8 Unique Ways to Experience the Best of California

Between 1934 and 1963, Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Bay, was the home of America’s most notorious maximum-security prison – for anyone other than prisoners and guards, it was a no-go zone. Today, the old penitentiary is a popular tourist attraction, and this guided tour recounts tales of its grim past and infamous inmates, including mob boss Al Capone. But that’s just the start. After you’re safely back on the mainland, your guide will lead you to a few local bars in Fisherman’s Wharf for the chance to try some of San Fran’s locally brewed craft beers. Each sample will be paired with a snack, and you’ll learn all about the ingredients and brewing process behind each beer that passes your lips.

This thrilling experience gives you the chance to fly sky-high over the Golden City and all of its most famous landmarks. From Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf to Coit Tower and the Golden Gate bridge, you’ll soar over the lot – and even under in the case of the latter, as your pilot squeezes the chopper through the gap between the bridge and the water below. Your 30-minute trip will continue towards Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island and the Marin Headlands, treating you to more spectacular views, while your pilot provides in-flight commentary and a soundtrack of American pop and rock classics.

The reason so many of San Fran’s sights are familiar to us is because they feature relentlessly in Hollywood movies and TV shows. On this tour, departing from Fisherman’s Wharf, you’ll discover the city through its many filming locations – from blockbusters like San Andreas to family favorites like Mrs Doubtfire. To set the mood, as the tour bus makes its way across the city you’ll be shown famous movie clips featuring the sites included in your itinerary. And if there’s anything you ever wanted to know about the city or the movies featured on the tour, your informative actor-turned-guide will be on hand to answer all of your questions.

Add a bit of excitement to your sightseeing experience of LA with this competitive and far-reaching scavenger hunt. Whether you’re traveling solo or as part of a group, it makes for a fun way to explore the City of Angels and make new friends. You’ll be racing against other teams, so you’ll need to work together to solve all the riddles and clues as quickly as you can. Your group will start in either Hollywood or Santa Monica, and there are snacks and beverages on the way, plus a tour escort and transport provided during the race. Best of luck!

If wine is high on your most quaffable list, then this day trip will help you on your mission. Departing from San Francisco, you’ll be taken on a tour of California’s Sonoma Valley – one of the state’s oldest and most renowned wine-producing regions – in a vintage VW campervan, no less. There will be time to stop at the Golden Gate bridge as you make your way out of the city, before visiting the first winery of the day. Here, you’ll learn about the winemaking process and sample a glass or two while exploring a wine cave, before going on to discover two more wineries. There will also be time to refuel on an Italian lunch, served alongside yet more Californian wine in a winery restaurant. Now that’s a lot of wine.