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Top Things to Do in California

We compared all 782 experiences in California so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.

4.7 782 experiences from US$ 5 Free cancellation on most experiences
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Lake Tahoe: Clear Kayak Paddle Tour & Sand Harbor Shuttle
Lake Tahoe: Clear Kayak Paddle Tour & Sand Harbor Shuttle★★★★★★★★★★ 4.73 (266)2h 30mYou’ll float above Lake Tahoe’s clearest waters in a transparent kayak, paddle past giant submerged boulders with your guide, and maybe even jump in for a swim at Sand Harbor. With included shuttle pickup from Incline Village and all gear provided, you’ll get both adventure and those rare moments of calm that tend to stick with you long after.Instant confirmationTravelers' pickMost bookedfromUS$ 150View ›
La Jolla Tide Pools: Marine Biology Tour & Wildlife Guide
La Jolla Tide Pools: Marine Biology Tour & Wildlife Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (264)1hYou'll explore La Jolla's tide pools during low tide with a marine biologist who explains the animals and adaptations you're seeing without handling any wildlife. The experience includes a safety briefing, guided exploration of the intertidal zone, and a digital photo album afterward. Expect uneven, wet terrain and a pace set by the ocean's schedule, not your own.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand what's actually living in tide pools rather than just looking at rocks — the marine biologist's expertise is what turns a walk on the coast into a lesson in ecology. The uneven terrain and low-tide timing mean you're committing to the ocean's schedule, which is exactly what makes the pools accessible at all.Free cancellationInfants freefromUS$ 34View ›
Palm Springs: Jack the Ripper Escape Room Private Game
Palm Springs: Jack the Ripper Escape Room Private Game★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (263)1hYou’ll step straight into Victorian London at Escape Room Palm Springs, hunting for clues as Scotland Yard tries to catch Jack the Ripper. With your private group (no strangers), you’ll solve puzzles together, laugh at missteps, and maybe even get stumped by clever twists. The experience is accessible for all ages and abilities — just bring your curiosity and a sense of humor.Free cancellationfromUS$ 42View ›
San Diego Gaslamp: True Crime Walking Tour & Haunted Hotel
San Diego Gaslamp: True Crime Walking Tour & Haunted Hotel★★★★★★★★★★ 4.59 (263)1h 30mYou’ll walk through San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter with a true crime expert, hear gritty stories from its Stingaree days, step inside a haunted hotel room, and learn about infamous murders that shaped downtown’s past. Expect laughter mixed with chills — and a side of local color you won’t get anywhere else.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 30View ›
Napa & Sonoma: Private SUV Wine Tour with Local Driver
Napa & Sonoma: Private SUV Wine Tour with Local Driver★★★★★★★★★★ 4.86 (262)12hYou’ll ride in a private SUV with a local driver through Napa or Sonoma Valley—no need to worry about driving after tastings. Expect world-class wines, stories from locals, a relaxed picnic lunch among vineyards, and time to soak up California’s light and quiet moments between stops.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfrom · per groupUS$ 390View ›
Santa Barbara: Taco Walking Tour with Drinks & Local Gifts
Santa Barbara: Taco Walking Tour with Drinks & Local Gifts★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (258)2h 30mYou’ll taste five different tacos across downtown Santa Barbara, sip on craft beer or margaritas at two stops, and wander between local taquerias with an easygoing guide who shares stories along the way. Expect laughter, new flavors, and even a small local gift card to keep exploring after you’re full.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 159View ›
Catalina Island: Bison Expedition & Black Jack Mountain Overlook
Catalina Island: Bison Expedition & Black Jack Mountain Overlook★★★★★★★★★★ 4.77 (250)2hYou ride inland from Catalina's coast to track bison descendants and climb to a Black Jack Mountain overlook with sweeping canyon and ocean views. A driver-guide provides live commentary on the route through Middle Ranch and Cape Canyon. The tour runs daily weather permitting, includes transportation and narration, and takes you away from the typical island itinerary into the actual landscape where these unexpected animals live.Is it for me?Book this if you want to move beyond Catalina's beach scene and see the island's interior landscape and unexpected wildlife in one trip—the fixed route and guide commentary handle both the navigation and the story, leaving you to focus on the terrain and the animals.Instant confirmationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 110View ›
