But with more than 25 waterfalls across the park’s 759,620 acres, it can be hard to narrow down which ones to visit on your Yosemite tour. That’s why Incredible Adventures has rounded up the top 10 waterfalls in Yosemite National Park for you to tick off your list!

As intrepid outdoors folk, we love nothing more than getting back to nature. Our Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco takes you from the city to the great outdoors, including several of the park’s landmarks. Prepare for views of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, and more!

For more information about our Yosemite day tour, get in touch. Incredible Adventures has been offering travelers a safe and reliable way to connect with nature since 1993. As the Greenest Tour Company in San Francisco, we’ll show you North America with a minimal eco-footprint.

So, let’s take a look at the top 10 waterfalls of Yosemite National Park and help you plan your perfect visit.

1. Visit Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in Yosemite National Park. It is located in the eastern part of the park, near Yosemite Village. Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America, with a total height of 2,425 feet (739 meters).

The waterfall is divided into three sections: the Upper Fall, the Middle Cascade, and the Lower Fall. You can hike to the top of the waterfall for incredible views, or take a more leisurely stroll to the base of the waterfall for a closer look at its full majesty.

2. Hike to Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park

Bridalveil Fall is located in the western part of Yosemite Valley, just a short distance from Yosemite Village. The waterfall is 620 feet (189 meters) tall and is known for its delicate mist, which gives it a romantic, ethereal quality.

Take a short hike to the base of the waterfall, where you’ll feel the cool mist on your skin and enjoy the valley’s full expanse.

3. Enjoy the View at Vernal Fall, Yosemite National Park

Vernal Fall is located in the eastern part of Yosemite Valley, near the Happy Isles Trailhead. The waterfall is 317 feet (97 meters) tall and is known for its powerful flow and thundering sound.

Hike to the top of the waterfall via the Mist Trail, which offers vistas of the waterfall and the surrounding valley.

4. Explore the Bends of Nevada Fall, Yosemite National Park

Nevada Fall is located downstream from Vernal Fall, also on the Mist Trail. The waterfall is 594 feet (181 meters) tall and is known for its wide flow. You’ll find Nevada Fall below Liberty Cap, the granite dome at the west end of Little Yosemite Valley.

You’ll instantly recognize this waterfall’s ‘bent shape’, where the water falls freely for the first third of its length, roughly, to a steep slick-rock slope.

5. Experience the Lesser Known Illilouette Fall, Yosemite National Park

Illilouette Fall is located in the southern part of Yosemite Valley, near Glacier Point Road, just across from Vernal Fall. The waterfall is 370 feet (113 meters) tall and is known for its isolated location and serene beauty.

6. Welcome Spring at Ribbon Fall, Yosemite National Park

Ribbon Fall is located on the eastern side of El Capitan, one of Yosemite’s most iconic landmarks. The waterfall is one of the tallest in the park, with a height of 1,612 feet (491 meters) that’s spectacular in spring.

You’ll be able to see the waterfall from various viewpoints along Tioga Road or take a longer hike to the base of the waterfall for a closer look.

7. Snap the Scenery at Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park

Horsetail Fall is located in the western part of Yosemite Valley, near El Capitan. The waterfall is 1,000 feet (305 meters) tall and is known for its stunning orange-red glow, which occurs during a few days in February when the setting sun hits the waterfall just right.

8. Discover Yosemite Creek Falls’ Beauty, Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Creek Falls is located in the northeastern part of Yosemite Valley, near Tioga Road. The waterfall is 1,430 feet (436 meters) tall and is known for its rugged beauty and powerful flow.

If you visit during the full moons of April and May, you may experience a ‘moonbow’, where the light refracts in the spray at Lower Yosemite Fall’s base to dazzling effect.

9. Retreat to Lehamite Falls, Yosemite National Park

Lehamite Falls is often overlooked compared to its park siblings. Located in the northern part of Yosemite National Park, near Tuolumne Meadows, this cascading waterfall is 1,180 feet (360 meters) tall and is known for its remote location.

10. Take a Dip in Chilnualna Falls, Yosemite National Park

Chilnualna Falls is located in the southern part of Yosemite National Park, near Wawona. This series of waterfalls totals 690 feet (210 meters) in height and is known for its pools and cascading flow.

The Chilnualna Falls Trail runs parallel to Chilnualna Creek, where you can take a dip in the gentle pools. There’s another swimming hole south of the trailhead on the South Fork of the Merced River, which is always popular with locals.

That concludes our virtual tour of these epic waterfalls. Which ones will you visit on your tour of Yosemite? Whether you’re a keen hiker or prefer a leisurely walk, or a relaxing swim, there are plenty of waterfalls to choose from.

We take in several of these landmarks on our Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco, but if you’d like to find out more, just get in touch! We’re only an email away and can help curate the perfect nature excursion in Yosemite National Park. Until then, happy travels!

These are just a few of the best things to do in San Francisco; you can find more places to visit on our blog. Incredible Adventures offers fantastic San Francisco tours and experiences. We are currently offering a 15% discount on all of our Yosemite tours until the end of June. 

Feel free to call us at +1 )415) 642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

The post Top 10 Waterfalls in Yosemite National Park appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

From the infamous Alcatraz Island and Fort Point to a storied indie bookstore and the San Francisco Cable Car Museum, keep scrolling to find out what makes this west coast city unique. Maybe you’ll even get a little travel inspiration, too!

Incredible Adventures is a small family owned and operated business based in the heart of San Francisco. As the greenest tour company in the city, we pride ourselves on offering travelers a safe and reliable way to connect with the nature and history of our hometown and surrounding areas. There’s no need to worry about your carbon footprint. With us, we’ll offset it with our biodiesel fueled vehicles!

We understand how precious vacations are, and that’s why our San Francisco tours are no-fuss, flexible excursions that show you the highlights of the city with our local knowledge. If you’d like to hear more about what we do, get in touch.

But for now, let’s look at some of San Francisco’s most historic landmarks.

Do Time at the Historic Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz is a must-see for any history buff visiting San Francisco. Converted into a federal prison in 1934, the island is famous for holding notorious gangsters like Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the “Birdman of Alcatraz”), and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

While the prison closed in 1963, it is a fascinating site of protest and history. Embark on a fifteen-minute ferry ride to Alcatraz for amazing views of the classic San Francisco skyline, including the red arches of the Golden Gate Bridge and Angel Island.

If you’re brave enough, join us on our Alcatraz Night Tour & San Francisco Bay Tour to encounter ‘The Rock’ by moonlight. The night shift gives visitors exclusive access to parts of the former jail not open to the public by day. The multi-language audio tour “Doing Time” paints a vivid scene with interviews with former inmates.

Uncover Defense History at Fort Point

Fort Point is a must-see for military enthusiasts. Also known as “the pride of the Pacific”, Fort Point’s exemplary mason work was constructed at the height of the California Gold Rush. Designed as part of a naval defense system, the Fort was positioned to protect the bay against a Confederate attack from the sea that never came.

The Fort has seen many uses in its history. In World Wars I and II, it became active once more. In WWI, it was designed as a detention barracks but remained unused. In WWII, soldiers were stationed to guard the entrance of Golden Gate from potential submarine attacks.

If you’d like to grab a cool one after your tour, Fort Point is now home to a local brewery — the Fort Point Beer Company — just a twenty-minute walk from the historic site. Grab a beer and head down to Golden Gate Beach and look out over the bay with Alcatraz in the distance.

Learn about Literary History at City Lights Bookstore

This iconic bookstore is the symbol of the 1950s Beat Generation. Founded in 1953 in North Beach by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, City Lights gained notoriety when it faced charges of obscenity for publishing Allen Ginsberg’s Howl.

City Lights gained its iconic status as a place where counterculture came to flourish. Once host to Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady, among dozens of other famous writers, visitors can now search its three levels of books for a classic or drop in for a night of poetry.

Once you’ve chosen your next vacation read, take a cab or a stroll down to Haight-Ashbury, the nexus of the 60s hippie movement. Here you can get a flavor of Woodstock and check out the Grateful Dead House or Jimmy Hendrix’s former red house. Speaking of houses, look out for the colorful Victorian Painted Ladies on your way.

Hop Aboard Living History at The San Francisco Cable Car Museum

If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to take a cable car while wearing flowers in your hair! Nothing will get you up and down the hilly streets in style like a ride on a cable car. There are three lines still in operation, but if you want to learn more about this mode of transport, visit the Cable Car Museum.

At this working museum, you can watch the engines and winding wheels pull the cables of these cars into motion. Compare the cable cars of today with the preserved cars of the past and learn all about the grips, cables, and brakes that keep these cars running.

Did we mention the museum is free? Our local tip is to avoid waiting in line by walking to the next cable car stop and board en route, wherever you see the brown and white cable car sign.

Explore the Historic Sutro Baths

If you want to extend your historic tour after Alcatraz, head on down to the Sutro Baths. Its ruins are located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and, while they’re not open for swimming, the baths offer an insight into public pastimes of years gone by.

The Sutro Baths were opened in 1896 by the former San Francisco mayor Adolph Sutro and advertised as the world’s largest indoor swimming pool. The high running costs saw it transformed into an ice rink and an apartment complex was planned before the building was lost in an arson attack.

The nearby Cliff House was also owned by Sutro and is an example of neo-classical architecture. The building has been rebuilt several times and has been a roadhouse, a penny arcade, and a restaurant complex until its closure in 2020.

Today, visitors can look at the site of former glory and stroll along the beach absorbing the eerie atmosphere.

Taste Local Flavors at the Ferry Building Marketplace

Walk up to the Ferry Building and stand beneath the dramatic clock tower that overlooks the San Francisco waterfront. Once a central hub for visitors on ferry boats to the city in the Gold Rush era, the building has been converted into a vibrant marketplace and food hall full of local foods, wines, and music.

The farmers market runs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The plentiful stalls offer everything from fresh meat, eggs, and vegetables to flowers, herbs, and jams. Step inside the Ferry Building’s historic walls and experience new flavors among the thronging crowd.

If you’re a wine connoisseur looking for a calmer crowd, why not head out to Napa and Sonoma on our Wine Country Tour? Delicious grapes await in these idyllic vineyards. Cheers!

Step Back in Time at The Walt Disney Family Museum

There’s more than a mouse in the house! The Walt Disney Family Museum is a great place for families to explore the history of the world-renowned American animator. Also located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, visitors can enjoy the interactive exhibits and a 12-foot diameter model of Disneyland.

Learn about what made Walt tick and take in the impressive collection of more than 248 awards he won during his career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. There’s a theater on the lower level that screens daily Disney movies, so grab some popcorn for your visit and spend a few hours reliving your childhood or making new memories with your kids.

And that brings us to our close of some of our local favorites We hope this list has inspired you to start chartering your map around San Francisco’s historic hotspots. Whether you’re looking for a multi-day tour of San Francisco or a tour that’s customized to your needs, let us know! We’re here to make sure your San Francisco adventure is a dream come true.

If you’re looking for a minibreak from the hustle and bustle of the city streets, our Yosemite National Park tours will be a breath of fresh air. Just a four-hour drive from San Francisco, Yosemite’s ancient sequoia trees and granite cliffs are waiting for you via our environmentally friendly biofuel mini-coaches.

In the meantime, we’ll be waiting in the City of Fog to welcome you to our shores, whether you arrive by ferry boat, plane, or cable car.

Save Big with Incredible Adventures!

These are just a few of the best things to do in San Francisco; you can find more places to visit on our blog. Incredible Adventures offers fantastic San Francisco tours and experiences. We are currently offering discounts on all of our tours when you book your trip in advance.

• Book 90 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 20% with the code EARLY90.
• Book 60 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 15% with the code EARLY60.
• Book 30 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 10% with the code EARLY30.

Feel free to call us at 415-642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

The post What Are The Most Historical Places To Visit In San Francisco? appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

1. Sotto Mare: 552 Green St.

Sotto Mare is located just off Columbus St. in Telegraph Hill and is one of the oldest and best restaurants in San Francisco. They specialize in fresh Italian seafood such as Boston Clam Chowder and Crab Cioppino. Their outdoor dining area is in front of the restaurant and provides excellent views of the North Beach neighborhood.

2. El Techo: 2516 Mission St.

El Techo has a rooftop deck, delicious margaritas, an unbeatable view of the San Francisco skyline, and a great weekday Happy Hour. What more could your heart desire? This rooftop restaurant features an expansive menu of Latin American street food and cocktails.

3. Tastebuds: 600 5th Ave.

Tastebuds is a soul-inspired restaurant in Richmond known for delicious savory and sweet breakfast options, sandwiches on fluffy brioche buns, southern sides, and bottomless mimosas. There is outdoor seating available in front of the restaurant, but it’s limited, so make a reservation ahead of time.

4. Local Kitchen: 330 1st.

Local Kitchen has been serving delicious seasonal dishes with a diverse selection of local beer and wine for over a decade. They use locally sourced produce, meats, and cheeses to create globally inspired cuisine and wood-fired pizzas. The outdoor patio has heaters, privacy curtains, and plenty of space to socially distance!

5. La Ciccia: 291 30th St. 

La Ciccia is located in Noe Valley and is dedicated to using fresh and authentic ingredients. This Sardinian-inspired gem in Noe Valley plates up traditional dishes such as Baby Octopus, gnocchi, and creamy panna cotta for dessert. They also have over 180 wines to choose from that represent the different regions of Italy. There is a small dining area outside with heaters so that you can enjoy outdoor dining year-round!

Save Big with Incredible Adventures!

These are just a few of the best outdoor dining options in San Francisco; you can find more restaurants with patios and rooftop decks here. Incredible Adventures offers fantastic San Francisco tours and experiences. We are currently offering discounts on all of our tours when you book your trip in advance.

• Book 90 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 20% with the code EARLY90.
• Book 60 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 15% with the code EARLY60.
• Book 30 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 10% with the code EARLY30.

Feel free to call us at 415-642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

The post 5 Restaurants with Outdoor Dining in San Francisco appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

1. Sunset District: 

For those who have experienced San Francisco previously and are looking for a more local feel, we recommend staying in the Sunset District. This San Francisco neighborhood is home to incredible attractions such as the 16th Ave Tiled Stairs, Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Gardens, and the Hidden Garden Steps. Be sure to visit Judah St. for a variety of restaurants, bars, and fantastic sunsets at Ocean Beach!

2. The Mission District:

Stay in the oldest neighborhood in San Francisco during vacation. Walk the streets of the Mission District and enjoy an afternoon coffee with a view from Dolores Park. Dive into the Latin-X, Hispanic and Asian cultures with some of the best bars and restaurants in San Francisco. We recommend checking out Bao on Valencia St for tasty dumplings and pork buns. Stop at Tartine Bakery for out-of-this-world fresh baked bread and pastries. Finally, El Techo is an excellent option for tacos, margaritas, and an incredible view of the city skyline.

3. Nob Hill:

Nob Hill offers the perfect mix of luxury and history in the city. Staying in this neighborhood offers some of the best views of the San Francisco Bay and the city skyline. There is something for everyone in this neighborhood, from buildings full of rich histories such as the Grace Cathedral, the Stanford Court, and Fairmont to the weird and wonderful places such as the Antique Vibrator Museum! Don’t forget to catch a show or live music performance at the Nob Hill Masonic Center. 

4. Fisherman’s Wharf: 

Fisherman’s Wharf is a classic in the San Francisco scene! Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, and of course, the famous view of Alcatraz Island. Don’t forget to stop and say hello to Pier 39’s residents, the sea lions, while you’re here! Afterward, sit down with a steaming sourdough bread bowl of clam chowder, immerse yourself in the weird oddities at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium, and stroll among the celebrities at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Staying in Fisherman’s Wharf is the best neighborhood to stay in San Francisco for those who want to see the traditional SF sights and experience the bustling pedestrian life of the Wharf! 

5. Union Square: 

If you want to stay in the heart of the city, then Union Square is the place for you. Union Square has it all, with tons of high-end shops, various museums, and theaters. Visit the historic Geary Theater for entertaining plays and musicals or brush up on the history of San Francisco’s cable cars at the Cable Car Museum. Afterward, have dinner and drinks at The Rotunda and celebrate a memorable day in San Francisco!

Save Big with Incredible Adventures!

Now that you have more information about the best neighborhoods to stay in San Francisco, you can start planning your vacation. Incredible Adventures offers fantastic San Francisco tours and experiences. We are currently offering discounts on all of our tours when you book your trip in advance.

• Book 90 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 20% with the code EARLY90.
• Book 60 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 15% with the code EARLY60.
• Book 30 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 10% with the code EARLY30.

Feel free to call us at 415-642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

The post Top 5 Neighborhoods in San Francisco To Stay in as a Tourist appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Day 1 in Yosemite National Park: 

• Begin the day with one of the most famous vistas in the Valley, Tunnel View. 
• Make your way down into the valley and park in Curry Village, make sure you have enough water from one of the many refill stations, and head over to the Mist Trail. 
• Hike along the Merced River until you reach the top of Vernal Falls, be careful; it’s called the Mist Trail for a reason!
• Once you’re ready, head back down to Curry Village for lunch, there are many restaurants near Yosemite serving anything from grab-and-go wraps to pizza and burgers. 
• After lunch, it’s time to immerse yourself in the history and geology of Yosemite at the Visitors Center, the Yosemite Museum, and the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village. There is also a moderately sized store in the Village with a plethora of ingredients, souvenirs, books, and beverages where you can stock up and pick out a Yosemite souvenir.
• Follow the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail path and see the tallest waterfall in North America before eating dinner at the Mountain Lodge.
• End the first day of your Yosemite 2 day itinerary by watching the sunset and stargazing in the open valley.

