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California Panorama - 8 Days

Go California dreamin’ as you explore the Golden State from north to south. Enjoy ocean views in Golden Gate Park, immerse yourself in the glamour of Hollywood and delight in the San Diego Zoo.

DAY 1: SAN FRANCISCO

Arrive in San Francisco

Take a walking tour of Union Square
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Photo
Days:
  • Round-trip transportation
  • 7 nights hotel accommodation
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Full-time Smithsonian Student Travel tour director
  • Air-conditioned motorcoach while on tour
  • Sightseeing tour led by a licensed guide
  • Visits to special attractions per itinerary
  • Overnight security
  • Educational materials developed by the Smithsonian
  • Gratuities
  • Smithsonian Membership
The glitz and glamour of Los Angeles attract both tourists and dream seekers, searching for fame and fortune in the “City of Angels.” The second-largest city in the United States, Los Angeles is a haven for world-class museums, restaurants, shopping and entertainment. This city is famous for its palm trees and balmy weather, celebrity sightings, and of course, its movie industry. Los Angeles is the epicenter of TV and movie production and is home to attractions including Universal Studios Hollywood, the Star Walk of Fame and the Kodak Theater.

Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate or "Dry-Summer Subtropical" and enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of 263 sunshine days and only 35 days with measurable precipitation annually.

Los Angeles was incorporated as an American city on April 4, 1850 and became a center of oil production in the early 20th century and grew as a center for wartime production during World War II. Thousands of African Americans and European American Southerners migrated to the area to fill factory jobs, and Native Americans came as part of government relocation programs. Today, Los Angeles remains a diversified mix of cultures and lifestyles. It's widely known for its roots in the film industry, and it's the allure of this field that makes Los Angeles one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.