Start your journey from Los Angeles by boarding the scenic Coast Starlight Train, where you'll experience the breathtaking coastline as the train hugs the Pacific Ocean. Explore the charming town of Santa Barbara, known for its Spanish architecture, before heading to Solvang, a Danish-inspired village. The day concludes with a visit to Hearst Castle and a stop at Elephant Seal Beach. Overnight stay at a seaside hotel.

• Amtrak Coast Starlight Train

The Amtrak Coast Starlight is a well-known long-distance train that runs along the West Coast of the U.S., connecting Seattle's King Street Station with Los Angeles' Union Station. The full journey takes over 35 hours, with the California stretch offering breathtaking views along Highway 1.

• Santa Barbara

Located 150 kilometers north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The city features charming Spanish and Mexican-style architecture, with red-roofed, white-walled buildings. In the hillside and coastal neighborhoods, houses are surrounded by lush lawns and gardens, giving Santa Barbara its well-deserved reputation as a "garden city." The area has long been a favorite for wealthy businesspeople, political figures, and celebrities. President John F. Kennedy honeymooned here in 1953; President Ronald Reagan's villa in the northwestern mountains hosted world leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev and Queen Elizabeth II between 1981 and 1989; and President Bill Clinton vacationed here shortly after his election in 1992. On weekends and holidays, tourists flock to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles and the nearby desert cities, driving along Highways 101 and 154.

• Solvang

Solvang is a Danish-inspired village known for its European-style architecture, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, and traditional Danish crafts and souvenir shops. Visitors can enjoy the sight of windmills and treat themselves to the famous Danish pastries and European-style coffee.

• Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle, located on a 500-meter-high hill in San Simeon on California's central coast, offers stunning views of the coastline and the Pacific Ocean. The castle is a mix of Spanish, Mexican, European, and Mediterranean styles, but it truly embodies the spirit of America. The owner, media tycoon William Hearst, was inspired by European architecture during his childhood travels to Greece and Italy and influenced by the Mexican culture of California (which was once Mexican territory). Using his vast wealth, he created this lavish palace, a symbol of American luxury. At the age of 83, the Hearsts donated the estate to the U.S. government, giving visitors a chance to experience the grandeur of this private American mansion firsthand.

• Point Piedras Blancas

The beach at Point Piedras Blancas is a spectacular sight, often covered with elephant seals. Occasionally, younger seals can be seen playing and sparring in the water. While the Chinese name translates to "Walrus Beach," the correct name is "Elephant Seal Rookery." These large seals, distinguished by their large noses and massive bodies, started migrating here in the 1990s after nearly being hunted to extinction. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population has steadily grown.

Tour Duration:

Coast Starlight Train: 2.5 hours

Santa Barbara: 1 hour

Solvang (Danish Village): 1 hour

Hearst Castle: 2 hours

Point Piedras Blancas: 0.5 hours

 

Enjoy the scenic 17-Mile Drive along the coast and explore the bohemian town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Visit the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium before heading to Silicon Valley for tours of Apple and Google campuses. In the evening, arrive in San Francisco for a tour of Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge.

• 17-Mile Drive

The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic loop that circles the famous Pebble Beach Resort. The west and south sides of the drive run along the Pacific Ocean, while the east side passes through the Del Monte forest. Along the way, you'll see not only famous beaches but also luxurious villas and golf courses. A landmark of Pebble Beach, the Lone Cypress, stands near the beach. Many seabirds, sea lions, and seals also call this area home, with Bird Rock and Seal Rock being popular attractions.

• Carmel 

Carmel, located near the 17-Mile Drive, was founded in 1903. Many of its early residents were professional artists, and the town's unique, artistic, and tranquil atmosphere has attracted writers, actors, and celebrities. The famous Chinese painter Zhang Daqian also lived here for a time and named his residence "Ke Yi Ju," meaning "Can Stay."

• Monterey Bay

The Monterey Bay Aquarium, established in 1984, is ranked sixth in the world and second in the U.S. The aquarium is home to California sea otters and, more recently, seahorses. It also houses various tropical fish and marine life. The aquarium offers daily performances and feeding times, where visitors can watch the keepers interact with the animals and learn more about their environments and current conditions.

• Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley emerged in the mid-20th century as microelectronics technology rapidly developed. It is home to renowned research universities like Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. The region hosts thousands of high-tech companies, including industry giants like Cisco, Intel, HP, Apple, and Google. This tour will take you to visit the global headquarters of Apple and Google, two of the most influential companies in the world.

• Apple's Headquarters

Apple's headquarter, Located near the circular building is the Steve Jobs Theater, which hosts major events like product launches and can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The theater's exterior features a 20-foot-high glass curtain wall and a 165-foot diameter. The roof, made of carbon fiber, is the largest of its kind, weighing 80 tons and composed of 44 panels. The headquarters, with its ring-shaped building and large central courtyard, has been compared to a "landed spaceship" by Jobs and a "giant glass doughnut" by the media. The visitor center has four sections: an Apple Store, a café, an observation deck, and an augmented reality experience of the entire Apple Park campus.

• Google Headquarters

Google's headquarters, located in Mountain View, is a sprawling corporate campus. Visitors can see a variety of Google's high-tech products on display and even try some for themselves. The campus also offers free bicycles, which are painted in Google's signature colors. Visitors can take photos with Android robots scattered around the campus. The headquarters, called Googleplex, is situated near other tech hubs like the Mozilla Foundation and Microsoft's Silicon Valley Research Institute.

• San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf is one of San Francisco's most famous landmarks. It stretches from Ghirardelli Square to Pier 35 and features bustling shops, restaurants, and street performances, particularly around Pier 39. From here, you can enjoy views of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge.

• Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a world-famous symbol of San Francisco and one of the most iconic bridges in the world. Spanning the 1,900-meter Golden Gate Strait in California, the bridge was built over four years using more than 100,000 tons of steel at a cost of $35.5 million. Opened in 1937, the bridge is 2 kilometers long and has six lanes, making it one of the largest single-span suspension bridges in the world. The bridge's striking vermilion color contrasts beautifully with the blue sea and white waves, especially at night when the city lights illuminate it like a giant dragon soaring in the sky. During the California Gold Rush, the bridge served as the gateway to the goldfields, giving it the name "Golden Gate Bridge."

Tour Duration:

Carmel-by-the-Sea: 1 hour

17-Mile Drive: 1.5 hours

Monterey Bay Aquarium: 1 hour

Apple: 0.5 hour

Google: 0.5 hour

Golden Gate Bridge: 0.5 hour

Fisherman's Wharf: 0.5 hour

 

The tour concludes. There are three drop-off locations in San Francisco. If you have a departing flight the same evening, it is recommended to book a flight departing after 10:00 PM.

Drop-off locations in San Francisco:

20:00PM, 99 Ranch Market (Silicon Valley), 1350 Grand Rd, Mountain View, CA 94040

20:30PM, SFO International Airport, 777 Airport Blvd, Burlingame CA 94010

21:00PM, Union Square - Across from Macy's, 1291 Geary & Powell Street