Arrive at hotel, register for program, wine social, dinner, orientation, get-acquainted, introduction to Yosemite National Park

Arrive To: Check into the hotel after 4 p.m.

Dinner: Gather in the meeting room for a wine social before being served a plated dinner.

Evening: Our evening meeting gives us a chance to meet one another and go over the program schedule. We have an introduction to Yosemite in preparation for our stay in the park.

Lodging: Doubletree Hotel - San Francisco Airport

Meals Included: Dinner

Field trip in Yosemite National Park, lunch at Wawona Hotel, visit Pioneer History Center, visit the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, photo stop at Tunnel View

Breakfast: A full breakfast buffet is served in the hotel dining room.

Morning: We board the motor coach for our field trip in Yosemite National Park. For tens of thousands of years, humans have changed, and have been changed by, this place we now call Yosemite. “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.” said famed naturalist John Muir. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is known for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves and biological diversity. Two Wild & Scenic Rivers, the Tuolumne and Merced rivers, begin in the park and flow west to the Central Valley. Yosemite is one of the first wilderness parks in the United States comprised of nearly 1200 square miles. The park is a shrine to human foresight, strength of granite, power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra.

Lunch: We are served a delicious lunch at the historic Wawona Hotel. The Wawona Hotel, a National Historic Landmark, rests upon verdant meadows and beside rushing streams. The tranquility of this Victorian-style lodge in Yosemite makes it a favorite of those who prefer a relaxed environment and the gracious charm of a bygone era.

Afternoon: After lunch we'll visit the Pioneer Yosemite History Center to see horse-drawn wagons, walk across a covered bridge, and visit historic buildings out of Yosemite's past. The history center explains how Yosemite was the inspiration for national parks across America and throughout the world. Next stop is the Marisposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. The Mariposa Grove, near Yosemite's South Entrance, contains about 500 mature giant sequoias. Giant sequoias are perhaps the largest living things on Earth and may exceed 3000 years in age. We board the motor coach and continue to Yosemite Valley with a stop at Tunnel View for a photo op at one of the world famous views of the Valley. We travel into the Valley and check in to the Yosemite Lodge where we'll stay for four nights.

Dinner: We have an extensive buffet dinner at the Yosemite Lodge Food Court.

Evening: Free evening to relax after a busy day.

Lodging: Yosemite View Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Instructor-led field trip to Tuolomne Meadows, Olmstead Point and Tenaya Lake, Yosemite Valley Visitor's Center, Indian Village, Ansel Adams Gallery

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Yosemite View Lodge restaurant.

Morning: Our on-board instructor provides the narrative for our field trip to the gateway to Yosemite's back country along Tioga Pass to Tuolomne Meadows, Olmstead Point and Tenaya Lake. Tioga Pass Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive between Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadows through forests and past meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Many turnouts offer broad and beautiful vistas. Tuolumne Meadows is a large, open sub-alpine meadow graced by the winding Tuolumne River and surrounded by majestic peaks and domes. From sometime in November through late May or early June, this area is only accessible by cross-country skis or snowshoes. Olmsted Point looks down on Yosemite Valley from the east--and from a very different angle. Though you might not immediately recognize Half Dome, it is one of the most prominent peaks you can see from Olmsted Point. Tenaya Lake is a magnificent High Sierra lake surrounded by granite domes, lodgepole forests, and Yosemite’s vast wilderness

Lunch: We have a picnic lunch at Tenaya Lake.

Afternoon: .We return to Yosemite Valley for a stop at the Visitor's Center, the Ahwahneechee Village.and the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Dinner: Dinner on your own with money provided.

Evening: We learn more about Ansel Adams and his work.

Lodging: Yosemite View Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Instructor-led field trip through Yosmite Valley, lunch and guided visit at the Ahwahnee Hotel, dinner at Curry Village, evening with John Muir

Breakfast: Breakfast at Yosemite View Lodge restaurant.

Morning: Our instructor leads us on a field trip through Yosemite Valley. We'll view the Valley's impressive granite formations including Half Dome, El Capitan, Sentinel Rock and more. First stop is Bridal Veil Falls and the Chapel. The Yosemite Chapel became listed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places in 1973 based on its “simple architecture” that was representative of “a particularly fine example of the early chapels constructed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.” Half Dome is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Yosemite, rising nearly 5,000 feet above the Valley floor, it is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Yosemite. El Capitan is a favorite for experienced rock climbers. Rising more than 3,000 feet above the Valley floor, it is the largest monolith of granite in the world. Cathedral Rocks and Spires form the eastern side of the canyon through which Bridalveil Creek flows. Some people think these rocks are even more impressive than El Capitan! We finish just to the east with the Three Brothers: Eagle Peak (the uppermost "brother"), and Middle and Lower Brothers.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at the Ahwahnee Hotel, a National Historic Landmark. Completed in 1927, It was built in a rustic style with American Indian motif. Historic paintings of Yosemite, stunning stained-glass windows, and woven tapestries grace the walls of The Great Lounge and Dining Room.

Afternoon: We'll have a guided visit around the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at Curry Village Pavillion.Camp Curry was founded in 1899 by David and Jenny Curry, two schoolteachers from Indiana. The pair dreamed of visiting Yosemite, but found that they could not afford the coach fare into the park and still pay the going rate for park lodging at $4 per night. This led to the establishment of Camp Curry - offering affordable room and board within Yosemite; a legacy that continues to this day. The camp was originally comprised of a dozen tents with a common dining center. Its popularity allowed it to quickly grow to hundreds of tents within a few short years.

Evening: John Muir pays us a visit for an evening presentation.

Lodging: Yosemite View Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Field trip to Glacier Point, free afternoon for optional hiking, biking, exploration on your own, farewell dinner, evening program

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Yosemite View Lodge restaurant.

Morning: A final field trip to Glacier Point rounds out the Yosemite experience. Glacier Point, an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra, is located 30 miles (one hour) from Yosemite Valley. The road ends at Glacier Point and it is a short walk to the viewpoint. Glacier Point, some would say, is the most spectacular viewpoint anywhere. Most people agree that its views of the high country and breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome and three waterfalls, are the most spectacular in the park.

Lunch: Lunch on your own with money provided.

Afternoon: Free time gives you a chance to explore on your own or to hike some of the many paths and trails the park offers.

Dinner: Farewell dinner.

Evening: We enjoy an evening program.

Lodging: Yosemite View Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Return to San Francisco, estimated arrival time at San Francisco Airport Terminal approximately 3:00 p.m., program ends, independent departures

Breakfast: Breakfast at Yosemite Lodge.

Morning: Board the motor coach for the return trip to San Francisco. May choose to be dropped at SFO or return to the Doubletree in Burlingame.

Lunch: Lunch en route to SFO.

Afternoon: Drop-off at SFO approximately 3:00 p.m. followed by return to Doubletree Burlingame. Program ends.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch