Golden Gate Getaway
San Francisco to Seattle by Classic Private Train with Yosemite
A visual feast with a daylight crossing of the Cascade Mountains over the Union Pacific Railroad, the Napa Valley, San Francisco and Yosemite, all in one exquisite holiday.
Travel from the San Francisco Bay Area to Portland or Seattle aboard our own 1940’s era Vintage Streamliner train, the ‘Great Western Limited’ with all meals, wines & spirits while aboard. We have our own chef and stewards and this is a civilized way to travel with fine dining, fresh flowers and elegant surroundings. This is an overnight journey. All guests enjoy sleeping car accommodations with all rooms having in-room facilities. Our route takes us over the ‘Cascade Route’ of the Union Pacific Railroad and through the Cascade Mountains in daylight.
Highlights. . .
- Transfer from airport (Oakland) to the Napa Valley upon arrival, a short scenic one hour drive.
- Two night stay in the lovely Napa Valley at the luxurious River Terrace Inn overlooking the Napa River in downtown Napa with deluxe accommodations and breakfast daily. Also included is a luncheon journey aboard the famed Napa Valley Wine Train that includes a winery visit and tasting.
- Sightseeing tour to Sausalito with plenty of time to enjoy this picturesque town with its stunning view of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Three- night hotel stay in San Francisco at the superbly located Hilton at Fisherman’s Wharf with plenty of free time to enjoy ‘Everybody’s Favorite City’. We have included a cable car ride and a Farewell Dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Full-day trip by train to Yosemite with tour of Valley floor including views of Half Dome, Bridal Veil Falls and more. This is a supremely comfortable way to do Yosemite, without packing and unpacking.
This relaxing and stylish getaway is offered only once so prompt reservations are strongly encouraged to avoid disappointment.
- Itinerary
- Train Photos: The Great Western Limited
Itinerary
Condensed Daily Itinerary:
DAY 1: ARRIVE BAY AREA-NAPA VALLEY
Guests arrive in Oakland, CA/Bay Area today by air or train and transfer for the very short scenic drive to Napa where luxury accommodations await at the River Terrace Inn. Tonight is our welcome reception and dinner in this magical setting with the balance of the evening at leisure. R D
DAY 2: THE NAPA VALLEY
We have left the morning free for you to explore quaint downtown Napa and at midday we board the famed Napa Valley Wine Train for a pretty ride through the Napa Valley with lunch en route in the elegant dining car before we stop for a winery tour, with tasting. We reboard the train and are back in Napa in late afternoon with a special dinner awaiting. Overnight at the River Terrace Inn. B L D
DAY 3: SAUSALITO & SAN FRANCISCO
Another magical day as we depart Napa and drive to San Francisco, stopping en route in enchanting Sausalito with time for lunch in this amazing setting. We arrive at the Hilton at Fisherman’s Wharf this afternoon with all evening free to enjoy ‘Everybody’s Favorite City’. We have intentionally left the evening free. B
DAY 4: SAN FRANCISCO
An entire free day to enjoy the City by the Bay is perhaps the ultimate luxury and we have included two helpful ingredients for this, a cable car ride ‘Halfway to the Stars’ and a casual dinner tonight at a typical North Beach Italian restaurant. The rest of the day can be spent visiting Chinatown, Union Square for great shopping, the wonderfully redone Ferry Building or Alcatraz. Overnight at the Hilton. D
DAY 5: YOSEMITE-SAN FRANCISCO
One of the wonders of the world is Yosemite and words do not do justice to this extraordinary valley. While many tours offer an endless day by bus, our guests travel round-trip to Merced by train for the shorter scenic drive along the Merced River into Yosemite Valley where we enjoy a tour of the Valley floor including views of El Capital and Bridal Veil Falls. You will want to have your camera ready. We return to San Francisco quite late this evening. B
DAY 6: SAN FRANCISCO
Our final full day to enjoy San Francisco and we have included a bay cruise today that passes under the Golden Gate Bridge, a great opportunity for photos. We have left the afternoon at leisure, with time to perhaps visit the Palace of Fine Arts, the new Museum of Modern Art or the nearby Marina district. Since our train does not depart until 930pm tonight, our guests have all day to enjoy the city before a special bon voyage dinner this evening prior to boarding the Great Western Limited at Oakland. Once underway, there is big band music, oversized drinks in the swank club car and a luxury in today’s travel world, real beds with soft pillows and lights twinkling by as we roll north over the Union Pacific Railroad. D
DAY 7: CROSSING THE CASCADES-PORTLAND/SEATTLE
Guests awake this morning in the glorious Cascade Mountains as we skirt Odell Lake before cresting at the summit near Chemault, all with a grand New Orleans style brunch with Eggs Sardou, Pain Perdu and Café au Lait. Later today, we speed up the Willamette Valley, passing Portland in late afternoon with an evening arrival in Seattle. B L D
Train Photos: The Great Western Limited