TCM Classic Films Tour at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
TCM Classic Films Tour at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood★★★★★★★★★★ 4.64 (250)2h–3hThe TCM Classic Films Tour is a guided studio tour at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood themed to Golden Age Hollywood films and TV shows, featuring 90 minutes with an expert guide, behind-the-scenes access to the Property Department and Rose Garden, and a welcome reception with archival photographs. Children are welcome from age 5; all areas are wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?Book this if you want the backstage areas and Golden Age context that the standard tour skips—the Property Department and Rose Garden give you the working side of the studio, not just the famous sets.Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell outfromUS$ 99View ›
Gondola Cruise Coronado Cays San Diego: Private Canal Tour
Gondola Cruise Coronado Cays San Diego: Private Canal Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.88 (248)50mA private gondola cruise through San Diego's Coronado Cays lasts 50 minutes and holds up to six passengers. The boat departs south of Hotel del Coronado and may venture into open San Diego Bay for views of the Coronado Bridge and downtown, depending on wind and weather. Wines, non-alcoholic drinks and chocolates are available to purchase; you can bring your own beverage for a $10 corkage fee that covers ice, bucket and glassware.Is it for me?At 50 minutes, the cruise fits easily into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day—long enough to feel like a real escape into the canals, short enough to pair with other San Diego stops like Hotel del Coronado or a meal in the neighborhood.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 74View ›
Los Angeles: Hollywood Sign & Photo Tour with Private Car
Los Angeles: Hollywood Sign & Photo Tour with Private Car★★★★★★★★★★ 4.93 (247)4h 30mYou’ll walk Hollywood Boulevard where legends left their mark, pose beneath the Hollywood Sign with tips from your photographer-guide, wander Melrose murals, and snack at LA’s iconic Farmers Market. With private car and plenty of laughs along the way, you’ll leave with photos—and memories—that feel like real Los Angeles.Free cancellationfromUS$ 84View ›
Hollywood Sunset Walk with Guide & Dog: Hidden Gems & Sign Views
Hollywood Sunset Walk with Guide & Dog: Hidden Gems & Sign Views★★★★★★★★★★ 4.87 (245)2hA 2-hour guided sunset walk through Hollywood starting near the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with a local guide and his dog Blue. You'll see the Hollywood Sign at sunset, pass major landmarks like the Dolby Theatre and TCL Chinese Theatre, explore Runyon Canyon Park for LA skyline views, and discover hidden Hollywood gems and photo spots along the way. The tour is fully narrated and suitable for all fitness levels; choose between a shared group walk or a private option.Is it for me?Book the shared walk if you're comfortable in a group and want to meet other travelers; choose the private option if you prefer the route and the guide's attention just for your party. Either way, the 2-hour timing is fixed around sunset, so the Hollywood Sign glows when you reach Runyon Canyon—that's the hour the route is built for.Free cancellationBest valueKids −24%fromUS$ 25View ›
Santa Ynez Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & Lunch in Santa Barbara
Santa Ynez Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & Lunch in Santa Barbara★★★★★★★★★★ 4.80 (245)5hYou visit three working wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley with a guide who knows the region's history and winemaking details. Tastings, lunch with local food, and cold beverages are included at the wineries themselves. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Santa Barbara means you taste without driving, and the pace — roughly an hour per stop — lets you actually talk to the winemakers instead of moving through a checklist.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to taste Santa Barbara wine without driving yourself or arranging three separate winery visits — the guide, the tastings, the lunch, and the transportation all come together in one morning, which is what makes a full valley experience possible in a single day.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 220View ›
San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket & North Beach Walking Tour
