Special Activities
California Dreaming: The Very Best Field Trips
Special Activity 1
Alcatraz: “The Rock”
Date: Sunday, 23 June 2013; 11:30 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $69 per person (includes transportation between Westin and dock, ferry ticket, Alcatraz admission ticket, and self-guided cellblock audio tour.
On this tour, you will be “sentenced” to a “short term” on the notorious Alcatraz Island federal penitentiary. From the San Francisco waterfront, you will take a short ferry ride across the chilly waters of the Bay to “the Rock.” Here you will visit the cells once occupied by some of the nation’s most infamous criminals. On this austere wind and fog‑ridden island, it is easy to see why few attempts were made to escape into the treacherous bay with its undertows and turbulent waters. An expertly created audio tour contains interviews with former prisoners and guards from “the Rock,” providing fascinating insight into prison life in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. After your “release” from Alcatraz, the motorcoach will be standing by to return to the Westin.
Special Activity 2
Lunch at M.Y. China
Date: Monday, 24 June 2013; Lunchtime
Cost: $95. per person (includes multi-course, family style authentic Chinese lunch)
See, taste and discover authentic, modern day Chinese cuisine in the heart of downtown San Francisco on the fourth floor of the dynamic Westfield Center. Inspired by years of experience traveling through China, this newest star, in a city filled with stars, brings back the best ingredients, flavors and techniques. Watch the chefs in action as they prepare every dish in front of your eyes. See world champion noodle dancers pull giant balls of dough into thousands of thin noodles in minutes using only their bare hands. Even the dim sum is delicately hand-folded. Ancient Chinese tradition is brought to life and interpreted in a thoroughly modern way at this treasure. As he has done for over 30 years, Celebrity Chef Martin Yan (over 3,500 culinary TV shows and 30 cookbooks) shares the best of what he loves from traveling, cooking, and eating in China through a unique, multi-sensory dining experience. Chef Yan aspires to excite American palates and ignite a passion for Chinese culture and tradition, integrating elements from his extensive travels through China into his newest restaurant, M.Y. China. Your lunch at this fun and approachable restaurant becomes an interactive experience, through the engaging, charismatic qualities of the renowned, global icon chef and extraordinary cuisine.
Special Activity 3
San Francisco Highlights
Date: Tuesday, 25 June 2013; 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Cost: $58 per person (includes transportation and tour guide)
The forty nine square miles of San Francisco are a colorful tapestry of steep hills, picturesque houses, clanging cable cars, fishing boats, summer fog, Chinese pagodas, cosmopolitan cafés and breathtaking views. Five continents and three centuries blend together on forty-three hills, waiting to be discovered. On this tour, you will see some of the legendary landmarks of “Everybody’s Favorite City.”
Your highlights tour may include many of the following:
- The majestic Golden Gate Bridge spanning the entrance to the San Francisco Bay
- "Painted Ladies” vividly restored Victorian homes
- Cafés and boutiques of San Francisco’s most prestigious neighborhoods
- The lush acres of Golden Gate Park
- Bohemian Italian North Beach
- Panoramic views from Twin Peaks
- The awe-inspiring Pacific Ocean and the Cliff House perched high above the waves
- Landmark skyscrapers of the Financial District such as the TransAmerica Pyramid and Bank of America's former World Headquarters
- Bustling Fisherman's Wharf with its steaming crab cauldrons, colorful fishing boats, and seafood restaurants overlooking the Bay
Special Activity 4
An Evening at “Beach Blanket Babylon”
Date: Wednesday, 26 June 26, 2013
Cost: $80 per person (includes transportation, balcony seats, 25 person limit)
La Dolce Vita! On this evening, you will attend the internationally acclaimed phenomenon, “Beach Blanket Babylon.” A modern version of the Commedia dell’Arte, "Beach Blanket Babylon" has celebrated an unprecedented 35 years and over 11,000 performances on the San Francisco stage. This ever changing show is the most visually exciting and entertaining live performance you may ever see. Its outrageous sets, props and costumes have become as much a part of San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge. After the show, the coach will be standing by to return you to the hotel. Or you may wish to linger in North Beach for a late-night espresso, returning to the hotel later on your own.
Note: No one under 21 years of age is allowed into “Beach Blanket Babylon.” Cameras and recording devices are not allowed; they will be held at the door until the conclusion of the show.