Day 2 in Yosemite:

• Begin your second day bright and early with a hike to Upper Yosemite Falls; make sure to take snacks, water, and sunscreen! This hike is long and challenging but worth it for the view of the Valley from 2,000ft above.
• Once you’ve taken in the vistas, make your way down to the Merced River for a refreshing dip and treat yourself to dinner and drinks at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Cheers to a wonderful trip in Yosemite!

Incredible Adventures Yosemite Tours

All of our Yosemite 2 day itinerary attractions are included with our Incredible Adventures Yosemite Valley Tours. If you are already planning to stay in San Francisco, join the Yosemite Day Tour, and we will transport you to the park from the city. If you are staying closer to the park, we recommend the Best of Yosemite Valley Tour and if you’d like more free time, the Yosemite Valley Orientation Tour.

Save Big with Incredible Adventures!

We are currently offering discounts on all of our  Incredible Adventures tours when you book your trip in advance.

• Book 90 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 20% with the code EARLY90.
• Book 60 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 15% with the code EARLY60.
• Book 30 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 10% with the code EARLY30.

Feel free to call us at 415-642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

The post Yosemite 2 Day Itinerary appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Day 1 in San Francisco

• Start your day bright and early on the Muir Woods and Sausalito Half-Day Tour, then take the ferry from Sausalito to Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf.
• For lunch, head over to Jefferson Street; there are endless options to choose from, including Alioto’s, Scoma’s, and Boudin Bakery. Boudin Bakery is a San Francisco staple known for Clam Chowder, and Bistro Boudin offers Dungeness crab served with buttery garlic goodness that is a must-try! If you want a casual lunch, see what catches your eye at the Seafood Stands and then sit on the waterfront benches and watch the boats go by while enjoying your meal.
• Explore all Pier 39 has to offer at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Musée Mécanique, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! and the Aquarium of the Bay. Don’t forget to stop and see the water-dwelling residents: the SF sea lions! 
• A few blocks away is the famous Lombard Sreet, known for being one of the most crooked streets in the world and a perfect photo opportunity before dinner. Afterward, head into North Beach for an authentic Italian dinner at Sotto Mare.
• Are you looking for a drink to end the night? Maggie McGarry’s is the perfect place to reflect on your first day in San Francisco.

Day 2 in San Francisco

• Start the day by shopping around Union Square, then head to the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. You will be transported to the 1960s with the brightly colored murals and rich history of this area. Here you can see Janis Joplin’s House and Jimi Hendrix’s red house.
• Eat lunch at the Magnolia GastroPub before grabbing a coffee from FlyWheel and making your way to Golden Gate Park.
• At Golden Gate Park, you can explore the Botanical Gardens, the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, the Bison Paddock, the California Academy of Science, and the oldest museum in San Francisco, the de Young Museum. 
• For dinner, check out the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant or the Park Chalet on the west side of the park for fantastic ocean views with your dinner. This restaurant is the perfect place to toast an incredible 48 hours in San Francisco!

Discover San Francisco in 48 Hours

Visit us in the City by the Bay and follow our San Francisco 2 day itinerary with Incredible Adventures. Are you looking for transportation around the city? Consider reserving our bike rentals, GoCar rentals, or hop-on hop-off bus tickets. We can’t wait to see you for an incredible vacation in San Francisco!

Save Big with Incredible Adventures!

We are currently offering discounts on all of our Incredible Adventures tours when you book your trip in advance.

• Book 90 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 20% with the code EARLY90.
• Book 60 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 15% with the code EARLY60.
• Book 30 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 10% with the code EARLY30.

Feel free to call us at 415-642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

The post San Francisco 2 Day Itinerary appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

1. Chinatown

One of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in North America can be found in San Francisco. Grant Avenue is the most popular spot for visitors, full of gift shops and authentic restaurants serving the best dim sum in the city. Experience the culture, history, architecture, and charm of this neighborhood during your getaway. 

Our Hop-On-Hop-Off, San Francisco Tour, includes a fantastic walking tour of Chinatown!

2. North Beach

Adjacent to Chinatown, you will find the district of North Beach, also referred to as “Little Italy.” This neighborhood is known for its Italian-American heritage and history. Stroll Columbus Ave. and check out the charming restaurants and coffee shops or take in breathtaking views from the city at Coit Tower.

The easiest way to travel between San Francisco neighborhoods is with our GoCar San Francisco Tour or San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour.

3. Fishermans Wharf

Fishermans Wharf is by far the most popular destination for visitors in San Francisco. There are traditional souvenir shops here, but you can also find fantastic restaurants, unique museums, and maritime history here. One of the most notable attractions is Pier 39, where you can see sea lions and visit the famous Aquarium of the Bay.

Buy tickets for the Aquarium of the Bay with Incredible Adventures. Or join us for a San Francisco Sailing Tour!

4. Mission District

This San Francisco neighborhood has come a long way from its 18th-century colonial Spanish roots. Today the community firmly rooted in Latino culture is bustling with shops and restaurants. With colorful murals lining the streets, historic sites, and a buzzing nightlife, Mission District is not to be missed!

5. Union Square

Union Square is the hub for hotels, entertainment, art, tours, and high-end shopping in San Francisco. You can pick up a bike rental with Incredible Adventures here to explore the city on your own. Whether you want to watch a Broadway show or explore fine art galleries, this neighborhood is a must-visit!

Save Big with Incredible Adventures!

Now that you’ve read through our San Francisco neighborhood guide, you can start planning your trip with Incredible Adventures. We are currently offering discounts on all of our tours when you book your trip in advance.

• Book 90 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 20% with the code EARLY90.
• Book 60 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 15% with the code EARLY60.
• Book 30 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 10% with the code EARLY30.

Feel free to call us at 415-642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

The post Top 5 Neighborhoods to Visit in San Francisco appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

1. Mist Trail to Vernal Falls

The Mist Trail is one of the most popular trails in Yosemite since it accesses two beautiful waterfalls. You will come across the first views of Vernal Falls at the footbridge, and further down the path, you will find granite stairs to access the top of the falls.

Our Best of Yosemite Valley tour includes a hike on the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls.

2. Mist Trail to Nevada Falls

From the top of Vernal Falls, you can continue on the Mist Trail to reach Nevada Falls. The hike is approximately 1.5 miles of steep climbing to get to the picturesque 600-foot waterfall. The hike is known to be strenuous but worth it for the close-up views of Nevada Falls.

3. Half Dome via Mist Trail

If you are interested in hiking longer on the Mist Trail, you can continue from Nevada Fall to the iconic Half Dome. To reach Half Dome, you will have to ascend cables to the summit. This climb is incredibly challenging, so you must obtain a permit from the National Park Service before you go.

Even if you don’t want to hike to Half Dome, you can still witness incredible views of this landmark with the Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco and Best of Yosemite Valley.

4. Hike to Lower Yosemite Falls

The Lower Yosemite Fall Trails is an easy one-mile hike with picturesque views of North America’s largest waterfall. This paved trail will take you up close to the shortest section of the falls and includes views of the Upper Falls. Best seen in spring and early summer.

The Yosemite Valley Orientation Tour offers free time to explore the park, including the Lower Yosemite Falls trailhead.

5. Hike Mariposa Grove

Yosemite Valley is the most visited section of the park, but Mariposa Grove is definitely worth visiting! The grove is home to Yosemite’s most extensive collection of giant sequoia trees. There are four trails to explore, including the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, which will take you to the park’s oldest and most impressive tree.

Choose our Mariposa Grove Giant Sequoias tour!

Save Big with Incredible Adventures!

Explore the top Yosemite hikes with knowledgeable guides at Incredible Adventures. We are currently offering discounts on all of our Yosemite tours when you book your trip in advance.

• Book 90 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 20% with the code EARLY90.
• Book 60 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 15% with the code EARLY60.
• Book 30 days prior to the departure date and SAVE 10% with the code EARLY30.

Feel free to call us at 415-642-7378 if you have any questions about our discounts or tours.

The post Top 5 Yosemite Hikes with Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Muir Woods Tour and San Francisco Tours

Since Muir Woods is so close to San Francisco, many of our tours can take you to multiple locations in one trip. Muir Woods is a must-see destination for anyone staying in the city and a unique opportunity to walk amongst some of the tallest trees in the world. We have options to pair your Muir Woods tour with a trip to the seaside Mediterannean-style town of Sausalito. Or opt for the ultimate San Francisco experience with a trip to Muir Woods, Sausalito, Alcatraz, and Aquarium of the Bay in one epic tour!

• Muir Woods and Sausalito Half-Day Tour
• Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour + Alcatraz Day Tour and Aquarium

Muir Woods and Wine Country Tours

If you have always dreamt of visiting wine country, we have excellent tour options for you at Incredible Adventures. We have three Muir Woods tours that include a trip to wine country in your tour. Choose to spend an entire day in wine country with our combo tour or get a taste of Napa and Sonoma during a day trip. If you would like to see all of these attractions in one trip then select the Muir Woods with Sonoma +Alcatraz and Aquarium tour. This trip allows you to experience four of the best attractions in the area at one convenient price.

• Muir Woods & Wine Country Overnight Combo Tour
• Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
• Muir Woods with Sonoma Wine Country + Alcatraz Tour and Aquarium

Choose Our San Francisco Tour Company

Wander through ancient groves of redwoods with one of our Muir Woods tours at Incredible Adventures. Most of our tours combine several attractions within the Bay Area. So, whether you are interested in pairing your tour with a trip to wine country or Sausalito, we have something for everyone!

The post Muir Woods Tours with Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Giant Sequoias & Alpine Lakes Tour

Our first Yosemite tour will take you outside the busy Yosemite valley to the less-visited high country. Hop on our eco-friendly transportation, and our expert guides will take you to several Yosemite highlights with a small tour group. Spend two hours walking among Giant Sequoias before driving to Olmstead Point for lunch. Afterward, you will hike up Pothole Dome, where you will experience views of meadows and jagged peaks. End the day with a swim at Tenaya Lake before heading back.

Best of Yosemite Valley Tour

Yosemite Valley is by far the most visited area of the park, and for a good reason. The incredible landscapes of the valley have inspired visitors for over a hundred years. You will stop for pictures at Tunnel View before arriving at Curry Village. The hike on Mist Trail is unforgettable, with views of cascading waterfalls and lunch beneath Yosemite Falls. After lunch, you will spend time in Yosemite Village, where you will see the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. The tour ends with a photo stop at El Captain Meadows.

Mariposa Grove Giant Sequoias

Visit the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite with our Mariposa Grove tour at Incredible Adventures. The forest is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias, some of which have stood here for thousands of years! You will see some of the most iconic trees at Mariposa, including the Grizzly Giant. This giant is the oldest tree in the grove and reaches over 200 feet into the sky. This route will also take you to the California Tunnel Tree; before you visit the Pioneer History Center at the end of the day.

The Best Yosemite Tours at Incredible Adventures

A tour with Incredible Adventures is the best way to see everything Yosemite has to offer. Our expert guides will tell you all about the geology and history of the park as you explore the varied landscapes. We can’t wait for a new year of Yosemite tours at Incredible Adventures!

The post New Best of Yosemite Tours for 2022! appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Grand Canyon Tours

We offer several tours of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas that are sure to be one of the most memorable parts of your vacation. Our Grand Canyon South Rim Tour will take you to some of the deepest and widest points of the canyon. Or walk amongst the clouds at the Skywalk during a Grand Canyon West Rim Tour. We even have helicopter tours that allow you to see the awe-inspiring views of the Grand Canyon from above.

Bryce & Zion Canyon Tours

Choose our Bryce Canyon Day Tour and marvel at this national park’s hoodoos and distinct geography. You can also select our Zion Canyon Day Tour and walk amongst colorful rock formations and waterfalls. We recommend joining us on our Bryce and Zion Canyon Day Tour so you can see both of these breathtaking parks in one day!

Death Valley Tour

Our Death Valley adventure is one of our favorite national park tours from Las Vegas. Death Valley’s hot and dry temperatures make the landscapes here unlike anywhere else in the world. The mountains, colorful canyons, volcanic craters, and salt pinnacles are genuinely something you have to see during our Death Valley Day Tour.

National Parks Three Day Tour

If you can’t decide which park to visit, join us for our Three Day National Park tour. This epic tour will take you to Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon on an unforgettable three-day adventure.

Las Vegas Helicopter Tour

For the perfect end to any day exploring a nearby national park, book our Las Vegas Nights Helicopter Tour. Flying over the city is an incredible way to see the glowing magic of Sin City. You will soar over the Las Vegas strip and iconic landmarks such as the Bellagio and Caesars Palace. 

Las Vegas Tours with Incredible Adventures

Regardless of why you are vacationing in Sin City, add one of our national parks tours from Las Vegas to your getaway. We offer a variety of tours that allow you to reconnect with nature and see some of the most iconic landscapes in the country. Browse all of our Las Vegas tours and join us for a guided adventure you won’t soon forget.

The post National Parks Tours from Las Vegas appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Why Choose Incredible Adventures?

Since Alcatraz Island is one of the most visited areas in San Francisco, there are many tour companies to choose from in the area. Incredible Adventures gives you the option to combine your Alcatraz tour with other exciting activities. Your tour can include a trip to places like wine country, Muir Woods, Silicon Valley, and even Yosemite. All of our tours provide transportation, your Alcatraz tour ticket, meals, and a knowledgeable guide. We are an excellent choice if you want to embark on the best Alcatraz tour while also seeing some of the most popular attractions around San Francisco.

What Can I Expect at Alcatraz?

Your Alcatraz tour will begin with a short ferry ride from San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront. The ferry ride provides beautiful views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. The tour starts with a brief history of the island before you will enter the infamous prison. At this point, you will embark on a self-guided audio tour titled “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour.” The audio will recount stories from inmates and employees of the penitentiary. Hearing the voices of people who experienced the prison truly brings history to life. After the audio tour, feel free to explore the island further with a ranger-led tour before catching a ferry back to the city.

What Makes the Best Alcatraz Tour?

We offer several of the best Alcatraz tours that take you to several popular destinations near San Francisco. If you are visiting the city for the first time, we recommend our Two Day San Francisco City Tour + Alcatraz Island tour. And if you want to avoid the crowds at The Rock during the day, choose one of our Alcatraz night tours instead. Discover all of our tours of Alcatraz Island here and learn all about this historic site in San Francisco with Incredible Adventures.

The post The Best Alcatraz Tours with Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Day One at The Grand Canyon

The best part of our national parks tour is how much you get to see in a short period of time. The tour begins at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where you will have a variety of activities available. Grand Canyon winter hiking is a must, but you can also see the magic from above when adding the Grand Canyon helicopter tour to your trip.

Day Two at Monument Valley & Lake Powell

Monument Valley is one of the most iconic landscapes in the country, with sandstone buttes and mesas that tower the landscape. Odds are you’ve seen Monument Valley in some of your favorite western movies or shows but seeing it in person is an entirely different experience. Monument Valley sits within the Navajo Nation Reservation. We have included a Navajo-guided jeep tour that is sure to be one of the most memorable aspects of our National Parks adventure.

Day Three at Zion National Park

The morning of day three begins at Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, picturesque locations perfect for stunning photos. Then you will make your way to Zion National Park for the finale of this epic winter tour. During the winter months, massive sandstone cliffs are transformed into a winter wonderland waiting to be explored. You can choose several routes for hiking, including the leisurely Pa’rus trail and the more strenuous hike to emerald pools. We will end the three-day expedition with a ranger talk at the Human History museum before heading back to Las Vegas.

See the Best of National Parks this Winter

Exploring National Parks during the winter is an excellent way to avoid summer crowds and see the iconic landscapes covered with glistening snow. Whether you want to experience Grand Canyon winter hiking or enchanting walks through Zion National Park, we have you covered! Book your National Parks Winter 3 Day Tour now and experience the natural beauty of the Southwest this winter.

The post Grand Canyon Winter Hiking: National Parks 3 Day Tour appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Experience the Beauty of Yosemite With a Guide

Our knowledgeable guides at Incredible Adventures are the best choice for touring Yosemite in the winter. Our tours are an excellent way to navigate the best of Yosemite in a short amount of time. Your tour includes snowshoe rentals, park entrance fees, transportation, and a freshly prepared lunch. 

What Will I See on the Tour?

The tour begins at Tunnel View, which offers one of the most iconic views of Yosemite. See the beauty of granite domes trapped in snow and frozen waterfalls in the distance. This location is an incredible photo opportunity before your snowshoeing adventure begins. 

You will then travel to another area of the park where you will snowshoe amongst Giant Sequoias. This hike is a three-mile round trip through Merced Grove until you reach a cluster of ancient Sequoias. At this point, we will stop for lunch amidst the giants before snowshoeing the way back. 

