Top California Day Trips

Yosemite Highlights Small Group Tour

9 hoursFree Cancellation

Muir Woods and Sausalito Small Group Tour

Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches and More

Price varies by group size

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.

Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

2 hours 15 minutesFree Cancellation

Monterey Bay Whale Watching

2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

Best of Los Angeles Guided City Tour with 4 Stops and Free Time

5 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Special Offer

Joshua Tree National Park Scenic Tour

3 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

Visit Yosemite National Park without the hassle of planning a long day of driving or coordinating park logistics from San Francisco. Traveling in a small group, you'll journey through California’s Central Valley before exploring Yosemite Valley’s most famous sights, including Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls. A stop among giant sequoias adds another iconic California landscape to the experience.

Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

14 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

Joshua Tree National Park Sightseeing Adventure Tour

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

Napa Valley Small Group Winery Tour

7 hoursFree Cancellation

Muir Woods and Sausalito Morning Tour Small-Group Half Day

Visit two of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most popular destinations without the hassle of driving, parking, or securing reservations on your own. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to explore the towering redwoods of Muir Woods, then spend time in Sausalito, known for its waterfront views, art galleries, and laid-back charm. Return to San Francisco by coach or choose the flexibility of a ferry ride across the bay.

Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour (Return by Bus or Ferry)

5 to 8 hoursFree Cancellation

Semi Private Yosemite Tour with Ahwahnee Lunch and Hotel Pickup

8 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

Tour of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Beach with Hotel Pickup

Best of LA: Hollywood, Griffith, Santa Monica, Venice, and Rodeo

7 to 9 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Beach Tour with Hotel Pickup

Discover the great wines of the Santa Ynez valley during a 5-hour wine tour. This part of Santa Barbara's heralded wine country is home to more than 120 mostly family-owned wineries. You can customize your itinerary in consultation with your private guide to create a half-day tour itinerary that visits the places of your choosing. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Lompoc, Buellton, Los Olivos, Solvang, Los Alamo, and Santa Ynez.

Solvang Santa Ynez Valley Small Group All-Inclusive Wine Tour

Drive down one of the most scenic roads in California on this full-day tour from San Francisco. Cruise along the coast-hugging Highway 1, passing Pebble Beach on the iconic 17-Mile Drive. Enjoy free time to explore Monterey, where you can stroll down Steinbeck’s Cannery Row or visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium (own expense). Then enjoy free time to explore Carmel-by-the-Sea before returning to San Francisco.

Monterey, Carmel and 17-Mile Drive: Full Day Tour from SF

11 hoursFree Cancellation

Take a tour to three backroads Sonoma wineries, and get more out of your trip to the Sonoma Valley than you would if you explored alone, on this small-group, half-day tour. Not only does your guide pick three impressive wineries to visit (tasting fees own expense), but they also set up a picnic lunch for your group to enjoy in a winery setting. Round-trip transport from your Sonoma hotel is also included, so you can focus on enjoyment and leave the driving to someone else.

Sonoma Valley Small Group Winery Tour

7 hoursFree Cancellation

See San Francisco’s most famous waterfront landmarks from the water on a bay cruise that combines iconic views with onboard flexibility. Sail beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, pass Alcatraz Island, and take in panoramic views of the city skyline while listening to stories and insights through an app-based audio guide. With skip-the-line boarding and indoor and outdoor viewing areas, it’s an easy way to experience the bay from a different perspective.

San Francisco Bay Cruise

1 hourFree Cancellation

Avoid the stuffy minivans and tour buses that go from winery to winery; instead, enjoy the wind in your hair as you cycle around the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley on this charming cycling tour. Head out from Los Olivos and explore the parks, villages and rural landscapes of the Valley. Enjoy a pair of wine tastings and sample locally-grown, locally-produced food at local farms and vineyards.

Santa Ynez Valley Biking and Wine Tasting Tour

Travel the full circumference of Lake Tahoe in comfort—and maximize your limited travel time—on this full-day bus tour. Look forward to exploring the lake's highlight sights and vistas. Admire viewpoints at Emerald Bay and Truckee River Dam, see where the 1960 Winter Olympics were held at Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, and stop at Tahoe City for lunch (own expense). As you go, your guide provides rich historical context for the beautiful landscapes.

Full-Day Lake Tahoe Circle Tour including Olympic Valley

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).

Muir Woods and Sausalito Half Day Tour

Explore Joshua Tree National Park on a private guided tour designed for flexibility and ease. Travel by SUV or van with hotel pickup included, allowing you to cover more of the park without driving or planning routes yourself. With time for short walks and optional hiking, this experience offers a balanced way to see key landscapes while adjusting pace and activity level to your group’s preferences.

Joshua Tree National Park Private Sightseeing Adventure Tour

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

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Must-Dos in California

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What are people saying about California

Napa Valley Small Group Winery Tour

sueshiels, Oct 2026

This was an excellent day...

This was an excellent day out with Platypus Tours. They picked us up at our Airbnb about 10:30 and dropped us back around 5:30. We visited 3 very good off the beaten track family run wineries - not the big ones. Tasting fees were reasonable - $25 - but were waived if you bought wine. Platypus provided a pretty good boxed lunch at the 2nd winery (they cater for food allergies). Gerard was a great host and we had fun chatting with the other guests (small group 13 in total). Perfect day out if you plan a quick visit to Napa.

