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: Before dinner begins, we'll have an overview of the program ahead. We will review the up-to-date schedule, responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures and any other administrative issues, as well as 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.
Based on instructor availability and field trip logistics, we'll schedule daily lectures to complement that day's field trip destination. During the week, we'll visit the Santa Barbara and Ventura Missions, J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Anacapa Island, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Anacapa Island is one of five islands in the Channel Islands National Park.Dinner: Dinner at hotel
Menus are contracted for the program and are designed to offer balanced, healthy meals for the participants.Evening: CLASS: "The Story of the California Missions"
The instructor traces the history of the mission system from its Spanish beginnings to the successes of the missions in Latin America, and examines why they were used in California. Hear about Fra Junipero Serra and what life was like at the California Missions. Discuss why the missions failed, the pros and cons of the missions, and how they are viewed today.
Enjoy the remainder of the evening getting to know your fellow participants and discovering what you share beyond a love of lifelong learning.Lodging: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Dinner
Bus departs the hotel for Santa Barbara.
FIELD TRIP: Docent tour of Santa Barbara Mission
Founded in 1786, Mission Santa Barbara was the 10th of the missions to be built. It is called the "Queen of the Missions" for its beautiful hilltop setting and majestic views.Lunch: Lunch at Santa Barbara restaurantAfternoon: EXCURSION: Docent tour of Santa Barbara Courthouse
The Courthouse is the jewel in Santa Barbara's architectural crown. A bonus is the must-see view of the city from the top of the 85 foot clock tower.Dinner: Dinner at hotelEvening: CLASS: "J. Paul Getty and His Collection"
The instructor 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: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Upon arrival, explore the Getty Center on your own or participate in a variety of available public tours.Lunch: Lunch on your own at Getty Center.
The Café at the Getty Center is a self-service café with an extensive menu.
Reservations are suggested for the Restaurant, a full-service facility. Make reservations for the restaurant by calling (310) 440-6810.
The Garden Café offers a limited lunch menu.Afternoon: Getty Center (continued)Dinner: Dinner at hotelEvening: CLASS: Evening class on the Channel Islands National Park
The instructor educates and prepares the group for the next day's boat trip to Anacapa Island.Lodging: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Twelve miles from the mainland a five-mile-long spine of rock emerges from the ocean, breaks into three islets, and offers itself as home to 265 species of plants and a bevy of seabirds. It is home to the largest brown pelican rookery on the Pacific Coast. On charts, the island of 737 acres appears as East, Middle, and West Anapaca. The Chumash called it Anyapakh or "mirage". It was anything but a mirage on the night of December 2, 1853, when the sidewheel steamer Winfield Scott, running at full speed, crashed into the rocks off Middle Anacapa and sank. The Coast Guard later built a light beacon in 1912 and a light station in 1932.
Enjoy a guided 1 mile nature walk on Anacapa Island.Lunch: Bag lunch on Anacapa IslandAfternoon: Anacapa Island (continued)
The Island Packers boat returns to the the mainland around 4:00 pm.Dinner: Dinner at hotelEvening: CLASS: The Reagan Decade
The evening class educates the group about Ronald Reagan and prepares them for the next day's field trip to the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Opened to the public in 1991, the 100 acre site is perched on a mountaintop with sweeping views of mountains, valleys, and the Pacific Ocean. Follow a young Ronald Reagan on his rise from local hero and college standout to the glamorous world of Hollywood stardom. His campaign trail and inauguration as the 40th President of the United States, the Oval Office, and key events of his two terms are revealed through documents, photographs, and artifacts from eight dynamic years in the White House. In the Air Force One Pavilion, board the aircraft that served as the "Flying White House" for President Reagan.
Gain an in-depth perspective through a two-hour guided walking tour of the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.Lunch: Lunch at Air Force One PavilionAfternoon: After lunch, explore the exhibits and grounds on your own before returning to the hotel. Dinner: Dinner at hotelLodging: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Founded in 1782, Mission San Buenaventura was the ninth of California's 21 missions and the last to be established by Father Junipero Serra. Destroyed by fire in the 1790s, the church was rebuilt over a period of a dozen years and rededicated in 1809.
HOTEL CHECK OUT: This concludes the program. We hope you have enjoyed our Best of California program and will join us for other rewarding programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!Meals Included: Breakfast
Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 648-2075 or (800) 333-2989
www.ventura-usa.com
Ventura offers a variety of recreational opportunities such as beach walks, biking and hiking trails, bird watching, camping, golf, sport fishing, water activities and whale watching. The Crowne Plaza Hotel is situated next to the beach and an oceanside boardwalk that stretches for many miles. Some trail heads are within walking distance of the hotel.
(805) 653-0323
One of the museum's permanent exhibits explores the community's past from the Chumash era through the 21st century. It consists of a fascinating collection of artifacts and displays focusing on Native Americans, Spanish and Mexican pioneers, and European and Yankee settlers. Especially notable are the George Stuart Historical figures, which are intricately carved figures from history that are dressed in elaborate period costume.For additional information, visit: www.venturamuseum.org