Book Your Snowshoeing Tour Today

Join us for an unforgettable day snowshoeing Yosemite National Park with our knowledgeable guides at Incredible Adventures. If you are interested in this tour, please keep in mind that it is very weather-dependent. We do our best to follow the itineraries, but severe weather conditions can close trails and affect travel. That being said, we love sharing the beauty of Yosemite year-round, and we can’t wait for you to join us on this beautiful winter tour.

The post Winter Adventure: Snowshoeing Yosemite and Giant Sequoias appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Best of Yosemite Tour

See the Best of Yosemite on a tour with Incredible Adventures. The tour will take you to the most notable landmarks in Yosemite while also providing you with transportation, a healthy lunch, and interpretive information on the area. Start the day at Tunnel View and take in expansive views of the iconic Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. You will also witness notable waterfalls such as Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls on this adventure. Lastly, you will have the chance to walk through towering sequoias on this incredible tour.

Yosemite Champagne & Sunset Hiking Tour

The Yosemite Champagne and Sunset Hiking Tour is the best way to see Yosemite if you only have a few hours to spare. There is nothing more awe-inspiring than witnessing a sunset over the valley, and trust us, champagne only makes it better. On this tour, you will embark on a Yosemite guided hike to the top of Sentinel Dome, where you will stop for champagne and a picnic. Take in 360-degree views as you take in one of the best sunsets of your life.

Yosemite High Country Hiking Tour

Embark on The Yosemite High Country Hiking Tour and see the awe-inspiring landscapes of this national park from high elevations. Even the drive there on Tioga Road is beautiful with mountain views, alpine lakes, and wildflower meadows. This guided Yosemite hike begins at Pothole Dome trailhead until you reach Tenaya Lake for lunch. Make sure to pack your swimsuit so you can take a refreshing swim in this alpine lake. 

Experience the Wonder of Yosemite

All of these tours depart from El Portal, Oakhurst, or Bass Lake, California. However, we also have Yosemite tours that leave from San Francisco if you are staying in the city. At Incredible Adventures, we are dedicated to sustainability and passionate about sharing the beauty of the Western United States with travelers. So, choose the “greenest tour company in San Francisco” and make memories that last a lifetime on a Yosemite tour.

The post Yosemite Guided Hikes with Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour

Ride the famous double-decker buses throughout San Francisco and learn all about this diverse city. Choose the classic day tour, and you will have unlimited hop-on-and-off privileges for 24 hours. This option includes narrated commentary about San Francisco culture, architecture, nature, and history, along with a free walking tour through Chinatown. The deluxe two-day tour provides even more ways to see the best highlights of the area. Discover all of the places the bus can take you here.

Segway Tour

Embark on a unique San Francisco city tour by segway and choose from one of our four route options depending on your interests. 

• Wharf & Waterfront: Visit this iconic San Francisco neighborhood where you can find some of the best dining, shopping, attractions, and museums in the city. 
• Golden Gate Park: See 1,000 acres of beautiful green space during an informative tour through Golden Gate Park. Expect to segway past notable museums and gorgeous gardens when you choose this route option.
• Night Tour: Explore San Francisco under the night sky as the cities lights reflect off the bay. We will explore North Beach, Little Italy, Chinatown, and Fisherman’s Wharf on this tour. 
• Advanced Hills: This tour is designed for those who already know how to operate a segway and want to see parts of the city unavailable on our other tours. 

Bike Tour and Rentals

Learn all about San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge on a bike tour with Incredible Adventures. This bike tour is the best way to get up close and personal with this iconic landmark. Afterward, you can continue to explore the city independently with our 24-hour bike rentals. Since there are over 63 miles of bike lanes and paths in the city, you can access most of the city by bike. We provide the bike; the rest is up to you!

Your San Francisco City Tour Guides

Incredible Adventures is your ideal San Francisco city tour guide to see everything from Golden Gate Park to Alcatraz Island. And if you want to see some spectacular nature views, then check out our Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco. We can’t wait to show you around!

The post San Francisco City Tours with Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Grand Canyon South Rim Tours

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the most visited area of the canyon. We have two tours of the South Rim where you can choose between the standard larger group or a smaller private tour. Both tours include a knowledgeable guide, transportation, the entrance fee to the park, lunch, and of course, incredible site seeing. The itineraries of the South Rim Tours include the following stops and highlights: 

• Hoover Dam
• Fortification Hill 
• Historic Route 66
• National Geographic Visitor Center
• South Rim Photo Stops
• Helicopter Tour (optional)

Read more information about the Grand Canyon South Rim Bus Tour and the Grand Canyon South Rim Small-Group Tour and decide what tour is suitable for you!

Grand Canyon West Rim Tours

Like the South Rim tours, the West Rim Tours are also available as regular and private tours. Join the professional guides at Incredible Adventures and take in breathtaking panoramic views and learn the canyon’s geology. You will also learn about the significance of the Grand Canyon from a member of the indigenous Hualapai tribe and visit the Hualapai Ranch. One of the newest attractions of the West Rim is the Skywalk, a glass bridge 4,000 feet above the canyon floor that can be added on at an additional cost. Some of the sights and activities you can expect on the tours include the following: 

• Hoover Dam
• Joshua Tree Forest
• Guano Point
• Eagle Point
• Hualapai Ranch
• Skywalk (optional)

You can find more detailed information on the Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour and the Grand Canyon West Rim Small-Group Tour by following the corresponding links. 

Incredible Grand Canyon Bus Tours From Las Vegas

Embark on a Grand Canyon bus tour from Las Vegas with Incredible Adventures. The natural grandeur of this geological wonder is something you must see for yourself. We offer dozens of other tours from Las Vegas, where you can explore the stunning nearby National Parks. So, if you have extra time in Sin City, we invite you to choose us for your next incredible adventure.

The post The Best Grand Canyon Bus Tours From Las Vegas appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Silicon Valley Tech Tour

Embark on the Silicon Valley Tech Tour with Incredible Adventures. The tour begins outside the Facebook headquarters, where you can snap a picture in front of the Thumbs Up Sign. Next, you will be able to explore Googleplex, an expansive campus for Google employees in Silicon Valley. One of our favorite highlights of Googleplex is the Android Statue Garden. The garden releases a new candy-inspired sculpture each time they develop a new operating system. 

The next stop is the Computer History Museum, where you will learn about the fascinating history of technology. The day ends at the Apple Visitor Center, where you can experience interactive stations of their newest technologies. We can’t tour the Apple campus, but you can explore it via virtual reality- it doesn’t get techier than that! 

Silicon Valley & Alcatraz Tours

Alcatraz Island is the number one attraction in San Francisco, so we offer multiple combination tours, including our Silicon Valley and Alcatraz Tour. This package is a two-day tour where you will visit Alcatraz on the first and Silicon Valley on the second day. The day starts with a ferry to the island and a brief history of “The Rock” upon your arrival. From here, you will be able to listen along an audio tour with interviews from former inmates. You can stay and explore the island for as long as you want since the ferry departs every 30 to 40 minutes. 

The next day is the tour of Silicon Valley, where you will see and do everything previously mentioned. Attractions include the Computer History Museum and free time at the Google Campus, Facebook Sign, and Apple Visitor’s Center. 

San Francisco Tours with Incredible Adventures

There’s so much to do in San Francisco; that’s why Incredible Adventures provides tours of all the best activities and attractions in the area. Whether you are looking to spend a day in wine country or want to explore the city on a bike, we have a tour for you! Browse all of our San Francisco attractions and tours here and start planning your California getaway today. 

The post Visit Iconic Tech Companies on a Silicon Valley Tour appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Bryce Canyon Day Tour

Hike among the surreal hoodoos and soaring cliffs on a Bryce Canyon tour with Incredible Adventures. The tour leaves from Las Vegas and includes the park entrance fee, a professional guide, and a picnic lunch. You will have the opportunity to see the most extraordinary sights of the park, including Sunrise and Inspiration Points. The breathtaking views here are something you have to see to believe. Follow the links below to learn more about the highlights of Bryce Canyon.   

• Sunrise Point 
• Inspiration Point 

Bryce and Zion Canyon Tours

See two incredible Utah national parks in one trip on the Bryce and Zion Canyon day tour. This tour starts in Zion Canyon along the Virgin River, where you will walk through towering sandstone cliffs. You will also stop at the Checkerboard Mesa, a sandstone hill with a unique grid pattern. Next, you will head to Bryce Canyon and see the legendary hoodoos along with the previously mentioned highlights. If you are interested in a more extended trip to these parks, you can choose to go on our overnight tour instead. 

National Parks Three Day Tour

For the ultimate tour of the Southwest, embark on the National Parks three day tour. The stops of this tour include Bryce and Zion National Parks, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Utah landscape on this guided road trip. The tour includes camping equipment, meals, a knowledgeable tour guide, park admissions, and a jeep tour of Monument Valley. Follow the links below to learn more about the attractions of this tour. 

• Lake Powell
• Antelope Canyon
• Monument Valley

Southern Utah National Parks Tours From Las Vegas

Book a Southern Utah national parks tour with Incredible Adventures and explore some of the most beautiful rock formations in the country. Our awe-inspiring tours are a must when you are visiting Las Vegas. You can find all of our tours from Las Vegas that explore the nearby national parks here. Our passion for showing off the beauty of the Western United States is what sets us apart. Join us for an expedition of a lifetime when you book a tour with Incredible Adventures.

The post Embark on a Southern Utah National Parks Tour appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Napa and Sonoma Full-Day Tasting Tour

Spend an entire day in wine country on a tasting tour with Incredible Adventures. You will start the day traveling on the coach bus past the panoramic cityscape towards Sonoma County. Along the way, your experienced guide will tell you about the fascinating history of Sonoma’s world-renowned wines. At this point, you will drive by rolling hills and lush valleys as you make your first stop in wine country. You will sample an assortment of wines before heading to Sonoma or Yountville for lunch. After lunch, there are two more wineries to visit. At one of these wineries, you will experience the entire process of how wine is made, from picking the grapes to sampling a glass. Book your Napa and Sonoma wine country tour here. 

Paso Robles Wine Country Tour

When you think of wine country, the first thing that probably comes to mind is Sonoma and Napa Valley. But, Paso Robles is an underrated spot when it comes to touring wine country. Your Incredible Adventures tour guide will take you to four local wineries and vineyards. If you are looking for a laid-back wine tasting experience with fewer crowds, this is the tour for you!

San Luis Obispo Wine Country Tour

San Luis Obispo is the smallest Central Coast Wine AVA in size, but the exceptional handcrafted wines here make up for that. This area is unique for its extensive collection of family-owned wineries that give it that local charm. You will visit four wineries on this tour with a knowledgeable guide. You will travel to each location in a comfortable SUV with a small group. Join us on the San Luis Obispo wine country tour and discover why this region has earned worldwide recognition. 

Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tours and More

Napa and Sonoma wine country tours with Incredible Adventures are the best way to sample the unique wine of this famous region. Because Napa and Sonoma are the most known areas of wine country, the wineries are usually busy and crowded. If you are looking for a more relaxed day in wine country, we recommend our tours in the lesser-known Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. Visit wine country and let our experienced guides do the rest when booking a tour with Incredible Adventures. 

The post Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tours with Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Camping Near San Francisco | Multi-Day Trips

Visit the high sierras on this three-day camping trip to Yosemite National Park. The Yosemite Escape Camping Tour with Incredible Adventures is the best way to see the sites of Yosemite with a local expert. Our tours include transportation from San Francisco, the Yosemite Park entrance fee, five meals, and camping equipment. Your guide will bring you to the park’s highlights, including El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Tunnel View, Giant Sequoias, High Country, and Yosemite Valley. Experience the awe-inspiring sites of Yosemite on this one-of-a-kind camping trip with Incredible Adventures. 

The Tahoe Escape Camping Tour is another three-day camping trip that departs from San Francisco. You will explore the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range and spend time on Lake Tahoe: the largest alpine lake in the United States! Spend your days kayaking and hiking while taking in the splendor of mountain views. You will spend a day in Lake Tahoe, where you will be able to browse local shops and stop for dinner. The last day is spent kayaking, hiking, and exploring Emerald Bay State Park.

Overnight Trips | Hotel Lodging

If camping isn’t your favorite activity, we offer tours where you can stay at a hotel instead. Spend the day exploring National Parks and end the night in a comfortable hotel room. These are the tours we recommend to explore the area without actually camping: 

• Monterey and Big Sur Discovery Two-Day Hotel Tour
• Yosemite Overnight Lodging Tour
• Yosemite and Tahoe Sierras Four-Day Tour 
• Muir Woods and Wine Country Overnight Combo Tour

Guided Camping Tours with Incredible Adventures

Experience the awe-inspiring natural environment surrounding San Francisco on a camping trip with Incredible Adventures. Camping near San Francisco is made easy with our knowledgeable guides, included meals and camping equipment. And for those who want an outdoor adventure during the day and comfort at night, you can choose one of our tours with hotel lodging. Embark on a unique tour with Incredible Adventures and check out all the tours we offer in San Francisco.

The post Guided Camping Trips from San Francisco appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

We care about maintaining and preserving National Parks for generations to come. That’s why we have committed to minimizing our environmental impact by using petroleum-free biofuel made from renewable materials. Help us keep this precious area intact when choosing Incredible Adventures: the greenest tour company in San Francisco!

Kayaking Tour on the Colorado River

Kayak down the calm waters of the Colorado River with one of our experienced guides from Incredible Adventures. The Black Canyon Hoover Dam Kayaking Tour is a great way to experience nature during your Las Vegas trip. This trip launches right by the Hover Dam then takes you through the stunning green waters of the Black Canyon. You will then follow a narrow channel into the magnificent waters of Emerald Cave. From here you will reach a sandy beach where you will stop for a picnic lunch. The water here is a great place to swim in the Colorado River before kayaking back to Willow Beach. Embark on this kayaking tour and paddle down the Colorado River on this incredible adventure. 

San Francisco Kayaking Tour

If you’ve ever wanted to see the grandeur of the San Francisco skyline from the water, look no further than our Sausalito Kayak Tour. Learn the basics of kayaking with one of our professional guides at Incredible Adventures. During your trip, you will have the opportunity to see local wildlife such as seals, sea lions, pelicans, and more. You will paddle by the unique collection of houseboats on the shores of Sausalito. Upon your return to Sausalito, we recommend sticking around to explore this seaside community. Browse through the shops on main street or stop at a local restaurant for fresh seafood. Conclude the day with a stunning view of the sunset over the San Francisco skyline.

Kayaking Tours with Incredible Adventures

Kayaking tours are only the start of the exciting tours you can choose with Incredible Adventures. We have dozens of guided excursions throughout the San Francisco and Las Vegas areas. Browse all of our destinations here and take a tour with the most knowledgeable guides in the industry. Help us preserve our natural environment and make the responsible choice by traveling green with Incredible Adventures!

The post Get on the Water with a Kayaking Tour appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Experienced Guides

Whether you are looking to explore the Grand Canyon, Lake Tahoe, or Yosemite, an experienced tour guide will accompany you. All of the guides at Incredible Adventures are knowledgeable locals who know how to navigate the area. You are guaranteed to be in good hands with any of our guides here at Incredible Adventures.

We Supply All the Gear

Most of the camping equipment is supplied for you when you choose Incredible Adventures. However, we would recommend bringing some things of your own such as sleeping bags, pillows, towels, sunscreen, bug repellant, and flashlights. Because Incredible Adventures is a member of the International Ecotourism Society, it is also highly encouraged for guests to bring refillable water containers.

Camping Instructions

We’ll teach you techniques to make you a better camper! We will teach you how to set up and take down your tent. Our guides will suggest trails and hikes suitable for your skill level. And teach you how to navigate the area you are camping.

Meals Included

Incredible Adventures provides easy and healthy meals for most of the trip. For the meals not included, your tour guide will suggest economical restaurants nearby. The deli-style lunches are delicious and satisfying for a day full of hiking. Cookout dinners are a group event where everyone helps out and eats together.

Socialize Around the Campfire

After dinner, stick around and socialize around the campfire with your peers. Sharing smores is a great way to get to know your fellow campers. Exchange scary stories and share a drink with your new friends you made with Incredible Adventures. 

Fantastic Tour Guides at Incredible Adventures

We strive to provide the best camping tour for every individual. Whether you are looking for a day trip to Yosemite or a week-long adventure in Yellowstone, we are here to guide you. We supply all the gear, provide camping instructions, and meals for your trip. Book your camping tour today, and let us do the rest. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at 1800-777-8464.

The post Incredible Adventures: Your Ideal Camping Tour Guides appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Rent a GPS Guided GoCar

We recommend kicking off your trip with a GPS-guided GoCar. Take a tour of the city as the GoCar narrates the history of San Francisco. Make stops for as long as you like and go where tour buses cannot. There are several different route options to take, ranging from one hour to all day. Discover San Francisco like never before when traveling the city in a GoCar. 

Get on the Water with a Bay Cruise 

One of the best ways to introduce yourself to the city is by taking a San Francisco Bay Cruise. This tour offers views of the San Francisco skyline, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, cruising past Sausalito Island, and Alcatraz Island. There are daytime and sunset cruises available, depending on your preference and budget. The Bay Cruise is a must for people visiting San Francisco for the first time. 

Explore Muir Woods and Sausalito

Just 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, Muir Woods contains some of the tallest Redwood trees in the country. Wander along the boardwalk and marvel at a natural world that was almost lost forever. After exploring Muir Woods, the tour will take you to the waterfront town of Sausalito. Buy something from a boutique or stop for a quick coffee at a local cafe. Return with the tour group or spend more time in Sausalito by taking a ferry back to the city.

