Monday, July 7, 2008
8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Day in the Wine Country - Napa Valley You will spend the day exploring the wine country in beautiful Napa Valley. Often called the birthplace of the California wine industry, Napa Valley is home to some of the earliest vineyards and wineries in the state. Today, this small valley ranks as one of the finest wine producing regions of the world. You will enjoy two delicious tasting opportunities as you learn about the history of the region and about some of the region's finest wineries. The chosen wineries will give a perspective of the breadth of wine production in the region. You will take a break between the two wineries by enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch on the lawn of a winery, truly a quintessential Napa experience. The journey through Napa Valley will be a historical tour and a delight for your taste buds.
8:45am-12:45 p.m. Muir Woods and Sausalito The sun is always shining in Marin County, the lush wooded area north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 550-acre Muir Woods boasts redwood trees hundreds of years old and hundreds of feet high. Ferns, wild flowers, and redwood burls make the cathedral-like valley a fascinating environment for a self-guided walk. This beautiful National Park is home to the famous California Redwoods, soaring hundreds of feet in the air and only found in California. Later, the Mediterranean atmosphere of Sausalito beckons you. Formerly a quiet fishing town, Sausalito has blossomed into a vibrant artist colony and a favorite stop for Bay Area visitors. Shops, restaurants and a great view of San Francisco across the bay are a few of the delights found in this picturesque town. Its winding streets are lined with fine restaurants, elegant shops and wonderful art galleries.
8:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Welcome to San Francisco City Tour San Francisco is well known as one of the world's most charismatic and cosmopolitan cities. Her world famous landmarks and her hidden treasures are the highlights of this fascinating tour. Spectacular scenery, the city's diverse cultures, and a wild and colorful past are brought to life through the dynamic narration of our knowledgeable guides. Sights visited may include: Golden Gate Bridge and Vista Point, The Cliff House and Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, Japanese Tea Garden, Twin Peaks, Victorian Neighborhoods, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, North Beach, Chinatown and Union Square.
1:15-5:15 p.m. Floating Homes of Sausalito Sausalito's colorful floating homes community will open its doors to the IIA. The tour takes you inside four of the most unique homes in the world. Docents will also be onboard to describe the incredible waterfront lifestyle and answer questions. One featured floating home may be the "Green Heron," which is one of the most colorful floating homes in the community and is a must see. It's a charming Victorian Cottage with seven stained glass windows and has a beautiful rose garden at its entrance. Another stop on the tour may be the "Hippo" that is also an art studio for one of the world's renowned artists of African animals. Just to see a few of her beautiful paintings (as well as her newly remodeled floating home) is well worth the time of the tour.
1:15-5:15 p.m. Alcatraz - Time on the "Rock" Infamous for housing the nation's most hardened criminals including Al Capone and The Birdman, Alcatraz Island sits in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Designed to take in a magnificent view of San Francisco, prisoners longed for what they had lost. The home of many criminals and civilian families who worked at the prison is now open for tours that showcase everything from the cells of well-known captives to the library and civilian housing, all experienced with the award-winning audio headset guided tour. Please note: A warm jacket and comfortable walking shoes are suggested for this tour. Note: This tour may sell out 2-3 months in advance.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 8:30am-5:00 p.m. Stanford - The Harvard of the West and
This tour begins with a one-hour, motorcoach ride to Stanford University. This "Harvard of the West" is not only an academic haven but also a location full of history and art. On this tour, you will visit the lovely campus and tour some of its impressive spaces. Sites visited may include: The Museum at Stanford with collections and exhibitions on view in 24 galleries, more than 65 outdoor sculptures including the New Guinea Sculpture Garden featuring carving methods, cultural traditions and mythological heritage of the Kwoma and Iatmul people of Papua New Guinea, Hoover Tower and the Herbert Hoover Memorial Exhibit Pavilion. After taking in the sites and enjoying a light lunch at Stanford, you will continue your journey to Filoli Gardens. Visiting Filoli is a relaxing excursion to one of California's most exclusive suburban areas. Travel through gently rolling hills to the majestic Filoli Estate and Gardens. An early California millionaire, who made his fortune in gold and water, in the Spring Valley Water Company, built the stately Georgian-style country mansion. It is set on 16 acres of formal display gardens meticulously cared for over the years. You will enjoy a private guided tour of both the house and the gardens. In the 1980s the estate was the setting for the television series Dynasty. Highlights include the opulent and fully furnished interior of the mansion, Tea House, handsome Walled Garden, Dutch Garden and the amazing Chartres garden planted to resemble the cathedral window pattern. The gardens will be resplendent with the colors of the season creating an elegant, memorable landscape.
8:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Alcatraz - Time on the "Rock" Infamous for housing the nation's most hardened criminals including Al Capone and The Birdman, Alcatraz Island sits in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Designed to take in a magnificent view of San Francisco, prisoners longed for what they had lost. The home of many criminals and civilian families who worked at the prison is now open for tours that showcase everything from the cells of well-known captives to the library and civilian housing, all experienced with the award-winning audio headset guided tour. Please note: A warm jacket and comfortable walking shoes are suggested for this tour. Note: This tour may sell out 2-3 months in advance.
8:45am-12:45 p.m. Welcome to San Francisco City Tour San Francisco is well known as one of the world's most charismatic and cosmopolitan cities. Her world famous landmarks and her hidden treasures are the highlights of this fascinating tour. Spectacular scenery, the city's diverse cultures, and a wild and colorful past are brought to life through the dynamic narration of our knowledgeable guides. Sights visited may include: Golden Gate Bridge and Vista Point, The Cliff House and Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, Japanese Tea Garden, Twin Peaks, Victorian Neighborhoods, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, North Beach, Chinatown and Union Square.
1:15-5:15 p.m. Tantalizing Taste Buds - Chocolate Tour This tour begins with a trip to Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, Inc., the first-tier chocolate manufacturer. That means they meticulously execute every step of the manufacturing process, from sourcing the beans to molding the bars, and the result is evident in every bite. Located in Berkeley, just 30 minutes east of San Francisco, the Scharffen Berger factory is famous for its artisan chocolate making, sourcing the best cacao in the world to create the richest, most flavorful chocolate. As you tour the factory you will experience this unique process from bean selection to blending, roasting and refining, and see what sets Scharffen Berger apart from other chocolate manufacturers. You will not only witness the fine art of chocolate making but at the end of the tour, you will also enjoy a sample of these handcrafted treats! The sensory journey is not over yet! The next stop is Rosenblum Cellars in Alameda. This unique urban winery is award winning and has become widely known as a "Mecca for zin-fanactics." Embodying nearly three decades of winemaking tradition, Rosenblum has evolved from a passionate home-winemaking operation into a world-class winery. Today, Rosenblum Cellars is recognized as one of North America's most acclaimed producers of zinfandel and Rhône varietal wines. You will enjoy a sampling of 4-5 word famous zinfandels and current releases while you learn about the rising of the urban winery that has become a Bay Area institution.
1:15pm-5:15 p.m. Muir Woods and Sausalito The sun is always shining in Marin County, the lush wooded area north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 550-acre Muir Woods boasts redwood trees hundreds of years old and hundreds of feet high. Ferns, wild flowers, and redwood burls make the cathedral-like valley a fascinating environment for a self-guided walk. This beautiful National Park is home to the famous California Redwoods, soaring hundreds of feet in the air and only found in California. Later, the Mediterranean atmosphere of Sausalito beckons you. Formerly a quiet fishing town, Sausalito has blossomed into a vibrant artist colony and a favorite stop for Bay Area visitors. Shops, restaurants and a great view of San Francisco across the bay are a few of the delights found in this picturesque town. Its winding streets are lined with fine restaurants, elegant shops and wonderful art galleries.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. De Young Museum & Japanese Tea Garden Founded in 1895 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of the city and a cherished destination for millions of residents and visitors to the region for more than 100 years. On October 15, 2005, the de Young Museum re-opened in a state-of-the-art new facility that integrates art, architecture and the natural landscape in one multi-faceted destination that will inspire audiences from around the world. Designed by the renowned Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron and Fong & Chan Architects in San Francisco, the new de Young provides San Francisco with a landmark art museum. A docent will lead you through the collections and special exhibitions of American paintings, decorative arts and crafts, and arts from Africa, Oceania and the Americas, as well as Western and non-Western textiles. After leaving the De Young Museum, you will walk over and explore the Japanese Tea Garden on your own. The Japanese Tea Garden is located just down the street from the de Young, also within Golden Gate Park. This type of Japanese garden is known as a wet walking garden, although it has a Zen garden, or dry garden area as well. The Japanese Tea Garden was first developed as the Japanese Village at the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, or World's Fair, which was held in the area that is now the Music Concourse. Golden Gate Park's Japanese Tea Garden is the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States.
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Cancellation Policy
Alcatraz – Time on “The Rock”
All cancellations and refund requests must be in writing. Cancellations received on or before May 5, 2008 will incur a US $15.00 administrative fee. There is no refund for cancellations received after May 5, 2008.
All tours with exception of Alcatraz - Time on "The Rock"
All cancellations and refund requests must be in writing. Cancellations received on or before June 16, 2008 will incur a US $15.00 administrative fee. There is no refund for cancellations received after June 16, 2008.
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