Top California Day Trips

See Los Angeles’ key neighborhoods and landmarks in one full-day tour designed to reduce planning and travel stress. With hotel pickup included, you can focus on the experience while a guide provides context and local insight along the way. This tour offers a practical overview of the city, moving efficiently from urban highlights to coastal areas, making it a strong choice for first-time visitors or short stays.

Cruise off the coast of Orange County in search of whales on this excursion from Newport Beach. Watch the rugged, beautiful scenery of the Pacific Coast glide by as you listen to interesting commentary from your crew about the native California marine life. Watch for blows and tail slaps; these signals indicate that humpback, minke, grey, finback, or giant blue whales are nearby. Dolphins and other marine life are also in abundance during this family-friendly, year-round whale watching tour.

Discover the highlights of Los Angeles on a small-group full-day tour from Anaheim. Visit famous movie and TV locales such as Hollywood's Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Sign, the Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Stop for lunch at the farmer's market, then wind down your day at Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach. Your small-group tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from hotels Anaheim Resort Area and Buena Park.

From the Hollywood Sign to the sunny beaches of Santa Monica and the glitz of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles is full of iconic sights. This guided full-day tour transports you by air-conditioned coach to top attractions—from Venice Beach to the Sunset Strip to Griffith Park and more—with included lunch at the Farmers' Market and optional hotel pickup for select locations.

Enjoy the best wines of California on this all-inclusive tour. Immerse yourself in the exquisite Paso Robles wine country on this 5-hour journey. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch among the beautiful vineyard setting. Appreciate a variety of wines, with a full flight of tastings offered at all three locations.

Los Angeles is filled with must-see landmarks, from the famous Hollywood sign to Santa Monica Pier. But neighborhoods are spread out, and it can be tough to make much progress with limited time to spare. Ideal for time-pressed travelers, this easy half-day tour covers the highlights by luxury bus. Depart from Hollywood or Santa Monica, and take in destinations like Rodeo Drive and Griffith Observatory without dedicating days to sightseeing.

This small-group tour takes you from downtown San Francisco to Muir Woods and Sausalito—two of Marin's top attractions—in a single day. Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in a tour van leaves you free to take in the epic views instead of focusing on the driving. You'll have free time to explore both sites, making this organized option a great choice for independent travelers.

See Los Angeles efficiently on a guided city tour that removes the need to plan routes, drive, or manage parking. With hotel pickup and drop-off included, you can focus on understanding the city while a guide provides context across key neighborhoods, including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Venice Beach. This tour is designed to give first-time visitors a clear overview of LA in one day, helping you decide where to return on your own.

Travel by minibus from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park on a small-group day trip to one of the most visually stunning places on earth. This full-day itinerary takes you through the orchards of the Central Valley to Yosemite Valley, stopping first for a stroll through a grove of giant sequoias. Find plenty of photo ops of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Fall, and more.

Take a detour from Anaheim to do some California dreamin’ on Orange County's most beautiful beaches. Snap photos from a gorgeous clifftop lookout above palm-lined Laguna Beach, and see the real-life filming locations from hit shows like ‘The OC’ and ‘The Bachelor’ at Newport Beach. From here, venture out into the open Pacific Ocean on a dolphin- and whale-watching cruise, then finish your day in the sun by exploring the funky shops and surfing culture of Huntington Beach—the original Surf City, USA.

Combine three of the Bay Area's top attractions—Alcatraz Island, Muir Woods, and Sausalito—in a single tour from San Francisco. Enjoy comfortable transportation in a luxury small-group tour van, including a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge, so you can focus on the scenery instead of driving. Your Alcatraz admission includes the ferry ride and audio tour, with free time to explore Muir Woods and Sausalito at your own pace.

Explore a shady oasis and rugged canyons on a Hummer adventure that goes deep into Joshua Tree’s arid landscape. See the park's most iconic sights and learn about its geology, fauna, and cultural history. Immerse yourself in the majesty of this park in the company of an expert guide and small group, for personalized attention. Choose from morning or afternoon tour times to suit your schedule.