See the City from the Sky 

There is no better way to see the Bay Area than from the sky. The tours are a Golden Gate Tour, Norcal Coastal Tour, Greater Bay Area Tour, and a Champagne Tour. Learn about the rich history of the city as you gaze down at it. For more information on route and flight options, browse Incredible Adventures online info. 

Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay focuses on education and conservation of the San Francisco Bay. Stroll through the clear tunnels under the bay, which hosts over 20,000 marine animals! Get up close and personal at the interactive Bay Lab station by touching bat rays, skates, leopard sharks, and more! Experience the majesty of local marine life while learning the importance of conserving this ecosystem.

Incredible Adventures Await!

There is so much to explore during your first visit to San Francisco, but the tours with Incredible Adventures are a fantastic place to start. Incredible Adventures offers excellent tours of the city by GoCar, the water, or the sky. If you have any questions about tours or what else to do in San Francisco, don’t hesitate to reach out by calling 1-800-777-8464.

The post The Ultimate Guide to a First-Time Visit to San Francisco appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Groups

Though it may seem counterintuitive at first, traveling in groups can have a major impact on the environment. Imagine you are traveling with a group of friends on a road trip across the country. However, you each have your own vehicle to get from place to place. Why not pack responsibly and try to fit into one vehicle together? Taking one vehicle instead of several can be a great first step into more environmental-friendly travel. 

BYOs

Otherwise known as bring your own stuff, having your own reusable items can limit the amount of trash you have. Whether it be a reusable water bottle, cutlery, or straws, limiting your waste might be one of the more straightforward tips for eco-friendly travel. 

Support Local

There’s no way around it—big corporations have massive carbon footprints. The goods they provide certainly can be cheaper and more convenient, but, if you want to make a difference, support small local businesses on your travels. On top of having a significantly smaller environmental impact, these smaller stores are much more intrinsic to these communities you’ll be passing through. 

Biofuel

This is where we come in. Our fleet of passenger mini-coaches operates on sustainable, petroleum-free biofuel made from recycled cooking oil and renewable plant-based stocks. This fuel is the highest legally allowed BioDiesel blend in California and is completely renewable. When you’re traveling with us, you can know in good conscience that you’re helping! 

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Travel: a New Normal

Though there are many more tips for eco-friendly travel out there, if you adhere to even a few of these you would be greatly contributing to the sustainability of these great national parks. And if eco-friendly travel is important to you, then planning a trip through us at Incredible Adventures is the way to go. Bring these tips for eco-friendly travel to life when you give us a call at 1-800-777-8464 today!

The post Sustainable Tips for Your Southwest Getaway appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

Set your alarm, because your tour will depart at 6:30 a.m. in the comfort of an eco-friendly mini-coach bus. Upon arrival, Yosemite is yours to explore! You’ll have a full day at your disposal where you can immerse yourself in our day-long tour with our professional guide or venture off on your own. During your Yosemite day trip, there are a few spots you can’t miss out on. 

• Vernal Falls – Get an up-close view of Vernal Falls either on a hike along a path that begins near the Happy Isles Nature Center or the Panorama Trail where you’ll wander through the mist of the towering waterfall. There’s nothing quite like the thundering created by the falling water.
• Mirror Lake – Take a walk to the local body of water when you head on out to Mirror Lake. Though the water levels vary depending on the season, the view of Mt. Watkins peering over the lake is not to be missed on your Yosemite day trip. 
• Indian Village of the Ahwahnee – Visitors get a close-up of Native American living on a trip to the Indian Village of the Ahwahnee. With exhibits like the Bark House, Miwok Cabin, Chief’s House, and the Ceremonial Roundhouse, you’ll get a real sense of the technology and living conditions the tribe members experienced.
• Merced River – Swim, fish, or simply take in the splendor of the historic Merced River. With a number of access points throughout the valley, getting your toes in the water shouldn’t be too difficult. This is an especially excellent destination on a hot summer Yosemite day trip!
• El Capitan – The iconic walls of El Capitan are imposing, climbing over 3,000 feet. Standing over twice as high as the Empire State Building, you may spot climbers traversing the granite rock as well as colorful dots charting their route. Remember to pack binoculars to get the best views! 

Yosemite in a Day: What an Incredible Adventure!

Though it might be difficult to see all that the Yosemite Valley has to offer in just a day, you’re in good hands with Incredible Adventures. Our Yosemite day trip offers swift transportation, knowledgeable guides, and freedom for all of our guests to choose their own adventures. So, if you have any extra time on your hands while you’re in the San Francisco area, give us a call at 1-800-777-8464 to find out how we can arrange a Yosemite Valley trip for you!

The post Plan an Action-Packed Yosemite Valley Day Trip appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Thank you healthcare heroes, you deserve a break!

For that reason, we invite all those who worked in health care during 2020 to take 15% off your entire booking on tours departing from San Francisco. Join us to kick back, relax and let someone else take care of you for the day. Whether you’d like a day trip to Napa to go wine-tasting with colleagues or to take an overnight trip to Yosemite with family, enjoy 15% off your entire booking. Our sale will run all April long, but you can travel with us anytime in 2021.

Ready to plan your next trip around Northern California? Enjoy the 15% off discount all April long on any of the below tours:

Yosemite Day Tour
Yosemite & Giant Sequoias Day Tour
Napa and Sonoma World Class Wine Tour
Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
Muir Woods and Sausalito Half-Day Tour
Silicon Valley Tech Innovation Tour
Monterey & Big Sur Discovery Tour
Muir Woods & Wine Country Overnight Combo Tour
Yosemite Overnight Lodging Tour
Yosemite Escape 3 Day Camping Tour
Tahoe Escape 3 Day Camping Tour
Yosemite and Tahoe 4 Day Sierras Hotel Tour

Use the code HEALTHCAREHERO at checkout to redeem your discount. Happy travels!

The post Thank You Healthcare Heroes – enjoy 15% off all April long! appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Wind Dancer

Though it is the shortest Grand Canyon helicopter tour offered, Wind Dancer has enough packed into its four hours to keep any adventurer satisfied. Before arriving at the Grand Canyon, our Maverick helicopter will fly you over Lake Mead, Lake Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and the extinct volcano, Fortification Hill. Once you do arrive, the chopper will descend and land 3,500 feet into the Grand Canyon in Hualapai Indian Territory, where you’ll enjoy champagne, beverages, and a light snack where you’ll take in views of the mighty Colorado River below. 

Skywalk Odyssey 

The Skywalk Odyssey tour makes all guests feel like a VIP. Enjoy a direct flight departing from the renowned Las Vegas Strip, where you will take in a bird’s eye view of the Grand Canyon, Lake Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and the Las Vegas Strip itself. When you arrive at the West Rim, take full advantage of expedited admission to the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon Skywalk that’s glass platform extends out more than 70 feet away from the edge of the rim and hangs 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. There’s no better way to conquer your fear of heights!

Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours & More!

Experience the natural wonder of the Grand Canyon like never before with Incredible Adventures. Our unique Grand Canyon helicopter tours are varied enough to pique the interests of most Sin City visitors, and with perks including access to the Grand Canyon Skywalk and champagne, among other things, a ride in our state-of-the-art ECO-Star helicopters will foster memories to last a lifetime. If catching a birds-eye-view of the Grand Canyon is enough to get you aboard, give us a call at 1-800-777-8464 to reserve your spot today!

The post Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours and Other Aerial Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Delight in Myriad Southwest Tours from Las Vegas

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better spot to start your Southwest excursions than Las Vegas. Just think of all the nearby national parks, like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Zion and Bryce—all a few hours away! If you’re looking for other ways to reconnect with nature, there are myriad camping tour options available near Las Vegas as well. We offer an action-packed odyssey of a three-day national park camping tour that you’ll be talking about years after the fact.  

The wide variety of tours from Las Vegas keeps guests coming back for more. Aside from national parks, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore the lowest point in the United States, Death Valley. Or, you could head east and take in the splendor of the scenic Mojave Desert on your way to the Hoover Dam. Embrace the stunning Southwest scenery on a Valley of Fire outing, and soak in the natural splendor surrounding Las Vegas on your next incredible adventure. 

A Beacon for Travelers

Las Vegas may not be for everyone, but when you realize how much more there is to offer beyond the shows, luxury stays, and games, it makes a pretty strong case. And if you want to arrange an unforgettable trip to view these wonders, you can’t do better than scheduling a tour with Incredible Adventures. Get more than you bargained for when you give us a call at 1-800-777-8464!

The post Explore the Best of the Southwest on a Las Vegas Tour appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Gaze upon Old Faithful

Possibly the most notorious of all Yellowstone National Park sights, Old Faithful was discovered in 1870 and is most well known for its frequent (and predictable) water eruptions that can soar up to 180 feet in the air! Luckily for you, it erupts about 20 times a day for a few minutes at a time, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch this spectacle live. 

Enjoy the Colors at Grand Prismatic Spring

Though Old Faithful garners much of the spotlight, the Grand Prismatic Spring provides the most well-known visual of all Yellowstone National Park attractions. Most notably, the hot spring’s stunning color makeup of orange, yellow, and green surrounding the deep blue waters offer a remarkable contrast. It is also the third-largest spring in the world and is deeper than a 10-story building! 

Take Millions of Photos at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Complete with three distinct and dynamic waterfalls, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is an explorers paradise. Spanning 24 miles, the canyon offers numerous hiking trails and lookout points that can take you all day to delve into. Still, if you’re short on time, we recommend heading to Artist Point, which offers an incredible view of the majestic Lower Falls Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. 

Geysers Galore at the Upper Geyser Basin

Even though Old Faithful resides in the Upper Geyser Basin, there is so much more to see. Unknown to many, the basin is home to the largest concentration of geysers in the world, including Castle Geyser, Daisy Geyser, and the tallest predictable geyser on the planet, Grand Geyser. Don’t forget to check out the eerily beautiful Morning Glory Pool on your way through the basin as well.  

Scratching the Surface of Yellowstone Tour Destinations

We’d be lying if we said that’s even close to everything Yellowstone National Park offers. The park itself expands over 3,000 square miles of nature, just waiting to be explored. And if you have any desire to see it to the fullest extent, consider booking a tour via Incredible Adventures. Our Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain Camping Tour is the perfect option for those wanting to spend a few days in the park and take in the sights and sounds at their own pace. If this interests you, give us a call at 1-800-777-8464 to reserve your spot on one of our tours!

The post Must-See Sights at Yellowstone National Park appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Go Camping on This Lake Tahoe Tour

For those comfortable with sleeping under the stars, the Tahoe Escape Camping Tour offers you the rawest experience of the three. This three-day trip makes a stop in Placerville before your Lake Tahoe arrival so that you can grab a lunch or get any last-minute goods. Afterward, you’ll arrive at the mountains and embark on a short hike before setting up your tent and enjoying a meal with your fellow campers around the campfire. Day two offers you the freedom to plan a full day of Lake Tahoe activities, including kayaking and hiking. When in doubt, ask your guide for advice, and they will recommend the best escapades that best suit your interests. On day three, you’ll have enough time to explore Emerald Bay and the Rubicon Trail before returning from your Lake Tahoe adventures. 

Tahoe Blue Views & Reno Craft Brews 

If you want a fun mix of both nature and nightlife, then you can’t go wrong on the Tahoe Blue Views & Reno Craft Brews 4-Day Tour! Day one consists of a short hike in the mountains before your hotel check-in. This is an excellent time to scout the area for Lake Tahoe activities that interest you. Day two is yours to spend as you please, whether that includes a peaceful morning kayak tour on the water, hiking the trails of picture-perfect Emerald Bay State Park, or shopping among the many stores in the area. Day three brings you to “The Biggest Little City in the World” (more prominently known as Reno), where you can arrange your own brewery crawl or explore the beautiful Midtown District complete with murals, vintage stores, and boho boutiques. Enjoy any Reno activities you didn’t have time for the next morning before heading back and concluding your Lake Tahoe overnight tour. 

Winter Lake Tahoe Excursions

Explore and take advantage of all of the Lake Tahoe activities only available during winter with the Lake Tahoe Winter Adventure Tour (3 days). On day one, you’ll depart from San Francisco before heading through the Sierra foothills and into the famous Gold Rush Country. Once you check-in to the centrally located hotel, either enjoy a happy hour with the Apres Ski crowd or retreat early for a good night’s rest. Wake up energized on day two and make your way to the mountain where you can carve up the fresh powder skiing or snowboarding, snowshoe through the scenic trails, or test out your luck at the nearby casinos. Hit the mountain up again on the morning of day three before heading back in the afternoon.

Fun Lake Tahoe Activities for All Via Incredible Adventures

As you can see, we here at Incredible Adventures leave no stone unturned to create the best tours that feature an assortment of Lake Tahoe activities. Our varied tours are sure to pique the interest of travelers from all backgrounds, and if you’d like to be one of them, make sure to give us a call at 1-800-777-8464 to arrange your Lake Tahoe getaway!

The post Engage in Several Lake Tahoe Activities appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

History

Before departing on the Black Canyon tour, it might be nice to know a bit of the story behind this magical destination. The canyon was formed approximately 15 million years ago from erosion by the Colorado River. What’s launched this ancient gorge into the spotlight is its relationship with the Hoover Dam. This is where the construction of the Hoover Dam, its gauging stations, tramways, and catwalks all took place. Fortunately, the Black Canyon has kept much of its natural charm that dates back millions of years ago. 

Kayaking Tours

We have two river-based tours that will give you access to beautiful views of the Black Canyon and an adrenaline-pumping ride! For a full-day experience where you’ll spend between five and six hours on the water, book the Black Canyon kayaking tour. After your Las Vegas pick-up, you’ll meet your guide at the drop-in site, where he or she will provide a short safety demonstration for kayaking. From there, the guide will lead you through the best that the gorge has to offer, with stops at remote caves, coves, and hot springs along the way.

Rafting Tours

Our Black Canyon rafting tour also extends a full-day, but with only about three hours on the water. If you’d rather sit back and relax, this is the tour for you, as you’ll make your way through the Black Canyon of the Colorado River on a motorized raft, which frees up your hands to snap plenty of pictures. This laid back tour will delve even deeper into the rich history, archeology, and ecology of the land.

An Experience Millions of Years in the Making 

Whether you want to be the captain of your own boat or a passenger on the powered watercraft, a trip through the Black Canyon of the Colorado River will be an experience you’ll never forget. From the base of the Hoover Dam to the various caves and coves that have formed over the course of millions of years, there is beauty around every corner of the famed gorge. And who would be a better guide than us here at Incredible Adventures? Whether you’re in Vegas or just in the area, there’s no better way to take in the beautiful natural surroundings than on a tour with us. Call us at 1-800-777-8464 to get started on your adventure today!

The post Explore the Black Canyon of the Colorado River appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Silicon Valley Tour Itinerary

What draws many people to visit Silicon Valley are the stories behind some of the great companies in American history. From rags to riches fables to double-crosses and more, this competitive environment has both fostered and eviscerated entrepreneurs trying to change the world. Before you embark, your Silicon Valley tour with Incredible Adventures will take you through the origin stories of Apple, Google, IBM, and many other previously unrecognized technologists that paved the way for the most recent technological revolution. A little bit of background knowledge will be an insightful starting point before the tour truly commences. 

The first stop on this tour will take you down Hacker Way, where you will have the opportunity to ‘check-in’ at the Facebook Thumbs Up Sign. From there, you’ll make your way to the famed Google Campus, complete with the mesmerizing Android Lawn Statues. Before departing, make sure to check out the gift shop and bring home some swag. 

The next major stop is a favorite of many guests who go on our Silicon Valley tour: the Computer History Museum. From illustrating the origins of early computing, with the abacus to the modern-day wonders of self-driving cars, to the future and complexities of artificial intelligence, there is something new for everyone. Your last visit will be to the Apple Visitor’s Center, a fairly new establishment that also features a fully-stocked Apple Store.

Tech Excellence | Incredible Adventures

Though it is far different from many of the other tours that we offer here at Incredible Adventures, our Silicon Valley tour is among the most exciting. With technology being as pervasive as it is in our everyday life, what better way to get a better grasp of it and its history? Explore these famed campuses and gain insight from the informative museums, all while soaking up the California sunshine. If this sounds up your alley, be sure to book a tour with us by calling 1-800-777-8464 for a byte-sized adventure you’ll never forget!

The post The Past, Present, and Future Collide on a Silicon Valley Tour appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

An Exhilarating Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour

Our most expedited tours available are the Grand Canyon helicopter tours. This Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas takes you along for a ride in a luxury Eco-Star helicopter—the safest and most comfortable tourism-based helicopter in the world. Featuring wraparound glass, you’ll have excellent views from wherever you sit in the chopper. And, with routes taking you past Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, you’ll surely get more than you bargained for!

Small Group Tours

Offering pick-up from most Las Vegas strip hotels, the Grand Canyon West Rim small group tour provides a different kind of insight. This full-day tour will start with a pit stop at Hoover Dam, where you can take in the stunning surroundings from the vantage point of the O’Callaghan-Tillman Bridge. Next, you’ll pile back into the custom 13-seat vehicle for a narrated drive-through of the enchanting Joshua Tree Forest en route to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. Once there, you’ll explore Hualapai Indian Country before experiencing the breathtaking panoramic views of the Grand Canyon from Guano Point and Eagle Point.

