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WALNUT GROVE, CALIFORNIA

Birding and Ecology in the California Delta by Boat

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 CA

Interest

 Birding

Price Range

 $500 - $700

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Road Scholar
Program #16891RJ

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4 Days | 3 Nights
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Moderate
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Love to learn in a small-group setting? This collection of programs has at most 10-24 participants.
See our Small Group programs.
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EasyFor people looking to exercise their minds more than their bodies. There’s minimal walking and not too many stairs.
ModerateThese programs get you on your feet and include activities such as walking up to a mile in a day through a city and standing in a museum for a few hours.
ActiveFor people who enjoy walking as much as two miles a day, perhaps to explore historic neighborhoods or a nature trail.
Moderately ChallengingFor hardy explorers who enjoy a good physical challenge, spending most of their days on the go.
ChallengingGet ready to keep up with our highest-energy group. These demanding — and rewarding — programs are for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts.

Program Details > Daily Schedule

Itinerary for Feb 3 — Feb 6, 2013

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Type: Hotel

 Description: 1998 marked the advent of a Renaissance for this historical property. Under the direction of new owners, the Hotel has resumed its original name and undergone a major renovation. The renovation maintained the character of the original design while incorporating contemporary amenities, such as jacuzzi tubs, with glorious river views. What they have achieved is an ambience that is both unique and casually elegant. The Ryde Hotel was an opulent establishment, complete with beauty salon and barbershop, that served as a riverboat way station. It was also rumored to be a bordello. The lower level was a speakeasy, offering bootleg whiskey and jazz to a clientele in search of a good time. There was even a trap door in the floor that allegedly opened to reveal a tunnel running under the road to a hidden doorway at the river's edge. It's not difficult to imagine the type of nocturnal activities that secret passageway has seen! Speculation mixed with fact generated a good amount of notoriety that brought with it a certain cachet. The Ryde attracted celebrities of all types from President Herbert Hoover to local and state politicians to movie stars and mobsters. In later years the Hotel became a boarding house for the men and women who built the Delta levees and pioneered the area's thriving agricultural industry. Over time, the Ryde has experienced many incarnations and owners including the Lon Chaney, Jr. family. At one point the name was changed to the Grand Island Inn. During the 1980's it was even a rock'n'roll mecca!

Contact info:
14340 Highway 160
Walnut Grove, CA 95690 USA
phone: 916-776-1318
web: www.rydehotel.com

Room amenities: No television or phone in the rooms

Facility amenities: Nine hole executive golf course, on-site restaurant, private dock, park-like grounds, swimming pool, Internet access

Smoking policy: No
Smoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Additional nights before: Please call the hotel.
Hotel is busy on weekends, check for availability.

Check in time: 4:00 PM

Day One: Sunday, February 03 - Check in to the hotel and register for the program. wine/cider... 
Check in to the hotel and register for the program. wine/cider social, dinner, meet the captain of our boat, the Delphinus, orientation and get-acquainted meeting

Arrive To: Check in to the hotel after 4 p.m. and register for Road Scholar. Established in 1850 by John W. Sharp, Walnut Grove is one of the earliest settlements along the Sacramento River. Sharp journeyed west from Ohio with his young family and chose the site of Walnut Grove because of the abundant walnut and oak forests in the area.

Dinner: Enjoy a wine/cider social before buffet dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Evening: Orientation and get-acquainted meeting in the hotel meeting room. Meet the captain of the Delphinus and learn about the boat we'll be traveling on for the next 2 days.

Lodging: Ryde Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner
Close [ x ]
Type: Hotel

 Description: 1998 marked the advent of a Renaissance for this historical property. Under the direction of new owners, the Hotel has resumed its original name and undergone a major renovation. The renovation maintained the character of the original design while incorporating contemporary amenities, such as jacuzzi tubs, with glorious river views. What they have achieved is an ambience that is both unique and casually elegant. The Ryde Hotel was an opulent establishment, complete with beauty salon and barbershop, that served as a riverboat way station. It was also rumored to be a bordello. The lower level was a speakeasy, offering bootleg whiskey and jazz to a clientele in search of a good time. There was even a trap door in the floor that allegedly opened to reveal a tunnel running under the road to a hidden doorway at the river's edge. It's not difficult to imagine the type of nocturnal activities that secret passageway has seen! Speculation mixed with fact generated a good amount of notoriety that brought with it a certain cachet. The Ryde attracted celebrities of all types from President Herbert Hoover to local and state politicians to movie stars and mobsters. In later years the Hotel became a boarding house for the men and women who built the Delta levees and pioneered the area's thriving agricultural industry. Over time, the Ryde has experienced many incarnations and owners including the Lon Chaney, Jr. family. At one point the name was changed to the Grand Island Inn. During the 1980's it was even a rock'n'roll mecca!

