Silicon Valley · San Francisco · Santa Cruz · Los Angeles
2027 California Family Program
June 29 – July 8, 2027
Silicon Valley and San Francisco · 9 nights
July 8 – 12, 2027
Optional Los Angeles extension · 4 nights
A one-of-a-kind summer program where teens put their English to work in real life and explore university campuses, the world of tech, city life and California culture, side by side with their families.
About the program
Something new for teens, something shared for the whole family
As kids get older, finding a family trip that works for everyone gets harder.
The Spoklo 2027 California Family Program gives teens the chance to connect with peers their own age, practice their English and come away with fresh ideas about their future, while the whole family discovers California together.
Along the way, we visit university campuses, technology and innovation centers, San Francisco’s iconic landmarks, redwood forests and the Pacific coast.
Led by the founder
Spoklo founder Meltem Bicioğlu joins families on all organized tours and activities and leads program coordination and communication in Turkish & English.
The program at a glance
9 nights in 3–4 star hotels
Content designed for teens ages 13–17
10 hours of English & Innovation workshops (5 × 2 hours)
University, tech, city and nature outings
California Showcase, where teens present their own ideas in English
Coffee Talk meetups with Meltem for parents
Optional 4-night Los Angeles program
The program runs with a minimum of 10 participants
University visits, workshops and talks are designed for ages 13–17. Younger siblings are welcome to join with their families.
Program schedule
Silicon Valley and San Francisco · 10 days
Ten days that bring together university campuses, technology, English workshops, city life, nature and family time at a comfortable pace. Daily times, meals and logistics are shared with families separately.
1
Tuesday · June 29
Welcome to California
We’ll pick you up at the airport in our private vehicle, get you settled at the hotel and kick things off with a “Welcome Pizza Night.” After a long journey, we keep the first day easy and jet-lag friendly.
2
Wednesday · June 30
Everyday English, Santa Clara University and In-N-Out
Teens dive into their first interactive English workshop, then it’s lunch at a California classic, In-N-Out Burger. In the afternoon, we tour the Santa Clara University campus.
3
Thursday · July 1
A full day in San Francisco, from the Pacific to the Golden Gate
Ocean Beach, Lands End, picture-perfect views of the Golden Gate and Fisherman’s Wharf. We soak up San Francisco’s one-of-a-kind energy downtown, along the Pacific coast and on its lively waterfront.
4
Friday · July 2
Where the future is made: Google, AI and the story of computing
We start the day with an English workshop, then see how technology has evolved at the Google Visitor Experience and the Computer History Museum. The highlight of the day: a private talk with a Turkish tech leader who has lived in the US for more than 23 years and works as a manager at Google.
5
Saturday · July 3
Stanford University, Palo Alto and Los Altos
After the workshop, we explore Stanford, one of the world’s most prestigious universities: its iconic arches, its big campus bookstore and some downtime on the lawns. Then it’s lunch in Palo Alto and free time on University Avenue, with a quick stop at Steve Jobs’s childhood home in Los Altos on the way back.
6
Sunday · July 4
An all-American Fourth of July: barbecue and picnic
After a few busy days, a laid-back California Sunday. Pool time and rest, followed by a Fourth of July picnic with lawn games, a barbecue and fireworks lighting up the night sky.
7
Monday · July 5
From idea to app: the California App Challenge and shopping
In the morning, teens work on their own app ideas, spotting a real problem and pitching their solution in English. In the afternoon, families who’d like to can join us at the San Francisco Premium Outlets in Livermore (additional cost); everyone else has free time.
8
Tuesday · July 6
From the redwoods to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
We begin the day at Henry Cowell Redwoods, among towering trees, some more than a thousand years old. Then, in the afternoon, it’s off to the classic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on the Pacific coast!
9
Wednesday · July 7
From design to microchips: Apple, Intel and a farewell dinner
We start the day with the California Showcase, where teens share the ideas they’ve been working on throughout the program in short presentations in English. Then we visit the Apple Park Visitor Center and the Intel Museum, and stop at Westfield Valley Fair for some shopping. In the evening, we come together for our Silicon Valley farewell dinner and present the teens with their Spoklo certificates of participation.
10
Thursday · July 8
Goodbye, Northern California
Breakfast, check-out and airport transfer. The main program ends here, and families joining the Los Angeles extension fly south with us.
Optional
Los Angeles extension · 4 nights
We trade the pace of Silicon Valley for the sunshine and beaches of Southern California in a colorful, exciting finale.
10
Thursday · July 8
Arriving in the City of Angels: Santa Monica Pier
We land in Los Angeles and stroll the iconic Santa Monica Pier in the ocean breeze, then celebrate our first night on the beach with an LA Welcome Pizza.
11
Friday · July 9
Behind the scenes and big thrills at Universal Studios Hollywood
A full day at Universal Studios Hollywood! Massive movie sets, behind-the-scenes secrets and theme park rides straight out of your favorite films.
12
Saturday · July 10
Luxury, art and academia: Beverly Hills, UCLA and the Getty Center
The elegant side of Los Angeles: palm-lined Rodeo Drive, UCLA’s stunning campus, the streets of Westwood, and the Getty Center, an extraordinary art museum overlooking the city.
13
Sunday · July 11
In the footsteps of the stars: Hollywood and sunset at Griffith
The historic Farmers Market, the stylish Grove and the stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As the sun goes down, we head up to Griffith Observatory, with all of Los Angeles below us and a view of the Hollywood Sign.
