Log Cabins & Lakes

Family Outdoor Adventure

California, The American Southwest

Duration: 14 nights

Price: From $4,400 per person in low season based on two adults and two children travelling together and including accommodation, private transfers, car hire and taxes

California is an ideal holiday destination for families, particularly those with teenage children who enjoy getting active in the great outdoors. This family self-drive adventure to California takes in the best that the Golden State has to offer, from iconic cities to some of the world’s finest national parks. Beginning in San Francisco, you’ll then head inland to the Sierra Nevada mountains and Lake Tahoe before delving into the wilderness of Yosemite and Sequoia national parks, where you’ll gawp at some of the world’s largest trees. Your journey ends in the relaxed coastal city of Santa Barbara, famous for its food scene and beautiful weather.

Along the way, stay in lakeside log cabins and go hiking, biking and rafting in the vast wildernesses. There's no shortage of wildlife adventures either, from watching the sea lions basking on the pier in San Francisco to going whale watching in Santa Barbara.

Perfect forActive families with older children

In the knowConsider adding a couple of days on to your trip to explore the home of Hollywood, Los Angeles

Best for

Family-friendly
Adventure
Wildlife & Nature
Landscapes & Scenery

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Itinerary details

3 nightsSAN FRANCISCO

Your Californian adventure begins in that most iconic of cities, San Francisco. A private transfer will take you from the airport to your home for the first three nights of your trip, Cavallo Point. Set on a former military base, this classy hotel offers homely, luxurious accommodation, but the real draw is its location, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Besides the bridge, don’t miss the opportunity to watch colonies of sea lions on the piers, explore the notorious Alcatraz Island and stroll around the Golden Gate Park.

3 nightsLAKE TAHOE

Picking up your car, your adventure begins in earnest as you embark on the self-guided portion of your trip with a scenic drive to Lake Tahoe. You’ll be staying on the serene northern side of the lake at the Hyatt Regency, a stylish luxury hotel surrounded by pine forests. This leg of the journey is all about immersion in the great outdoors: hike the hills and forests, explore the cycle paths criss-crossing the countryside, and enjoy the lake itself with a traditional paddle-wheel cruise or a kayaking trip.

3 nightsYOSEMITE

If you thought Lake Tahoe was photogenic, just wait until you get to your next stop: the incredible Yosemite National Park. Your hotel, the Redwoods, has beautiful log cabins, rustic yet luxurious, which take their name from the mighty trees which populate the park. Strolling through the redwood groves is an awe-inspiring activity in itself, while other options in one of America's greatest outdoor spaces include hiking, cycling and river rafting. After a day in the fresh air, enjoy a rustic barbecue beneath the trees outside your cabin.

2 nightsSEQUOIA

Continuing south, you’ll delve deeper into the wilderness on your way to the Sequoia High Sierra Camp, where you'll stay in its deluxe canvas-tented cabins. You’ll feel even more immersed in the natural world here, and you’ll be surrounded once again by mighty redwoods and towering sequoias – the biggest of which are the largest living things on Earth. Once again, hiking is high on the agenda here, with scenic trails beginning right outside your tent, and you can also explore on horseback. Birdwatching is also a popular activity, with brown creepers, green-tailed towhees and mountain chickadees among the species native to the park.

3 nightsSANTA BARBARA

En route to Santa Barbara, stop off at Morro Bay to have a delicious lunch on the waterfront at the Galley Seafood Grill & Bar. As you drive out of Morro Bay, you'll pass several colonies of sea lions - it's worth another stop to watch them playing in the water. You'll then drive along the coastline to Santa Barbara.

Stay in style at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, which sits on a pristine beach. There’s nowhere better to end your trip than this beautiful, relaxing city, famous for its attractive red-roofed Spanish architecture, top-notch foodie scene and endless sunshine. Head out on a cruise to spot whales jumping alongside the boat, while kids and adults alike should take to the beach for some surfing lessons.

After three nights in Santa Barbara, you’ll make your final drive to Los Angeles airport, where you’ll drop off the car and fly home.