California Parks and Mexican Cruise

Day 1	Friday	April 3rd
7:15 p.m.	Depart:	Spokane
	Do:	Seats 8AB
10:23 p.m.	Arrive:	Salt Lake
11:25 p.m.	Depart:	Salt Lake
	Do:	Seats 13BC
11:55 p.m.	Arrive:	Las Vegas
	Do:	Alamo Rental Van $552.95
5 min	Lodge:	Tru By Hilton Las Vegas Airport $159.47 6862 Gilespie St Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 213-8300 Cancel by March 29th (King, AC)	3.1

Day 2	Saturday	April 4th
	Do:	Breakfast
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Las Vegas Airport
		(Go south on Hwy 71. Go right on I-215. Take exit 12B south on I-15, Go right on Hwy 160. Go left on Bell Vista Ave. Go right on Hwy 127 and left on Hwy 190.)
11:10 a.m.	Arrive:	Death Valley National Park
		Zabriske Point (1/4 mile) Paved	113
6 min		The Inn at Death Valley-Ice Cream Parlor	3.6
1 min		Elevation Sea Level Sign	.2
2 min		The Ranch at Death Valley	1.1
		The Ranch 1849 Restaurant (11:30-2) $23 buffet
		General Store
		Borax Museum Furnace Creek (11-6)
	See:	Furnace Creek Visitor Center Death Valley Natural History Association Bookstore-grab and go sandwiches
		Wild Rose Tavern (12-7) Paninis $15-$17, pizza $12-$15 and cheesecake $9
		(Go south on Hwy 190. Turn right at Death Valley Junction onto Hwy 127. Continue south on Hwy 127. At Baker go through the freeway. Look for the train depot at Kelso for a picture. It is closed.))
10:45 a.m.		Boulders Viewpoint Area	106
6 min		Mojave National Preserve Kelbaker Road South Entrance Sign	6.2
		(Continue south on Kelbaker Rd. Go through I-40. Turn right on Hwy 66/National Trails Hwy. After it crosses the railway tracks go left onto Amboy Rd.)
25 min		National Chloride Company of America	25.2
		(Continue on Amboy Rd. In Twentynine Palms look for the sign.)
30 min		End of the World Sign	28.8
		(Continue on Amboy west. Turn left on Godwin Rd, then right on Hwy 62/29 Palms Hwy. On the right side.)
10 min		Skeleton Art Sculpture Garden	9.2
		(Continue on Hwy 62. Turn left on Yucca Ave. Take the 1st left.)
7 min	Arrive:	Twentynine Palms	5.5
	Lodge:	El Ranch Dolores at JT National Park $109.40 73352 Twentynine Palms Hwy Palms, CA 92277 (760) 367-3528 Cancel by 4/01 (King, AC, micro, fridge, pool, no breakfast)	(300)

Day 3	Sunday	April 5th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Hotel
		(Go left on Hwy 62. Turn right on Yucca Ave.)
9:05 a.m.		Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center (8-5) 6533 Freedom Way Twentynine Palms, CA (Toilet, water bottler filler, bookstore)	.3
		(Go back to Hwy 62 and turn right. Turn right on National Park Dr. It will go left on Palm Vista Dr. On the right side.
4 min		Joshua Tree National Park Administration Bldg	1.5
		Oasis of Mara walk-.5 mile Loop. Explore a desert oasis on this easy walk. See how the Oasis of Mara has been used by wildlife and people throughout time.
		(Continue right on Utah Trail/Park Blvd. Turn left on Pinto Basin Rd.)
20 min		Arch Rock Nature Trail A lollipop trail through sandy and rocky terrain. A .6-mile trail leads to a .2-mile loop on 100 ft elevation. The arch is located halfway along the loop.	10.4
		(Continue on Pinto Basin Rd.)
15 min		Cholla Cactus Garden (.25 miles) View thousands of densely concentrated, naturally growing cholla cactus. Stay on the trail, wear closed-toe shoes, and be aware of prickly cactus.	7.8
10 min		Pinto Basin Sand Dunes (stop for a picture)	6.2
20 min		Cottonwood Visitor Center (8:30-4) (Water, toilet, bookstore, picnic table)	13.6
		((Turn left on Cottonwood Oasis Rd. On the left side.)
3 min		Cottonwood Spring (.25 mile, 10 ft) Loop. View thousands of densely concentrated, naturally growing cholla cactus. Stay on the trail, wear closed-toe shoes, and be aware of prickly cactus.	1.2
		(Go back to Pinto Basin Rd. Turn left on Cottonwood Springs Rd. Enter I-10. Take exit 42 right on Hwy 57. Take exit 25C right onto I- 210 west. Continue on Hwy 134. It will become Hwy 101.)
4 hrs	Arrive:	Ventura	227
	Lodge:	Amanzi Hotel $175.61 298 S Chestnut St Ventura, CA 93001 Cancel 4/02 (King, AC, refrig, micro, balcony)	(268)

