Top North America Unique Experiences - page 6

Turn the dream of operating heavy machinery—from bulldozers to excavators and beyond—into fun-filled reality when you book a small-group session at a heavy equipment playground in Las Vegas. Choose from a variety of options and durations, and take part in a safety briefing. Then, get ready to dig trenches, build mounds, stack 2,000-pound tires, and even play "bucket basketball" in this life-size sandbox.

Alaska's largest glacier accessible by car is located just outside Anchorage, so don't miss the chance to visit during your stay. You'll head to Matanuska Glacier Park to explore this natural wonder with provided ice cleats and a guide.

Step away from the casinos and experience a different side of Las Vegas with a guided desert shooting adventure. Instead of researching ranges and transportation on your own, enjoy a streamlined experience that combines multiple firearms with expert supervision in a scenic desert setting. Lunch is included, making this a convenient way to add an outdoor activity to your Las Vegas itinerary.

Vancouver Island is known for producing great wines in a beautiful environment. Visit well-regarded wineries on Saanich Peninsula on this tour from Victoria, which includes private wine tastings at each location, a behind-the-scenes tour of a local winery, and a guide with extensive knowledge about the industry. This small-group tour is limited to 15 passengers or fewer for a more intimate experience.

Learn all about chocolate production, from pod to pastry, and get the chance to sample some artisanal chocolate yourself with this visit to Planeta Cacao, a cacao garden near Puerto Vallarta. You'll learn all about the importance of chocolate in pre-Colombian times, see how it's cultivated, and learn all about the process of preparing it for consumption.

Immerse yourself in American history on a JFK–themed tour of Dallas, with stops at Dealey Plaza, President Kennedy’s memorial, and the location of Lee Harvey Oswald’s arrest. Your guide, who navigates for you, provides a history of JFK’s assassination and outlines the multitude of conspiracy theories that followed.

Enjoy a unique way to explore San Francisco on this tour via vintage fire engine. Suit up in a firefighter jacket before setting off. Your driver-guide narrates the tour from Fisherman's Wharf through the Presidio and across the Golden Gate Bridge to charming Sausalito. This small-group San Francisco fire engine tour is limited to 10 passengers to keep things personal.

Navigating Toronto’s food scene can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. This small-group walking tour makes it simple—pairing local insight with curated tastings at the city’s top spots. Skip the guesswork as your guide leads you through Old Town and the St. Lawrence Market to sample Toronto favorites and uncover the stories, cultures, and characters that shaped Canada’s largest city.

Experience New Orleans from a different perspective on a carriage ride through the French Quarter. In addition to navigating for you, your guide tells anecdotes about the historic landmarks from Jackson Square to Bourbon Street. Booking a private tour ensures the itinerary is customized to your own interests, whether it be a food–themed tour or a quiet, romantic ride.

Get an intimate look at the diverse neighborhoods of LA during this small-group cycling exploration. Join a group of no more than 10 riders for a 32-mile (51-kilometer) adventure through areas like West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Bel-Air, and Beverly Hills, listening to insightful and entertaining stories from your guide as you cycle. During the trip, you’ll also stop in Venice Beach, where you can buy lunch, and take a guided walking tour of historic Greystone Mansion. A hybrid road bike, safety equipment, and bottled water are also included.

Seattle Small-Group Donut Tour Explore Seattle's sweet side with a local guide, by taking a walking donut tour of the city. You'll hit up some of the best donut shops in town, including Top Pot Doughnuts, Doce Donut Co., Dahlia Bakery, and Daily Dozen Doughnuts, where you’ll get to sample some of the city’s sweetest offerings.

Get a taste of Northern California's famous wine country and its gastronomy on this full-day tour of Napa and Sonoma County. Stop en route for photo ops of the Golden Gate Bridge. Then, enjoy wine tastings in two Napa and Sonoma wineries while learning about the area’s history and viticulture. Choose your own lunch option to suit your budget, or add on another wine tasting in Sonoma Square.

