Top California Unique Experiences

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 2-hour 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.

Take a journey around San Francisco's top sights in a retro way with this "painted ladies" tour by vintage Volkswagen bus decorated with long gorgeous 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.

Explore Hollywood and Beverly Hills on a tour that highlights celebrity homes and famous landmarks in Los Angeles. Hear live commentary and get clear views from your seat in the open-air bus as you drive past the Hollywood Sign, TCL Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and more, and cruise along famous streets including Rodeo Drive and the Sunset Strip.

It’s difficult to appreciate the beauty of Napa Valley’s rolling vineyards from between the vines—it’s much easier from the skies. Starting just after sunrise, step into your hot-air balloon to watch the valley come alive, floating up to 2,000 feet in the air. Enjoy coffee before and sparkling wine after, celebrating your silent journey gliding along the California horizon.

Discover San Francisco’s dark side on a ghost-hunting tour, using a provided, personal EMF detector to scan haunted alleys, neighborhoods, and street corners. It’s not just ghosts. Exploring with a ghost-hunter guide means you’ll learn the city's scariest secrets and stories, too. As you walk through its nighttime streets, hear about everything from Gold Rush cemeteries to paranormal activity and unexplained deaths in the heart of San Francisco.

Join other wine lovers and your host for a day exploring four 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.

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.

Hear spine-tingling stories about San Diego’s history and infamous residents during a ghost tour led by an entertaining guide. Visit five locations with supernatural tales behind their facades, and learn why San Diego is known as one of the most haunted cities in the west. You’ll join a small group that is limited to 14 people, traveling by bus and on foot.

Get a taste of Northern California's famous wine country as well as its gastronomy on this full-day tour of Napa and Sonoma County. Your first stop is Oxbow Public Market for a pastry and cup of coffee. Then, enjoy wine tastings in Napa and Sonoma while learning about the history and viticulture of the area. You will also enjoy several food experiences or add on another wine tasting in Sonoma Square.

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, from poke and tacos to crostini and local wine.

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 more than 55 productions—from blockbusters like ‘San Andreas’ to family favorites like ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’—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.

Enjoy a picnic and some of Santa Barbara’s best local wines. Experience three vineyards, and sample a variety of wines at each one, with tastings included! The best vineyards are selected depending on the time of year you visit, so you see a range of wineries with different atmospheres and strengths.

Stroll the narrow streets and back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown on this walking tour with a small group. Stop by shops selling authentic Chinese crafts and pottery, as well as hard-to-find herbs and produce. A variety of tastings add up to a full lunch, including tea, fortune cookies, dim sum, and other treats. Listen to guided commentary and ask plenty of questions as you explore.

Take an open-air fire truck tour of San Francisco aboard a shiny red vintage fire engine. Be the talk of the town as you suit up in a firefighter jacket and hat for a fun ride with the whole family. Your professional driver narrates the tour from Fisherman's Wharf through the Presidio and across the city's world-famous Golden Gate Bridge to charming Sausalito. Fasten your seat belt for the drive of a lifetime on this small-group San Francisco fire engine tour, limited to 13 passengers.

Enjoy epic aerial views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz, among other city highlights, on this 1-hour guided air tour. Fly from the suburb of Hayward in a Cessna with a pilot/guide at the helm, who will fill you in on the history and culture of the city through guided commentary in English or Spanish.

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.

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.

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.

Hit the Los Angeles roads feeling like you’re in a Hollywood movie on this one-of-a-kind private tour of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Drive around Tinseltown in a 1970s classic convertible, the wind in your hair as you explore these glossy neighborhoods and see the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame. Hear stories about the famous people that made this city, and the celebrities that live here now, from your dedicated guide.

So many adventures to have in San Francisco with so few funds. If the pocketbook is feeling a touch light then consider these invigorating smartphone-guided scavenger hunts. The three-hour events force adventurers to solve clues and navigate the city streets; plus all the SF scenery you can absorb during the journey. Pricing is per individual but teams must book together to be in same adventure.

Learn how to hang ten with a surf lesson in Venice Beach. Before you head into the water, you’ll learn about board design and dynamics, ocean safety, surf etiquette, pop-up technique, and form. Plus, learn about California surf culture. The lesson includes all of the necessary equipment: surfboard and a wetsuit.

Wander the streets of San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter during a scavenger hunt with a murder mystery twist. On this clue-filled walking tour, you’ll visit popular attractions to collect evidence, and team up with other tour-goers to crack codes, solve riddles, and participate in challenges to track down a killer. Plus, upgrade to include food and drinks at Henry’s Pub after your Who Dunnit tour.

Make Temecula your own personal game board with a 3-hour scavenger hunt adventure through the city’s historic monuments, hidden murals and charming old town. Follow a series of smartphone clues as you trace a 1-mile route through Temecula, and pause to solve puzzles and complete exciting challenges that incorporate local history and landmarks. Take on the scavenger hunt at your own pace, in a group of 2–5 people, with plenty of breaks to eat, drink and relax in the heart of scenic, sunny wine country.

Take a 5-hour wilderness survival skills class in a beautiful Santa Cruz redwood forest. Learn and practice core wilderness techniques with an expert instructor-guide. Your course covers starting a fire by friction, creating shelter, identifying edible plants, and finding and preparing food in the wilderness. Without the tools of the modern world, you’ll build useful skills for a wilderness setting and hear about age-old skills used by the native peoples of California. Build confidence and expand your knowledge base during this fun and fascinating wilderness class.