14
Monday · July 12
Heading home, full of memories
Breakfast, check-out and a transfer to Los Angeles International Airport. Bags full of souvenirs, heads full of new dreams: time to head home.
English & Innovation Workshops
Taking English beyond the classroom
The workshops are designed for ages 13–17 and taught in English. Example phrases, visuals, vocabulary cards and hands-on activities help teens of every English level take part.
This isn’t a language course or test prep. The goal is to help teens use English in real life, develop their ideas, work as a team and express themselves with confidence.
01
Real-Life English
Everyday Conversations in California
Everyday conversation: ordering food, asking questions and directions, and understanding how tipping works in the US.
02
Inside Silicon Valley
AI, Ideas & Innovation
Exploring technology, AI, new ideas and innovation through everyday examples.
03
My Future, My Story
Campus Life, Strengths & Goals
Talking about their interests, strengths and future goals in English.
04
California App Challenge
Design an App for Teen Travelers
Coming up with a simple app idea that solves a problem teen travelers face, and presenting it in English.
05
California Showcase
What I Saw, Learned & Discovered
Preparing a short presentation in English based on their experiences during the program.
For parents
Coffee Talk
While teens are in their workshops, we sit down with interested parents to chat about life in California, the US education system and raising kids here.
The workshops are not grammar lessons or test prep. The Spoklo certificate of participation awarded at the end of the program is not a language proficiency certificate or an academic credential.
What’s included
What’s included and what’s not
Included in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco package
9 nights of accommodation
9 hotel breakfasts
2 lunches: In-N-Out Burger on June 30 and lunch during our Stanford visit on July 3
5 dinners: Welcome Pizza Night on June 29, group dinner on June 30, dinner on July 2, Fourth of July barbecue and our farewell dinner on July 7
Water and snacks on program transportation
San Francisco International Airport arrival and departure transfers
Transportation for all organized tours in the main program
Standard admission to the Computer History Museum
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk ride wristband for teens
Visit to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
5 English & Innovation workshops, 10 hours in total
Workshop materials
Spoklo certificate of participation
Two Coffee Talk meetups for parents
Spoklo founder Meltem Bicioğlu joining families on organized tours and activities, plus program coordination in Turkish & English
Also included in the Los Angeles package
4 nights in Los Angeles, for 13 nights in total
13 hotel breakfasts in total
LA Welcome Pizza on July 8
Los Angeles International Airport arrival and departure transfers
Transportation for the tours and activities listed in the program
Standard one-day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood
Not included in the package
International airfare and baggage fees
San Francisco–Los Angeles flight, seat selection and baggage fees
Passport and visa fees
Visa consulting
Required travel health insurance
Meals and drinks not listed as included
Alcoholic beverages and personal orders
San Francisco Premium Outlets trip on July 5
Admission tickets not listed as included
Universal Studios Express or VIP upgrades
Food inside Universal Studios and any experiences purchased separately
Individual transportation and private transfers outside group program hours
Shopping and personal expenses
Room upgrades and extra nights
Private one-on-one assistance
The items above are not included in the program fee. Personal expenses, optional activities and any additional services not specifically listed as included are also not covered.
Travel health insurance is required. Participants purchase their own policy and send a copy to Spoklo at registration.
Flights
Recommended group flights
Airport pickups and program transfers are planned around the flights below. Families book their own airfare.
Outbound · June 29
Turkish Airlines · Istanbul 1:15 PM → San Francisco 4:40 PM
Return · July 8
Turkish Airlines · San Francisco 12:55 PM → Istanbul (11:45 AM next day)
Continuing to Los Angeles · July 8
American Airlines · San Francisco 11:37 AM → Los Angeles 1:17 PM
Return from Los Angeles · July 12
Turkish Airlines · Los Angeles 1:25 PM → Istanbul (12:40 PM next day)
If you’re joining the Los Angeles extension, we recommend booking Istanbul → San Francisco / Los Angeles → Istanbul as a multi-city ticket rather than separate tickets. We also recommend booking after your visa is approved, or choosing a flexible fare that allows changes and cancellations.
Airfare is not included in the Spoklo program fee and is not covered by Spoklo’s cancellation and refund terms. If your family is on a different flight, we can arrange an additional airport transfer, subject to availability and at an extra cost.
Important notes
Detailed terms covering visa refusals, late payments, participant changes and force majeure are set out in the registration agreement, which we share with families before taking any payment.
Participants on the same registration can be swapped until May 1, 2027, as long as the room arrangement allows. Changes to room arrangements may affect the price.
We recommend booking international flights after your visa is approved and, if possible, on a changeable fare. Flight changes and refunds are subject to each airline’s own rules.
About the program schedule
Spoklo may swap the order of activities or replace a stop with an equivalent one due to museum and campus hours, group booking availability, weather, traffic or other operational needs.
Hotel, vehicle, visiting hours and flight details are shared with participants once bookings are confirmed.
Employee-only areas of company campuses such as Google and Apple are not open to the public. The program visits visitor areas only.
Fireworks and outdoor events depend on local announcements and the weather.
Depending on the speaker’s availability, a talk may be replaced with similar content or another speaker.
Learn more
Ready to explore California together?
If you think the program could be a good fit for your family, take a few minutes to fill out our form. It doesn’t commit you to registering or paying anything.
Once we receive your form, we’ll reach out to schedule a short video call. We’ll walk you through the program and how to join, and together we’ll see whether it suits your family’s expectations and your child’s age.
After the call, if you’d like to move forward and spots are still available, we’ll send you the registration agreement and payment details.
Message us on WhatsAppGet in touch
(It only takes a minute)