USA  »  California

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
Sort
Catalina Island: Avalon Ghost Tour with Headphones & Local Tales
Catalina Island: Avalon Ghost Tour with Headphones & Local Tales★★★★★★★★★★ 4.65 (158)1h 30mYou’ll follow a local historian through Avalon's shadowy streets on this haunted Catalina walking tour, using headphones to catch every whispered tale. Expect real ghost stories by historic sites, moments of laughter (and goosebumps), plus time to try your luck snapping your own paranormal photo along the way.Free cancellationMost bookedfromUS$ 40View ›
San Diego Bay: Sailing Tour with Wine & Skyline Views
San Diego Bay: Sailing Tour with Wine & Skyline Views★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (157)2hYou’ll sail along San Diego Bay with a local captain, spotting sea lions and passing landmarks like the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. Enjoy complimentary white wine or soda while relaxing on deck cushions or bean bags. The gentle breeze and city views make it easy to unwind — there’s something honest about seeing San Diego from the water.Free cancellationLikely to sell outfromUS$ 99View ›
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: Skip the ticket line
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: Skip the ticket line★★★★★★★★★★ 4.33 (157)1h–3hYou get seven floors of modern and contemporary art, six terraces with city views, and the largest living wall in the US, all in one ticket. Kids 18 and under are free. The building is three blocks from Union Square, fully accessible, and you can spend as long as you want inside without separate charges for the main galleries — just book in advance.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to see SFMOMA's main collection without buying tickets at the door or figuring out what's included — the flat admission covers everything except special exhibitions, and the location near Union Square means you can combine it with other downtown stops.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −100%fromUS$ 30View ›
Private San Francisco Tour in a Vintage VW Bus
Private San Francisco Tour in a Vintage VW Bus★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (156)3hA private San Francisco tour for up to six people in a restored vintage Volkswagen Bus, with a professional guide and hotel pickup from Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf. You choose the route — Painted Ladies, Twin Peaks, Lombard Street, the Mission murals, Golden Gate Bridge, or a drive down Highway 1 — and the small bus size means access to neighborhoods and viewpoints where larger tour buses are banned. The tour runs three hours and includes bottled water, light snacks, and local craft beer or California wine (or bring your own); morning, afternoon and evening departures fit your schedule.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see San Francisco's neighborhoods and landmarks without the constraints of a large group or a fixed route — the small bus reaches places standard tours cannot, and you shape the itinerary around what matters to you.Free cancellationfrom · per groupUS$ 695View ›
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beach Tour with Pickup
Los Angeles: Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beach Tour with Pickup★★★★★★★★★★ 4.69 (154)7h 30mYou’ll feel LA’s energy from Olvera Street’s music to Venice Beach’s wild boardwalk on this full-day tour with hotel pickup. Snap photos at Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Walk of Fame, taste your way through the Farmers Market, and end by watching sunset colors spill over Santa Monica Pier—all alongside a local guide who keeps things real.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 95View ›
San Francisco to SFO Airport: Private Transfer & Pickup
San Francisco to SFO Airport: Private Transfer & Pickup★★★★★★★★★★ 4.14 (152)1hYou provide your flight details and hotel address at booking; a professional driver picks you up from your downtown San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley or Sausalito accommodation and delivers you to SFO with time to spare. The transfer includes all taxes and fuel, runs around the clock, and the price is fixed before you get in the car — no surge pricing, no waiting-time surprises unless you ask the driver to linger past an hour.Is it for me?Book this if you're traveling from a Bay Area hotel and want to arrive at SFO without arranging a taxi, negotiating a price, or timing a shuttle — the fixed rate and confirmed pickup time mean you can focus on packing instead of transport logistics.Free cancellationfromUS$ 44View ›
San Francisco Chinatown: Food Tour with Dim Sum & Bakeries
