In Golden Triangle, 14 Nights:
Starting and ending in 'celeb-tastic' Los Angeles, this tour is packed with good old-fashioned theme park fun, great shopping and Hollywood moments. Oh, and there's 24-hour desert fun in Las Vegas, and sights, culture and cosmopolitan cuisine in picturesque San Francisco, too!
Description
Los Angeles
5 nights' accommodation at Holiday Inn Buena Park (Standard), Sheraton Anaheim (Superior) or Regent Beverly Wilshire (Platinum)
Settle in to your 3-, 4- or 5-star hotel in the glamourous city of LA or laid-back Orange County and start your California adventure. You have 5 days to explore the adrenalin-filled thrills and spills of Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm and Universal Studios. Spend a day at each of these fantastic theme parks with their heart-stopping rides, cuddly cartoon characters and Wild West adventures. Don't forget to pre-book your theme park tickets with us before you leave. Then you still have time to see famous Hollywood sights like the Walk of Stars on Hollywood Boulevard, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the original home of the Oscars ceremony (and where you'll find all the stars' hand and footprints), as well as a studio tour at Warner Bros, where you might even see filming first-hand. Don't miss out on our fantastic movie star experience tour - book your tickets before you leave to guarantee your seats on the bus!
Los Angeles - Las Vegas
4 nights' accommodation at Circus Circus (Standard), Luxor (Superior) or Bellagio (Platinum) Get settled into 'The Strip' hotel of your choice and then it's time to discover the magic of Vegas! Get an exclusive, bird's-eye view of 'The Strip' with a breathtaking night helicopter ride over all its lights and sights (you can pre-book this with our team before you leave the UK). See the Bellagio fountains, a replica of Paris's Eiffel Tower, Luxor's famous beam of light and New York, New York's Brooklyn Bridge and famous roller coaster - all lit up, from the air! Avoid missing out by pre-booking tickets to see sell-out shows such as Cirque du Soleil. Every hotel along 'The Strip' encourages you to visit, with numerous cheap or FREE attractions. The MGM Grand has a lion habitat where you can walk underneath the see-through glass cage and look up at these creatures' giant paws. Or, visit Mirage for its hilarious 'volcano' which erupts every 15 min. Stratosphere and New York, New York are the hotels to head for if you like thrill rides, while downtown's Fremont Street Experience has an hourly (after dusk) light and sound extravaganza.
Las Vegas - San Francisco
5 nights' accommodation at Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Fisherman's Wharf (Standard), Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf (Superior) or Fairmont San Francisco (Platinum) San Francisco is a cosmopolitan city with so much to offer, including museums, entertainment, theatres, shopping, good food and fine wines from the nearby wine region of Napa Valley and Sonoma, fantastic views of the Bay and numerous historical sights and landmarks. Just as the song says, there is no doubt you will 'leave your heart in San Francisco' once you have seen all that it has to offer. Fisherman's Wharf has a seaside feel to it with the fun-filled Pier 39 - this is also where you can see the sea lions basking in the sunshine; they are noisy but fun to watch and always draw a crowd. See your Virgin Holidays' rep when you arrive and book your place to Alcatraz - it's a very popular attraction and you really won't want to miss out on a visit to the infamous 'Rock' as it is known. Wander around the world's most famous prison, take a guided tour and hear all about the history of this engaging landmark. For the brave ones amongst you, why not take a spooky ghost hunt tour around some of the city's oldest buildings? Museums in San Francisco include the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa), the Asian Art Museum and the Cable Car Barn and Museum. The Wells Fargo bank building in the Financial District has a great little museum chronicling the Gold Rush era. Other fun things to enjoy in this sophisticated city include riding a cable car. There are 3 routes, but the most popular runs from Aquatic Park near Ghiradelli Square, up Hyde Street and over Nob Hill. Up on Nob Hill, you can spot the posh houses of the 19th-century hoi polloi, as well as visiting soaring Grace Cathedral. Walk or drive across the famous Golden Gate Bridge and take pictures of it from Fort Point Lookout. There are beaches galore around San Francisco, so head to Ocean Beach and join the hardy surfers in the freezing waters, or rent bikes or in-line skates and explore the area from dry land. Take a trip out to Napa Valley or Sonoma to take in the picturesque scenery whilst visiting some of the region's wineries and vineyards, many of which offer FREE wine tasting. Venture out to Yosemite National Park, where there are lots of photo opportunities, or really get in touch with nature and your surroundings by grabbing your hiking boots and go exploring!