California

ST THERESE

Presents

CALIFORNIA’S SCENIC
& SPIRITUAL COAST

Featuring

San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, Santa Barbara & Los Angeles
Hosted by Robert Joerger and Edward Beck
May XX – XX, 2022

“It is all so very beautiful and magical here—a quality which cannot be described.” So said famous photographer, Ansel Adams about California’s Pacific Coast Highway.  Brisk, salty air flows throughout, sweeping curves captivate your senses and cliff-side views take your breath away. Taking a road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway feels like a right of passage, and reminds us that it’s as much about the journey as it is about the destination.

Included in this journey will be visits to several surviving Spanish missions that are the state’s oldest and most-visited historic monuments.  A true way to experience first-hand at the first missions that opened in 1769 and were designed to spread Christianity in the State.  Plus visits to the New Camaldori Hermitage in Big Sur, where the time clock stops when you arrive.  As someone once said, “It is one experience in your life you might want to do before you die.” Or our stop at the Old Mission Santa Barbara with its world-famous twin bell towers.  The Mission preserves an abundance of rich treasures that offer a unique perspective on the past and the humble spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.

 

Welcome from Fr Bob & Edward (need welcome message)

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ITINERARY

1st Day: Wednesday, May xx – Departure for San Francisco (D)
Optional morning Mass at St Therese. For those not joining the tour in Montauk or the East End, we meet at JFK. Then we board our coach to JFK for our flight to San Francisco. Upon arrival, we transfer to our reserved hotel accommodations and a bit of time to relax.  Afterwards transfer to a local restaurant our Welcome to California dinner.

2nd Day: Thursday, May xx – In San Francisco (B)
After breakfast, we start our tour with to the Mission Dolores. Then onto Saint Mary’s Cathedral followed by a visit to the Shrine of St Francis of Assisi. We return to our hotel where we have the afternoon and evening free to explore San Francisco. Enjoy a spectacular cruise across San Francisco Bay. Visit Alcatraz. Do some shopping at Union Square. Take a ferry to Sausalito or Tiburon for lunch. Take the California St. cable car ride (skip the lines of the more popular route) from Embarcadero to the end, turn around and on the return trip get off at Grant Street. Walk through Chinatown, back around through North Beach. Have a drink at the Equinox Room at the Hyatt Regency for a great rotating view. This evening try one of the great San Francisco restaurants.
Or take an Optional San Francisco City Tour that features the Golden Gate, twin Peaks, Fisherman’s Wharf, Victorian houses, Lombard Street, Coit Tower, the Presidio, Mission Dolores and much more.

3rd Day: Friday, May xx – In To Monterey & Carmel by the Sea (B/L/D)
Today’s journey leads us from San Francisco along the picturesque and breathtaking coastline of the Pacific Ocean to historic Monterey where we will have a sightseeing tour of city featuring the colorful Cannery Row that was brought to life in the books of John Steinbeck. We also will see the famous aquarium. This will be followed by lunch at a local seaside restaurant before the high point of our travels today and that is experiencing the delight and coastal splendor of the world-renowned “17-Mile Drive” with its wild wind-swept cypress trees, frolicsome sea mammals, famous Pebble Beach golf course and tenacious Lone Cyprus. Continue to Carmel by the sea with its unique artistic flavor, where we will have our dinner and overnight accommodations.

4th Day: Saturday, May xx – To Big Sur and Santa Barbara (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we drive south along the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur, where the mountains drop right to the sea. Each turn offers new, awe-inspiring panoramas of some of the most breathtaking coastline found anywhere in the world.  In Big Sur, we will stop at the New Camaldoli Hermitage.  The road up to the Hermitage will offer you coastal views not to be seen anywhere along the Big Sur coast – simply one of the best in the world.  It will take your breath away and you will feel like a bird. This visit alone will imprint you for the rest of your life. A bit of time to shop at their magnificent gift shop before we have lunch in Big Sur, we continue to San Simeon to visit wealthy newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst’s opulent majestic hilltop castle. Here we will view the splendid antiques, art treasures and exotic possessions housed on the 12-acre estate. Continue to Santa Barbara for our overnight and dinner.

 5th Day: Sunday, May xx – In Santa Barbara. Visit to Montecito (B)
After breakfast we start the day with a visit and Mass at the Old Mission Santa Barbara with its world-famous twin bell towers.  The Mission preserves an abundance of rich treasures that offer a unique perspective on the past and the humble spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. It fosters reverence, care and joy for all creation (people, creatures and environment) through witness to the Franciscan tradition, practicing radical hospitality and welcoming everyone to this gathering place of joy, learning, and spiritual reflection.  Afterwards we will take a short scenic ride to Montecito. Montecito is home to some of the area’s most stunning stretches of coastline, from Fernald’s Point, past the calm waters of Miramar Beach and renowned surf break at Hammonds Point, to sparkling Butterfly Beach. The balance of the day is free for independent exploration. This evening try one of the wonderful Santa Barbara restaurants.