Monterey's 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 hr

Diane_P, Oct 2026

Fantastic ebike tour

Amazing 17 mile 3 hour ebike tour guided by Suzy! She made the day a safe, fun, fantastic experience for everyone! The scenery and wildlife was absolutely stunning! Appreciate all of Suzy’s knowledge about the wildlife and the care she took in briefing us on the safe operation of the E bikes. You can really tell she loves her job and she made our ebike tour a truly memorable part of our vacation.

Joshua Tree Open Air Hummer Adventure

Mary_F, Oct 2026

We had an amazing tour of...

We had an amazing tour of Joshua Tree! Our guide, Tom was phenomenal, super knowledgeable and made the whole trip unforgettable! Taking this incredible tour, gave us an insiders view of the park that we never would have seen on our own. Shout out to Tom! Thank you for making our day the best!

Monterey Bay Whale Watching

Cheryl_C, Oct 2026

A Whale of a Day!

It was an excellent and well run tour. The directions to the location were clear and check in and boarding went smoothly. The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable about marine life. We saw many Whales, sea otters, dolphins and birds. A great experience.

17-Mile Drive, Monterey Peninsula&Carmel Premium Small Group Tour

Lee_O, Sep 2026

Above and Beyond

The trip was wonderful. Beautiful scenery and great places to stop and explore. Jim was went above and beyond. I was staying in Monterey for the jazz festival and not returning to San Francisco. He changed the tour order so we finished in Monterey and he dropped me at the hostel. What a legend. Would definitely recommend you take this trip.

Joshua Tree National Park Sightseeing Adventure Tour

Louann_s, Sep 2026

Fabulous Tour with a Joshua Rock Star!

Spencer is an exceptional guide. As someone who is native to the area, he is very knowledgeable about the geology, plants, animals, climate, and cultural heritage and practices of Joshua Tree. He will take you off the beaten path to the hidden gems of the national park. It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. It was so much better than just driving through the national park with a map. Don’t miss out! Let Spencer be your guide.

Alcatraz with Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour

Verner_L, Aug 2026

I had a problem with this...

I had a problem with this tour, The problem was not the vendor, but with Viator. Our printed out tickets for 4 people showed 9:45AM, but when we were not picked up as indicated, I called the vendor. They came and picked us up, but said that they have never had a 9:45AM pick up time.!!! They said the correct time was 9:00AM!!!!

Small Group: Ultimate Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour from San Francisco

Tom_E, Aug 2026

Barry, the tour guide,...

Barry, the tour guide, was wonderful! He was very knowledgeable about the history of San Francisco and pointed out sites along our drive. He was interesting and funny which made the drive enjoyable. He also assisted with picture taking and made sure everyone was having a good time. I enjoyed the first winery the best since we were able to sit down during the wine tasting. The second winery had us standing in the warehouse and some of the guests needed to sit but didn’t speak up. Other than that issue the day was perfect !

All Inclusive Santa Ynez Wine Tour

Crystal_M, Jul 2026

A must for wine lovers

My sister and I had the best time on our tour! We love wine tasting and this was exactly what we wanted. We got picked up right at our hotel and had a fun group of 6 to spend the day with. Peter, our guide, was great to be around and knowledgeable. The wineries had beautiful views and generous pours with a unique variety of wines. Everyone we met was friendly and accommodating. This was well worth the money to be able to visit multiple wineries without worrying about driving and navigating ourselves. The lunch that was provided was also delicious. This tour was worth every penny and was one of the best parts of our trip to California.

Napa Valley Wine Train with Gourmet Lunch

Sheryl_J, Jun 2026

Bucket List Adventure

Our experience aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train exceeded every expectation. From the moment we stepped aboard, the atmosphere was elegant, relaxing, and full of charm. The scenic views of Napa Valley's beautiful vineyards created the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable experience. What truly stood out was the food. Every course was beautifully presented, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The flavors were exceptional, and it was clear that great care went into every detail of the meal. From the appetizers to dessert, each bite was a culinary delight that complemented the overall luxury experience. The staff provided outstanding service throughout the journey, making us feel welcomed and well cared for. The combination of breathtaking scenery, exceptional dining, and first-class hospitality made this a bucket-list experience that was well worth it. If you're looking for a unique way to experience Napa Valley, the Napa Valley Wine Train is a must. We created memories that will last a lifetime and can't wait to return.

Sonoma Valley Small Group Winery Tour

Sandy_G, Apr 2026

Book it now, just do it.

I knew going to this tour I’d go to wineries that may not typically have tours open to the public. The first winery, Mayo was great. I’ve been to a few tours now and learned so much. The other girls on the trip were very knowable and asked great questions, it made the tour much more enjoyable. The second winery, we had lunch and met the winemaker himself. What an experience!! The final winery was a tasting that was casual which was nice and gorgeous. Army, our driver was hilarious and witty. He’s the absolute best. I wish I could take him home. Alas, the commutation of this tour company and busses exceeded my expectation. I would go on this tour again to visit more small wineries.