Botanical Gardens and Art Museums of Southern California
Offered exclusively to Museum members! Membership information can be found in FEE
section below.
Botanical art, classical art and gardens galore
Balboa Park, The Getty, need we say more… |  Huntington Orchids
|  Huntington Mizuno Exhibition |
ITINERARY
Day 1 Sunday, May 11 TUCSON TO SAN DIEGO
On our way to California we stop for a break in Yuma. We enjoy an al-fresco lunch, then tour the Colorado River State Historic Park learning about the past, present, and future of the Colorado River and its role in the Southwest. Continuing west to San Diego, we arrive at our hotel for the next three nights, Humphreys Half Moon Bay Inn located on Shelter Island. Our welcome dinner is at the hotel. L, D
| Day 2 Monday, May 12 BALBOA PARK
Our day begins with breakfast overlooking the Shelter Island Marina. We then depart for Balboa Park to visit the many botanic gardens and nature trails within the park. There are the Palm Canyon, Zoro Butterfly Garden, Inez Grant Rose Garden, Desert Garden, Alcazar Garden, Fern Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden, and Fig Tree Garden. Dinner this evening is at a San Diego landmark restaurant. B, D |  Humphreys Half Moon Bay Inn |
Day 3 Tuesday, May 13 BIRCH AQUARIUM/BAY CRUISE
The morning begins with a scenic driving tour of San Diego featuring Cabrillo National Monument, Sunset Cliffs Nature Park, and Torrey Pines Nature Reserve/Beach Trail. The afternoon lands us in La Jolla Beach, at the Birch Aquarium of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. To conclude our ocean day, we climb aboard for an evening dinner cruise of the San Diego Bay. L, D
Day 4 Wednesday, May 14 SAN DIEGO TO LOS ANGELES 
Mission San Luis ReyWe say farewell to San Diego and travel north to Mission San Luis Rey, built in 1815 and is the largest of all the 21 California Missions. After a scrumptious picnic lunch, we visit the Tree of Life Nursery for a tour with Jesús’ friend and owner, Mike Evans. Late afternoon we check into the mid-century modern Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia, a Gold Medal recipient of the International Hotel & Property Awards program hosted by Design Et Al. Dinner is at the on-site Melange restaurant. B, L, D
Day 5 Thursday, May 15 THE HUNTINGTON
Botanical art and exotic plants. Wow! This will be a full day immersive experience of The Huntington. Established by Henry Huntington, this research institute’s focus is education-based with art collections spanning over 500 years. It hosts one of the world’s great independent research libraries and features a botanical garden, encompassing 130 acres of living collections in 16 themed gardens. After offering ample time to explore the treasures, we gather at the Chinese Garden for an early dinner. B, D
Day 6 Friday, May 16 THE LOS ANGELES ARBORETUM/NORTON SIMON
We begin our day at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden – a unique 127-acre Botanical Garden and historical site. We finish the day at the Norton Simon Museum, renowned as one of the most remarkable private art collections ever assembled. Over a 30-year period industrialist Norton Simon amassed an astonishing collection of European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century and a stellar collection of South and Southeast Asian art spanning 2000 years. We return to the hotel before departing for dinner to The Luggage Room at La Grande Orange. B, D
Day 7 Saturday, May 17 THE GETTY 
Norton Simon VanGogh Mulberry
The Getty Museum offers an astounding collection of world class art and relaxing manicured gardens. This sprawling museum features masterpieces by the likes of Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne. After dreamtime in classical art, we board the bus for an architectural tour of the historic Gamble house. Constructed as a home for David B. Gamble of the Proctor and Gamble Company by brothers Charles and Henry Greene, the Gamble House is an internationally recognized masterpiece of the American Arts and Crafts movement. To close the tour we join for a farewell dinner at a special location TBD. B, D Day 8 Sunday, May 18 LOS ANGELES TO TUCSON
Today we depart Los Angeles and return to Tucson. We break en route for lunch on our way back to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. B, L
YOUR LEADERS
Jesús García is a Cultural Conservation Research Associate at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Jesús was born and raised in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, México. He eventually moved to Tucson and earned a bachelor's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Arizona. He began his career with ASDM in 1991 and has taught natural history and cultural programs in southern Arizona and northern Sonora. His many interests include conservation biology, art, cultural ecology, regional languages, music, and gardening. Jesús is a master storyteller and an expert at identifying plant species, describing their preferred growing or breeding habits and explaining their environmental connections to one another and to us.
Stephen Bernier runs logistics and is the owner of South of the Border Tours. Stephen has organized and produced tours throughout the American Southwest and Mexico since 1993. Clients include the University of Arizona, Elderhostel/Road Scholar Program, Arizona Historical Society, Scottsdale Sister City, Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tohono Chul, Portland Art Museum, Heard Museum Guild, Tucson Museum of Art, as well as various other museums and universities. Stephen is also a volunteer with Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists.
INCLUDED SERVICES
Transportation by luxury motor coach, 7 nights’ accommodations, all meals as listed on itinerary, guide fees, and entrance fees.
MEETING PLACE
We will meet and leave cars at the Museum.
GROUP SIZE
This trip is limited to 24 guests.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Guests must be able to walk unassisted at a moderate pace up to two miles throughout a day. This tour is best suited for those that like to walk and can spend much of the day exploring. Please contact the South of the Border Tours at 520-760-4000 or southofthebordertours@msn.com prior to registering should you have physical limitation concerns.
FEES
This special travel opportunity is offered exclusively to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum members. If you currently are not a member, but would like to join us, you may do so by following this link. The trip price is $3975, and the single supplement is an additional $850.
ROOMING
The listed price is for double occupancy. For those with no traveling companion, we will attempt to make a roommate match. If one cannot be found, then the single supplement will need to be paid.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
We strongly recommend that participants be vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19. If there is an underlying health condition which prevents vaccination, we will need to be informed.
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations must be in writing or email. Our policy is as follows: Cancellations made 45 days prior to departure will result in refunded payments less a $100 per person handling fee. Cancellations made 44-31 days prior to departure will result in a 50% forfeiture of payment. Cancellations made 30 days or less prior to departure are non-refundable.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We highly recommend travel insurance. You are welcome to choose any travel insurance company; however, Allianz Travel Insurance is our preferred company. Please visit their website to review all policies that are available: www.allianztravelinsurance.com. Should you sign up with them, please use our ACCAM number, which is FO29755.
TOUR ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
We reserve the right to change components, substitute hotels or alter the itinerary, and to make any other changes deemed necessary to carry out and maintain the quality and safety of the tour in good faith to the participants. In the case of civil unrest, acts of God, situations known as force majeure, we may cancel or postpone a trip.
QUESTIONS
This trip is jointly run by South of the Border Tours and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Should you have any questions about the itinerary or logistics, please contact Debby Bernier, Office Manager at 760-4000 or at southofthebordertours@msn.com. For questions about payment, please contact the Reservation Coordinator at 883-3025 or at education@desertmuseum.org.