Enjoy a thrilling new way to explore San Diego Bay—and enjoy speed, splashes, and spins along the way—on this high-speed jet boat tour. As you race along the scenic waterway, spot landmarks including the USS Midway, Coronado Island, Seaport Village, the Embarcadero, and the city skyline. Then, hang on as your captain takes your boat into power slides, 360-degree spins, and other high-octane maneuvers.

Discover Yosemite is honored to have received Trip Advisors Traveler’s Choice award for being in the top 10% of activities in the World for each of the past two years. We go to great lengths and expense to assure an excellent experience for all who join us on our Yosemite Tours. If you are looking to enjoy the majesty and natural beauty of Yosemite National Park with an expert driver/guide who knows where to go, and how to get there and all about what you are seeing, join us for an unforgettable day in Yosemite. We’ll get you to the iconic viewpoints so you can capture the beauty of this Crown Jewel of National Parks with spectacular photos to commemorate your adventure. We include lunch, snacks and water on all our full-day tours, so you don’t have to take time out from seeing the sights to wait in line. Our vehicles are impeccably cleaned and rigorously maintained for your comfort and safety. Itinerary is subject to change due to weather or other conditions beyond our control.

Discover California’s Paso Robles wine region on this full-day excursion. Take a tour through three of the region’s wineries. If you’d like, you can purchase tastings to sample the area’s wines as well as purchase bottles to take home. Learn what makes Paso Robles a great winemaking region and relax in the climate controlled vehicle between stops.

Experience Muir Woods National Monument and the quaint waterfront town of Sausalito on a half-day tour. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge on a guided day trip that includes pickup in a convenient location in downtown San Francisco, transportation, and National Park entrance fees. Enjoy free time among the ancient redwoods, then explore Sausalito at your own pace before returning to San Francisco by vehicle or by ferry (separate expense).

Discover the Napa Valley at a relaxed pace on a full-day, small-group tour. Comfortable transportation collects you from your local Napa Valley hotel and carries your group to three distinct wineries, where you can enjoy tastings at your own expense. Listen to live commentary and ask questions at any time. Your experience also includes a complimentary picnic lunch at a charming winery.

Explore Monterey, 17-Mile Drive, Carmel, and other highlights along the California coast with ease on this full-day small-group tour from San Francisco. Cruise along scenic Highway, enjoy the coastal views, and enjoy free time in Monterey and Carmel-by-the Sea, along with scenic stops at 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, Bird Rock Vista Point, and more.

Explore Joshua Tree National Park on a small-group, guided tour that’s designed to cover key park areas efficiently, all without the need to plan routes or drive yourself. Travel between viewpoints while stopping for short walks to experience the landscape up close (park admission own expense). This half-day tour offers a practical way for visitors to maximize their sightseeing, and see a range of highlights in just a limited timeframe.

Let a professional driver chauffeur you on this wine tour from San Francisco, allowing you to worry about nothing but enjoying yourself while visiting area wineries. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge on your way into the rolling hills of California wine country, where you’ll stop at two or three vineyards in Sonoma or Napa Carneros region.

Hop into your private SUV for a wine tour of the Sonoma or Napa Valley with a private guide. You can make your own itinerary and your guide/driver will be happy to provide recommendations. You can taste as much wine as you like (tasting fees at your own expense) without worrying about who will be the sober driver; all of your transportation is taken care of.

Taste your way through Paso Robles wine country—and leave all the logistics to someone else—on this hassle-free small-group tour. Look forward to visiting up to four different wineries in one trip, with round-trip transit provided so you don't need to worry about driving. Along the way, hear stories about Paso Robles’ colorful past and winemaking history, savor a range of wines, and upgrade to include prepaid tasting fees.

Guarantee your entry to the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco, so you spend less time waiting and more time enjoying its aquatic attractions. Get direct access to all of the aquarium’s main exhibit areas, including interactive exhibits, as well as walk-through glass tunnels where schools of anchovies and fluorescent jellyfish swim overhead and around you.