Outstanding summer programs for teens since 1982

California & the Canyons 21 Days

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California & The Canyons Teen Tour

This summer program truly has it all – the magic of California combined with the beauty of canyon country. Students travel to stargaze both in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and in the tranquility of the night sky at Bryce Canyon. Add to these amazing backdrops activities you can only experience through travel like surfing, Disney’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge theme park and an off-road jeep tour, and you’ll come home with memories that will last a lifetime! On this California teen tour, we group middle school and high school students by age into separate departure dates to create the best possible social dynamics. Beyond this, our leaders are experts at creating a close, inclusive family of total acceptance for everyone.

For a similar trip featuring all indoor accommodations, see Ultimate California – 21 days.

About This Program

What it’s Like

An adrenaline-filled trip with the coolest activities, picture-perfect landmarks and a close group bond.
Accommodations

Hotels & resorts
(12 nights)
College residence
(4 nights)
Deluxe camping
(4 nights)
Meals

Includes breakfast and dinner daily.
Activities

Includes all recreation & activities listed.
Transportation

Chartered deluxe, air conditioned motor coach with a professional driver.
Middle School Available

An exclusive departure is available for students currently completing 7th or 8th grade.
Compatible Groupings

Separate departure dates are assigned to create compatible co-ed age groups.
Group Size

Up to 48 participants.
Deluxe Camping

This program includes a few nights of deluxe camping at full-service campgrounds.

Program Highlights

• Sail our private charter across Lake Tahoe.
• Learn to surf with professional lessons in San Diego.
• Thrill ride the Big Shot or X-Scream atop the Stratosphere.
• Venture into the Sedona desert on the Pink Jeep - Broken Arrow Tour
• Magnificent National Parks: Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon.
• Laugh it up at the IMPROV Comedy Club.
• Whitewater raft the rapids of the American River.
• Waterski, wakeboard, kneeboard or tube on Lake Tahoe.
• Venice Beach, Rodeo Drive and Hollywood.
• Visit Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Explore Universal Studios and Disneyland.
• Major League Baseball and San Diego Zoo.

Itinerary

Days
1-3

Fly to San Francisco, where your orientation officially begins with some of our favorite icebreakers and “get to know you” activities.

Hop on a famous cable car for a ride to Chinatown. Visit “the Rock” (Alcatraz*), explore Pier 39 and see its famous residents (the sea lions), sample fresh seafood near Fisherman’s Wharf, taste chocolate in Ghirardelli Square, wobble down Lombard Street, the most crooked street in the world, walk the Golden Gate Bridge, cheer on the A’s or Giants game and so much more!

*As per the National Park Service, we disclose that Alcatraz tour has a retail value of $38 included in the trip tuition

Days
4-5

Take on the rapids on your rafting adventure. The next day, unwind on the shore of Lake Tahoe under the California sunshine, take a swim, or play beach volleyball. Go waterskiing with professional instructors or go tubing or wakeboarding before a late-afternoon sailing cruise around the lake on our private charter. Back at our campground start a game of basketball, play tennis or take a dip in the pool.

Days
6-7

Days
8-11

UCLA, an incredible college campus spread across 419 acres at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, is our home for the next 4 nights. Tour the world’s most famous back lot on the Universal Studio’s Studio Tour, immerse yourself in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and come face-to-face with Jaws, King Kong, the Mummy and other Hollywood stars. Look for your favorite celebrities on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and compare handprints outside of Mann’s Chinese Theater. Check out the characters on Venice Beach, watch for celebrities on Rodeo Drive, and watch today’s hottest comedians at the IMPROV. Stroll into the trendy college town of Westwood Village for the best ice cream sandwich. Give back at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Spend the day at the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. Delight your palate at the Original Farmers Market on Fairfax & 3rd, choose from over 100 different cuisines.

Days
12-13

Days
14-15

To quote Elvis Presley, Viva Las Vegas! Stroll the world famous strip and see all the sites you may recognize from TV and the movies – the Venetian’s canals as seen in the movie Rat Race, the erupting volcano at the Mirage, the forum shops and Coliseum at Caesars Palace featured in episodes of Friends, Will & Grace and the Sopranos and the MGM’s casino robbed by Danny in Ocean’s Eleven. Twist and turn on the Roller Coaster at New York-New York with famous Big Apple landmarks including the Statue of Liberty in the distance.Scream from the top of the Stratosphere on one of the world’s three highest thrill rides: Big Shot, Insanity or X-Scream.

Days
16-18

Days
19-21

Enjoy a rugged Pink Jeep tour with the iconic backdrop of Sedona’s famous red-rock formations such as Bell Rock, Chapel Butte or the Rock of Gibraltar. See the views from Submarine Rock or Chicken Point and hold on tight as you go around Mushroom Rock and descend down the Road of No Return! Indulge your appetite during brunch at the Cheesecake Factory. Head back to the resort to work out, tan or lounge by the pool. Reminisce about an incredible teen tour at your farewell banquet.

Return Flight Home from Phoenix, Arizona
Head to the Phoenix airport and say farewell to your new friends as you part ways for your return home. The summer might be over, but all the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!

Accommodations

San Francisco, California

Enjoy all-suite accommodations at either the Embassy Suites South San Francisco or the Embassy Suites Burlingame on San Francisco Bay. Accommodations are spacious with living areas and amenities include an indoor pool, whirlpool and gym.

