Top California Outdoor Activities - page 3

On this San Francisco bridge cruise, get an up-close look at the city’s two engineering marvels—the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge—as you travel across San Francisco Bay. See major city sights such as Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Ferry Building, and listen to recorded commentary about the city's legendary architecture while you glide under both bridges.

Known for its steep granite cliffs, waterfalls, towering sequoia groves, and diversity of wildlife, Yosemite National Park is something you don’t want to miss. On this small group day trip, you can leave the logistics to a tour guide so all you have to do is enjoy the great outdoors. You have both guided sightseeing and free time, ensuring you see the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s major attractions, like Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite Valley, with the chance to explore more of the park however you wish.

Wander through an ancient coastal redwood forest and explore the artistic enclave of Sausalito on this combo tour from San Francisco. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to visit Muir Woods, home to some of the oldest and tallest trees on Earth. Then, soak up stellar views of the San Francisco skyline and browse art galleries along the Sausalito waterfront before returning by bus or Sausalito ferry.

Explore San Diego’s Downtown and Old Town sights in a fun and fast-paced way—on a self-drive GoCar tour. This sightseeing adventure takes the stress out of reading a map, as the car talks and shows you the way with its built-in GPS. Enjoy hearing stories as you explore the city’s most popular areas, including Old Town, Little Italy, Balboa Park, Downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter.

Sail across San Francisco Bay at twilight to admire the skyline as it begins to light up for the night, and enjoy a perspective on the skyline that few other visitors get to see. With an experienced captain at the helm, you’ll glide past Alcatraz Island and cruise underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. As you go, you can also enjoy one complimentary beverage to accompany your sightseeing, or purchase additional drinks from the onboard bar.

Explore the geology around California’s legendary San Andreas fault during a Jeep tour from Palm Desert. See a desert oasis fed by an underground spring as your naturalist guide describes how the Native American Cahuilla tribe used the desert's plants for food, medicine, and shelter. Marvel at steep-walled canyons and tall twisted rock mountains, and learn about the plant and animal life of the area. Choose from a morning or afternoon tour that includes light snacks, and bottled water.

Group tours of any kind can either go too fast or too slow, making for a less than ideal experience. Explore Lake Tahoe at your own pace with this self-guided electric bike tour on East Shore Trail and make stops when you choose to. Your journey along the trail ends at Sand Harbor, a popular beach area for swimming and boating.

Meet some of the world's most exotic animals with your admission ticket to the renowned San Diego Zoo, one of California's top family-friendly attractions. More than 4,000 animals representing 800 species live in this state-of-the-art zoo, including some that are rarely seen at other zoos. Admire the animals and go in-depth during daily keeper talks. With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the San Diego Zoo. Ticket must be redeemed on travel date selected. Tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to visit.

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.

Discover San Francisco, Muir Woods, and Sausalito with the option to add tickets to Alcatraz! Join a small group tour that covers four iconic experiences in a single day: explore San Francisco’s historic neighborhoods, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, stroll beneath the Red Woods of Muir Woods National Monument, and enjoy a drive through Sausalito. Ride in comfort aboard our premium minibuses, with a local expert guide offering insider stories, photo stops, and stress free logistics from start to finish. If you want to end the day with a bang, add the option that ends with a visits to Alcatraz!

Prebook your ride on the Skunk Train Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg and avoid the hassle of booking the day off. This train ride experience goes through the beautiful area along the Pudding Creek Estuary in California’s Mendocino County. Stop at Glen Blair Junction for a short time or choose to stay to explore more on foot before you finish up your ride back to Fort Bragg.

Spend a few hours relaxing and sightseeing in the waters just off San Diego during this 1- or 2-hour San Diego Harbor cruise. Sit back and relax as you take in a fully narrated tour, offering top-notch sight lines of the San Diego skyline, a cruise under Coronado Bridge, a look at the bustling US Naval fleet, and a chance to spot some of the harbor’s resident sea lions.

Spend an evening gourmet wining and dining aboard the ‘Spirit of San Diego,’ enjoying top-notch food and drink while you soak up skyline views. During this San Diego dinner cruise, you sip a complimentary cocktail and enjoy live on-board entertainment as you cruise 25 miles of California’s coastline and gaze at the stars above.

Encounter some of Earth's most magnificent creatures on a 2–3-hour whale-watching cruise in San Diego. The voyage departs right from Mission Bay, so you’ll be out into the open Pacific Ocean and looking for animals in just 10 minutes. Expert Guides and Naturalists on board help you spot whales and dolphins and learn about their lives in the deep blue sea.

Roll through Northern California’s famous wine country on the renowned Napa Valley Wine Train. Pass charming towns like Rutherford and St. Helena, and soak up the scenery of rolling hills, vineyards, and estates through large picture windows on the trip. Explore the restored vintage train cars, and then take a seat for a gourmet lunch or dinner freshly prepared by the train’s acclaimed on-board restaurant.

Go whale watching from San Diego aboard a replica of a historic sailing schooner that won the world’s first America’s Cup sailing competition in 1851. Throughout your cruise, your expert guide shares informative commentary about gray whales, dolphins, and other marine animals, along with details about the US Navy sites you pass as you head out on the Pacific Ocean.

Visit the Aquarium of the Pacific without waiting in long lines with this reserved entry ticket. Get ahead of your vacation planning and prebook your admission before you set foot in Long Beach. Enjoy access to the marine life and animal displays included with general admission, with the opportunity to see sharks, lorikeets, and penguins.

Come aboard the Privateer, your sailboat for the evening, for a a scenic small-group cruise along the San Francisco Bay. As you set off on the water, you'll enjoy sightseeing at the most beautiful time of day—sunset. Coast along and look out for local landmarks like Alcatraz, the Sausalito shoreline, and the Golden Gate Bridge, all with two drinks of choice in your hand.

Get close up views of amazing marine wildlife with one of the best whale watching tours on the coast, Davey's Locker. From our unique 360-viewing walk around boat feature you can see giant blue whales, humpback whales, meg pods of dolphins and more. Enjoy our low passenger capacity means more room and relaxation for you. Our favorite spot onboard is up front, where you can catch sight of bow-riding dolphins!

Cars are mostly banned on Catalina Island, and trying to see the highlights of the island’s vibrant harbor area on foot is a recipe for blisters. On this express private tour, visit coastal Avalon by chauffeured golf cart, covering more sights in less time than you could on your own. Along the way, learn about the island’s history and unique lifestyles of its few thousand residents.

Fly over Temecula Valley wine country in a hot air balloon, and see its vineyards, citrus groves, wineries, and estates at sunrise and from high above. Since hot air balloons drift with the wind, every flight is different, making this a unique way to experience the scenic region. Each flight ends with a celebration toast of sparkling wine, cider, or mimosas, to mark the outing as an occasion to remember.

Avoid the crowds and explore Sequoia National Park with ease on this small-group tour, which checks off many of the park’s key attractions as well as some hidden gems. Save your feet as you travel between sites in a private vehicle and marvel at the world’s largest trees while somebody else does the driving. This jam-packed sightseeing tour is ideal for first-time visitors.

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.

Travel beyond San Francisco to discover the picturesque town of Sausalito and the mighty redwoods of Muir Woods on this half-day excursion. Begin with a quick trip past several iconic San Francisco landmarks, including a photo stop at the Golden Gate Bridge. Then, venture across the bridge to visit the spectacular redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument. Spend around an hour in Sausalito, with the option to stay longer independently.