Take Your Show On The Road – 4 Days
Embark on an extraordinary four-day performance tour to San Francisco designed for middle and high school bands and orchestras!
Program Summary
Introduce students to this vibrant city with a guided city tour, a visit to the picturesque Land’s End Lookout, a chance to explore the mysteries of Alcatraz Island, and more. Immerse in the symphonic brilliance of the San Francisco Symphony with tickets to a performance. Elevate your musical talents with a ninety-minute masterclass and a public performance.
Program Highlights & Inclusions
- Professional ETA Tour Manager throughout your trip
- Transportation throughout your trip
- Free time at the Ferry Building
- Guided San Francisco city tour
- Visit to the San Francisco beaches at the Land’s End Lookout
- Visit to Ghirardelli Square
- Ferry ticket and self guided audio tour on Alcatraz Island
- Visit to Golden Gate Park with admission to the Japanese Tea
Garden - A ninety-minute music masterclass
- A public performance at Pier 39 or California Academy of Science
- Tickets to a performance at the San Francisco Symphony
- Admission to Muir Woods National Monument
- Visit & walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
- Free time at Pier 39
- Ride on the famous San Francisco cable car
- Free time in Chinatown
- Free time at Union Square
Daily Itinerary
Today you’ll start your San Francisco adventure to make unforgettable memories. Upon arrival, you will meet your Tour Manager.
You’ll start at the San Francisco Ferry Building. First opened in 1898, the building was restored in 1992 and currently serves as ferry terminal, food hall and retail space, and office building. Until the completion of the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s it was the second busiest transit terminal in the world, second only to London’s Charing Cross Station.
You’ll take a guided city tour of San Francisco including a visit or drive by the Civic Center, Union Square, Chinatown, Nob Hill, Twin Peaks, the Cliff House, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf and more.
Then you’ll drive along the Northwest coast of San Francisco for spectacular views of the Pacific beaches. You’ll make a stop at the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center where you’ll have a chance to take photos and walk down to the water.
Ghirardelli Square is a landmark with shops and restaurants in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of the city. Here you can visit the chocolate shop and ice cream parlor for sweet treats!
After breakfast, you’ll take the ferry to Alcatraz where you’ll receive a headset for an audio guided tour of the island. One of the most infamous prisons in the country for housing notorious criminals, Alcatraz holds much history that will interest buffs and novices alike.
Next you’ll perform at your choice of Pier 39 or the California Museum of Science.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit Golden Gate Park and the Japanese Tea Garden. The Tea Garden provides visitors from around the world an opportunity to experience the natural beauty, tranquility and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
This evening you’ll have dinner, then attend a performance by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
Today you’ll visit Muir Woods National Monument. The Monument was established on January 9, 1908 when President Roosevelt signed legislation to protect an old-growth coastal redwood forest from destruction. The trees range from 400 to 800 years old and can reach up to 250 feet in height.
Next, you’ll see the Golden Gate Bridge – a 4,200 foot long suspension bridge that was the world’s longest from 1937 until 1964. You’ll head to the viewing area on the San Francisco side of the water, where you’ll have fantastic views of the bridge and the bay. You’ll also have an opportunity to walk across the bridge.
You’ll participate in a master class with music professionals. Instruments will be required for the class.
This afternoon, you’ll visit Pier 39 and have free time to shop and explore. PIER 39 is a 45-acre waterfront complex that is a gathering place for millions of San Francisco locals and visitors. PIER 39 is known for its spectacular views of San Francisco Bay, as well as for the California sea lions who enjoy sprawling in the sunshine out on K-Dock.
To end the day, you’ll tour San Francisco’s famous sourdough bakery at Fisherman’s Wharf. In 1849, the Boudin family struck culinary gold! Wild yeasts in the San Francisco air had imparted a unique tang to their traditional French bread, giving rise to San Francisco Sourdough. Today, the Boudin family’s initial recipe lives on in the hands and hearts of their expert bakers, with a portion of the original mother dough still starting each and every sourdough loaf they make.
This morning, you’ll take a ride on one of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars. Since 1873, cable cars have run up and down the hilly city, though after the 1950s these cars have been kept in operation more out of historic nostalgia. Seventeen miles of track remain and have been deemed a historical landmark
San Francisco Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest Chinatown in North America. It is an enclave that continues to retain its own customs, languages, places of worship, social clubs, and identity. You’ll have free time to experience the sights, sounds and smells!
You will have free time at San Francisco’s Union Square.
Then your San Francisco adventure will come to an end as you journey back home.
