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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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Joshua Tree Private Tour: Granite & Joshua Trees
Joshua Tree Private Tour: Granite & Joshua Trees★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (76)4h–5hA private guided tour of Joshua Tree National Park departing from Palm Springs with hotel pickup, air-conditioned transportation, and an English-speaking guide. The tour includes five main stops—Quail Springs, Banana Cracks, Hidden Valley Nature Trail, Keys View, and Cap Rock—with optional hiking ranging from easy to moderate difficulty and time to stop for photos anywhere along the drive. The itinerary takes four to five hours and is built around your group's pace and interests.Is it for me?Book this if you want a driver handling navigation while you control the pace—stop as long as you like at each viewpoint, choose whether to do the optional mile hike or stick to short walks, and decide where to pause for photos.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfrom · per groupUS$ 550View ›
Museum of Illusions San Diego: 50+ Interactive Exhibits
Museum of Illusions San Diego: 50+ Interactive Exhibits★★★★★★★★★★ 4.79 (76)1m–1h 30mYou get admission to all 50+ interactive illusion exhibits spread across multiple rooms in downtown San Diego. Spend as long as you want walking through gravity-defying installations, holograms, and optical tricks that challenge how your brain interprets what you're seeing. The whole experience is self-paced, wheelchair accessible, and located in the Gaslamp Quarter near restaurants and the waterfront.Is it for me?Right for anyone spending time in downtown San Diego who wants an indoor activity that doesn't require advance planning or a long time commitment—the Gaslamp Quarter location and self-paced format mean you can drop in between other plans without worrying about schedules or group timing.Instant confirmationBest valueInfants freefromUS$ 35View ›
San Diego: Balboa Park Electric Scooter Tour with Photos
San Diego: Balboa Park Electric Scooter Tour with Photos★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (76)1h 30mYou’ll glide through San Diego’s Balboa Park on electric scooters with a local guide—stopping for photos by lily ponds, art studios, and historic pavilions. Feel the breeze as you pass fountains and museums without breaking a sweat. Expect laughter, unexpected stories, and maybe even music drifting from the organ pavilion—it’s more fun than you’d think.Free cancellationfromUS$ 75View ›
San Diego: GoCar Downtown & Balboa Park GPS Tour
San Diego: GoCar Downtown & Balboa Park GPS Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.59 (76)2hYou’ll feel part of San Diego’s energy as you drive your own GoCar past Balboa Park’s gardens, historic ships on the Embarcadero, and lively downtown streets—with GPS commentary guiding you along. Expect laughter (sometimes at yourself), local stories, and small moments that stick with you long after parking.Free cancellationfromUS$ 90View ›
Yosemite & Sequoias: Private Day Trip from San Francisco
Yosemite & Sequoias: Private Day Trip from San Francisco★★★★★★★★★★ 4.96 (75)14h–15hYou’ll travel from San Francisco into Yosemite Valley with a local guide who knows every twist of the road and story behind each granite face. Walk beneath ancient sequoias in Tuolumne Grove or Mariposa Grove, feel spray from Bridalveil Fall, and pause for photos at Tunnel View and El Capitan. Expect moments of silence, laughter, and maybe even awe—it gets under your skin.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfrom · per groupUS$ 1,200View ›
Santa Barbara: Private Surf Lesson & Board Rental Beach Pickup
Santa Barbara: Private Surf Lesson & Board Rental Beach Pickup★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (75)1h 30mYou’ll meet your local surf instructor near Ventura’s mellow beaches, suit up in provided gear, and learn how to ride your first wave in Santa Barbara’s friendly surf breaks. Expect plenty of laughs, hands-on coaching, and salty hair by the end—plus that rush when you finally stand up for real.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfromUS$ 85View ›
Mission District Food Tour San Francisco: 5 tastings with guide
Mission District Food Tour San Francisco: 5 tastings with guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.80 (74)3hThe Mission District Food Tour is a three-hour guided walking tour in San Francisco where you taste food from five different restaurants, bakeries and shops while a local guide explains the neighborhood's history and food culture. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice; a minimum of two people per booking is required.Is it for me?Book this if you're with at least one other person and want to hit five different Mission spots in three hours with a guide who knows the neighborhood's history—you'll taste your way through without backtracking or deciding where to go next.Free cancellationKids −20%fromUS$ 99View ›
Los Angeles: Hollywood Lamborghini Drive & Mulholland Views