San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket & North Beach Walking Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.74 (241)1h–4hYou get a guided walk through North Beach's Italian heritage and hidden corners, a ferry ride to Alcatraz with included entry and audio guide, and time to explore the prison and gardens at your own pace. The walk happens before the ferry, so you're not rushed, and optional upgrades like the bay cruise or SkyStar Wheel views let you extend the day if you want. Bring photo ID for security screening.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see both North Beach's neighborhood character and Alcatraz in one outing without arranging separate tickets and transport — the guided walk fills the time before your ferry so nothing feels disconnected, and the self-paced island tour means you're not locked into a group schedule once you're there.Instant confirmationfromUS$ 99View ›
San Diego Old Town: Tequila, Tacos & Tombstones Food Walk
San Diego Old Town: Tequila, Tacos & Tombstones Food Walk★★★★★★★★★★ 4.53 (241)2h 30mYou’ll sip tequila, taste fresh tacos, and wander Old Town San Diego with a guide who knows both legends and recipes. From Whaley House tales to tamarind candy at El Campo Santo Cemetery, every stop mixes flavor with history. You’ll laugh with locals and leave full—not just from food but from stories you might keep thinking about long after.Free cancellationfromUS$ 115View ›
Madame Tussauds Hollywood: Jumanji Cobra Quest 7D
Madame Tussauds Hollywood: Jumanji Cobra Quest 7D★★★★★★★★★★ 4.37 (240)1h–3hYou walk through over 130 lifelike wax figures on Hollywood Boulevard with no barriers between you and them, pose for photos, then experience the Jumanji Safari Tours 4D film with motion effects. If you upgrade, you also get the 7D robot battle game. Your admission includes all taxes and fees, and you visit on the date you book.Is it for me?Pick this if you want the Hollywood photo moment without arranging separate attractions—the location on Hollywood Boulevard puts you steps from the Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre, so you can string together the whole Hollywood experience in one afternoon.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 29View ›
Lake Tahoe: Emerald Bay Helicopter Tour & Live Commentary
Lake Tahoe: Emerald Bay Helicopter Tour & Live Commentary★★★★★★★★★★ 4.83 (234)10m–12mYou’ll lift off from Lake Tahoe Airport for a helicopter tour over Emerald Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake, Taylor Creek, and Pope Beach with live commentary from your local pilot. Noise-reducing headsets let you catch every story as you soar above granite cliffs and emerald waters—then land feeling both smaller and somehow lighter than before.Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell outfromUS$ 139View ›
Monterey Walking Food Tour: Five Tastings Downtown
Monterey Walking Food Tour: Five Tastings Downtown★★★★★★★★★★ 4.96 (234)3h 30mA guided food tour through Old Monterey's historic downtown that stops at five local restaurants and artisans over three and a half hours. You'll taste savory bites in a historic setting, handcrafted ice cream straight from the kitchen, traditional Indian or Greek dishes, pasta and pizza, local beer or cider, and wine paired with cheese, while your guide shares stories about Monterey's history and cultural landmarks. The tour covers about 1.5 to 2 miles on foot, includes gratuities at each stop, and ends at a wine and cheese venue where you can linger afterward if you choose.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a guide to set the pace and sequence of stops—you'll taste at five different spots while learning the neighborhood's history, rather than planning the route yourself.Instant confirmationLikely to sell outfromUS$ 164View ›
San Diego: City & Beach Tour with 5 Stops & Local Guide
San Diego: City & Beach Tour with 5 Stops & Local Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.60 (231)5h 30mYou’ll ride from downtown San Diego out to Coronado’s beaches and La Jolla Cove with a local guide sharing stories along the way. Feel ocean air on your face, watch sea lions up close, wander Balboa Park’s gardens, and end among Old Town’s adobe buildings—all in one day.Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell outfromUS$ 100View ›
La Jolla Cove: Snorkeling Tour & Emerald Cave Swim
La Jolla Cove: Snorkeling Tour & Emerald Cave Swim★★★★★★★★★★ 4.64 (228)1h 15mYou’ll suit up right by La Jolla Cove Market before following your guide into chilly Pacific waters—expect bright fish, playful sea lions, and a swim into Emerald Cave. With all snorkeling gear included and plenty of laughs along the way, this is less about ticking boxes and more about feeling alive out there in the cove.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 55View ›
Pismo Beach: Surf Lessons with Sandbar & Local Tips
Pismo Beach: Surf Lessons with Sandbar & Local Tips★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (228)1h 30mYou’ll paddle out at Pismo Beach with real surfers who make falling off half the fun. Wetsuit and board are included, plus local advice on where to eat or hang out after your lesson. Expect laughter, salty hair, and maybe a new story or two to take home.Free cancellationTravelers' pickTop ratedfromUS$ 125View ›
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