Camping Tours

With the three-day National Parks Camping Tour, you’ll get to experience the most intense Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas that we offer. This tour spans three simulating days where you’ll get to fully immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the Southwest. In addition to exploring the Grand Canyon, you’ll visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, and Monument Valley. If you’ve ever wanted to knock five birds out with one stone, this is the tour for you! 

Riding Shotgun with Incredible Adventures

If you’ve ever been fascinated by the wonders of the world but haven’t had the chance to see them yet, then coalesce them all with Incredible Adventures! Our convenient Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas put you amid numerous earthly natural phenomenons, and there has been no better time than now to experience it all. Book a tour with us by calling 1-800-777-8464.

The post Awe-Inspiring Grand Canyon Tours from Las Vegas appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Canyonlands National Park Tour: Southwest Highlights

Truly immerse yourself in the beautiful nature of the Southwest when you go on an adventure with Incredible Adventures. If a tour of Canyonlands National Park is your main goal, don’t worry, because we will be sure to spend ample time exploring the beautiful park. However, you’ll get to see so much more on foot or even by air if you want! Our tour of Canyonlands National Park and beyond will have your family and friends back home oozing with jealousy. Read below to learn more about where you’ll go and what you do when you book our seven-night Southwest Highlights Camping Tour leaving from Las Vegas.

Before we get to discussing the destinations of this tour, we’ll tell you about the basics. This tour includes a complimentary pickup and drop off from the Super 8 hotel in Las Vegas by one of our experienced and knowledgable tour guides in one of our 14-passenger tour busses. You’ll get five light breakfasts, seven deli-style lunches, and six dinners if you decide to camp with us, as well as accommodations for camping or lodging. Park admissions are included, as well as a Navajo Guided Jeep tour of Monument Valley.

After being picked up in Las Vegas, we’ll bring you to the following destinations: the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, the Canyonlands, Arches National Park, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, and an optional helicopter ride so you can get amazing birds-eye views of the Southwest! Each destination is full of stunning scenery and nature, where you can take plenty of photos and bask in the beauty that surrounds you. 

The rate for this tour starts at $1199 per two people! Give us a call at 1-800-777-8464 with any questions or to book, or book easily online by visiting the Incredible Adventures website.

Incredible Adventures

There is no better way to tour the most beautiful destinations of the United States than with Incredible Adventures, our eco-friendly and knowledgeable company that has been serving families, friends, and couples for years. Not only do we bring you to beautiful regions of the country, but we have plenty to share with you about each place we go so that you can learn about what you’re experiencing. Book a tour with us by calling 1-800-777-8464 – we know you won’t regret it!

The post Take a Canyonlands National Park Tour With Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

The Most Unique Things to Do in San Francisco

This holiday season, get ready for biking, sailing, kayaking, and seeing everything that makes the city of San Francisco so special. Incredible Adventures has a handful of tours that will make the holiday unforgettable. We put together a list of just a few of the many tours that we give in San Francisco below! To view a complete list of tours, visit the Incredible Adventures website.

• San Francisco Sailing Tour: Hop aboard a massive sailboat and take in views of San Francisco from the water. When you’re sailing, you’ll see magnificent views of Alcatraz Island and sail past the historic Fort Point. Get a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from underneath and see the beautiful city of Sausalito. One of the best parts is that there is a bar and snacks onboard!

• Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour and Sausalito Kayaking: Enjoy a guided bike tour through the cities of San Francisco and Sausalito with plenty of opportunities for picture taking, especially as you bike across the Golden Gate Bridge. After biking, head out to the water for a two-hour guided kayak trip along Sausalito’s waterfront where you’ll learn the basics of sea kayaking and run into some local wildlife, like birds, dolphins, sea lions, and even a whale!

• Hop-On Hop-Off San Francisco City Tour: Take a ride on the unique double-decker open-top busses as you drive throughout the city of San Francisco for the day. This tour is available with one day or deluxe two-day hop-on hop-off tickets, so if you didn’t get enough the first day, you can always continue the next day! Your tour guides will tell you all about the city of San Francisco, and you’ll also be able to take a walking tour of Chinatown.

• San Francisco Guided Bike Tour and Rentals: Get some exercise and hop on a bike that you can pick up from Union Square or Fisherman’s Wharf and head towards the famous Golden Gate Bridge to take some incredible photos. Ride through the beautiful Golden Gate Park and even explore Sausalito and ride the ferry back!

Incredible Adventures

Incredible Adventures has been taking people all throughout the nation for years, and any of our tours are the perfect holiday gift or the perfect way to start or spend the holiday season! Our knowledgeable staff and guides will not only show you all of the best places in San Francisco but also will be able to tell you about the history of this phenomenal city. San Francisco is waiting for you! Call us at 1-800-777-8464 with any questions or information on booking. 

The post What to Do in San Francisco This Holiday Season appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Incredible Adventures: Alcatraz and Yosemite Day Tour

This awesome tour with us will be an unforgettable experience as you venture to some of the most iconic places in California. Below, you can learn more about what this tour will entail, and discover why going through Incredible Adventures is the right choice when it comes to going on not just a tour of Alcatraz but of anywhere throughout the United States. 

This tour really has it all, including an Alcatraz Day Tour or an Alcatraz Night Tour, complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off, knowledgeable tour guides, entrance to the Aquarium of the Bay and Yosemite Valley, as well as three hours of free time in Yosemite Valley. Our tour guides will also bring you on a narrated in-coach tour of Yosemite that lasts for about 90 minutes so that you can learn all about the park. 

Let’s get to the most exciting part: the tour of Alcatraz. Whether you choose to go during the day or night, you’ll get the full Alcatraz experience. When you’re at the prison, you’ll hear an abundance of interesting stories and be able to see how the prisoners lived, the food they ate, the bathrooms they had to use, and what life was like living at the prison. Day tours cost about $39, and night tours cost about $45, and they’re worth every buck!

After the exciting tour of Alcatraz, you’ll head to Yosemite at the Aquarium of the Bay. Spend a good chunk of time surrounded by the true beauty of Yosemite National Park that has been wowing visitors for over 125 years. With rushing waterfalls, massive granite monoliths, extensive valleys, and towering ancient sequoias, it’s the perfect place to get some gorgeous photos and enjoy nature. At the Aquarium of the Bay, you’ll be able to see over 20,000 sea creatures, including colorful fish, eels, sharks, sea lions, octopuses, and so much more. The Aquarium at the Bay is perfect for all ages!

To learn more about this tour, including pricing, head to the Incredible Adventures website.

Incredible Adventures

Incredible Adventures has been bringing people on exquisite tours all over the nation, each unique from one another. Whether you’re interested in seeing some of the most beautiful parks and staples of the nation, or want to adventure on bikes, boats, and more at some of the most gorgeous destinations in the country, Incredible Adventures has you covered. We have hundreds of tours that we bring families and friends on throughout the entire year, so be sure to book with us when you’re feeling adventurous. Visit the Incredible Adventures website for a complete list of tours and destinations, or call us at 1-800-777-8464 with any questions!

The post Experience the Ultimate Alcatraz Tour with Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Yosemite and Tahoe Sierras Tour with Incredible Adventures

With two-and-a-half tours between the Tahoe Sierras and Yosemite National Park, there’s plenty to see. Our brilliant guides know the area like the back of their hands and will make sure that you don’t miss out on a single thing during your four-day tour. As a four-day tour and plenty to see, we know you’ll be pretty tired by the time the sun goes down, which is why we have comfortable lodging accommodations every single night. Get ready for one of the most memorable adventures of your life on our Yosemite and Tahoe Sierras tour!

Get ready to explore Yosemite Valley and Yosemite High Country with your group and our guides—and make sure to take plenty of pictures. In Yosemite National Park, you’ll be blown away by the massive Sequoia trees and granite cliffs that surround you, and you’ll also meander past plenty of greenery, gorgeous wildflowers, and animals that call Yosemite their home. Visiting Yosemite National Park is an incredible experience that you won’t soon forget.

Along the way, we’ll make a stop at Mammoth Lakes, a quaint town located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. The town is a base for Devils Postpile National Monument, a formation of basalt columns, and Rainbow Falls. Next, we’ll bring you to Bodie Ghost Town, a deserted town that once was home to nearly 10,000 people. Small rustic homes are still standing, but surrounded by desert, making it a true ghost town. And, of course, we’ll make a stop at the beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Our four-day Yosemite and Tahoe Sierras tour costs $879, and it is well worth it, and that’s a promise! Book your tour with us online today.

Incredible Adventures

Our tour of Yosemite might just be the beginning of a very long relationship between you and us, Incredible Adventures. Once you not only experience the unique beauty of this area, but our excellent guidance and hospitality, you’ll be hooked! We explore destinations all over the country and have been bringing our new visitors and loyal visitors on some of the best vacations of their life. To learn more about Incredible Adventures, what we do, and where we visit, check us out online.

The post Embark on a Tour of Yosemite and the Tahoe Sierras appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

We’ve noticed a few silver-linings for those who still crave exploration of this beautiful City by the Bay. For one, there’s little traffic, a lack of crowds and available parking. Three things which were previously non-existent on this densely packed peninsula before. Mix in favorable weather and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a short getaway or a special ‘staycation’.

So whether you’re a visitor or a local, we argue that this fall offers a perfect time to take to the streets of San Francisco. Sure, you still can’t hop on a cable car or enjoy the atmosphere of a historic Gold Rush era bar, but the pleasant weather and plethora of safe and socially-distanced activities should make up for it for the time being.

Explore new beaches

If you didn’t even know San Francisco had beaches (it happens!), it’s the ultimate time to find out. While summer can tend to be foggy and surprisingly chilly here, fall brings clear days and warm temperatures. Beach day in October? How could you not.

For the largest and most accessible beaches, you’ll probably head to Ocean Beach or Crissy Field. For a more picturesque experience, travel along the Land’s End Trail where you’ll find a handful of secluded coves and white sandy stretches to explore. Baker Beach itself has a nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge and a public parking lot, but others involve climbing down some steep stairs to reach the sand.

Our favorite beach of all takes a little more effort to enjoy. On the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge inside the Golden Gate National Recreation Area lies Kirby Cove, a spectacular coarse-sand beach with panoramic views of the bridge and San Francisco skyline. To get there, you must hike down a steep 1 mile trail unless you happen to snag yourself a day-use or camping permit. These typically sell out  far in advance online, but it never hurts to look. If you get lucky and can grab a permit, you can skip the hike and drive directly down to the parking lot at the beach.

Rent a GoCar

One of the most unique and COVID-friendly ways to explore San Francisco is from the seat of a GoCar. These tiny yellow vehicles fit two people and allow you to self-drive around the city by following the ‘GPS guided storytelling’. Want to go your own way? That’s fine too. Use the provided map or your smartphone to guide your day.

Rent a go car with Incredible Adventures for the entire day and cruise down Lombard Street, through the mansions of the rich and famous and along the breezy Embarcadero. Or just wander and see the city from a new perspective.

Photograph the city without the crowds

If you’ve always dreamed about taking that perfect bridge photo or snap the ‘Painted Ladies’ at golden hour, consider it the time to do so. Without all the cars and pedestrians, San Francisco is a photographer’s dream.

Created in reaction to COVID-19, San Francisco now has 12 new ‘slow streets‘ which are closed to all vehicles. It’s never been easier to wander through neighborhoods without having to worry about busy traffic and small sidewalks.

Hit the city trails

While the hills of San Francisco make fine mountains to climb themselves, our city also happens to have spectacular green spaces and well-maintained urban hiking paths. Take to the Land’s End Trail for expansive ocean views and rugged coastline below. Alternatively, take your dog and explore the bluff trails through coastal Fort Funston. Ready for an all day cross-city adventure? The Crosstown Trail connects San Francisco’s diverse neighborhoods through a variety of urban trails and open spaces. Beginning at Candlestick Park in the southeastern part of the city and concluding at Land’s End, these 17 miles will bring you through the heart of the city and some of its most impressive views.

Grab your ‘travel pod’ and go wine tasting

Although the recent fires have been devastating for parts of wine country, that does not mean the whole area is closed. In fact, it’s a more important time than ever to support our favorite local wineries and businesses. Already struggling from COVID-19 shutdowns, nearby fires will also hurt business long after they have been put out. Air quality has improved drastically recently. To check for current conditions, visit Airnow.gov.

Ready to visit but need a DD? No problem. With the onset of the pandemic we expanded our private tours to offer services to “travel pods”, close family/friend groups that stick together to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  Gather your pod, kick back and leave the driving to us.

For private groups, you have the option to follow one of our current wine country tour itineraries, or have us create something custom and personalized. The choice is up to you.

Rates start at $178/per person for a full day wine country tour with two included tasting flights. Contact us for more details & to arrange.

Take a walk in the woods

If serene nature is what your heart desires, no need to travel far. Just twenty minutes from San Francisco lies Muir Woods National Monument. Walk beneath towering coastal redwoods over the many meandering trails and boardwalks.

Muir Woods National Monument requires a permit for parking, so be prepared before you visit.  Alternatively, skip the permit and join one of our Muir Woods & Sausalito Half Day Tours.  There’s no better way to spend a morning or afternoon then by exploring Muir Woods and also Sausalito. Make it into a whole day outing by taking the ferry from Sausalito to Pier 39 and walking along the Embarcadero to end your day.

Special offer through November 30! Use promo code ‘GOLOCAL‘ and get 15% off any Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour.

Cross Yosemite National Park off your bucket list

A staggering amount of Californians tell us they have never visited Yosemite. What a missed opportunity! But whether you are a Californian or not, right now is an optimal time to go. With pleasant autumn weather and little crowds, this is the Yosemite you want to experience. Don’t wait until high season arrives, or you might end up sitting in Yosemite Valley traffic.

There are many ways to explore the beauty of this park. If you plan to drive yourself, check out our favorite hotels on offer. Whether it’s a heated tent cabin or a comfy room inside Yosemite Valley, book as early as possible. With reduced hotel room capacity during the pandemic, they may quickly sell out. We also have tours that pickup in El Portal, right outside the park.

From San Francisco, there are many tours to choose from. Leave the winter driving to us and join one of our excursions. Relax and unwind on the drive then explore awe-inspiring Yosemite Valley at your leisure.

Tell us, which COVID-19 friendly activities or tours would you want to partake in this fall and winter?

The post Exploring San Francisco this 2021: COVID-friendly Activities & Tours appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Incredible Adventures: Hoover Dam Tours

On the Nevada-Arizona state line, you’ll find the magnificent Hoover Dam standing 726 feet high. This concrete arch-gravity dam harnesses the flow of the Colorado River and once-formed Lake Mead. This popular tourist attraction brings in about a million people per year, which is why we make sure we host only the very best tours. To learn more about our two favorite Hoover Dam tours, continue reading!

The Hoover Dam Tour

This tour of the Hoover Dam is a great option if you’re looking to spend an afternoon doing something adventurous. We’ll start by picking you up at your hotel in Las Vegas and continue  on to the VIP Hoover Dam Discovery Tour. We’ll also stop at the famous Las Vegas sign, as well as visit the generator room, visitor’s center, and observation deck at the Hoover Dam. The rate is $72 based on double occupancy, so you don’t have to break the bank to see some of the most famous attractions in the states!

The Black Canyon Hoover Dam Kayaking Tour

Float along the Colorado River below the Hoover Dam during this unique tour. You’ll launch right by the Hoover Dam and be able to admire it from below before heading over to the immaculate Emerald Cove Waterfalls. After seeing the picturesque waterfalls, kayak over to the Arizona hot springs and Black Canyon for a full day of amazing views. This tour costs $231 per person and is well worth it!

To view the multiple other tours that Incredible Adventures offers to the Hoover Dam, visit us online and book!

The post Experience Luxury Hoover Dam Tours with Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park: Incredible Adventures

There are so many different tour options of Bryce Canyon National Park through Incredible Adventures.  Whether you want to go with a large group or just you and your significant other, we have you covered! Continue reading to learn more about the amazing tours that Incredible Adventures has to offer of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.

Bryce Canyon Day Tour

On this day tour, you’ll be able to explore all of Bryce Canyon and its beauty in the perfect amount of time. Explore and take photos of the Bryce Canyon hoodoos, Thor’s Hammer, Inspiration Point, and all sorts of rural Utah landscapes. For just $248, you can see one of the most beautiful areas in all of Utah with excellent guides!

Bryce & Zion Camping Tour from Las Vegas

Travel across state lines to get to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. On this two-day tour, you’ll be able to completely immerse yourself in the natural beauty. From Las Vegas, spend a full day in Zion National Park and a full afternoon in Bryce Canyon National Park. The Virgin River, hoodoo Sandstone Spires, and Emerald Pools are an added bonus! Book this two-day camping tour for $310.

Bryce and Zion Canyon Day Tour

If one day is enough for you, but you want to see more than just Bryce Canyon National Park, then this day tour is perfect for you. See the beautiful Bryce Canyon hoodoos up close, as well as Zion Canyon and High Country, the Virgin River gorge, and picturesque rural Utah landscapes for just $269 per person.

