Rose Parade
San Diego Extension Tour

4 Days/3 Nights

January 2-5, 2009

Sightseeing, San Juan Capistrano, Whale Watching & a Trolley Tour of San Diego

This new and exciting tour program is designed for travelers looking to expand on the activities surrounding the Rose Parade Tour.  We will provide motorcoach transportation from your hotel to San Diego.  On our way we will stop at the famous Mission in San Juan Capistrano for a guided tour.  While in San Juan Capistrano we will enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant before continuing on to San Diego.  The next three nights the Embassy Suites San Diego Bay will be our home.  Our hotel is centrally located.  While staying in San Diego, we have reserved a whale watching cruise our first day and a hop on/off city tour the next day.  On the last evening we will provide a farewell dinner to toast this fabulous tour!

Cartan’s Tour Highlights: 

• Transportation from Los Angeles to San Diego

• Three night’s hotel accommodations at the Embassy Suites downtown San Diego

• Breakfast daily

• Docent led tour of Mission San Juan Capistrano

• Lunch in San Juan Capistrano

• 3 ½ hour whale and dolphin watching cruise from San Diego

• San Diego hop on/off city tour (2 hour loop, trolleys operate every 30 minutes)

• Farewell dinner

• Embassy Suites Hotel to San Diego airport transfer

ABOUT YOUR HOTEL

The Embassy Suites Downtown San Diego is the perfect location for our tour!  You are just steps away from Seaport Village, USS Midway, Gaslamp District, and Cruise Port.  Your suite consists of a private bedroom with either one king bed or two double beds, TV, and telephone.  The separate living room area has a sofa bed couch, table, chairs, TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker.    Full American breakfast which includes made to order omlettes and eggs as well as other hot and cold items including coffee and juice.  Nightly managers’ cocktail and snack reception.  The hotel also features a restaurant, laundry facilities, gift shop, fitness room, and swimming pool.

YOUR DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Friday – January 2, 2009 Los Angeles/San Diego, Sightseeing tour of San Juan Capistrano Mission, La Jolla (Breakfast, Lunch)

We will have scheduled departures from our Rose Parade Tour hotels after breakfast.  Our first stop is the Mission in San Juan Capistrano.  This was the seventh mission of a chain of 21 and was founded in 1776 by Father Junipero Serra. Our docent led tour will take us through out the mission grounds and tell us of all the history, including the flight of the swallows.  After our docent led tour of the Mission we will enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant and then continue our travels to San Diego.  Our day comes to an end with our arrival at the Embassy Suites Downtown San Diego.  There are plenty of restaurants nearby to choose from for dinner tonight.  A suggestion for the evening is to take a short walk to Sea Port Village which is has numerous shops and restaurants.

Saturday - January 3, 2009 Whale & Dolphin Watching cruise (Breakfast)

A full American breakfast is included this morning. Today is our “water” day.  We are scheduled for our 3 ½ hour Whale and Dolphin cruise at 9:30am.  The dock is a short 10 minute walk from the hotel.  Bring warm clothes including a hat and gloves as it can be chilly out on the ocean.  The boat has open as well as covered viewing areas.  Don’t forget your camera and a pair of binoculars!  This is prime time to view whales in San Diego as they head south on their migration from Alaska.  We will also have a narration of the many highlights of the North San Diego Harbour.  The ship has a snack bar with hot and cold drinks, snacks and sandwiches.  Our return is scheduled for 1:00pm.    We have given you the opportunity to explore San Diego on your own this afternoon and evening.  Some suggests are:  The 1 hour South Harbour  Cruise that will take you past many of the Naval ships that are in port.  The information about these ships is remarkable.  SeaPort Village is nearby with plenty of shopping and restaurants.  The USS Midway Museum is a popular attraction and is located between where the whale watching dock is and the hotel.  Perhaps you have seen something else that entices you!

The afternoon and evening are on your own.

Sunday – January 4, 2009 San Diego hop on/off tour (Breakfast, Dinner)

After breakfast, we will pick up the hop on/off trolley at Seaport Village, a 5 minute walk from the hotel.  This tour is a continuous 2 hour loop to the major points of interest in San Diego: Seaport Village, Convention Center, Horton Plaza, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Old Town State Park, and the Cruise ship terminal.  The Trolley’s will make a stop every 30 minutes at each of these locations.  Stay as little or as long as you like at any of these stops.  Old Town is a great place to have lunch if you like authentic Mexican Cuisine, there are many restaurants to choose from!  Tonight we will have our farewell dinner.

Monday – January 5, 2009 San Diego/Home (Breakfast)

Breakfast is at leisure this morning.  The hotel provides shuttle service to the San Diego airport on the hour.  Check with the front desk to reserve your time.  We hope you enjoyed your tour with us!