Tours
Parade tours have become one of our most popular activities in recent years. We feature two kinds of tours: the traditional driving tours similar to the ones many of you do in your home Regions and also some guided van/motorcoach tours to special locations. Scroll down for descriptions of all the tours we'll be offering this year.
Parade driving tours have become one of our most popular activities in recent years. Naturally, for good reason, we are all driving Porsches. These driving tours are similar to the ones many of you do in your home regions but on unfamiliar blacktop with new scenery to most.
Throughout the week you will have an opportunity to go on a different driving tour each day. In addition, most driving tours will run more than once during the week in the event you commit to another activity on a particular day. All tours include a variety of points of interest and a destination. They all include lunch. Expect spectacular scenery and beautiful driving roads and of course unmatched Porsche camaraderie. Special recognition will be earned this year for most tour miles driven by an individual and region. Tour in force this year!
Driving Tours
Big Sur Drive Tour (Tuesday June 17, Wednesday June 18, Thursday June 19, and Friday June 20) – Approximately 162 miles, 7 hour total tour time, entrant limit of 120 per day, $30 per person includes lunch.
Come join us for a breathtaking round trip drive south along California’s Highway 1 and the Pacific Coast with stunning views and abundant wildlife. Once out of Monterey and the nearby town of Carmel, it is all coast line with dramatic scenery in every direction. The turnaround point and sit-down lunch is at Ragged Point—a beautiful stop with gardens, strolling paths and more incredible views. Return will be back on Highway 1 to Monterey.
James Dean’s Last Drive Tour (Tuesday June 17 and Thursday June 19) – Approximately 280 miles, 8 hours total tour time, entrant limit of 108 per day, $35 per person includes lunch.
On September 30, 1955 Actor James Dean (age 24) was driving his new Porsche 550 Spyder “Little Bastard” to an auto rally in Salinas, California when he was involved in a fatal head-on collision with a 1950 Ford Tutor. We will be driving these very same roads with the site of the crash as our destination. Along the way we will pass through California’s lush wine country, enjoy a sit-down lunch at the Hunter Ranch Golf Club and then return to Monterey via more scenic and enjoyable roadways.
Hearst Castle Drive Tour (Wednesday June 18 and Friday June 20) – Approximately 242 miles, 9.5 hours total tour time, entrant limit of 54 per day, $55 per person includes castle tour and lunch.
William Randolph Hearst, newspaper magnate, commissioned architect Julia Morgan to design this magnificent national historic landmark. This is our destination following a meandering drive through Cali’s famous, lush wine country. You will tour the castle with its rare artifacts and antiques, and then lunch at the Center. The return route follows Route 1 north along the impressive Pacific Coast with a stop to view elephant seals and sea otters.
Canepa Design Drive Tour (Tuesday June 17, Wednesday June 18, and Saturday June 21) – Approximately 92 miles, 5.5 hours total tour time Tuesday and Wednesday, 6.5 hours total tour time on Saturday, entrant limit of 80 per day, $55 per person includes tour and lunch.
This tour is not to be missed if you are a car lover—you will be hard pressed to find a more impressive collection of rare Porsches and other investment grade exotic cars than at Canepa’s 70,000 sq ft facility, which also includes Canepa Motorsports and Museum. Travelling north to Scotts Valley, Bruce Canepa and his staff will greet you, and then conduct a jaw dropping tour of the facility. On Tuesday and Wednesday, an outdoor lunch will be served, followed by more viewing and discussions of rare vehicles. On Saturday, a box lunch will be provided so we can make a special stop at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to participate in Parade Laps on our return to Monterey.
Cayenne Drive Tour (Friday June 20) – Approximately 125 miles that includes 35 miles of unpaved road, 7.5 hours total tour time, entrant limit of 25 per day, $40 per person includes lunch. Note: No prior off road driving experience needed; any stock Cayenne or SUV will handle this tour with ease.While this tour has its high points on the dirt roads that our Cayenne’s are very good at mastering, we will start with a rousing 10 mile long Porsche road which has all of the features our Porsches are built to drive on so enjoyably. The tour then takes you into mature Redwood forests, over ridge lines and along the Pacific Coast. Enjoy lunch and the spectacular surf-scenery at the fabulous Rocky Point Restaurant.
Bus Tours
Carmel Valley Wine Tasing Tour (June 18 and 20, 2014) - $95/person, max 50
Ag Venture Tours is offering this full day wine tasting tour featuring four excellent wineries in beautiful Carmel Valley. Included in this tour will be visits to Chateau Julien Wine Estate and the tasting rooms of Robert Talbott Vineyards, Cima Collina and Heller Estate to taste their premium wines. The tour will also include an educational vineyard walk, winery tour and wine tasting at Chateau Julien. Our picnic lunch will be in the garden patio at Cima Collina. As we drive through the area, we will discuss the Monterey County wine industry, observe beautiful scenery and discuss local points of interest. I am sure that your group will enjoy this fun and educational wine tasting tour!
10:00 pm: Depart Monterey, Hyatt Monterey (50 guests expected). Please meet guide and bus in front of Upper Conference Center lobby by 9:45 am
10:20 am – 11:30 am Visit Chateau Julien Wine Estate;
Private educational winery tour/vineyard walk,
Wine tasting (Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, etc.)
11:45 am – 12:45 pm Visit Robert Talbott Vineyards tasting room;
Wine tasting (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir)
12:45 pm – 2:15 pm Visit Cima Collina tasting room;
Picnic lunch in garden patio,
Wine tasting (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Meritage, etc.)
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Visit Heller Estate tasting room;
Wine tasting (Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet, etc.)
4:00 pm Return to Monterey, end of tour
Please wear comfortable shoes, dress casually in layers for cool and warm weather. We will be walking in a vineyard on this tour. This tour will run rain or shine. Wines can be purchased at each winery and shipping is available to most states. I look forward to meeting your group.
This tour includes bus transportation, expert guide service/commentary, gratuities (driver and guide), wine tasting fees, picnic lunch (assorted sandwiches, pasta salad, chips, cookies, fruit, cold drinks, one glass of wine per person), winery map, cold drinks on the bus and all arrangements.
This year's Tours sponsor is Conference Direct.