These three tours of Bryce Canyon National Park are just a few of the many that are offered through Incredible Adventures. To view the rest of these tours, visit the Incredible Adventures website!

The post Visit the Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Take a Vacation to Reno, Nevada, through Incredible Adventures

You get the best of both worlds when you go on vacation to Reno, Nevada, with Incredible Adventures. You and your group are able to experience the beautiful outdoors but also get to explore the artsy city and all of the fun that comes along with it. For four days, tour with our team and create memories that will last a lifetime. To learn more about our tour of Reno, and all of the reasons you should visit, continue reading below.

Our professional guides will take you on our four-day tour, where you’ll spend the days participating in outdoor activities. You’ll swiftly be introduced to amazing nature and beautiful landscapes that you only see on postcards. At night, you can get a taste of the nightlife on the California and Nevada state line, and hop from brewery to brewery while admiring the hip culture. 

The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range is one of the many places you’ll be able to visit—keep your camera handy! From there, you’ll be able to hit the trails of the gorgeous Emerald Bay State Park, one of Tahoe’s most stunning areas. Snap pictures of the beautiful, deep blue colors of Lake Tahoe while enjoying the fresh air and warm sun. If you get too hot, cool off by taking a dip in the largest alpine lake in the United States.

If you’re a fan of breweries, or even if you’re not, the taprooms in Reno are places that you must go to if you’re visiting the area. This is why we make sure to stop at multiple breweries, so that beer lovers can get their fix and potentially sway people towards becoming beer lovers. And don’t forget: The local art scene is unique, as well as the eclectic vibe of the entire city. This four-day tour is $769 based on double occupancy, so if you’re interested, head to our website and book your tour online today!

Incredible Adventures

We hope that we’ve provided you with at least a few good reasons about why you should take a trip to Reno – there isn’t a doubt in our minds that you won’t love it! Incredible Adventures has been taking customers on tours all across the nation for many years, and we have perfected the touring industry. To learn more about us and other destinations you can visit with us, head to our website!

The post Why You Should Take a Trip to Reno, Nevada appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Our Las Vegas Tour: Starry Nights and City Lights

Vegas’s location, in the middle of the desert, means that there are beautiful landscapes all around the city, that aren’t far away. The Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Red Rocks, and the Bryce and Zion Canyons are just a few of the beautiful landscapes that you’ll have easy access to when you visit Las Vegas. Our nine-day Starry Nights and City Light Las Vegas tour will show you a few of the picturesque places surrounding the city.

Over a span of nine days, you’ll explore the western United States with a professional guide, and you’ll learn a lot along the way! You’ll visit Yosemite National Park, El Capitan, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point, Tioga Pass, Half Dome, Giant Sequoia Trees, and the Yosemite Valley. These gorgeous landscapes will take your breath away, and you’ll get some great photo-ops.

You’ll also be able to visit other beautiful places as well, like Death Valley National Park, Furnace Creek, Big Sur and the California Coastline, La La Land, and of course, Sin City itself. Enjoy hiking in the iconic California state and national parks, and camping as well. Or, stay in luxurious hotels each night if you’re not big into camping! In nine days, you’ll be able to say that you have visited some of the most iconic staples in the United States.

At a rate of $1,639 for double occupancy, you’ll have an absolute blast exploring the western United States with the people you love. You’ll remember this Las Vegas tour forever, through pictures and through the wonderful memories we know you’ll create.

Incredible Adventures

Incredible Adventures has been taking our guests on tours all over the country for over 30 years! We pride ourselves on giving the highest quality tours that are fun, educational, and enjoyable for everyone. Experience the beauty that creates the United States through camping, biking, hiking, and many other activities! We know that no matter what type of tour, or where you choose to go, we know that you’ll have an incredible time with Incredible Adventures.

The post Take a Tour of Las Vegas appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

The Top 3 Grand Canyon Tours

We have 14 amazing Grand Canyon tours that we know you’ll love – because there are so many, it might be hard for you to choose which one to go on! Each of our tours offers a distinct experience. To make it easier on you, read below to learn more about the top three Grand Canyon tours for this summer.

2-Day Grand Canyon Camping Tour From Las Vegas

If you love camping, or even if you don’t, you’re going to fall in love with our Grand Canyon camping tours. On this two-day tour, you’ll see Las Vegas, the sunrise and sunset at the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, the Historic Route 66, the Railroad town of Williams, as well as the Colorado River. You’ll also be able to enjoy hiking and exploring the South Rim! Camping under the stars is an experience you won’t soon forget. At $310 for double occupancy, you can choose to do a private tour or a group tour.

3-Day National Parks Camping Tour From Las Vegas

This three-day camping trip is one you’ll remember forever. Aside from an optional helicopter ride, you’ll experience Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley. You’ll also be able to explore two national parks – Zion National Park and Bryce National Park. Everywhere you go will be scenic, and perfect for some photo ops. At $675 for double occupancy with private tour options available, you’ll be blown away when you take this tour!

Grand Canyon West Rim Helicopter Tour

Riding in a helicopter is a surreal experience in itself, but the views you’ll get from up above are breathtaking! From the luxury Eco-Star helicopter, you’ll see the Grand Canyon West Rim, the Hualapai Indian Reservation, Fortification Hill, the Bowl of Fire, the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Temple Rock, Wild Pinto Wash, and the Iceberg Canyon! This tour is $524 for double occupancy and well worth it – the views from up above are unbeatable.

Incredible Adventures

For years, we have been offering travelers a safe and reliable way to connect with nature. We were founded on a love for the outdoors, which is why we give some of the best tours. When you choose any of our tours, you’ll love the fun-filled atmosphere of each excursion. We are known as the ‘Greenest Tour Company in San Francisco,’ where we promote sustainability of everywhere we visit through the use of eco-friendly renewable alternative biofuels – no matter how we travel, you can sleep peacefully and guilt-free. To contact us to book a tour, call us at 1-800-777-8464. 

The post Experience a Grand Canyon Tour With Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

San Francisco Bike Rental

Through Incredible Adventures, you can choose from three different bikes – a comfort hybrid, a mountain bike, or a tandem bike! At just $36 per day, you’ll have a blast getting exercise and enjoying beautiful views from all around the city.

When you rent a bike through us, you’ll also get a front pack, maps, helmets, a bike lock, a rear rack, and a bungee cord. Whether you want to only go for a few hours, or make an entire day of it, the $36 you pay for your bike is all you have to pay! Choose any day of the week, as we rent our bikes Sunday through Saturday. Pick up and drop-off for the bikes is at Union Square or Fisherman’s Wharf.

After picking up your bike, use our maps to start your biking tour of San Francisco! Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, explore Sausalito and take the ferry back, or bike through the beautiful Golden Gate Park – or do all three! Take some great photos and enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area. We know you’ll love our San Francisco biking tour!

Incredible Adventures

If you’re looking for any sort of tour to significant areas of the United States, Incredible Adventures is without a doubt the best company to go through. We pride ourselves on providing safe, fun, and educational tours all over the country. Create memories with your friends and family, and experience the beauty that is the United States. Whether you want to camp, ride in a helicopter, go biking, hiking, or exploring, we have a tour of the area you’ll want to go to. Visit our website to learn more about where and when we offer our tours!

The post Bike in San Francisco Through Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Our Fabulous Yellowstone National Park Camping Tour

There aren’t words to explain the picturesque views you’ll see when you go on our Yellowstone National Park Camping Tour. Aside from Yellowstone, you’ll see the gorgeous Rocky Mountains and tons of other natural wonders nearby. To learn more about our amazing tour, read below.

Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain Camping Tour From Las Vegas

This seven-day tour will introduce you to Yellowstone, America’s very first national park. Camp with us in the beautiful forests and the mountains of Yellowstone, and see all of the amazing wildlife that calls Yellowstone their home. This Yellowstone National Park tour is one of our best.

You’ll spend two days in Yellowstone National Park, and the rest of the days exploring all around to see even more natural beauty in surrounding states. To start, you’ll explore the city of Las Vegas. From there, explore the Grand Tetons, Rocky Mountains, Bryce National Park, Salt Lake City, and Snow Canyon. Experience personal connections with nature and the wildlife that inhabit all of these gorgeous places, and take some amazing photos so you can remember this forever – although we doubt you’ll need pictures to remember. 

For double occupancy, the cost is $1,199. This adult rate is for those who are 7+ years old – posted rates are subject to annual changes.

Incredible Adventures

Incredible Adventures is all about sustainability. We are the ‘Greenest Tour Company in San Francisco’, and we make sure to stay true to that. For years, we have been taking people on tours around the country to see some of the most beautiful places. We bring you to these destinations through the use of eco-friendly renewable alternative biofuels. There’s nothing you won’t love about any of our tours – we’re sure of that!

The post Enjoy a Yellowstone National Park Camping Tour appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Unfortunately, a visit to our National Parks isn’t always synonymous with the above. In the past decade, our parks have seen a surge in visitors resulting in traffic, crowded trails and a lack of wildlife. Just as the pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, it will also change how we visit our parks.

As Yosemite National Park experts since 1993, you can trust Incredible Adventures for up-to-date information on visiting this paradise of the Sierra Nevadas. Whether you decide to come with us or visit on your own, protect this special place by remembering to ‘Leave No Trace‘ and by following all social-distancing guidelines throughout the parks.

WHAT TO EXPECT

With 83 days being mostly visitor-free, Yosemite National Park (and all U.S. parks) have had some room to breath. Alpine meadows are growing thick and wildlife has been free to emerge without the fear of humans. While you will need a day permit to visit this year (see below for permit details), you can be certain to have some room to breath yourself. For the time being, gone are the days of sitting in Yosemite Valley bottleneck traffic to enter or exit the park. This year, Yosemite will only be returning to a 50% capacity of last year’s numbers.

Even though visitor numbers will be well-below year’s past, there are still a few things to keep in mind. Yosemite National Park covers an unbelievable 1,169 square miles, with 94% of that being designated wilderness. While those are some huge numbers, most everyone that visits Yosemite visits the same contained area—Yosemite Valley. What’s more, Yosemite Valley barely makes up 1% of the entire National Park.

If you’re looking for peace and quiet, regardless of if you are visiting during a pandemic or not, make sure to visit multiple areas of the park. While Yosemite Valley is the most well known, there are numerous regions of the park which are just as beautiful but with less crowds.

What’s Open

Yosemite is currently engaging in a ‘phased reopening’. That being said, most of the park is open for visitors, minus some services. For the full and up-to-date list of what’s open and what’s not, be sure to check the Yosemite National Park Website.

As of June 11, 2020 the following areas and services are open:

• Trails: All trails are open as normal, with route modifications for the Mist Trail due to popularity.
• Campgrounds: Currently Upper Pines Campground is open at 50% capacity and Wawona Horse Camp (horse camping required) is open. All other campgrounds are yet to officially open. It is not recommended to show up to the park for an overnight stay without a reservation. Sleeping in cars is only allowed with a campground reservations.
• Hotels: Most hotels are open at a reduced capacity including Yosemite Valley Lodge and the Curry Village Tent Cabins.
• Services: Facilities and services are reduced throughout Yosemite National Park. In Yosemite Valley, the theater and Yosemite Museum are both closed. The Yosemite National Park shuttle will also not be operating.
• Roads: All roads (including Tioga Road) are now open as normal with the exception of Hetch Hetchy Road, which is only open from 8AM to 5PM.
• Sequoia Groves: There are multiple Sequoia groves around the park, all of which are currently open. Mariposa Grove can be reached by parking at the Mariposa Welcome Plaza, but once that is full you must walk the two-miles (each way) on the Washburn Trail or on Mariposa Grove Road to reach the trails of the grove itself.
• Gas: Gas is currently available in Wawona, El Portal, and Crane Flat.

It is invaluable to remember that the free park shuttle will NOT be operating this year. If you planned on a car-free visit to the park, see our recommendations below.

Wilderness Permits

Wilderness permits for overnight hikes to Half Dome and the backcountry are currently open. All wilderness permits and quotas still remain in effect. If you have a wilderness permit for anytime past June 5th, it will be honored and you will be contacted on how to receive the permit via email.

The Best Time to Visit

All seasons are unique and beautiful within Yosemite National Park. Typically, summer is hot, dry and full of crowds. If you’ve always avoided Yosemite during the summer, maybe this is your best chance to visit. If you have the flexibility, the fall typically offers warm and clear days, but more comfortable temperatures.

Don’t be hesitant about visiting Yosemite during shoulder or slow seasons. Whether it’s a foggy and cool morning or a snow-covered scene, Yosemite is a sight to behold.

How to Visit

Visiting Yosemite National Park this year will differ drastically than years past. Basically, there are three main ways to visit until further notice.

1. By private vehicle

To visit the park in your own vehicle, Yosemite National Park has implemented a day-use reservation system on recreation.gov.  Permits must be reserved prior to your visit, with 80% being available one month in advance and 20% being available 2 days in advance. You must make sure to enter the park on the first day of your permit or risk it being cancelled. Permits last for 7 days and cost $35 per car. You do not need to pay per person, only per vehicle.

Since the implementation of this permit system, reservations have been going quickly. It is highly recommended to be logged on at 7am Pacific Time one month prior to your visit to try and get a permit. Remember, permit numbers are based on 50% capacity of last year, so as tourism picks up there will not be enough permits to go around. Once in the park though, you’ll have the freedom to go wherever you like. Since the free park shuttle is not operating this year, it will be more difficult to reach areas outside of Yosemite Valley without a personal vehicle.

Don’t forget, it is highly discouraged to come to the park and plan to stay overnight without a reservation. For comfortable and conveniently located rooms, you can easily make your reservation with us. We often times have availability even though other sites are still sold out.

For comfortable rooms nearly at the base of Yosemite Falls, be sure to check out Yosemite Valley Lodge. If you’d rather feel closer to nature, look into the historic tent cabins in Curry Village. With heated or unheated rooms and multiple occupancy styles, this rustic option involves all the best parts of camping, without having to sacrifice comfort.

2. By public transportation

As stated above, the free National Park shuttle is not operating this year within the park. Fortunately, YARTS, the Yosemite public transit service, will still be in operation with some slight changes. The public transportation connecting Highways 108,120, 140, 41 and 395 to Yosemite Valley will offer a reduced capacity service, allowing 22 advance reservations with a maximum of 30 passengers per vehicle.

It is important to remember that while you can take YARTS into the Yosemite Valley, once you are there there will be no transportation available to visit other areas of the park. Make sure to visit https://www.yarts.com/ for more information.

3. By small-group tour

By far our favorite option, joining a tour allows you to easily visit all areas of the park while not needing to have obtained a day-use permit in advance. Yosemite Hospitality will not be operating their typical bus tours this year, but there are still a few other operators to choose from, including ourselves!

Benefits of joining our tours:

• No day-use permit needed. All of our tours include Yosemite National Park entry
• Leave the stressors of driving around a mountainous and expansive park to our professional drivers
• No need to deal with parking inside the park
• During this unpredictable time, our guides have expert knowledge of what’s currently going on around the park
• Leave lunch to us. Our Best of Yosemite and High Country Tour both include a fresh box lunch we source from outside the park
• Get tips on the best trails and how to visit the park like a pro, even under time constraints

We’ve implemented many health and safety protocols in response to COVID-19. See our Health & Safety page dedicated to the subject for all the ways we are keeping you safe.

Click above to see our four NEW Yosemite tours to help you expertly explore the park during COVID-19.

Are you planning on visiting Yosemite this 2020?

The post Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Yosemite National Park in 2020 appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

The spread of the coronavirus around the world has left us in an unprecedented time for both business and health. Unfortunately no industry has been hit harder than the travel industry itself. As of Tuesday, April 7th, San Francisco went into a ‘shelter-in-place’ order, calling a stop to all non-essential travel.

While we believe experiencing the great outdoors is definitely an ‘essential’ experience, we stand with the local government and prioritize the health of our guides, staff and community first. Still, Incredible Adventures is a small, family-owned business. We are feeling the effects of this devastating event faster and heavier than possibly anticipated.

As of today, Friday March 20th, we are closing our doors temporarily to help curb the effects of this shutdown on our business. All of us can’t wait to get back to work; our fantastic sales team who fields our calls and coordinates our tours and bookings, our hard-working & enthusiastic guides who are the backbone of our business and our dedicated management team who work behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly.

We plan to be back in business April 7th doing the work we love- providing people with eco-friendly travel experiences and outdoor memories to last a lifetime.

Now more than ever the travel industry needs your help

It’s during challenging times like these that we are reminded of the importance of travel. Travel teaches us about the natural world, about each other and about ourselves. If you also believe in the value of travel and want to see eco-friendly, sustainable tourism continue throughout the Bay Area and beyond, we humbly ask for your support.

Booking a gift certificate with us will not only help get our wheels turning again, but will also allow you to travel with us at anytime in the future on any tour. Know exactly when you want to take a tour with us? No problem, all trips are currently open from late April throughout the rest of the year.

We can’t wait to take you on a tour and show you our favorite destinations soon.

BUY A GIFT CERTIFICATE ONLINE

Thank you for the support, stay healthy & stay home!

– Jessica & the Incredible Team

The post Help Support the Travel Industry during the COVID-19 Closure appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

With so many different trails, it’s hard not to spend at least one day hiking in Big Sur. Immerse yourself in nature and explore the gorgeous coastline, trees, ocean, and everything else Big Sur offers.