Los Angeles: Hollywood Lamborghini Drive & Mulholland Views★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (74)30mYou’ll slide behind the wheel—or ride shotgun—in a Lamborghini Huracán Spyder for 30 minutes through Hollywood’s most famous streets. With your local guide handling logistics (and maybe sharing some LA stories), you’ll cruise Mulholland Drive, stop for skyline photos at the Hollywood Bowl Overlook, and feel that wild mix of nerves and excitement only Los Angeles can deliver.Free cancellationfromUS$ 189View ›
Paso Robles Private Wine Tour: Tablas Creek & Calcareous
Paso Robles Private Wine Tour: Tablas Creek & Calcareous★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (74)6hYou visit three Paso Robles wineries—Tablas Creek, Brecon Estate, and Calcareous—with a sommelier-trained guide who handles all reservations and routing. The day includes tastings at each stop, a picnic lunch at Brecon, bottled water, and hotel pickup and drop-off within 15 miles of downtown. Everything is customized to your group's preferences, and the remaining time in the six-hour window is spent on transportation between stops.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste serious Paso Robles wines without arranging transportation, making calls to wineries, or deciding which stops fit into an afternoon—the customized itinerary and sommelier guide take that off your hands, leaving you free to focus on the tasting and the people you're with.Instant confirmationfrom · per groupUS$ 665View ›
San Diego Bay: Private Sunset Sail, USS Midway & Coronado Bridge
San Diego Bay: Private Sunset Sail, USS Midway & Coronado Bridge★★★★★★★★★★ 4.96 (73)2hYou’ll sail past San Diego’s skyline at sunset with a small group, getting close-up views of landmarks like USS Midway and Coronado Bridge while your local captain shares stories. Expect cozy blankets, snacks and drinks onboard — plus unexpected moments like live music drifting from shore or laughter with fellow guests. It’s relaxed but quietly memorable.Free cancellationKids −74%fromUS$ 298View ›
San Diego tour: Coronado, Balboa Park & downtown in 3 hours
San Diego tour: Coronado, Balboa Park & downtown in 3 hours★★★★★★★★★★ 4.96 (73)3hA 3-hour guided tour of San Diego travels through Coronado, the Embarcadero, the historic Gaslamp Quarter, and Balboa Park with its El Prado district, led by a professional guide in an air-conditioned van. The tour includes bottled water and small snacks. A minimum of three guests is required; solo travelers are welcome to join a shared departure.Is it for me?Three hours is enough to move through five major stops without rushing, but it leaves the rest of your day open—you can grab lunch in the Gaslamp Quarter afterward or spend the afternoon in Balboa Park's museums and gardens. If you want a deeper dive into any single neighborhood, a longer tour would serve you better.Free cancellationfromUS$ 169View ›
San Francisco: Private VW Bus City Tour & Photo Stops
San Francisco: Private VW Bus City Tour & Photo Stops★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (73)4hYou’ll ride through San Francisco’s neighborhoods in a vintage VW bus with your own group, stopping for photos at places like Twin Peaks and Golden Gate Bridge. Expect stories from your guide, snacks and drinks along the way, plus time to wander spots like Sutro Baths or Haight-Ashbury. It feels less like a tour and more like sharing old city secrets.Free cancellationLikely to sell outfrom · per groupUS$ 650View ›
Newport Beach: Private Surf Lesson with Pro Instructors
Newport Beach: Private Surf Lesson with Pro Instructors★★★★★★★★★★ 4.82 (73)2hYou’ll step onto Newport Beach sand feeling awkward at first—but soon you’ll be paddling out with a pro instructor guiding every move. Expect salty air, laughter at your own wipeouts, and maybe even your first real wave ride. Gear’s included; all you need is some courage and curiosity.Instant confirmationfromUS$ 150View ›
Secret Solvang Food & Culture Tour with Tastings
Secret Solvang Food & Culture Tour with Tastings★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (72)2hA small-group food tour through Solvang led by a local guide, with tastings at five locations plus wine at two spots—enough for lunch without the tourist crowds. The tour walks the town's streets, starting with Danish pastry and coffee, moving through a Michelin-honored sandwich shop, two wine tastings, fresh sushi, and ending with gelato. Coffee is included; wine tastings are optional. Live guide in English; wheelchair accessible throughout.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying in Solvang without a car—the entire tour walks the town's streets, so you reach each restaurant on foot.Instant confirmationfromUS$ 150View ›
Lake Tahoe Helicopter Tour: South Shore & Emerald Bay
