Top USA Nature and Wildlife Tours - page 2

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.

Spend 2 hours out on the Auke Bay Harbor's waters searching for humpback whales during this boat tour from Juneau. Listen to commentary from your guide and keep a lookout for other marine animals such as orca, bald eagles, and sea lions. Cap off the cruise with a 5-minute stop to snap photos of Mendenhall Glacier. Snacks, refreshments, and round-trip transportation from the Mt. Roberts Tramway in Juneau provided.

Experience the serenity of Emerald Cave, a picturesque natural attraction on the Colorado River. This kayaking tour takes a small group max of 13 people paddling up the river with a guide. Stop for snacks and swimming along the way. Round-trip hotel transport can be selected as an option from Las Vegas, or you can make your own way to the starting point by rental car in Willow Beach, Arizona.

Explore one of Louisiana’s last protected wetlands on a 2-hour boat tour that includes round-trip transport from New Orleans. Depart in the morning or afternoon for Honey Island Swamp, a wildlife preserve teeming with critters such as 'gators, wild boar, snakes and birds. Ride through the swamp dripping with lush foliage and visit a boat-accessible Cajun village with an informative local guide who sheds light on the area’s inhabitants.

The Big Island of Hawaii has a diverse ecosystem unlike anywhere else on the planet. On this small-group day-long nature tour with hotel pickup, experience the beauty of its black-sand beaches, thundering waterfalls, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. If you’re lucky, you spot Hawaiian green sea turtles basking on the coast.

Lose yourself in the atmospheric depths of the New Orleans swamps and wetlands on an exhilarating 2-hour boat tour, led by a professional guide. Cruise past ancient wonders and listen to legends surrounding a 2000-year-old Indian burial mound and an atmospheric Cajun cemetery. Scour the Barataria Swamps for sightings of fascinating wildlife such as snakes, turtles and ferocious alligators, and learn about the area’s history and geology from your knowledgeable guide. Enjoy the convenience of round-trip transportation by luxury vehicle fro your New Orleans hotel.

The whole family can learn more about sharks and other marine wildlife on this boat tour from Key West. Travel on board an eco-friendly, 34-foot catamaran just a few miles off the coast to try your luck spotting dolphins, stingrays, turtles, and birds while you learn more about Key West’s waters than you ever would sailing along. Then watch as the pilot drops bait to draw a variety of sharks right to the edge of the boat.

Pre-book tickets to Lower Antelope Canyon to explore a wonderland of sandstone waves, slots, and whorls. Since tours of the canyon are led by Navajo guides, you’ll get a cultural perspective on the important site. In addition, guides know all the best angles for photographing the canyon in every kind of light conditions, ensuring you bring home the best possible images.

Enjoy sublime coastal scenery as you spot marine life during this kayaking trip to La Jolla’s sea caves and ecological reserve. Paddle alongside your expert naturalist guide as you observe the numerous species of birds, dolphins, sea lions, and even orcas of the area. Kayak among the lush kelp beds that grow in the reserve and, if conditions permit, explore inside the sea caves that dot the rocky coastline.

Check off two desert landmarks in one day—without the hassle of driving—on this full-day group tour from Las Vegas. Hike to Horseshoe Bend to admire its view of the famous bend in the Colorado River. Then, at Antelope Canyon, follow your Navajo guide through your chosen section of the scenic slot canyon (whether Lower Antelope Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, or Antelope Canyon X), and admire the extraordinary scenery up close.

Sample a cross-section of outdoor sights on the Big Island during this shore excursion exploring Volcanoes National Park, Black Sand Beach and more. Visiting the amazing volcanic steam vents and unique geology around Kilauea Volcano. Before your day is done, check out a local macadamia nut farm and visit a gorgeous black sand beach. A guide, park entrance fees, and round-trip port transport are included.

See Arizona from a perspective that few visitors experience aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad. Glide through the beautiful wilderness of the American Southwest near Sedona. Ride in a vintage train car or open-air viewing car to get a great perspective on the region’s natural and cultural treasures. See ancient cliff dwellings, historic mining sites, and more as your train cruises along a route that follows the Verde River.