South Lake Tahoe, California

You couldn’t picture a more perfect and serene place than Tahoe Valley Campground. A crisp blue lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains and of course it’s almost always sunny! Tahoe is a dream camping experience. Relax and enjoy the facilities, take a dip in the swimming pool or the jacuzzi or shoot some hoops on the full court.

Ventura, California

Pacific Ocean here you come! The Pacific Beach Campground is literally 150′ from the beach and the surf!

Los Angeles, California

The UCLA campus is so amazing that after your stay in the UCLA Residence, you might not be able to wait to send in your application. Enjoy their unmatched facilities and check out the bookstore in the Ackerman Union (the perfect place to pick up a great hoodie). You know you can wear it with pride, as UCLA was the first US College to win 100 team championships.

San Diego, California

These all-suite accommodations offer plenty of space to spread out and relax after playing in San Diego or some amazing surfing. Stay at either Embassy Suites La Jolla or Homewood Suites Hotel Circle.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Located on famous Las Vegas Boulevard, “The Strip”, the pyramid-shaped Luxor hotel offers a unique way to experience the over-the-top décor for which Vegas is famous! The pool deck is one of the largest in Las Vegas, with a choice of 4 pools to enjoy – the perfect place to cool off from all the excitement and bright lights of the city!

Kanab, Utah

After exploring the spectacular scenery of Bryce and Zion Canyons, return to one of our Kanab hotels, the Holiday Inn Express or Comfort Suites, and reflect on the wild beauty of Southern Utah!

Flagstaff, Arizona

After an exciting day of adventures at the Grand Canyon, relax at either The SpringHill Suites or Hampton Inn & Suites. Both of these hotels feature a fitness room and pool for you to enjoy in your free time.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Enjoy an amazing final resort stay and kick back at the Marriott McDowell Mountains or the McCormick Scottsdale. These properties provide a tranquil setting with sparkling outdoor pools, whirlpools, and well-equipped fitness centers.

More Details

Flight to San Francisco, California
We help you coordinate your flight to arrive within designated times so that we may greet you upon arrival. For participants from the New York area, we offer a chaperoned flight that leaves early morning. One of your summer leaders and staff from our office will be at the airline counter to greet you, introduce you to fellow travelers, help you to check-in and the leader will be with you from check-in onward.

Return Flight Home from Phoenix, Arizona
Our leaders help you to check-in and remain in the airport until flights in designated times have departed. For those from the New York area, we offer a chaperoned flight.

Food and Meals
Eating well while away from home is an important part of a summer’s success. We understand how it helps our travelers feel secure, happy and looking forward to their day. Our North American Active Teen Tours visit great restaurants. Depending on the itinerary, you may be dining at the Cheesecake Factory, Romano’s Macaroni Grill or Hard Rock Cafe. We make a point to balance great food choices that teens love with trying great local favorites like the sourdough bread from the Boudin Bakery in San Francisco or shaved ice in Hawaii.

We have satisfied the choosiest of eaters and gladly accommodate most special dietary requests including vegetarian, anaphylactic food allergies, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, and kosher style. We welcome discussing your individual requirements with you and have extensive experience in this area.

Rooming
You will stay in the finest hotels, resorts and college residences, which are chosen based on safety, security, amenities, comfort and location. You will also get to enjoy a few nights of deluxe camping, as outlined below. Indoor accommodation rooms vary from doubles to triples. Triples may contain two beds and a rollaway or be a suite style with a sofa bed. Each trip member has their own bed.

Deluxe Camping
This program visits such breathtaking places that you’ll quickly see how a few nights of deluxe camping enhance the experience. Led by our experienced leaders, we offer a taste of the joys of camping, – no prior experience or special equipment is needed. We stay at campgrounds that have hot showers and clean modern bathroom facilities – that means indoor plumbing! Some of the campgrounds on our teen tour programs have added amenities like pools, basketball courts and space for football, soccer or other games.

For a comfortable night’s rest, we provide cots and insulated air mats inside large, sturdy 16’x10’cabin-style tents. These are the largest tents in the teen travel industry and have floors and screened windows. We generally sleep 6 trip members per tent with plenty of room for your stuff. Set up is quick and simple!

We add campsite managers at each location as additional staff members for extra support. They manage the equipment and oversee buying fresh produce and the meal prep. The trip members contribute by working together preparing meals. Menus include omelets, fresh pancakes, French toast, BBQ chicken, steak, grilled salmon and of course s’mores and banana boats by the campfire.

Laundry
You will only need to bring one week’s worth of clothing as outlined in the packing list that will be sent to you prior to departure. We visit local laundromats weekly and we will supply the detergent and dryer sheets. Don’t worry if you’ve never done laundry before, we’ll show you the ropes. Parents, we know the thought of your children doing laundry is making you smile!

What’s Included
Included in your program tuition is all lodging, breakfast and dinner daily, recreation & entertainment listed, airport transfers in designated times, gratuities & taxes.

Not included is transportation to and from the program, lunches, snacks, personal spending money for souvenirs, and laundry. We also make available optional travel insurance that is not included, but highly recommended.

Please contact us with any questions. We are happy to hear from you!

California & The Canyons Teen Tour

About This Program

What it’s Like

Accommodations

Meals

Activities

Transportation

Middle School Available

Compatible Groupings

Group Size

Deluxe Camping

Program Highlights

Itinerary

San Francisco, California

Lake Tahoe, California

Ventura, California

Los Angeles, California

San Diego, California

Las Vegas, Nevada

Zion, Bryce Canyon & Grand Canyon

Sedona & Scottsdale, Arizona Return Flight Home from Phoenix, Arizona

Accommodations

More Details

Program Specifics