The Problem

Genna and her daughter Amy, from Washington D.C., contacted us to create a California college tour for them. Amy, age 17, wanted to browse several of California’s colleges to find the best one to attend, and the ladies used this as a good time to explore our popular state simultaneously. They called us, let us know how long of an experience they wanted (4-5 days), and we tailored a private California tour to them, to a few northern California colleges (Berkeley, Stanford and UC Santa Cruz), followed by their Southern California college interests of UC Santa Barbara, UCLA and Pepperdine.

Below is an outline of the private tour we provided them, reproduced, with their permission, as an example of what we can offer.

Day 1:  Morning Agenda

We started our adventure by exploring San Francisco. This private tour was not just about showing Amy and Genna the city, but also helping them feel comfortable here, especially if Amy plans to attend a college nearby. We covered the city’s history, visited famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, perused neighborhood layouts and explained the issues, ensuring that both women felt at ease navigating on their own now and in the future.

For lunch, with Genna and Amy both devoid of any allergies, we ventured to an exquisite seafood eatery. There, they relished a delectable serving of clam chowder, a memorable San Francisco tradition harkening back to the Gold Rush days. Scrumptious sourdough bread, anyone?

Afternoon Agenda

In the afternoon, with the hills of San Francisco behind us, we set out across the Bay to Berkeley, the college town home to one of the top universities in the world, UC Berkeley. Taking a stroll through campus, we soaked in the historic free-speech atmosphere before heading to an evening restaurant, with a casual drive past Amy’s (possible) future dorm room.

With UC Berkeley under our belt, we returned to San Francisco, knowledgeable and ready for more exciting colleges ahead.

Day 2: Morning Agenda

Day 2 we went over-the-road as our first stop awaited, an hour south of San Francisco to Stanford University, a prestigious college in the heart of Silicon Valley. We showed Amy and Genna the campus, known as “the Farm.” The tour included Palo Alto (the nearest town), the bookstore and possible dorm-room locations, making both women feel comfortable in their surroundings.

Did Amy like this college better than its rival in Berkeley? We put that decision on hold for a while, as we continued over California’s coastal mountains to our next destination, the famous home of the Banana Slugs: UC Santa Cruz.

Lunch Agenda

After passing through glorious coastal redwood forests, home to the tallest trees on earth, we arrived in Santa Cruz—a charming surf town that offers a refreshing contrast to the tech-centric vibe of Silicon Valley. Our first stop was Steamer Lane, where we admired the surfers riding the waves, followed by a leisurely stroll along West Cliff Drive to Natural Bridges State Park.

We then sought out UC Santa Cruz, our third college visitation, renowned for its top-ranking linguistics theory program. Will this university capture Amy’s heart and become her California higher-education school of choice?

Afternoon Agenda

After our time in Santa Cruz, we concluded our day with a scenic drive to Carmel along the captivating 17-Mile Drive, home to the number one public golf course in the world, Pebble Beach. We then paired a casual stroll past Carmel’s famous fairytale cottages with a magnificent sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

What awaited the next day? The Big Sur coastline as we officially entered the southern portion of our California college tour.

Day 3: Morning Agenda

On Day 3, we embarked on a scenic drive along the captivating shoreline of Big Sur. While there are no colleges to tour along this awesome coastline, it serves as a testament to the natural beauty that makes California famous. Who knows, perhaps this stunning area will become a future Spring Break destination for Amy.

Sit back, relax, and soak in the stunning views as we traverse one of the most renowned coastlines in the world, cruising the Pacific Coast Highway.

Lunch Agenda

For lunch we stopped in San Luis Obispo, a college town that wasn’t on Amy’s list but is too close to ignore. Cal Poly, a renowned engineering university, is a main factor for the college vibe of the town. We checked out a quirky attraction called the Gum Wall.

After lunch, giving Amy and her mother the chance to see yet another California college, eventually we made our way to the interesting and unique Danish – yes, as in Europe – town of Solvang. Will Amy eventually choose a large college or a smaller one?

Afternoon Agenda

Next up was UC Santa Barbara, situated just a stone’s throw away from the coastline. We took the opportunity to show Amy the beautiful campus before driving a half hour south to State Street, the bustling main thoroughfare of Santa Barbara, The recent transformation to a pedestrian-friendly promenade has changed the vibe of downtown.

Offering a delightful setting for shopping, dining and leisurely strolls, the town allowed Amy and Genna to enjoy an evening meal and golden-hour sunset. Could Amy foresee herself living in Santa Barbara?

Day 4: Morning Agenda

Then it was time for us to enter the massive metropolis of Los Angeles County, home to 13 million residents and numerous, renowned colleges. Our first stop was Pepperdine University, nestled along the scenic Malibu coastline, where we took in the picturesque campus and indulged in a delightful lunch at one of Malibu’s fine restaurants. We then continued south to Santa Monica, the vibrant neighbor to Pepperdine.

Afternoon Agenda

Following a delightful lunch on Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade, Amy and Genna took some time to immerse themselves in the enchantment and sunshine of the town, leisurely strolling along the historic terminus of Route 66 to the famed amusement pier. Were they looking to do their best Forrest Gump impression at the end of the pier? This was their chance. Later, we regrouped and continued to one of Southern California’s largest colleges, UCLA.

After a captivating afternoon touring the campus, we headed to Beverly Hills and West Hollywood for both Amy and Genna to become familiar with their surroundings. Los Angeles is large, and those were just a few nearby neighborhoods if Amy chose to attend UCLA.

Final Summary

It was truly remarkable that just a few days earlier, we stood beneath the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, and with a limited time frame, not only did the ladies enjoy their private tour of the California coastline, they explored seven college campuses. Amy and Genna both then understood what college was best to set Amy up for success in the future.

Best of all, the ladies were able to connect with each other and the schools and locations they visited, as opposed to worrying about the timing and logistics of their adventure. We were happy to help Amy and Genna gain the confidence to explore California on their own in the future.

Saying Farewell

We ended our private California college tour by giving Genna and Amy a tour of downtown Los Angeles, dropping them at their hotel near Crypto.com Arena. That night they saw a Lakers game (why not?), followed by a few days at Universal Studios and Disneyland. We agreed our services would not be needed during their time frame, so we parted ways. We hoped we helped in Amy’s eventual college decision (Update: She selected UC Santa Cruz. Go Banana Slugs!)