6th Day: Monday, May xx – To Santa Ines, Solvang and Los Angeles (B/L/D)
As we leave Santa Barbara, we take a sort of detour as we journey first to visit the Santa Inés Mission. The “hideden Gem” of the California Missions. The Mission was founded on September 17, 1804 by Father Estevan Tapis.  It was named in honor of Saint Agnes, an early Christian martyr of the fourth century. The Spanish for Agnes is Inés, hence the name of the church. Then to Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated with picturesque buildings and windmills.  A chance to browse through the charming shops featuring Danish specialties and time on our own to have lunch before we reboard our coach for Los Angeles with a stop at the Serra Retreat Center in Malibu. Check into our hotel for dinner and our overnight.

7th Day: Tuesday, May xx- In Los Angeles (D)
Morning program includes Mass at Our Lady Queen of Angeles Cathedral. Afterwards, the balance of the day is free for independent exploration. Maybe go to Venice Beach. This is one of the most interesting areas in L.A. to explore – it’s a rough-around-the-edges, colorful, bohemian enclave.  Or maybe do the Downtown Art Walk one way to experience the area’s robust art scene.  So is so much to see in Los Angeles with its array of restaurants and bars that is clustered at the periphery. But as with Times Square,  many visitors just prefer to stroll around this giant pedestrian zone, trying to take it all in. This evening try one of the city’s great restaurants.

Or take an Optional Los Angeles City Tour sightseeing of this gigantic metropolis starting from Olivera street, the oldest thoroughfare in the city, to Hollywood as you have an opportunity to step into the footprints of famous movie stars at Mann’s Chinese Theater, Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive and Mulholland Drive for a spectacular view.

8th Day: Wednesday, May xx – In Los Angeles (B/D)
A full day free for independent exploration in the “City of Angels.”  Maybe take a trip to Disneyland or Universal Studios. In the evening, we meet for our farewell dinner at local restaurant.

 

 

 

9th Day: Thursday, May xx – Back to NYC (B)
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport and our flight to JFK. Upon arrival we board our coach for the journey back to Montauk.

Special Features:

• Masses with Father Bob and Father Edward
• Welcome to California cocktail in San Francisco’s Monarch
• Visit to the magnificent New Camaldoli Hermitage Mission in Big Sur
• Visit to the Santa Ines Mission in Solvang, considered the Gem of California Missions
• Optional sightseeing tours in San Francisco and Los Angeles
• Sightseeing tour of Monterey
• Travel California’s famous “17-Mile Drive” coastal route
• Visit to William Randolph’s Hearst’s famed opulent hilltop castle
• Mass at the Old Mission Santa Barbara with its rich treasures

The Price Includes:

• Round trip transportation from the Montauk to JFK
• Round-trip air from JFK to San Francisco and return from Los Angeles
• Airport transfer to and from hotels
• 8 nights accommodations in First Class & boutique-style hotels
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• Breakfast every day
• Lunch as per itinerary (Day 3, 4 and 6)
• Dinners as per itinerary (Days  2, 3, 4 and 8)
• Sightseeing as per itinerary including entrance fees
• Deluxe coach transportation throughout the tour
• Fully escorted

Our Accommodations (or similar)
● In San Francisco – 2 nights @
● In Carmel – 1 night @
● In Santa Barbara – 1 night @
● In Los Angeles – 3 nights @

Please Read the Terms and Conditions for this Tour

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

*Special No Interest + No Payments for 6 Months Plan Now Available!
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PRICE PER PERSON

Per Person in Double Occupancy
$XXXXX via check or money order
$3, XXXXX via credit card
Per Person in Single Occupancy Room
$4, XXXXX via check or money order
$4, XXXXX via credit card

Add to above costs:
*U.S. airline facility, security, taxes and Fuel Surcharge $XXX ($XXX via credit card)
*Prepaid Gratuities to drivers and guides $XXX ($XXX via credit card)

Optional Sightseeing Tours
*½ day tour San Francisco city sightseeing tour @ $
*½ day tour Los Angeles city sightseeing tour @  $

INITIAL DEPOSIT: $500 ($525 by credit card)

Deposit due as soon as possible to be assured space on this spiritual journey.

FINAL PAYMENTS due on or before March XX, 2022

If you have already registered online and require access to the PayPal payment page, click here.

Travel Insurance

RMC Travel highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact RMC’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 1-800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.

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Photo credits:

Mission Dolores: Photograph by Robert A. Estremo, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cable Car & Alcatraz: Yair Haklai, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Carmel Mission: Dsdugan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lone Cypress: Gartenflo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Big Sur: catlin.wolfard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hearst Castle: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mission  Santa Barbara:Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Butterfly Beach: Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Solvang: Dan Lindsay © 2011. Downtown Solvang in June 2011, via Wikimedia Commons
Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels: Los Angeles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hollywood Boulevard: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Universal Studios tour: Anothercountry, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons