The USA

California: The Ultimate Luxury West Coast Discovery

When

All Year Round

Price

From $15,799pp excl. flights
(based on 2 ppl sharing)

How long

14 nights ideal length

We’re big fans of iconic road trips, and when we think of California, we can’t help but picture ourselves cruising along Highway One, seeing the sunset in the wing-mirror, humming along to The Beach Boys. Sound like a dream luxury vacation? Then read on. Our North America travel experts have created this soulful, all-encompassing Californian trip that will have you exploring like a local and experiencing landscapes so stunning your jaw will drop. Setting off from San Francisco, you’ll sip wine in Napa Valley before experiencing the wilderness of Yosemite. Then, you’ll cruise south on the iconic Highway One towards Santa Barbara and Los Angeles for a final few days exploring the City of Angels. We’ll give you the inside scoop on the best roads to turn down for the best views, the must see pit-stops and hole you up in properties that will leave you wanting more.  And if you feel like shifting it up a gear, then why not go true American style and throttle down the coast on a Harley Chopper.

San Francisco in style

With the downtown St Regis San Francisco as your first resting place before the open road calls, drop your bags and enjoy one of our favorite US cities for a day or two.  From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the lesser-known stores and restaurants in the heart of the city, relax and take in the San Francisco sights. We’re on hand to help pick that perfect part of town for a bite or to share some of the hippest bars, galleries and secret viewpoints. For a city tour with a twist, we’ll arrange for you to explore the sights by electric bike. Starting at Fisherman’s Wharf you’ll head along the waterfront to Fort Point where you’ll then cross over the Golden Gate Bridge. A must when visiting San Francisco is getting lost in Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in North America. Here our guides will show you the best places to taste Dim Sum, moon cakes and other eastern fare.

Make this itinerary yours

Each and every Black Tomato trip is tailored exactly to who you are and what you want to do So tell us about yourself and we’ll create something that’s entirely you.

Start Planning

Natural wonder in Napa Valley

A short hour and a half drive from San Francisco and you’re at Auberge du Soleil, set in the heart of Napa Valley. Surrounded by rolling vines, you’ll instantly feel at peace. After settling in and refreshing, head off on the Kunde tour, where you can sample some of the valley’s finest wines and local cheese sitting on top of the hill watching the sunset. With a private tour guide, take a stroll through the vineyards and see how the wine goes from grape to bottle, before sitting back and embracing the northern California lifestyle. Head back to the Auberge to rest your head as you’ve got an early start in the morning.

A few hours before sunrise, you’ll set off for a sunrise hot air balloon flight over Napa Valley. Watch as the rising sun glistens over the stunning pine laden valleys below, take a deep breath and you’re sure to never forget this remarkable view.

Yosemite Splendour

Next, set off on the four-hour journey to your base for the next two nights, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. Formerly known as the Ahwahnee, this rustic but elegant lodge offers sweeping views and is in a perfect location for exploring this extraordinary National Park. Yosemite is the crown jewel when it comes to spectacular scenery, rich history and captivating terrain for as far as the eye can see. Located in the High Sierras, Yosemite is nature in all its shining glory. From the towering granite carved out by glaciers, to the ethereal and therapeutic silence, soak up your surroundings as you spend the next few days hiking alongside a Conservancy ranger by day and stargazing by night.

Back to Nature in the Big Sur

Winding down the coast you’ll have the Pacific Ocean crashing on the rocks to your right and stunning landscapes stretching afar on the left. After a four hour scenic coastal drive, you’ll arrive at the Post Ranch Inn, a Black Tomato favorite. For the next few nights, you’ll be staying overlooking the ocean – a perfect spot for a relaxing few days to explore the stunning surroundings or catching sight of migrating whales from a private zodiac in the company of a marine biologist.

A sun-soaked stay in Santa Barbara and LA

Head southbound on one of the most famous roads in the world, the Pacific Coast Highway. It takes you across some of North America’s most amazing cliffs, rivers and bridges, so make sure your car roof is down to experience them in all their glory.  It’s a mind-blowing five hours’ drive to Santa Barbara and the beachfront luxury of Rosewood Miramar Beach in neighboring Montecito. From here, you’ll spend the next few days exploring the vineyards and charming surrounding villages before you embark on the last leg of your road trip.

Hit the road, and in under a two-hour drive you’ll be at the iconic Shutters on the Beach, directly on the sands of the Santa Monica Coast.  For the last four nights of your trip, it’s the perfect stop to combine casual beachside living with the glamor of LA. Start with a half-day tour through Hollywood and Beverly Hills in comfort and style. Walk the avenue of stars, see the famous Hollywood sign and Rodeo Drive and then head back to the iconic beaches where you can spend the rest of the day soaking up the sun or sipping on a cocktail looking out over the Santa Monica pier. Spend the last two days embracing the California lifestyle – a heady mix of shopping, surfing and sunshine.

Return the keys here, but it’s never too soon to start planning another journey.

Where to rest your head

The St Regis, San Francisco

The St Regis perfectly personifies the city which it sits; the vibrant, fashionable San Francisco. Chic interiors with modern art line this lavish hotel in…
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Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection, Napa Valley

Fusing European style from the French Riviera with relaxed Californian chic, Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection reveals a unique stay in the heart of…
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Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur

For a romantic getaway spot in the cliffs of Big Sur, hole up in The Post Ranch Inn. The hotel is the best place to…
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Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica

Built on the soft, white sand of the Santa Monica coast, Shutters on the Beach takes inspiration from the traditional American beach resort architecture of…
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The Majestic Yosemite Hotel

Capture the spirit of Yosemite here at the elegant and historical Majestic Yosemite Hotel.  Formerly called the Ahwahnee, the facade of the hotel is a…
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Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito

For those of us that have long dreamed of packing it all in and moving to the beach, Rosewood Miramar Beach may just be the…
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