Arrival, check in and register, wine social, dinner, Orientation and get-acquainted

Afternoon: Arrival/Check in time after 4 p.m.

Dinner: We meet for a wine and cider social and a delicious catered dinner in our hotel meeting room

Evening: After dinner we have an orientation and get/acquainted program in our hotel meeting room.

Lodging: Bodega Coast Inn

Meals Included: Dinner

Meet the outfitter who will lead our hikes, history class and walk to wildlife preserve, wine class

Breakfast: Expanded continental breakfast buffet in hotel breakfast room.

Morning: To increase our appreciation and understanding of the area, we begin with an introductory lecture about local history. Until the Fall of 1775, the Miwok and Pomo Indians lived peacefully in the coastal mountains and valleys of what we now call Sonoma County. Their lifestyle revolved around the seasons, hunting and gathering from the land and harvesting the sea and rivers. Little changed over hundreds of years until the first white sails were spotted off the coast. The Spanish sloop, Sonora, carried Don Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra Mollineda and a group of explorers to anchorage at the mouth of Tomales Bay at the southern end of Bodega Bay according to a journal kept by a member of the company. In more modern times, Bodega Bay become known around the world as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". We meet our outfitters and learn about the program activities. Our instructor/outfitter leads us on a hike to Doran Park with bird and flower identification along the way.

Lunch: We have a relaxing picnic lunch on the beach.

Afternoon: After lunch we hike back to hotel where we have a bit of free time before our first wine class and tasting with a local expert who has been a winery owner, vineyardist and wine judge.

Dinner: We are served an excellent catered dinner in our hotel meeting room.

Evening: We take this opportunity to spend an evening sharing our Road Scholar experiences.

Lodging: Bodega Coast Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Vans to Point Reyes National Seashore to enjoy a day of hiking, marine mammal class

Breakfast: We have an expanded continental breakfast buffet in the hotel breakfast room.

Morning: Our outfitters arrive and provide van transportation to Bear Valley Visitor Center and Point Reyes National Seashore. From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches through its open grasslands to its brushy hillsides and forested ridges, visitors can discover over 1000 species of plants and animals. Home to several cultures over thousands of years, Point Reyes preserves a tapestry of stories and interactions of people. Point Reyes awaits your exploration. We begin with a walk along the Earthquake Trail, then stop at the Visitor's Center to view a film and interpretive displays. Next we visit the Miwok Indian Village.

Lunch: We eat our picnic lunch at the Visitor's Center.

Afternoon: We return to the vans and travel to Abbott's Lagoon for a spectacular 3 mile hike along the lagoon to the Pacific Ocean. This hike offers many good birding opportunities and seasonal wildflower viewing.

Dinner: Our catered dinner is served in our hotel meeting room.

Evening: We're treated to a class on marine mammals with a local volunteer from the Bodega Marine Laboratory.

Lodging: Bodega Coast Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hiking in Armstrong Redwoods State Park, a visit to Korbel Champagne Cellars

Breakfast: Expanded continental breakfast buffet in the hotel breakfast room.

Morning: Our guides arrive to take us in vans to Armstrong Redwoods State Park for a hike up the East Ridge Trail, walking along the ridge for approximately 2 miles and descending to the forest floor through old growth redwoods.The serene, majestic beauty of this Grove is a living reminder of the magnificent primeval redwood forest that covered much of this area before logging operations began during the 19th century. Armstrong Redwoods preserves stately and magnificent Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as the coast redwood. These trees stand together as a testament to the wonders of the natural world. The Grove offers solace from the hustle and bustle of daily life, offering the onlooker great inspiration and a place for quiet reflection. The ancient coast redwood is the tallest living thing on our planet! These remarkable trees live to be 500-1,000 years old, grow to a diameter of 12-16 feet, and stand from 200-250 feet tall. Some trees survive to over 2000 years and tower above 350 feet. Coast redwoods are classified as temperate rainforests and they need wet and mild climates to survive. The rainfall in Armstrong Redwoods averages 55 inches per year and the trees are often shrouded in a mystical fog that helps to maintain the moist conditions needed for the redwoods to survive.

Lunch: Today we have our picnic lunch on the grounds of Korbel Champagne Cellars.Located in the heart of the historic Russian River Valley, near the majestic ancient redwood groves of Armstrong Woods State Reserve and the scenic wonder of the Pacific coastline, the estate is a showcase of the heritage and the history of winemaking in North America.More than 2000 acres of rolling hills are host to the Korbel vineyards, growing a variety of grapes including Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and the special Pinot Noir that makes Korbel Champagne one of the most sought after in the world. The Russian River Valley is surrounded by pine-covered mountains, and is blessed with bright sun, blue skies and cool ocean breezes that roll through the grapevines, all combining to provide the climate perfect for both winegrowing and vacationing.While you’re here, take an extended tour of the famous Korbel Champagne Cellars, where you can see up close how champagne is made. Included in the tour is complimentary tastes of Korbel’s finest

Afternoon: After lunch we take the Korbel tour and taste some of their delicious champagne. When we return to our hotel, our wine instructor will be ready to teach another excellent wine class.

Dinner: Our catered dinner is served in our hotel meeting room.

Evening: Tonight we see the Alfred Hitchcock film "The Birds"and watch for all the scenes that were filmed right here in Bodega Bay.

Lodging: Bodega Coast Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Vans to the Russian River for our kayaking trip, visit to Occidental, musical entertainment

Breakfast: Expanded continental Breakfast buffet in the hotel breakfast room.

Morning: Once again our outfitters pick us up in their vans and we depart for our kayaking adventure on the Russian River. The river takes its name from the Russian trappers who explored the river in the early 19th century, and established their Fort Ross trade colony 10 miles northwest of its mouth. They called it the Slavyanka River. The redwoods that lined its banks drew loggers to the river in the late 19th century.

Lunch: We paddle the gentle waters from the mouth of the river upstream to a perfect spot along the shore for our picnic lunch with many opportunities to see harbor seals, sea lions, turtles and numerous birds.

Afternoon: We continue kayaking, then get back in our vans for a visit to Goat Rock Beach and the historic villages of Occidental and Bodega.

Dinner: We enjoy our final catered dinner in our hotel meeting room.

Evening: After another full day of activity we relax to hear some special musical entertainment for our final evening together.

Lodging: Bodega Coast Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Final breakfast in the hotel breakfast room, pick up box lunches before departure

Breakfast: Our farewell expanded continental breakfast buffet is served in the hotel breakfast room. We pick up our box lunches before departure.

Morning: The program ends with independent departures. Please check out by 11 a.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast