Travel to San Diego

The 90-minute amphibious car tour was quite unique, driving past the airport area before splashing into the bay. The narration covered early sailors and military history, which I found genuinely interesting.

This tour linked several national parks well. We spent a fair amount of time on the coach, but each stop allowed about an hour to stretch and take photos. Antelope Canyon was optional at $105 per adult; since I was there anyway, I thought it was worth joining.

I spent a day aboard the carrier and really enjoyed the flight and hangar decks. Most exhibits were reachable by elevator, which was thoughtful. The audio tour came with admission, so I could explore at my own pace.

The night tour through Old Town and El Campo Santo Cemetery ended at the Whaley House courtyard, and the atmosphere really shifted after dark. There was a fair amount of walking, so I was glad I wore comfortable shoes.

The five nights of hotels were included in the tour price, and even though we changed towns most days, my luggage stayed with the coach so I barely had to think about it. Breakfast was included one morning and I sorted out the rest myself, which I got used to.

In San Francisco we wandered around Fisherman's Wharf on our own for quite a while. I paid separately for the bay cruise, and watching the Golden Gate Bridge from the water with the sea breeze made it worthwhile for me.

Day two ran from Big Sur all the way through 17-Mile Drive with one stop after another, which felt a bit packed for my pace. I stood by the Lone Cypress for a while; the wind was strong but I felt oddly calm.

The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway kept me glued to the window, with cliffs and ocean the whole way. Our stop in Santa Barbara was short, but the sun and palm trees instantly put me in a vacation mood.