San Francisco Chinatown: Food Tour with Dim Sum & Bakeries★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (151)3hYou’ll wander San Francisco’s Chinatown with a local guide, tasting handmade dumplings, barbecue pork buns, and fresh egg tarts while hearing stories behind each spot. Expect laughter over language mix-ups and moments of quiet in hidden temples. It’s not just lunch — it’s three hours of feeling woven into the neighborhood’s rhythm.Free cancellationKids −20%fromUS$ 99View ›
San Francisco: Golden Gate Seaplane Tour & Alcatraz Views
San Francisco: Golden Gate Seaplane Tour & Alcatraz Views★★★★★★★★★★ 4.89 (150)30mYou get a guaranteed window seat on a 30-minute seaplane flight with an experienced pilot, seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and Angel Island from directly overhead. The small group size (maximum 6 passengers) and fixed route mean you're not competing for views, though weather can shift which landmarks you see first. Minimum two adults per booking; bring child seats if needed.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see San Francisco's most famous landmarks from directly overhead without arranging your own aircraft or competing for views in a large group—the guaranteed window seat and six-passenger maximum are what make that possible in 30 minutes.Free cancellationfromUS$ 326View ›
San Francisco: Alcatraz Escape Room 60-Min Prison Break
San Francisco: Alcatraz Escape Room 60-Min Prison Break★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (149)1h 15mYou'll spend 60 minutes solving puzzles and finding clues to escape a 1962 prison cell before the warden returns, working with your team and a game guide who helps when you're stuck. Plan for 15 minutes of briefing before and 15 minutes of photos after. The room is bright and designed for all fitness levels, with an exit button always available if you need to step out.Is it for me?Book this if you want a puzzle challenge that requires real teamwork and doesn't rely on darkness or scares—the bright room and guide support mean you can actually focus on solving the mystery instead of managing fear.Free cancellationfromUS$ 46View ›
Temecula Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & 17 Tastings with Local Guides
Temecula Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & 17 Tastings with Local Guides★★★★★★★★★★ 4.77 (149)4h 30mYou visit three Temecula wineries — Falkner, Maurice Car'rie, and Somerset — tasting 17 wines total while a sommelier or winemaker guide explains what you're drinking. Lunch with sourdough and brie is included at the second stop, and the air-conditioned bus handles all the driving. You return mid-afternoon with no tasting fees to settle.Is it for me?Right for groups, couples, or anyone who wants to taste Temecula wines without driving or managing tasting fees separately. The half-day format means you're back by early afternoon, and the sommelier guides make the difference if you want to actually understand what you're drinking rather than just sip.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 100View ›
Downtown LA: Architecture Walk, Angels Flight & Little Tokyo Sweets
Downtown LA: Architecture Walk, Angels Flight & Little Tokyo Sweets★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (148)3hYou’ll ride historic Angels Flight up Bunker Hill, wander past legendary landmarks with your guide Chris, sample mochi in Little Tokyo’s oldest candy shop, and catch glimpses of LA’s film history inside places like Bradbury Building or Grand Central Market. Expect laughter, odd facts, and a few moments you’ll want to remember long after you leave.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 49View ›
Solvang & Santa Ynez: Small Group Wine Tour with Lunch
Solvang & Santa Ynez: Small Group Wine Tour with Lunch★★★★★★★★★★ 4.76 (148)5hYou’ll taste artisan wines across three small wineries in Solvang and Santa Ynez Valley, enjoy a private barrel room tasting with chocolate pairing, share a laid-back picnic lunch among new friends, and hear stories from local winemakers—all with hotel pickup included. It’s easygoing but full of moments you’ll remember after you leave.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 200View ›
Russian River Kayak Tour at Sonoma Coast: Paddle to the Pacific
Russian River Kayak Tour at Sonoma Coast: Paddle to the Pacific★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (147)2h 30mA kayak tour on the Russian River at Sonoma Coast near Jenner combines paddling the river mouth with a beach walk where the water meets the ocean. The 2.5-hour activity includes all gear, a local guide, and gentle paddling suitable for any fitness level; you'll watch for seals, otters, pelicans and osprey while your guide shares the area's history and wildlife. Weather can shift fast at the coast, so bring layers and water shoes, and expect to get wet.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to paddle a river and walk a beach in one morning without arranging your own boat or guide. The gentle pace and all-inclusive gear mean you show up in Jenner, get on the water, and spend 2.5 hours watching seals and otters without planning the logistics yourself.Free cancellationTop ratedInfants freefromUS$ 135View ›