Day 4	Monday	April 6th
6:00 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.	Do:	Breakfast
9:00 a.m.	See:	The Robert J Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park (8:30-5) (Bookstore, marine aquatic life and exhibits, 25 min park movie-A Treasure in the Sea.)
10:00 a.m.	Depart:	Ventura
		(Go back on Spinnaker Dr. Turn left on Victoria, then right on Hwy 101. Take exit 19A right onto I-405. Go right on Hwy 73. Enter I-5 south. Take exit 21 right and left over the freeway onto Pacific Hwy. Pass over the freeway again. On the right side.)
4 hrs	Arrive:	San Diego	187
		(Go right on Pacific Hwy. Go right again on Kurtz St. Turn left on Rosecrans and right onto Sports Arena Blvd. It will become Mission Bay Dr. Cross the river and go right to stay on W Mission Bay Dr. Turn left on Mission Blvd.)
15 min	See:	Belmont Park (11-9) $60-70 tickets, 8 tickets for the Giant Dipper Rollercoaster	4.1
	Lodge:	Old Town Inn $132.19 4444 Pacific Hwy San Diego, CA 92110 Cancel by 4/05 (King, AC, breakfast)	4.1
			(195.2)

Day 5	Tuesday	April 7th
	Do:	Breakfast
	Depart:	Hotel
		(Go right on Pacific Hwy. Turn right on Kurtz St and left again on Pacific Hwy. Go over I-5. Go right on Taylor and right again on Congress. Go right o San Diego Ave and right again on Old Town Ave. Cross the freeway. Go left onto I-5 south. Take exit 18A. Follow signs to the airport.)
15 min	Arrive:	Airport	4.4
	Do:	Holland America Zaandam Bus
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	San Diego	(4.4)

Day 6	Wednesday	April 8th
	Do:	Sea Day
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 7	Thursday	April 9th
	Do:	Cruising Bahia Magdalena
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 8	Friday	April 10th
8:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Cabo San Lucas
	Do:	Shops
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Cabo San Lucas
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 9	Saturday	April 11th
8:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Pichilingue (La Paz)
	Do:	HAL shuttle $10
	Arrive:	La Paz
	Do:	Shops
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Pichilingue
6:00 p.m.	Do	Pinnacle Grill $122.72
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 10	Sunday	April 12th
7:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Loreto, Mexico
8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.		San Javier Mission $139.95 5 hrs Travel by van for approximately one hour to San Javier -- the second-oldest town in both Californias. The main road to the mission offers breathtaking views from the mountain ridge. En route, you will see a charming little orchard at the bottom of a canyon with a natural spring and fruit trees. The orchards of the Jesuits introduced the first irrigation system on the peninsula, which is still working today. Spanish Jesuit Miguel del Barco founded the mission at San Javier in 1699, and it is classified as the most beautiful and one of the best-preserved missions. A light, traditional local lunch will be served before your return drive to the pier.Notes: The ride will be somewhat bumpy. Minimum age is 8 years. San Javier is located at an elevation of approximately 6,000 feet above sea level; bring a light jacket. I am booked, Ray is waitlisted
3:00 p.m.	Depart:	Loreto
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 11	Monday	April 13th
11:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Mazatlan
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Mazatlan
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 12	Tuesday	April 14th
8:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Puerto Vallarta
	Do:	Walk-Walmart, Galerias Vallarta Mall
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Puerto Vallarta
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 13	Wednesday	April 15th
8:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Manzanillo
8:00 a.m.- 3:15 p.m.		Colima Comala $114.95 6.75 hrs This excursion is designed to showcase Old Mexico and begins with a scenic 1- to 1.5-hour drive to the Plaza Principal — the main square of Colima city. Continue to the Pyramids of La Campana — small, tiered pyramids and archaeological ruins dating back to the first century. You will have some time here to explore. Next is Comala — a charming, 500-year-old community in the shadow of two volcanoes. A Mexican botana (snack lunch) and a beverage are served at a sidewalk café next to the central plaza.
4:00 p.m.	Depart:	Manzanillo
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 14	Thursday	April 16th
	Do:	Sea Day
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 15	Friday	April 17th
	Do:	Sea Day
	Lodge:	Holland America Zaandam

Day 16	Saturday	April 18th
	Depart:	Holland America Zaandam
	Do:	Transfer to airport
5:55 p.m.	Depart:	San Diego
	Do:	Seats 14BC
9:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Salt Lake City
9:50 p.m.	Depart:	Salt Lake City
	Do:	Seats 14BC
10:33 p.m.	Arrive:	Spokane