Contact info:
14340 Highway 160
Walnut Grove, CA 95690 USA
phone: 916-776-1318
web: www.rydehotel.com

Room amenities: No television or phone in the rooms

Facility amenities: Nine hole executive golf course, on-site restaurant, private dock, park-like grounds, swimming pool, Internet access

Smoking policy: No
Smoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Additional nights before: Please call the hotel.
Hotel is busy on weekends, check for availability.

Check in time: 4:00 PM

Day Two: Monday, February 04 - Board the Delphinus for our first day of cruising on the Delta to... 
Board the Delphinus for our first day of cruising on the Delta to observe migratory birds, we learn about the habitat and the habits of these birds and some of the fascinating human history of the Delta

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.

Morning: Board the Delphinus for our birding cruise on the Delta waters. Our captain/instructor lectures on the migratory birds who pass through these waterways at this time of year.

Lunch: Lunch on board the Delphinus.

Afternoon: We continue to explore the waters of the Delta observing the greatest concentration of migrating ducks and geese in California. Lecture on the habitat favored by migratory birds and their habits.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Evening: Instructor goes over the bird count. Lecture on the history of the Ryde Hotel and the Delta towns of Walnut Grove and Locke.

Lodging: Ryde Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Close [ x ]
Type: Hotel

 Description: 1998 marked the advent of a Renaissance for this historical property. Under the direction of new owners, the Hotel has resumed its original name and undergone a major renovation. The renovation maintained the character of the original design while incorporating contemporary amenities, such as jacuzzi tubs, with glorious river views. What they have achieved is an ambience that is both unique and casually elegant. The Ryde Hotel was an opulent establishment, complete with beauty salon and barbershop, that served as a riverboat way station. It was also rumored to be a bordello. The lower level was a speakeasy, offering bootleg whiskey and jazz to a clientele in search of a good time. There was even a trap door in the floor that allegedly opened to reveal a tunnel running under the road to a hidden doorway at the river's edge. It's not difficult to imagine the type of nocturnal activities that secret passageway has seen! Speculation mixed with fact generated a good amount of notoriety that brought with it a certain cachet. The Ryde attracted celebrities of all types from President Herbert Hoover to local and state politicians to movie stars and mobsters. In later years the Hotel became a boarding house for the men and women who built the Delta levees and pioneered the area's thriving agricultural industry. Over time, the Ryde has experienced many incarnations and owners including the Lon Chaney, Jr. family. At one point the name was changed to the Grand Island Inn. During the 1980's it was even a rock'n'roll mecca!

Contact info:
14340 Highway 160
Walnut Grove, CA 95690 USA
phone: 916-776-1318
web: www.rydehotel.com

Room amenities: No television or phone in the rooms

Facility amenities: Nine hole executive golf course, on-site restaurant, private dock, park-like grounds, swimming pool, Internet access

Smoking policy: No
Smoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Additional nights before: Please call the hotel.
Hotel is busy on weekends, check for availability.

Check in time: 4:00 PM

Day Three: Tuesday, February 05 - Back on board the Delphinus we continue our exploration of the Delta... 
Back on board the Delphinus we continue our exploration of the Delta waters, visit the town of Rio Vista and the small, excellent museum there, lunch at a local restaurant and continue birding to see hawks, tundra swan, snow geese and sandhill cranes

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.

Morning: Board the Delphinus to continue birding the Delta waterways. We travel to the town of Rio Vista to visit the Rio Vista Museum which is located in a reconstituted blacksmith shop. The museum features community history exhibits, period costumes and antique farm equipment. Docents meet us to answwer questions and point out the museum's highlights.

Lunch: Lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue our cruise to view more migratory birds..We may see 6 or more species of hawks, including peregrine falcons, Swainson hawks, owls, tundra swans, snow geese, Canada geese and sandhill cranes.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel restaurant. Instructor does a final bird count. View video on the making of the documentary "Winged Migration."

Lodging: Ryde Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day Four: Wednesday, February 06 - Program ends after farewell breakfast and wrap-up session, optional... 
Program ends after farewell breakfast and wrap-up session, optional walk at a nearby viewing area to observe the Delta habitat ashore

Breakfast: Farewell breakfast and wrap up session with our instructor.

Morning: Program ends. Those who are interested may choose to do an optional walk to a nearby viewing area to see migrating birds from the shore. You may leave from the walk or return to the hotel to check out. . Please check out by 11 a.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Enroll Here

Important information about your itinerary:
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date.
Currently selected:Prices Starting At:
Feb 3 — Feb 6, 2013 waitlist only  

Our Value Promise To You

You won't find a better value.

Included
at no additional cost on this date ...
•3 nights of accommodations
•8 meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
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4.5
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