Top California Unique Experiences

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.

Hop on a '70s-era VW bus and get to know the hippie past and hipster vibe that make up San Francisco today. Starting and ending at Fisherman's Wharf, this sightseeing tour takes you around the city, including Chinatown, North Beach, the Castro, the Mission, downtown and more. See the homes of The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, while listening to '60s classics. So settle into a neon-blue seat and dig your shoes into groovy shag carpet. Each bus accommodates up to just six people.

Join other wine lovers and your host for a day exploring three of Temecula’s best wineries. A different combination of wineries are selected according to time of year and events happening, so you can be sure of variety and a streamlined experience. Enjoy a delectable lunch at one vineyard, and there is a possibility of going behind the scenes at one winery.

Experience the spine-chilling history of San Diego on this immersive ghost tour that takes you inside haunted locations. Travel aboard the Ghost Coach, a “coffin on wheels,” and visit eerie sites like the Gaslamp Museum, Horton Grand Hotel, and El Campo Santo Cemetery, guided by professional storytellers in costume. With authentic tales, haunted hotspots, and dark humor, this tour offers a thrilling blend of history and the supernatural.

Stroll the narrow streets and back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown on this small-group walking tour. Explore local markets and savor tastings that add up to a full lunch, including tea, fortune cookies, dim sum, crispy Peking duck, and other specialties. Listen to guided commentary and ask questions as you discover the neighborhood's rich culture and flavors.

Visit San Francisco’s historic Presidio District, and learn about the man behind the Disney classics, when you prebook admission tickets to The Walt Disney Family Museum. Benefit from seamless admission, and then admire Walt’s early cartoons and films, hearing about his life through videos and narration from the animator himself. Don’t forget to check out views of the Bay from the museum’s glass wall before you go.

Satisfy your taste buds on a food and walking tour of Venice Beach, an easy day trip for visitors staying in Los Angeles. In addition to sharing trivia and stories about the area’s history, your guide brings you to popular food stands as well as hidden gems loved by locals. A small group size ensures intimate food tastings, however, it’s also possible to choose an upgraded private tour option.

Skip the selfies and ensure that you leave San Francisco with stellar photographs to remember your trip by. This private photography experience captures your most memorable moments in San Francisco's best locations to create your best souvenir. You will receive your high-resolution digital vacation photographs within five days of your shoot.

Enjoy easy skip-the-line access to the California Academy of Sciences with this pre-paid ticket. Walk right in to explore the museum's 4-story rainforest, planetarium, and aquarium, plus the new Tiny Chef, Big Impact exhibit celebrating small actions for the planet.

With its iconic hills, architecture, bridge and bay, it’s no wonder so many movies have been filmed in San Francisco. See filming locations from numerous productions on this movie sites tour from Fisherman’s Wharf. Watch clips on the tour bus as you pass by the real locations with an informative actor-turned-guide who shares stories about the city and cinema history.

Explore Catalina Island on a smartphone-led scavenger hunt for a team of up to 12 people. In addition to providing educational information and trivia, the scavenger hunt’s itinerary takes you to the most popular destinations on the island, including stops for food and drinks (own expense). The self-guided tour allows you to set the departure time and explore at your own pace.

Make Santa Barbara your game board with a 3-hour scavenger hunt adventure for a team of 2–5 people. Use a smart phone to follow a series of locally-themed clues that lead to fun challenges with your friends and family. Trace a 2-mile route past historic monuments, seaside neighborhoods and hidden gems to get an insider's look at the city. Rack up points to compete against prior scavenger hunt teams, or simply enjoy the self-guided tour at your own pace, with plenty of stops to eat, drink and sightsee.

Immerse yourself in the SoCal lifestyle—and learn the basics of surfing in an accessible, hands-on way—with private surfing lessons. Choose from multiple convenient class times, and meet your instructor right on the legendary Venice Beach. With personalized guidance, you’ll learn the basics on the beach before grabbing your board and trying out your skills in the waves.

Explore Los Angeles with a tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, where you’ll spot celebrity homes and iconic landmarks. From the open-air comfort of your seat, enjoy live commentary as you take in the Hollywood Sign, the Walk of Fame, and cruise along Rodeo Drive and the Sunset Strip. It’s the perfect way to see the city’s most famous sights while learning the stories behind them.

Experience the best of Los Angeles on a private day tour with your own guide. Tailor the itinerary to your interests, skipping any stops you're not interested in. Get an insider’s glimpse of Tinseltown as you stroll the Hollywood Walk of Fame, watch for celebrities as you tour Rodeo Drive and the city's exclusive neighborhoods, then take in views of the Hollywood sign and towering downtown skyscrapers.

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.

Take a journey around San Francisco's top sights in a retro way with this small-group tour by vintage Volkswagen bus, decorated with long eyelashes so you can't miss your tour vehicle. You'll pass by neighborhoods like Chinatown, Union Square, Pacific Heights, North Beach, Haight-Ashbury, the Marina, and Hayes Valley, plus see the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Civic Center, and more.

Enjoy a bucket-list-worthy experience in California when you learn the surfing basics during this beginner-friendly class, hosted right along the Santa Barbara coastline. With just your instructor and a small group for company, get the hang of surfing fundamentals like paddling, reading the water, and catching waves. Surfboards and wetsuits are provided, while your instructor is on hand to teach you all the skills you need.

Solve clues and complete fun challenges on a 2-hour smartphone scavenger hunt adventure through the heart of Paso Robles, and experience the city’s historic and cultural sights at your own pace. Rack up points as you take on a series of puzzles with family and friends, with plenty of time to eat, drink and sightsee. Learn bits of local history and lore while tracing the 1-mile walking tour, and transform Paso Robles into your own your personal game board.

Uncover San Francisco’s haunted history on this thrilling ghost-hunting tour, complete with your own EMF detector. Explore eerie alleys, historic neighborhoods, and infamous sites like Gold Rush cemeteries and Chinatown’s old red-light district, while hearing chilling tales of paranormal activity, murders, and mysterious deaths. Perfect for thrill-seekers, this tour blends ghost stories with true crime and the city’s darker past.

Take an open-air bus tour through Hollywood and Beverly Hills and explore some of the area’s landmarks and celebrity homes. See famous landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign, the Walk of Fame, and the Chinese Theatre. Keep an eye out for celebrity sightings as you drive through Beverly Hills and view the homes of Tom Cruise, Taylor Swift, Leonardo DiCaprio and many more.

Explore the connection between San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico on an afternoon craft beer tour. Your guide eliminates the stress of navigating through each city on your own: Head straight to popular watering holes and hidden gems for complimentary beer tastings. A small group size ensures a tailored experience and the full attention of your guide.

Explore Santa Monica and Venice in one trip—and see more of the sights in less time—on a private electric bike tour in Los Angeles. Head to the Santa Monica Pier before cruising to vibrant Venice to see its skate park, street art, and the bustle of its famous Boardwalk. Along the way, stop for photo opportunities, hear insider stories about Hollywood celebrities, and soak up the ocean breezes.