Experience the iconic New Orleans swamplands during a small-group airboat tour, led by a professional guide. Alternate between adrenaline-fueled high speeds and gentle cruising as you sail past fascinating flora and fauna. Capture fantastic photographs of alligators in their natural habitat, and relish the intimate atmosphere of a small-group, limited to only nine passengers.

The Denver foothills are packed with some of Colorado's best sights, from Red Rocks Amphitheater to Lookout Mountain and scenic Lariat Loop. Throughout this half-day tour from Denver explore the scenic foothills, get panoramic views of the mountain surroundings, and stroll through small, historic towns before stopping in Golden for a coffee or craft beer. It's a quick escape from the big city buzz and a taste of life in the mountains just outside of "Mile High" City.

Explore the Everglades National Park with a naturalist guide, including an airboat ride and a nature walk, on this half-day tour. Learn about the area ecosystems and view alligators and local birdlife. On the smaller air boat, travel way out far from land and become immersed in the culture and remote beauty of the Native way of life, including a stop to a Native tree island village or two. A narrated scenic drive led by the master naturalist and round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental in Miami, Hollywood, Ft. Lauderdale, or the port in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami included.

Experience Alaska’s wildlife and landscapes without planning a complex route from Anchorage on your own. This group tour combines glacier views, mountain scenery, wildlife encounters, and historic stops into one well-rounded day through Chugach National Forest and beyond. Along the way, your guide shares local insight and photography tips to help you get more out of the experience and your photos.

Enjoy a sunset and stargazing experience like no other on this small-group trip to Mauna Kea—the highest point in the Hawaiian islands. Following afternoon pickup, travel in a 4x4 van to the summit—you can change into the provided warm jacket and pair of gloves, and sip a hot beverage, as the sun starts to set. Then, learn why so many research telescopes are located here during a brilliant celestial show.

Experience the natural beauty of Mt. Rainier with the help of a guide to lead the way on this full-day group tour from Seattle. Enjoy a scenic, narrated journey past lakes, waterfalls, historic towns, and Mt. Rainier. Take in spectacular views from Narada Falls, considered the most popular waterfall in Mt. Rainier National Park, and the aptly named Paradise. Includes pickup and drop-off from select downtown Seattle and airport hotels for your convenience.

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau’s most impressive natural wonders, stretching over 13 miles (21 kilometers). On this half-day tour, enjoy spectacular views of the glacier from the viewing platforms and walkways, and learn more about the mighty glacier at the Visitor Center. Then, set sail on a thrilling whale-watching cruise along the coast and look out for humpback whales, as well as other wildlife such as bald eagles and blue heron.

On this relaxing rafting trip from Jackson Hole, drift down a scenic section of Wyoming’s wildlife-laden Snake River, where moose, deer, river otters and eagles can all be seen from your raft. Be sure to bring your camera to photograph any wildlife that appears on the banks, and also capture the stunning landscape extending out from the Tetons.

Discover the beauty of Oahu's coastal scenery—and spot its marine life, including pods of dolphins—on this half-day swimming and snorkeling boat tour. Following pickup from your hotel, head to your catamaran and hop aboard. After you set sail, embark on a swimming or snorkeling session to see fish, octopuses, and other marine life in its natural habitat.

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.

Enjoy a full day exploring Yellowstone National Park on a small-group tour from the comfort of a vehicle that lets you cover more sights in less time. You'll tick off highlights such as Old Faithful and the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Riding along with a naturalist guide, you’ll spend the morning searching for bears, wolves, elk, moose, and bison. Plus, you'll learn more about the park's history, ecology, and geology than you would alone.

Get a taste of 18th-century New Orleans while exploring its most notorious haunts aboard a mule-drawn carriage. Join a small group of no more than eight people for an intimate evening tour through the French Quarter, where rollicking nightlife conceals a past filled with dark deeds, natural disasters, and supernatural sightings. Hear the city's most salacious history from a guide as you clip-clop your way past iron-laced balconies, darkened alleys, and southern mansions steeped in legend.