Discover the most legendary vampire haunts in New Orleans on this 2‐hour evening walking tour! Your local guide will lead a lamplit promenade through the French Quarter to visit places imbibed in vampire lore such as the filming location of Interview with a Vampire. You’ll also hear some ‘real’ stories of the undead from public archives and police reports, and peek in at a known vampire tavern. Think twice before accepting any free drinks!

Venture beyond Banff to discover the quieter beauty of Yoho and Kootenay National Parks on a small-group full-day tour from Calgary. Explore emerald lakes, towering waterfalls, dramatic canyons, and spectacular mountain scenery while your guide shares the stories behind these remarkable landscapes.

Explore Valle de Guadalupe's top wineries on a 6-hour tour, perfect for first-time visitors. Visit three wineries, enjoy a gourmet lunch, and meet expert winemakers. Discover barrel areas, vineyards, and enjoy a free souvenir, snacks, and water on this unforgettable journey through Mexico's wine country.

Discover a different side of Gatlinburg on this haunted ghost walking tour. Learn all about the spooky history of this town during this nighttime tour, during which you’ll look for supernatural spirits and possibly communicate with the local "residents" yourself using ghost hunting equipment.

Soar through the air like an eagle in flight on this zipline adventure! Just a half hour from central Victoria, this Vancouver Island zipline park features eight different ziplines that span more than 1,000 feet (305 meters). Your small group will also go on a 10-minute ATV ride and you'll traverse two suspension bridges high above the forest floor. Two tour guides accompany you on this two-hour tour; they'll share insight about the environment and answer any questions to ensure a safe, fun and exhilarating experience in the British Columbia temperate rainforest.

The Niagara region may be best known for its famous waterfalls, but the surrounding countryside offers the perfect conditions for grapevines to thrive. On this tour, travel in comfort to Niagara wineries with your guide and sample some of the delicate wines in production. With lunch plus pickup and drop-off at your Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake accommodation included, learn what makes Niagara wines so special.

Learn to surf with this private lesson for two near Lahaina. Get individualized attention from an experienced instructor as you learn about catching waves, paddling techniques, and staying safe in the water. Your instructor guarantees that, by the end of the lesson, you'll have stood up and surfed a wave. A rash guard, soft-top surfboard and reef shoes are also included.

Get wet while learning to surf in Santa Cruz, a picturesque coastal California town popular with surfers. Your 3-hour lesson starts with the basics of how to paddle out, pop up, balance, and catch a wave, along with surfing etiquette and understanding the ocean. Your instructor has you practice on the beach before accompanying you into a spot with small waves that are ideal for beginners. Includes all necessary equipment and instruction.

Enjoy an offbeat experience—and discover a new side of the nation's capital—on an evening ghost tour of Washington DC. Follow your animated guide to the Dolley Madison House, Lafayette Square, and a range of other historical locations. At each stop, learn the spooky stories behind the city’s alleged hauntings and ghost sightings. The tour is also a great opportunity to see the nation’s capital illuminated at night.

Haunted city tours give travelers a different perspective than just a history tour, and this St. Louis Lemp Haunted Neighborhood Walking Tour goes beyond what history buffs would be interested in to appeal to those who love a spooky tale. You'll learn about the Lemp family, their mansion, their brewery, and the long-forgotten Marion Hospital from a paranormal investigator who lives for a little mystery.

Learn to surf (or improve your skills) in one of the world’s top surfing destinations with this lesson on Maui. The island is the perfect place with beautiful beaches. No matter what your level of expertise on the board is, your instructor helps you every step of the way when you need it.

Go beyond the movies and gain a deeper understanding of the man behind some of the world’s most beloved animated characters at The Walt Disney Family Museum. Located in San Francisco’s historic Presidio, the museum brings Walt Disney’s life and creative legacy into focus through early cartoons, films, personal stories, and recordings in his own voice. Before you leave, take in sweeping views of San Francisco Bay from the museum’s glass-walled galleries.