Big Sur’s Beautiful Hiking Trails

There are dozens of beautiful trails for hiking in Big Sur. These hikes will bring you through enchanted greenery or to the crashing waves, depending on what type of scenery you’d like to see. Below are a few favorite Big Sur hiking trails.

Mill Creek Trail

Mill Creek Trail is known as one of Big Sur’s most significant hikes. The 3.6-mile hike is almost completely shaded underneath giant redwood, sycamore, and maple trees, making it a refreshing hike during all four seasons. At the beginning of the hike, you’ll be surrounded by California bay trees and a rushing creek. Eventually, the trail and the creek join together, and you will be able to hike upstream the rest of the way and wade through the water.

The Sand Dollar Beach Trail

This hike is a lovely combination of beach and trail. While hiking here, you’ll be able to see up and down the coast as you take the mile-long path to the overlook. From there, you might even be able to see whales or dolphins as they move up and down the coast. Hike back down the same trail to head to the beach. Sand Dollar Beach is the broadest unbroken swathe of sand along the Big Sur, making it a great place to hike and hangout.

Jade Cove Trail

The Jade Cove Trail is a simple, flat path that loops out to the coast and down to the water so that hikers can search for jade. Hikers are encouraged to look for the trail that heads northwest out to Plaskett Rock point before heading down to the cove. Take caution, as hiking down to the cove is steep and can be treacherous. Once you’ve reached the cove, the views and the refreshing water makes it all worth it.

Monterey & Big Sur Discovery 2-Day Hotel Tour

If you’re visiting Big Sur but want to do so much more than hiking, then this tour is the right one for you. Incredible Adventures created this excursion so that visitors can have a well-rounded experience in Big Sur. Explore the coastal redwoods of Big Sur and take some photos of the breathtaking coastline. You’ll have the option of visiting the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium or hop onto an e-bike for a 17-mile tour. All of the activities will be over two days, with one night spent at a lovely beachside hotel.

Enjoy Big Sur With Incredible Adventures

We have made it our mission to create some of the best tours, for anything, all around the world. If you want to do more than just hiking in Big Sur, then book with Incredible Adventures. Our Big Sur tours are second to none – we make sure that you get a little taste of everything that Big Sur has to offer. Be at one with nature, but also with luxury and comfort as you make your way around Big Sur with us! To book the tour that is perfect for you, check availability online or give us a call at 1-800-777-8464.

The post Spend the Day Hiking in Big Sur appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

California’s Wine Country is the home of over 800 wineries, all waiting to be explored by you! Eight hundred wineries is overwhelming, which is why Sonoma and Napa Valley wine tours were created. Find the best tour for you and enjoy Wine Country as you should!

The 3 Supreme Sonoma and Napa Valley Wine Tours

If you’re interested in a Sonoma and Napa Valley wine tour, but not sure which is the best, we have narrowed it down to the very best trips through Wine Country.

Muir Woods With Napa & Sonoma Wine Country

Explore Muir Woods and all of its colossal old-growth redwood trees. On this tour, you will be able to walk the winding trails among the trees and take in all of the beauty. With two separate wine tastings spread across Napa and Sonoma Valley, you’ll taste an assortment of the finest red, white, and dessert wines in North America. The tour will also take you across the Golden Gate Bridge with a stop to take photos and to lunch in the Sonoma Plaza!

Napa and Sonoma World Class Wine Tour

This all-inclusive tour includes three wine tastings from different wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valley and a 45-minute Benziger Winery Tram Tour. Aside from wine, Benziger Family Winery has baby sheep, bees, and an abundance of native plants. On the tram tour, you will be able to walk through the vineyard, see how wine is made, and visit the wine caves! The tour will also stop at the Golden Gate Bridge and serve a picnic lunch.

Napa and Sonoma 2-Day Wine Tour

If you can’t decide between the tours listed above, then this two-day tour is the right one for you. You will spend two full days in Wine Country with a total of five wine tastings in both Sonoma and Napa Valley. The tour will bring you to Muir Woods National Monument, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge. You will be able to hop aboard the Benziger Winery Tram Tour and explore the vineyard, wine caves, and the Sonoma Plaza. With a hotel provided, this Sonoma and Napa Valley wine tour is hard to beat!

Incredible Adventures

Founded on a love for the outdoors, Incredible Adventures has been aiding society in finding safe and reliable ways to connect with nature since 1993. Our Sonoma and Napa Valley wine tours are the most luxurious way to experience Wine Country and all that it has to offer. If you’d like to book through the phone, or have any questions, call Incredible Adventures at 1-800-777-8464.

The post Sonoma and Napa Valley Wine Tours With Incredible Adventures appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

It’s important to stay informed and do your part to reduce risks to yourself and others especially when planning on traveling to San Francisco during COVID-19. Here are four ways to make the most of your visit to our beautiful city while protecting yourself and others.

Take precautions as recommended by the CDC and WHO

It doesn’t matter where you might be traveling, it’s important to take all the necessary precautions to keep yourself and others healthy. Currently, the CDC recommends:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to  others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

As you can see there are many simple ways to protect yourself and others from the spread of the virus during travel as advised by official health organizations. Please visit the below links for the most updated information:

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel by the CDC
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) travel advice by WHO

Stay home if you’re feeling unwell

It’s never been more important to remember to stay home if you are feeling unwell and/or exhibiting symptoms. Regardless of if you plan on sightseeing solo or joining one of our tours, we appreciate your cooperation in reducing the spread of any kind of virus. We are currently recommending the same for our guides and staff and will be continuing to provide clean and sanitized vehicles.

If you’re in San Francisco and are looking for a location to get a flu shot, visit SFCDCP for locations and fees.

Visit those attractions that would typically be too busy or crowded

With many large companies advocating their staff work from home and with many large conferences postponed, there is one silver-lining to visiting San Francisco over the coming weeks and months– it will be a lot less crowded. Typically, San Francisco is brimming with tourists and business travelers but now is the perfect time to take advantage of the fewer crowds. Get those picture-perfect photos of our streets without people in them, snag a seat on our historic street and cable cars or obtain that last-minute reservation at one of our many famous restaurants.

Don’t forget about tickets and tours either. While typically sold out far in advance, now may be the perfect time to get coveted Alcatraz tickets. Bundled with one of our tours, you’ll also be able to see the best of the Bay Area in a short amount of time. Additionally, this may be the perfect time to get some fresh air and visit our National Parks without the usual crowds. Muir Woods National Monument and Yosemite National Park are a dream come true in the slow season and some time in nature might just be what the psychiatrist ordered during these stressful times.

Look out for special deals and promotions

The travel industry is one of the many economic sectors being hit hard in light of COVID-19. Many conferences coming to San Francisco have been rescheduled and many flights from China have been paused. The lack of visitors not only means less crowds but also the opportunity to find great promotions or discounts on anything from flights to hotel rooms and even tours. Here at Incredible Adventures we are currently offering the following deals to help you get out and explore the beauty of Northern California:

• • 20% off all wine tours when booked before April 1st

Save 20% off your wine tour when you make your booking before April 1st. Travel anytime this year and use code WINE2020 at checkout. We will also waive the 6% booking fee when you call us directly to book! Discount applicable to the following:

• • • • Napa and Sonoma World Class Wine Tour
      • Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
      • Redwoods, Sonoma, and Napa Wine 2 Day Hotel Tour
        
      • Alcatraz Day Tour (Day 1) + Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour (Day 2)
      • Alcatraz Night Tour and Aquarium (Day 1) + Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour (Day 2)

• • 10% off all winter tours departing from San Francisco                       

Get 10% off when you book a tour departing from San Francisco before June 1st. Use code IAWINTERWONDERLAND at checkout. Call us to book and we will waive the service fees too.

Be sure to check our ‘Deals’ page for more.

We continue to welcome you to our city and wish you safe and healthy travels.

-From all of us here at Incredible Adventures

The post Tips for Traveling to San Francisco during COVID-19 appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

What is Firefall?

Firefall is a natural phenomenon that happens every late winter/early spring in Yosemite National Park. As the sun begins to set, Horsetail Falls becomes a thin ribbon of embered orange with hues of red, cascading to the valley floor. This mystical glow is a timely manner, only striking for 2 weeks in February, 10-15 minutes before the sun fully disappears behind towering rock faces. This year, the naturally occurring Firefall starts February 14, 2020.

The Firefall is a fickle phenomena as several variables must perfectly converge. There must be enough snow melt where Horsetail Falls is actually flowing, but this fall has a peak flow season of December through April, keeping chances quite high. Furthermore, the sky must be crystal clear at sunset. Even subtle clouds can block sun rays from making their way through to the falls. When nature harmoniously merges during this time, visitors are left with one of Yosemite’s breathtaking sights adding to the supernatural effect of the park.’

The History of Firefall in Yosemite

‘Last Light on Horsetail Falls‘ is the first known photograph to capture the Firefall in all its vivid glory. Taken in 1973 by Galen Rowell, a National Geographic photographer, the photograph made the annual event a bucket list view for aspiring photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. “The most interesting parts of the natural world are the edges, places where ocean meets land, meadow meets forest, timberline touches the heights,” stated Rowell, or in this case where sun meets water.

Although the name is reminiscent of the spectacle’s similarity to the golden blaze of summer bonfires, the naturally occurring Firefall inherited its name from a Yosemite tradition dating back to the nineteenth century.

A small inn, known as ‘The Mountain House’ was built at the top of Glacier Point in 1873. It served as a resting place for those traveling James McCauley’s toll trail from Yosemite Valley to the base of Sentinel Rock, a route now known as ‘The Four Mile Trail’ and one of the valley’s most popular hikes. The building of ‘The Mountain House’ and the addition of The Glacier Point Hotel in 1917 made the area more suitable for travelers, growing in popularity. As a form of summer entertainment, large bonfires were built during the evenings with red fir bark on the edge of Glacier Point. As flames gave way and the night continued to darken, piles of crimson embers were pushed over the edge, creating a steady flow of light.

To view a stream of fire tumbling down 3,000 feet became a sought-after event from Camp Curry (now Curry Village) down in the valley. Starting in 1872, the event became a ritual, occurring every evening at 9:00pm until it’s last descent in January 1968. After almost a century, the park service banned the firefall event due to its unnatural essence and severe damage among local meadows.

How to see Firefall this February

Despite the end of an era with the man-made firefall tradition, the history lives on each February as visitors flock to witness the grandeur of it’s natural replacement. Let us take you to see the Yosemite Firefall this winter! This year the Firefalls are scheduled to occur February 14th through 27th, and luckily we still have hotel rooms available within the Valley.

There are two ways to experience this must-see phenomenon: Take the trip at your own pace and book a hotel room or join one of our tours to receive both transportation, a guided tour of Yosemite Valley and a hotel room.

Here are more details on how to secure your spot:

1. Book a hotel room and self-drive to the park

It is recommended to stay in Yosemite Valley when viewing Firefall. With the additional visitors during this time period and a lack of parking, staying within Yosemite Valley is the most convenient option. These rooms book up fast online, but we still have a few rooms available at a few of our preferred accommodation options: Yosemite Valley Lodge and the Half Dome Village Tent Cabins (weekends only through winter).

Check our hotels page to see live availability for both of those hotels and to find out more information. Remember, book quickly for the 2020 event!

2. Take in the sights as you journey to Yosemite on one of our tours!

Our Yosemite Winter Hotel Tour covers your transportation to and from Yosemite, letting you focus on the snow-capped mountains rather than the winding roads. Enjoy a full afternoon of roaming the valley, cross Firefall off your bucket list, and wake up to the morning light gushing over Half Dome.

Yosemite National Park in February is as good as winter gets!

Act fast before all rooms sell out. For more information, feel free to call us at (415) 642-7378

The post Witness Yosemite’s ‘Firefall’ this 2020 appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Live the best of both worlds 

A great perk to being an Incredible Guide is the balance between life in the city and love for the mountains. Most of us here at Incredible Adventures love the outdoors. When we’re off the clock you can catch us hiking, rock climbing, biking, or pondering the aisles of city gear shops dreaming up our next incredible adventure. Although a city, San Francisco affords easy access to outdoor driven passions. 



However, living in the city also affords the opportunity to indulge in the quirks of the innovative and lively peninsula. Wander world-class farmer’s markets, eat at some of the most reputable restaurants or catch a sports game and experience the spirit of this city’s fan base. On a sunny afternoon you can picnic in Golden Gate or Dolores Park and get a front row seat to those picturesque California sunsets. Live in the lights of San Francisco, and work under the stars in places like Yosemite National Park, Wine Country, and Lake Tahoe.

It’s the best of both worlds!

From hiking boots to high heels, our girl guides head out to enjoy the nightlife of San Francisco

Tag, you’re it!  

Our guide Daniel brings his group- and a cozy sleeping bag- to enjoy sunset in Yosemite High Country.


You might run the same trip a dozen times over the summer, but it will never be the same. With every trip, you have a new group and that will always change your outlook and itinerary. The exciting part is on a lot of the trips you create the schedule!

You may be visiting the same place but when your groups vary in age, size, and interest it always keeps you on your toes and you’ll find new places to explore and new ways to operate. You might come up with a new dinner menu to cook around the campfire, discover a new marketplace in wine country for lunch, or find a hidden swimming spot to cool down on those boiling August afternoons. Monotonous and boring days are not found when you guide with Incredible Adventures. You’ll know how to make every trip great for your group with your own incredible secrets and personal style!

Learn about the world from people around the world 

Your passengers will be from everywhere. In a short time your bucket list of places to visit will grow exponentially. Every traveler is the best spokesperson for their own country so places that never crossed your mind will suddenly appear at the top of your list. It’s the advantage of learning about these locations from a local rather than a websearch.

Similarly, as a guide, you will be the local for northern California’s greatest attractions.
While descending into the grey cliffs of Yosemite Valley, you’ll entice your passengers with the history of how this sublime wonderland came to be. Or share how the grapes of Wine Country are a significant ingredient to the glass of pinot noir they’re currently drinking in a rustic tasting room. With this work comes the benefit of educational exchange; you learn a great deal about the world from your passengers and they will learn the intricacies of California’s greatest destinations from you!

 
Born in the south shore of Massachusetts, Mikayla‘s love for camping and hiking came later in life. Throughout college Mikayla ventured around New England running, hiking, and biking but headed west after graduation with a desire to be surrounded by mountains bigger than what her hometown could offer. Mikayla first taught outdoor education in the Sierra Nevada mountains before becoming one of Incredible Adventure’s most knowledgable guides. When Mikayla is not exploring this new corner of the west you can find her in the kitchen whipping up a new recipe to take on the trail, reading the newest memoir in her hammock, or en route to a new donut shop as she has a bucket list of 36 across the U.S.

Looking to apply? Visit Increcruitment.squarespace.com for more information and to submit your application.

The post Make Your Summer An Incredible Adventure appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Volunteering isn’t only helpful for others. Studies show that giving back can be beneficial for our own well-being as well. Focusing on something or someone else reduces stress and increases both self-confidence and brain function. Volunteering can also help you feel connected to your community, make new friends and get active in the process.

Finding a way to give some of your time to help our environment and community doesn’t have to be hard. Here are our favorite avenues for giving back to the Bay Area.

1. Volunteer with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

One of our favorite ways as a company to get together and give back at the same time is by volunteering with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Not only do these opportunities help benefit the important natural areas so dear to us, but we always have a good time while we’re at it too.

Just recently, the Incredible Adventures crew spent a morning at Muir Woods getting our hands dirty and helping clean up the under-appreciated but always important boardwalks. These boardwalks through the park not only provide a nice terrain for visitors, but they also are crucial for protecting the coastal redwoods which we all cherish so much. In order to keep these boardwalks in good condition and safe for visitors, they must be swept and cleaned regularly, which is a large undertaking for anyone.

Volunteering with the G.G.N.R.A can offer opportunities from curb painting to beach cleanup, but ‘deck flossing’ was both a fun and satisfying activity. With the use of a sharp flossing tool, we dug all of the debris from the trees out from in between the wooden planks. This way, the rain water can drain to the root systems down below and the wooden boardwalks can stay in good condition. After digging up all the “duff,” we swept the area to provide a clear and non-slippery surface for all the visitors to the woods.

If you’re looking for a group volunteer activity, we can’t recommend working with the G.G.N.R.A enough!

2. Help out at the SF Food Bank

With a mission to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, the SF Food Bank could use volunteer help more than ever. Currently, 141,000 people count on the the food bank each week. From morning snacks for low-income students to home delivered groceries for seniors, the food bank plays a critical role in keeping hunger at bay in our community.

It’s also extremely easy to plan your visit. With the ease of the online calendar, choose an available shift any day of the week in one of their two locations. Shifts typically last for two hours and involve sorting and packaging food. The food bank also offers seasonal opportunities and most events accept children.

3. Donate to a shelter for holiday meals

Don’t currently have the time to choose and attend a volunteer event? One easy way to give back is by donating to Bay Area Rescue Mission so they can provide meals for those in need, especially over the holiday season. All it takes is $2.05 to feed a hungry person, so donating $50 provides 24 meals and care for those in need.

Bay Area Rescue Mission is a non-profit and you can make these donations online through PayPal or over the phone.

