic town of 1,000 residents, noted for its eclectic art galleries, wine tasting, unique shopping, epicurean restaurant opportunities, and antiques.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: At Global Gardens, Theo Stephen, proprietess will educate us on the many nuances of Extra Virgin Olive Oil as we taste a variety of olive oil samples.

Lunch: HANDS ON EXPERIENCE: Wine tasting and gourmet box lunch during a tour of a local vineyard and winery

Afternoon: While traveling to San Simeon and Hearst Castle, view "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream", a 40 minute National Geographic Movie which highlights the castle's rich history and surroundings and the inspirations which led William Randolph Hearst to construct his architectural masterpiece.

FIELD TRIP: Hearst Castle Visitor Center

Exhibits located in the Visitor Center offer guests an insightful look into the Castle, its architect Julia Morgan, and its owner W.R. Hearst.

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant in San Simeon

Lodging: Best Western Plus Cavalier Oceanfront Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: The Grand Rooms guided walk at Hearst Castle consists of approximately 106 stairs (up and down) and is about 2/3 mile in length. The tour duration is 45 minutes with a considerable amount of standing and no opportunity to sit or rest. At the end of the guided portion, stroll on your own through the gardens and wander at your leisure around the Neptune Pool.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Guided Walk Through Hearst Castle

On the Grand Rooms Tour, travel back in time and experience what it was like to be a guest at The Enchanted Hill, known today as Hearst Castle, one of California's top attractions.

In Casa Grande, the main house, four rooms on the ground floor are shown starting with the Assembly Room, largest of the 14 sitting rooms and once the gathering place for Hearst's guests. Next, you will visit the Refectory, the only dining room on the Enchanted Hill and then the Billiard Room, a game room featuring two 1920s era billiard tables and the Gothic mille fleurs tapestry. The final stop is the Theater, the largest room in Casa Grande.

At the end of the guided porton of your tour, stroll on your own through the gardens and wander at your lesiure around the Neptune Pool, a Greco-Roman style outdoor pool, and the Roman Pool, an indoor pool lined with blue Venetian glass and gold tiles.

Lunch: Lunch at Ragged Point Restaurant with a coastal ambiance

Afternoon: After lunch, continue driving north on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Big Sur to Monterey on the Monterey Peninsula. This coastal highway winds along some of the most spectacular ocean views in the U.S.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant in Monterey

Lodging: Best Western Victorian Inn Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Amount of walking at Monterey Aquarium depends upon one's interest level. Elevator available in the Aquarium.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Victorian Inn

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Monterey Bay Aquarium is located on the bay along Monterey's historic Cannery Row, which was immortalized by John Steinbeck. Regularly named one of the nation's top aquariums, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is home to more than 35,000 plants and animals in 200 different exhibits.

Based on your interests, view the exhibits and attend Aquarium programs. The program schedule is subject to change, so please check with the information desk when you arrive for current show times. Programs are free with Aquarium admission.

Lunch: Enjoy spectacular views of the bay as you relax for lunch at the casual Monterey Bay Aquarium Cafe.

The Cafe features pizza, pasta, ethnic specialties made to order, and a wide variety of ready-made sandwiches and salad entrees. Vegetarian meals, daily specials, and juicy hamburgers are made at the grill. Beverages, beer, wine and desserts are also served.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Gael Gallagher, naturalist and historian, joins us in the afternoon to acquaint us with the Monterey Peninsula, starting with Monterey, the most historic city in California; "New Monterey" or Cannery Row, an area immortalized by John Steinbeck; Pacific Grove, the Butterfly capital of the world; Pebble Beach's famous 17 Mile Drive; and the charming Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Dinner: Dinner on your own--Enjoy an opportunity to savor the flavors of Monterey at the restaurant of your choice.

Lodging: Best Western Victorian Inn Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Victorian Inn

Morning: After breakfast, the motorcoach departs Monterey for San Francisco.

Lunch: While on the trip, we'll stop and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Once we arrive in San Francisco, our San Francisco guide will introduce us to the city and the city highlights.

Dinner: In San Francisco, a feast of culinary delights awaits you. The evening is yours to sample one of the more than 3,000 San Francisco restaurants on your own. San Francisco restaurants feature foods from every corner of the world, from southeast Asia to southern Italy, Shanghai, Paris and Provence. They are both high-end and low-end, ranging from little hole-in-the-walls to your upscale, white-tablecloth places with a unique decor selected by the owner, who is oftentimes also the chef. The wonderful thing is that the majority of these restaurants are all within walking distance because San Francisco is, for the most part, a walking city.

Lodging: Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: One must be able to ride a ferry boat round-trip between the San Francisco pier and Alcatraz. Much of Alcatraz is steep and hilly; the walking distance from the dock to the cell house at the top of the island is about 1/4 mile and the elevation change is 130 feet.

Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant in San Francisco

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and U.S. built fort on the West Coast, the infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public, and the 18 month occupation by Indians of All Tribes which saved the tribes. Rich in history, there is also a natural side to the Rock - gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare.

Per Golden Gate National Recreation Area policies, the value of this tour is $26 for adults and students over the age of 11. Discounts are provided for children 11 and under and seniors 62 and over. This cost is included in program cost.

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant in San Francisco

Afternoon: FREE AFTERNOON

In San Francisco there are limitless opportunities for sight-seeing. Our program will keep you busy, but this afternoon you have a few hours of free time for personal exploration.

Dinner: Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant in San Francisco

Lodging: Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant in San Francisco

Morning: HOTEL CHECK OUT: This concludes the program. We hope you have enjoyed our Coastal California program and will join us for other rewarding adventures in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals Included: Breakfast