Top California How to Get Around

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.

See the sights of Avalon on a quick tour that takes you along the waterfront, up the hillsides, and through the center of town. The quick, nonstop journey provides views and allows you to get oriented with Avalon and its attractions so you can better enjoy your time on Catalina Island. Learn about the island's history and heritage from a guide as you travel the loop.

With a 99% success rate, this is how you up your odds of seeing whales on your visit to Monterey. On board one of the industry’s most comfortable boats, you’ll float out to a protected sanctuary to view humpback whales, gray whales, blue whales, killer whales, sperm whales, and other wild creatures, including dolphins, sea turtles, sea lions, otters, and more.

This is a great choice for time-tight travelers visiting Los Angeles. Save hours researching the best things to do in the city, and instead, go on a special tour that visits the city’s most photogenic spots and famous locations. Along the way, listen to commentary and stop to take photos near the Hollywood Sign, the American Film Academy, the Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills, and Rodeo Drive.

Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with your or or two day trolley pass (depending on option selected) for the city’s Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. Choose your own adventure as you get on and off the trolley at any of the 11 included stops, covering famous sights including the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway and the Cruise Ship Terminal, Little Italy, and many more. This San Diego trolley tour also features live commentary from the on-board guide during your ride.

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.

Visit two of Los Angeles' glitziest neighborhoods, and immerse yourself in the city's history of movie magic, on this private, half-day tour. Pick from multiple departure times and meet your guide right on Hollywood Boulevard. You'll get up close and personal with the Hollywood Sign, will visit the Walk of Fame, will stop by Greystone Mansion and Park, will see celebrity homes and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and much more.

Ride a double-decker sightseeing bus to San Francisco's most famous landmarks with a hop-on hop-off bus pass valid for 24 or 48 hours. Visit big-name attractions such as Pier 39, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Union Square. Explore at your own pace, hopping off at any of 17 stops. Add-on options include Aquarium by the Bay admission, a digital Chinatown walking tour, a panoramic sunset tour, and a half-day wine tour

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.

Climb aboard a traditional paddlewheeler and embark on a scenic cruise around Lake Tahoe’s world-famous Emerald Lake. Learn about how the bay was formed, hear tales about Fannette Island, and discover Vikingsholm Castle from your included audio guide. Choose to enjoy the scenery and fresh air outside or sit indoors in a climate-controlled seating area. Pack light: lunch and a full-service bar are available for purchase.

Escape the hustle and bustle of San Francisco with this half-day getaway to California's world-renowned Wine Country. Starting in the early afternoon, you'll cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and soak in picturesque views of the San Francisco skyline and charming Sausalito. Visit two handpicked Sonoma Valley wineries, where you’ll enjoy outdoor tastings, explore the estate, and learn about wine-making from fermentation to bottling, all hosted by a guide.

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 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.

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.

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.

Get the most out of your time in Los Angeles with this comprehensive tour that passes famous landmarks and celebrity homes. Travel between sites on an open-air bus, which helps cover more ground than a walking tour and offers great photo opportunities too. Highlights include the Hollywood Sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverley Hills, the Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, West Hollywood, and a selection of famous homes and celebrity hotspots.

Soar above Sonoma and Napa on this award-winning hot air balloon tour, launching at sunrise from a private airport site. Glide peacefully over vineyards, canyons, and into Napa Valley, away from the crowds below. Enjoy sweeping views from the Mayacamas Mountains to the San Francisco skyline. Your all-inclusive experience features pre-flight snacks, stunning scenery, and a celebratory champagne toast, making it an unforgettable way to see wine country.

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.

Look for whales as they migrate through the waters of the Pacific Ocean off of California on this whale-watching cruise from Monterey. Your naturalist guide shares commentary about the whales and their habitat as you search for gray whales (most common), humpback and blue whales, and other marine life such as dolphins and sea lions during your cruise.

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.

Experience Catalina’s rugged interior—the protected side of the island that few visitors get to see—on this nature tour. Traveling by custom-built safari vehicle for easy wildlife viewing, head to the Airport-in-the-Sky and get a chance to spot bald eagles, bison, deer and the endemic Catalina Island fox. Learn about the island’s history and ecology from your naturalist guide, and enjoy panoramic views of a Native American gathering site.

Make exploring Wine Country easy on this tour aboard the Napa Valley Wine Trolley. The open-air cable car is a replica of the historic trolleys seen in San Francisco and offers views of the vineyards as you travel to three or four wineries to sample the local wines (tastings at your own expense). A guide provides commentary about Napa’s rich history. Lunch at one of the wineries is also included for extra convenience.

See Lake Tahoe from a whole new perspective on a small-group guided tour in clear kayaks. Follow your lifeguard-certified guide and paddle around Lake Tahoe's scenic East Shore from Sand Harbor to hidden coves and highlights such as Bonsai Rock. On hot days, you can even take a dip in the waters to cool off while you soak up the scenery.