Day 1
Your trip begins in the iconic city of San
Francisco. Upon arrival, pick up your rental car and take the 15-minute journey to Fairmont San Francisco. This historic hotel is located atop the hill of Nob Hill
one of the city’s most exclusive and picturesque neighbourhoods.
Spend your first day exploring the heart of San Francisco, beginning in Union Square before walking or taking a cable car to Chinatown to browse its markets and alleyways. Continue to nearby North Beach for an Italian-style coffee or lunch, then head to the waterfront to explore Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf before ending the day with an afternoon Alcatraz tour, which offers great sunset views on the return.
Day 2
Start your day early and visit the Golden Gate Bridge, walking or biking part of the span and visiting scenic viewpoints like Fort Point. From there, continue into the Presidio and on to the Palace of Fine Arts before having lunch in the Marina district. Spend your afternoon wandering Golden Gate Park—visit the California Academy of Sciences or the de Young Museum, relax in the Japanese Tea Garden, or stroll around Stow Lake.
Day 3
Dedicate your third day to San Francisco’s
vibrant neighbourhoods by beginning in the Mission with breakfast at Tartine Bakery and a walk through Clarion Alley’s murals and Dolores Park. Head to the Castro to explore its historic LGBTQ+ landmarks, then make your way up to Twin Peaks for sweeping city views. Finish the trip along the Embarcadero at the Ferry Building Marketplace, where you can browse local food stalls and enjoy a waterfront dinner to end your three days in the city.
Day 4-6
This morning, drive to Lake Tahoe which takes around 3.5 hours. Check in at the luxurious Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe which offers refined alpine style, a full spa, upscale dining, and year-round outdoor experiences set amid the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Settle into the resort’s mountain-slope setting, enjoying the outdoor fire pits, hot tubs, s’mores kits for the kids, and a relaxed dinner at Manzanita as everyone acclimates to the elevation.
Spend the following day on the Northstar
slopes—ski-in/ski-out access from the hotel makes it effortless—and consider
ski school or private lessons for younger travellers, while adults wind down
later with après-ski cocktails and a massage at the resort’s award-winning spa.
Days 7-10
Try a different kind of winter adventure
with a guided snowmobile or snowcat tour in the Truckee area—many outfitters offer family-friendly routes—then wander historic downtown Truckee for charming shops, toy stores, and a cozy café break.
Consider a south-lake outing: head toward Emerald Bay to see one of Tahoe’s most dramatic winter viewpoints, stopping for short, manageable walks if weather permits, and then continue to South Lake Tahoe for a relaxed lunch or arcade time before returning to the comfort of the Ritz.
Finish your final day with more ski time, tubing at Northstar’s family snow play area, or a private lesson to build confidence, followed by a slow afternoon at the spa (or the Ritz Kids program), a twilight walk around the snowy grounds, and a final fireside dinner.
Day 11
Begin the drive back to San Francisco and
return your rental car at the airport before departing on your flight home.