Orange County, CA Travelers (OCCATS), Women Only, 50+

Details:
OCCATS May Happy Hour (Irvine/Tustin area)
This is a happy hour event for the purpose of meeting other women in our OCCATS group who love to travel. Bring a friend if you like. We will be meeting on Wednesday, May 27th at 5:00-6:30pm at Villa Haven Restaurant & Brews at 1222 Irvine Blvd, in Tustin. Here's a link. Hilary Judd will be hosting while Cindy Freeman is traveling with 28 OCCAT gals in Italy! This is a relaxed way to meet up with other ladies in the group who also enjoy traveling.

Note: Orange County, CA Travelers (OCCATs), Solo Women 50+ : We are a fun group of women in Orange County, CA, who want to build friendships with other local women who love to travel and explore the world together. Come join us! Find us on Facebook under OCCATs.

# Canadian Masterpiece with Rocky Mountaineer (link)

If interested, email Cindy Freeman at freemancindy504@gmail.com
12 days from Vancouver to Vancouver (July 25-Aug 5, 2026)
Description of Itinerary:

• Experience unmatched natural beauty on this affordable Canadian vacation with or without an Alaskan Cruise. Arrive in the exciting city of Vancouver for two nights and enjoy guided sightseeing including Stanley Park, Chinatown, and more.
• Then board the Rocky Mountaineer Train for a 2-day trip and retrace the route of the great 19th century explorers. Travel through spectacular scenery following the Fraser River through canyons and overnight in Kamloops. Continue on through the Selkirk Mountains and enter Yoho National Park with its towering peaks. Wind through the Spiral Tunnels, an engineering marvel, before your train climbs Kicking Horse Pass then crosses the Continental Divide and enters Alberta and Banff National Park.
• Spend two nights in Banff with time to hike, stroll through the townsite, or relax at the hot springs. Perhaps treat yourself to an optional helicopter ride for breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies from above. Visit gorgeous Lake Louise, its turquoise waters perfectly reflecting the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
• Then travel the stunning Icefields Parkway and take a ride on the Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle over ice that’s 750-feet-thick!
• Arrive in magnificent Jasper National Park with the chance to take an optional scenic float trip down the Athabasca River. Journey to the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, on your way to your overnight in the resort town of Sun Peaks.
• Continue to Whistler where you’ll spend two nights and have time to enjoy the many activities this legendary resort village has to offer.
• Cross via ferry to Victoria for sightseeing and a visit to world famous Butchart Gardens with its 55 acres of floral displays. Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Victoria before returning to Vancouver.

### All This. Included.

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Your Tour Includes:

• Guided city sightseeing of Vancouver
• 2-day, all-daylight rail journey on the Rocky Mountaineer in SilverLeaf Service (GoldLeaf Service upgrades are available)
• Entrance fee to Banff National Park and Jasper National Park
• Orientation tours of Banff, Jasper, Whistler, and Victoria
• Tickets for the Icefields Explorer experience at Columbia Icefields
• Ferry crossing to/from Vancouver Island
• Admission to Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island

PRICING:
Pricing : Twin $4,944.00 + $184 taxes + 138.00 pre-paid gratuities = $5,266 Total per person; Solo Supplement is $1,315;
Rocky Mountaineer: SilverLeaf Twin Included: $0 Goldleaf Upgrade Twin: Add $840

Deposit: $500 non-refundable.
Rocky Mountaineer: SilverLeaf Twin Included: $0 Goldleaf Upgrade Twin: Add $840

Here's a direct link to Cosmos website describing what is included.

Tour Description: On this affordable Italy, small group adventure, the town of Montecatini serves as home base from which to venture out to explore the surrounding landscapes of breathtaking Tuscany and getting to know its culinary and wine traditions. Indulge in picturesque scenery, world-class local wines, traditional cuisine, and cultural discoveries. From the rolling hills of Montalbano to Vinci and beyond, we’ll take you through bountiful vineyards, olive groves, and chestnut trees. You’ll even visit the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci to experience the Renaissance master’s life and art.

Traveling through some of the most stunning and lush natural landscapes in Italy, you’ll embark to visit idyllic spots, including the gorgeous Chianti Valley and the Etruscan Coast. As you visit quaint wine shops, cafes, historic estates, and museums, you’ll feel immersed in the history and traditions of each destination. In addition to sampling the local gourmet Tuscan fare, you’ll also be treated to an Italian cooking lesson. You’ll prepare an authentic Italian dish inside a rustic Tuscan farmhouse where you and your travel companions will enjoy your culinary creations—complete with master-chef prizes.

You’ll also learn the art of Italian dessert making at your hotel and get to taste some of the celebrated Chianti and Super Tuscan wines right where they are produced. You’ll revel in the beauty of becoming familiar with a single destination of Montecatini while making priceless discoveries of locales that are off the beaten path—perfect for the smart, creative, and budget-minded travel lover. See less

The Magic of The Italian Lakes (8-Day Land Tour); With the Swiss Alps as a backdrop, in a small group, discover Verona, Lake Como, Lake Lugano, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy. Some places, you simply must see to believe! Fly into Milan. Pricing: 1,999 pp (double occ); Single Supp: $370; Does not include flights. Deposit: $250; Pre/Post night hotel available.

Note: This tour is intentionally set back to back with our "Gourmet Tuscany" land tour which is Sep 20-27, 2026. Most members (but not all) are doing these two tours back to back. Email Cindy Freeman at freemancindy504@gmail.com if interested.