About this experience
You will travel through off-the-beaten-path and cozy spots of the 'Golden State', discover how ordinary Californians live, follow in the footsteps of Jack London in atmospheric Oakland, and unveil the history of Asian Stockton. And in the incredible Yosemite, you will witness the natural beauty of the valley, cliffs, waterfalls, and the might of ancient sequoias.
Program
Day One
Oakland - Jack London's Sites
The journey will start from unconventional San Francisco - in non-touristy places, you will see the life of ordinary city dwellers and 'fuel up' with a typical breakfast of a seasoned Californian. Then you'll head to Oakland - the city where the atmosphere of the writer's times has been preserved. Here you will visit a traditional American Wild West-era bar - an old saloon with a sign: 'In memory of Jack London, who sailed the seas and roamed the wilds, but always returned to Johnny Heinold's 'First and Last Chance'. There, I will also tell the story of the house shared between Canada and the USA, where he lived during the Klondike Gold Rush and wrote several stories that became classics of 20th-century world literature. Additionally, you'll see the White Fang monument and enjoy the panorama of San Francisco from the Oakland port.
UC Berkeley, California Dublin, and Asian Stockton
Next in the program is a walk around the territory of one of the most prestigious universities in California - Berkeley. I will talk about famous alumni, including several Nobel laureates and Steve Wozniak, as well as the renowned Hass Business School. After that, you can visit the impressive Devil's Postpile or head straight to a pleasant stroll in Dublin. To conclude the day, I will take you to the epicenter of Asian culture in California. You'll learn about the vibrant port life of Stockton, located 70 miles from the coast, and walk along the waterfront accompanied by lively street music. You will also discover why fans of various salads gather here and visit the colorful Cambodian Buddhist temple Wat Dhammararam. You can stay overnight in the creative city of Fresno.
Day Two
The very first and beloved park of Americans
This day is entirely dedicated to the spectacular Yosemite National Park. You will see the picturesque Half Dome rocks, the world's largest granite monolith - El Capitan, the best viewpoint at Glacier Point, and one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. And of course, you will witness the grand sequoias in the Mariposa Grove, the oldest tree - the Giant Grizzly, and the second-highest tree in the world - the Washington tree. Along the way, I will talk about the establishment of the reserve, the unique collection of geological formations, the first settlements of indigenous peoples, the peculiarities of sequoias living up to 3000 years, and interesting facts, including the origin of the name of one of Apple's operating systems.