Lake Tahoe Helicopter Tour: South Shore & Emerald Bay★★★★★★★★★★ 4.84 (70)20mA 20-minute helicopter tour departing Lake Tahoe Airport that circles the south shore, crosses into Nevada at Zephyr Cove, and passes over Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake before returning along Emerald Bay. The flight includes noise-reducing headsets and live commentary on board. Weight limits apply: maximum 250 pounds per passenger, 500 pounds combined.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see the full south shore and Emerald Bay in a single flight without spending hours in the air—20 minutes is enough to cover the route and return to the airport, so you can fit it into a day of other activities around the lake.Free cancellationLikely to sell outfromUS$ 208View ›
LA: TMZ Celebrity Tour & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Pass
LA: TMZ Celebrity Tour & Hop-on Hop-off Bus Pass★★★★★★★★★★ 4.49 (68)1h 40m–2hYou get a 2-hour guided TMZ Celebrity Tour through Hollywood's real hotspots, then 24 hours of unlimited hop-on hop-off access across two routes — Hollywood Loop and Beach Shuttle — with live tracking via the Big Bus app. Step off at Rodeo Drive, LACMA, Farmers Market, or Santa Monica Pier whenever you want, and the bus comes back around. Leather seats and phone chargers mean you're not scrambling for power or space.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the celebrity locations TMZ has made famous without renting a car or planning a route — the guided portion gives you the context, and the 24-hour hop-on hop-off pass lets you fill the rest of your day at your own pace across Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the beach.Free cancellationfromUS$ 99View ›
Beverly Hills: Segway Tour of Celebrity Homes & Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills: Segway Tour of Celebrity Homes & Rodeo Drive★★★★★★★★★★ 4.91 (67)2hYou’ll roll through Beverly Hills on a Segway with a local guide—past celebrity homes, legendary hotels like the Beverly Hills Hotel, and right down Rodeo Drive’s glittering stretch. Expect small surprises: stories you won’t find online, friendly faces along the way, and maybe even your own wobbly start before you settle in.Free cancellationfromUS$ 189View ›
DTLA Murder Mystery Ghost Tour: Noir History & Haunted Bars
DTLA Murder Mystery Ghost Tour: Noir History & Haunted Bars★★★★★★★★★★ 4.62 (66)3hThe DTLA Murder Mystery Ghost Tour is a three-hour walking investigation through downtown Los Angeles that traces real murders, trials and hauntings across six historic sites. You start at the Biltmore Hotel, where the Black Dahlia was last seen alive, then move through the Hotel Cecil (site of multiple murders and the Night Stalker's crimes), the Alexandria Hotel (where Rudolph Valentino's ghost is said to linger), the Barclay Hotel (home to two serial killers), and the Halls of Justice (where Bugsy Siegel and Charles Manson were tried). The tour includes stops at two haunted bars for cocktails and visits the site of the 1871 Chinatown Massacre. Tours run Saturday evenings at 6pm and are led by a guide in English; the operator donates $1 per guest to Climate Cents.Is it for me?The three-hour Saturday evening window means you can fit this tour into a free afternoon or evening without blocking out a full day. If you're new to downtown LA's history or want to see the city's noir side with someone who knows the crime scenes, the fixed 6pm start and guided route leave nothing to plan—just show up 10–15 minutes early.Free cancellationfromUS$ 60View ›
Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: 3 stops, local guide
Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: 3 stops, local guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.70 (64)3hThe Vino! Vino! walking tour in Little Italy, San Diego pairs a guided walk through the neighborhood's history with tastings at three local wine establishments. You visit venues chosen for small-production and Italian wines, taste Italian cheeses and a pasta dish at two of the stops, and spend three hours learning about different wine styles from a professional guide. Minimum age is 21; the tour is wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to learn about wine styles and the neighborhood at the same time—the guide's knowledge of Little Italy's history and the local wine scene means the walk itself is part of the tasting experience, not just the route between stops.Free cancellationfromUS$ 125View ›
Coronado Island E-Scooter Tour: Hotel Del Coronado & Bridge
Coronado Island E-Scooter Tour: Hotel Del Coronado & Bridge★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (64)1h 30mAn electric scooter tour of Coronado Island in San Diego covers Tidelands Park, Ferry Landing, Hotel Del Coronado and Coronado Bridge with a live guide in English. You start at a free parking lot at Tidelands Park where the guide fits you for a helmet and walks you through scooter basics in a quiet setting before the ride begins. Photos at multiple stops are included; minimum age is 12.Is it for me?Book this if you want to cover Coronado's highlights on electric scooters rather than on foot, seeing both the beachfront and residential neighborhoods in one guided loop.Free cancellationfromUS$ 75View ›
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