Los Angeles: Private Full-Day Tour with Hollywood Sign & Beaches
Los Angeles: Private Full-Day Tour with Hollywood Sign & Beaches★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (146)6h–7hYou’ll ride through Los Angeles with a local guide who knows every shortcut—from Venice Beach’s wild boardwalk to Santa Monica Pier’s carnival buzz and those iconic views beneath the Hollywood Sign. Expect good stories, plenty of food options at the Farmers Market, and time to wander famous streets without worrying about parking or planning anything yourself.Free cancellationTravelers' pick-10%from · per groupUS$ 620View ›
Santa Monica Beginner Surf Lesson 1.5 Hr Experience
Santa Monica Beginner Surf Lesson 1.5 Hr Experience★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (146)1h 30mYou’ll get real surf lessons from locals who live and breathe the sport. It’s not just about standing up on a board—it’s about soaking in the vibe, learning from folks who know every wave here, and leaving with a story (and maybe some sore arms).Free cancellationfromUS$ 140View ›
American River: South Fork Whitewater Rafting & Homemade Brownies
American River: South Fork Whitewater Rafting & Homemade Brownies★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (144)3h 30mYou’ll paddle through lively rapids on the South Fork of the American River with a local guide who keeps things fun (and safe). Expect splashes, shouts, sun-warmed rocks, and homemade brownies passed around mid-river. This half-day rafting trip includes all safety gear and bottled water — plus those small moments you’ll remember long after you dry off.Instant confirmationTravelers' pickLikely to sell outfromUS$ 123View ›
Venice Beach: Small Group Surf Lesson & Board Rental
Venice Beach: Small Group Surf Lesson & Board Rental★★★★★★★★★★ 4.81 (144)2hYou’ll join a small group surf lesson right on Venice Beach—start with basics on the sand before heading into the Pacific with your instructor guiding every wobbly attempt. Wetsuits and surfboards are included, so you just show up ready to get wet (and probably laugh at yourself). There’s space to practice solo at the end—plus that feeling when you finally stand up stays with you.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 85View ›
Napa & Sonoma: Private Wine Tour with Custom Itinerary
Napa & Sonoma: Private Wine Tour with Custom Itinerary★★★★★★★★★★ 4.85 (144)8h 15mYou customize the wineries and wine types before departure, then spend 6 to 8 hours tasting across Napa and Sonoma with a private driver and hotel pickup included. No fixed route means you skip the crowded standard stops and spend your time at the places that actually matter to you. Tastings are at your own cost, but the itinerary planning and transportation are handled.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the standard wine tour route and spend your time at wineries that match your actual tastes — the customization is what makes a 6-hour day feel unhurried instead of rushed.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfrom · per groupUS$ 449View ›
Napa & Sonoma: 6-Hour Private Limo Wine Tour
Napa & Sonoma: 6-Hour Private Limo Wine Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (143)6hYou get picked up at your hotel, spend six hours in a private limousine with a professional driver who knows the Napa or Sonoma wineries, and return to your hotel at the end. The driver customizes your stops based on what you want to taste and experience. Wine tasting fees are separate and paid at each winery. No driving, no route planning, no decisions except which wines to try.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Napa or Sonoma who want to taste without driving, since the limousine and chauffeur handle the route and logistics. Plan for six hours total, which typically covers three wineries—enough time to taste and learn without rushing, but not a full-day immersion.Free cancellationfrom · per groupUS$ 899View ›
Carmel-by-the-Sea: Walking Tour of Courtyards, Cottages & Art
Carmel-by-the-Sea: Walking Tour of Courtyards, Cottages & Art★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (142)2hYou’ll wander Carmel-by-the-Sea’s winding courtyards with a local guide, peek inside whimsical cottages built for love stories, meet working artists if you’re lucky, and hear tales behind familiar names like Clint Eastwood or Doris Day. Expect laughter over odd traditions—and maybe leave wanting to stay longer than you planned.Free cancellationLikely to sell outKids −48%fromUS$ 49View ›
Do you need help planning your next activity?