4. Help some furry friends with Family Dog Rescue

Our furry friends need some care this holiday season too. With the help of volunteers, Family Dog Rescue is able to rescue over 1,000 dogs per year. If you’re an animal lover, this may be the most fun you could have giving back. All first-time volunteers will need to attend a short training program before beginning but after that you’re free to help by walking, grooming, training and playing with the dogs.

5. Find more creative options with Hands On Bay Area

If you’re looking for something different to try, or a volunteer outing that’s more unique, Hands On Bay Area has a plethora of option to choose from. Whether it’s gardening or trail building, their volunteer calendar is bound to have something you’re interested in.

Hands On Bay Area also organizes volunteer events for groups and companies, so you’ll be able to give back regardless of your group size.

Whatever you decide to do, your efforts will go a long way to make sure we are taking care of this wonderful city and the residents that call it home, regardless of the season.

The post 5 Ways to Give Back in the Bay Area this Holiday Season appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

People come from all over the world to view the ancient coastal redwoods of Muir Woods. Some of these giant trees are over 2,000 years old and stand at over 300 feet tall! However, with over 19 million people visiting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area per year, Muir Woods has become limited in its parking options and can often become crowded on certain days of the year.

On January 15, 2018, Muir Woods moved to a reservation system for those who wish to park and visit the woods. You will not be able to park your car in the lot without a valid permit for a specific date and time, and these permits often are reserved several weeks and even months in advance.

This could pose a problem for folks trying to get to Muir Woods last minute, or who don’t have their own transportation. Getting there from San Francisco can often get complicated, but luckily we have a few solutions for you!

#1 – Rent a car

This solves the problem of getting to Muir Woods – but doesn’t solve the problem with the permit, which you absolutely need or you won’t be allowed to park in the lot adjacent to the woods. Another option is parking at Mt. Tamalpais and walking to the woods, but with thousands of people visiting the area every day, many of those spots will be taken as well. If you do happen to find a spot on Mt. Tamalpais, wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to travel a long way down to the woods, then up the steep hill coming back.

#2 – Uber/Lyft TO the Woods… but not back!

Technically, you can still take Uber to Muir Woods – although this may change in the future. The only problem is getting back. There is no cell signal or wifi in the woods, and thus ordering a car via your phone to return to San Francisco isn’t possible. There IS a pay phone at the woods (those still exist?!) so you can always order a cab… but then you’re looking at an over $100 fare for the round trip.

#3 – Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge

While we highly recommend biking across the Golden Gate bridge during your stay in San Francisco, getting to Muir Woods via the winding roads of Mt. Tamalpais can be a struggle. While it is possible, we only recommend this option for those who have lots of previous biking experience, or are training for the Tour de France.

#4 – Take the Muir Woods Shuttle

This option works if you are going to the woods on a weekend between May – October. You can either bike across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sausalito Ferry Terminal, or take the ferry to Sausalito from the ferry building on Embarcadero. If you are taking the ferry over from San Francisco, make sure you double check the schedule of departures, or be prepared to wait an hour or so for the next one.

#5 – Take a Tour to Muir Woods via Biofuelled Van

Incredible Adventures offers a few different types of tours that give you direct, no hassle access to get to Muir Woods. We pick up at several central hotel locations, and drive you in a small group (never more than 13 people to a van) across the Golden Gate Bridge for a photo opportunity, before heading to Muir Woods.

There’s a couple pros to this option:

• Takes the hassle out of coordinating transportation.
• Costs less than what you’d pay to rent a car and deal with the permitting situation.
• It is kinder to the air – our vans run on biofuels that cause less harm to the environment. We do our part to keep beautiful areas like Muir Woods healthy for generations to come.

Our Muir Woods and Sausalito tour only takes a half day, and gives you the opportunity to not only explore the woods, but also explore charming Sausalito before you head back to San Francisco (either via ferry, or going back on the van). If you also want to explore another iconic part of Northern California, we also offer a tour that takes you to Muir Woods and Sonoma Wine Country, in which we visit two award-winning, family-owned wineries. Tastings are included in the price of your tour!

In addition to our easy access to get to Muir Woods, we can also combine either experience with guaranteed tickets to the famous Alcatraz, for either our day or night tour.

The post How to Get to Muir Woods from San Francisco appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

In 2017 we brought thousands of guests to our National Parks, and it never gets old seeing people’s faces when they experience places like Yosemite for the first time. We sipped countless glasses of the best wine and beer in California. We nerded out at Apple, Google, Facebook and the Computer History Museum on our brand new Silicon Valley Tour. We spared the air with our biodiesel transportation. We gave back to communities in need such as Sonoma and Napa Valley. Most of all, we made millions of memories happen for every guest, which is something we are so proud of.

This year we’re focusing a lot on impact, and what it means for us as a company, and as individuals. We believe in leaving the world a better place today than it was yesterday, and as such, here are our biggest resolutions and goals for 2018:

It IS easy being green!

Incredible Adventures runs on renewable biofuels. In order to minimize the environmental impact of our business on the destinations we visit, we operate our vehicles on sustainable, petroleum-free biofuel made from recycled cooking oil and renewable plant-based stocks. However, we’re determined to go even further. From the paper we use in our offices, to the cleaning products we use on our vans, we are always striving to be kinder to the Earth.

This year we will be launching some tips for our partners and customers on how to stay green, that way we can all work together to make the world a better place.

Give back!

Last year we spent several days volunteering to clean up Muir Woods to keep the natural beauty of the park preserved. We want to double up our efforts this year, and open up opportunities to join in the fun for our customers and partners. We have some exciting upcoming opportunities, such as a cleanup of the Marin Headlands in February.

Another way to give back (and score some awesome swag) is by purchasing from our Gear Shop. A portion of the proceeds from these sales will be donated to the Parks Conservancy to beautify and protect our public lands.

Grow our community

Your adventure doesn’t just stop when your tour ends! We are building out a great community of like-minded travelers, so that no matter where you are in the world, Incredible Adventures can connect you. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to constantly get travel inspo and #findyourselfanywhere.

We’re also in the midst of developing an online group in the coming weeks that will provide you with cool travel tips, special deals on Incredible Adventures trips, and a place to connect with new friends. Stay tuned for an email update when our community goes live!

Become global citizens

Incredible Adventures meets people from all over the world every single day, so that’s why we’re starting to expand beyond the USA. We’re now offering tours through the Pacific Northwest and Canada, and we can’t wait to see how much farther we can go!

The post Incredible Adventures New Years Resolutions appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

We asked our staff about the greatest travel gift they’ve ever received, from life changing trips to nifty gadgets they use every day. Though we all have diverse memories and experiences, we’re all bonded together by reminiscing on the things that made us fall in love with travel, and what drives us to share that love with others.

We hope you enjoy these stories, and feel free to share memories of your own with us (or come on one of our tours and make new memories and traditions with old friends and new!)

Happy Holidays from The Incredible Adventures staff!

The greatest gifts are the ones you give.

“The greatest travel gift I’ve ever received was also a gift I got to give to someone else. Last year I was planning an amazing solo trek to Iceland for the first time. Shortly before I was scheduled to leave, I fell in love with this amazing man, and learned that he had never been outside of California! Every time I mentioned my upcoming trip and all the waterfalls I’d be seeing and the hot springs I was excited to dive into, I saw his eyes light up. So on Christmas I told him to check his email – I had purchased him a ticket to come out to Iceland with me. While I probably would have had a great time on my own, I was so excited to have an amazing travel companion and be a part of this special milestone in his life. It was better than I could have ever imagined, and we still talk about this trip and the memories we shared almost daily!”

– Lauren, Digital Marketing Manager

Two gifts that got me moving… literally!

“My sisters have always been supportive of my desire for travelling, even when it was just beginning. I remember one Christmas in the early 90’s when one of my sisters got me a rugged travel bag and the other gave me a sweet, old school Pentax K1000 film camera. I felt like both of those items actually made it somewhat mandatory that I plan some kind of big trip…So I did. I put the bag on the back of my motorcycle packed it full of gear, Pentax included, and rode on out of Kentucky, more than 2000 miles, all the way out to San Diego, CA! “

– JD, General Manager

A thoughtful reminder of home that traveled across the world.

“In 2008, I made the decision to move to South Korea to teach English. I was really nervous about leaving my family, friends, and awesome job as a tutor at a community college behind. I truly loved working there; the students and staff were an amazing group of people. On my last day of work, one of my co-workers handed me a leather bound journal, wrapped in a single gold bow. Inside, each of my co-workers filled a page or two with memories, drawings, words of encouragement and – most importantly for an English major – poems. I’ve never received anything so personal and a gift that so perfectly reflected that point in my life. I still have the journal and I occasionally read through the pages when I’m feeling a bit nostalgic or in need a bit of direction.”

– Damian, Operations Manager

The gift of beautiful Christmas traditions.

“We always go up north to go foraging on New Year’s Day – it’s a tradition with some of our close friends to have a great dinner, a quiet night on NYE, and then get up at 4am to head to the mountains. Because of the holiday, the (well-known and usually bustling) wilderness area is mostly deserted. Usually by the end of December, California has had enough rain for the winter mushrooms to come up, and we scramble up trails and into ravines with our eyes peeled for exciting finds: delicate yellowfoot chanterelles, stunning black trumpets, quirky “hedgehogs”, and the famed delicacy matsutake. What better way to spend the first day of the year than exploring nature and feeling grateful for the earth’s natural bounty? A few years back, my boyfriend got me a fancy French Opinel foraging knife for Christmas; every time I look at it, it reminds me of the quiet moments in the mountains.”

– Jessa, Sales and Marketing Director

Perfect camp gear built to last!

“Many years ago my mom got me these little solar powered camp lights. They were designed very well and have held up through rain, snow, and of course, beating sun. About 5 years later they are still going strong. Another cool thing about the lights is that they are designed for developing countries, and the company that makes them is a social enterprise with the goal of bringing affordable solar power to 100 million people by 2020.”

– Dan, Financial Controller

Small tokens that led to big adventures.

“A book exchange from college led me to one of my greatest and most challenging adventures to date: A bike ride following the historic Lewis and Clark Trail. The pact written onto the inside of the cover stayed in my bookshelf for 6 years until it was packed into one of my shiny new rear bike panniers. With a wave to my parents on a cool September morning, Tracy and I embarked on a 7 week journey. Being avid backpackers, this was a completely new type of travel for the both of us, seeing so much of our country and meeting amazing people along the way.”

– Anne, Business Development Manager

A European extravaganza to usher in the year 2000!

“I’ll never forget during 5th grade, my father took me and my older sister to Germany for Christmas and the Millennium. It was my first big slice of travel, not to mention my first overseas trip. Because he served in the army, it was cheaper for us to catch a military flight out of Delaware than drive out west to the Rockies. We snow skied our butts off, ate way too many giant bowls of fries, drank gluhwein (age was just a #), and they let me dance at the adult NYE party like it was 1999…because it was. This and many other family trips only stoked that wanderlust fire.”

– Nicole, Tour Guide

The post What’s the best travel gift you’ve ever received? appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

“Of all the mountain ranges I have climbed, I like the Sierra Nevada the best.” – John Muir

If the mountain man himself, John Muir, could come to such a bold conclusion about the Sierras, you KNOW it must be true! The Sierra Nevada Mountain range is a naturalist’s definition of perfection.

Year after year, our 3-day Camping trip to Yosemite National Park has been our best seller. Yosemite’s High Country leaves passengers captivated: with more time to explore, we take groups beyond Yosemite’s crowded valley and into the less-traveled areas of the park. Our guides can skip the tourist traps on longer road trips and show off why we Californians love our state!

Interest has increased for new and unique experiences, so we started designing an itinerary that incorporated more of the Sierra Nevada mountain range’s diversity. in 2016, Incredible Adventures launched a 4-day road trip highlighting the best of the Sierras. On this trip, we spend one day and night each in Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes, and South Lake Tahoe with fun, unique add-ons in between. With both hotel and camping accommodation options, travelers of all different spending budgets and comfort levels can join the fun!

Interested in spending four days in on the road with us? Here’s how Northern California’s ultimate mountain road trip plays out:

Denise’s Farmers Market

Before even hitting your first National Park, you’ll be introduced to California’s flourishing Agricultural region: cherries, strawberries, almonds, OH MY! California’s Central Valley provides more than half of the USA’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts: it’s the state’s single most productive agricultural region, and one of the most productive in the world!  Denise’s Farmers Market is one of our favorite spots on the way out. Sample and purchase fresh and dried produce – and every flavor of corn nuts! Our passengers love to stock up on snacks here and avoid the concession queues in the park. This rest stop that doubles up as a midway point to Yosemite for bathroom breaks and yummy treats, and will leave you happy, healthy, and with more time to explore when you get to the park!

Yosemite National Park

Your first stop along the Sierras will be America’s Favorite National Park. Everyone from John Muir to Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama and millions of visitors in between cannot help but be astonished by Yosemite’s beauty. Your guide will show off the Valley, High Country, and groves of Giant Sequoias. Then you’ll spend the night at the Yosemite Bug – a quaint Mountain Resort known for their comfortable rooms and hearty buffet!

Mammoth Lakes

Next, you’ll head North through the Sierras on your way to Mammoth Lakes. Located at almost 8,000 ft elevation, this town is known as a top ski destination in California. In the summer, mountain biking and hiking are popular in the area. The gondola ride up to Mammoth Mountain and a visit to Mammoth Brewing company are not to be missed!

Devil’s Postpile National Monument in Ansel Adams Wilderness

Talk about geographic phenomenon! The Devil’s Postpile is a dark cliff of columnar basalt formed from lava flow an estimated 10,000 years ago. This unique rock formation is located in between Mammoth Lakes and Lake Tahoe along the John Muir Trail.

Bodie Ghost Town

After discovering gold in nearby Mono Lake back in 1859, W. S. Bodie triggered a massive settlement to the Sierras just North of his find. However, all these new neighbors only had one thing in mind: once they mined through all of the gold, the party ended pretty abruptly. Then, around 1912, the population began declining. By 1915, newspapers were already officially labeling Bodie a proper “Ghost Town”.

Everyone seemingly just up and left. Cars, churches, saloons, have all been preserved and protected as National/State Historic Landmarks. It’s a really neat glimpse of a town stopped in time, and a great stop on your way to glorious South Lake Tahoe.

South Lake Tahoe

Lastly, we head to South Lake Tahoe. Located right on top of the state line between California and Nevada, South Lake is El Dorado County’s most populous city.  Tahoe is known for its snow activities in the winter, lake activities in the summer, and 24-casinos where you can win big year-round!

From the luxurious sunset walks along the lake to rugged hikes to flowing waterfalls with expansive views of the Emerald Bay, ending this 4-day road trip through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in South Lake Tahoe is the perfect final act. In the morning, you’ll pack up and return to beautiful San Francisco, seeing the gorgeous views of the city from Treasure Island and the Bay Bridge.

Best of the Sierras Reviews – See what passengers have said about the tour:

“Tops on the “living it up” list should be the Yosemite and Tahoe Sierras Tour offered by Incredible Adventures, the only tour company that offers a round trip to Yosemite National Park, the mountain resort town of Mammoth Lakes and spectacular Lake Tahoe.” -Steve, 2016

“This was truly an incredible adventure. Leo took us to the most breathtaking spots! Our phrase after each first view was ‘Oh My Goodness – WOW’. I loved this trip as it was all about Nature. And Leo made it easy and fun to enjoy every day of it.” – sfran2017, 2017

“We saw the drop-dead gorgeous Yosemite and Lake Tahoe views, and also enjoyed great food stops along the way. The Bug is a charming stay! Highly recommend this tour!” -tripper4040, 2017

“We’ve just returned from the most awesome tour of Yosemite and Lake Tahoe with Leo from Incredible Adventures. The key to a great tour is a great guide! The itinerary was awesome but Leo bought it all to life with an incredible range of knowledge and experience. His familiarity with the best routes and photo opportunities put us at ease very early on.” -Dan, 2017

The post Best of the Sierras: Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes & Lake Tahoe appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

…and we are compelled to THANK her! We admire her commitment to transparency and honesty in the green community. We believe it is vital that we hold ourselves and each other accountable!

The response to this simple question (“Fueled by Biofuels? Really?!?”) is complex. As the discussion unfolded, it transformed into a teachable moment that we thought opened itself up to a larger audience, and we wanted to talk about it here.

This conversation is bigger than one driver filling up one vehicle for one tour bus company. It’s about the lack of available fueling stations for alternative fuels both in California and across the US. It’s wrapped up in all sorts of red tape at both the state and federal levels. The answer provides an opportunity to educate our communities and the next generation about renewable energies. And ultimately, our answer to ALL of our followers will be best demonstrated through our actions at the micro-level while we continue to do our best to spread the word at the macro-level.

Seeking Biofuel Station

Incredible Adventures strives to run 100% of our fleet with fully petroleum-free alternative biofuels. However, due to the lack of supply in certain areas that we visit, we’re occasionally forced to supplement. In the photo captured, our guide, Aaron, is fueling up at the Tesoro in Oakdale. There are no alternative fuel stations in/near Yosemite National Park. Many stations around California have closed or dropped their alternative fuel selections due to heavy regulations and lack of demand. Although we’re constantly researching fuel stations offering alternative fuel blends in their tanks, this proves difficult in remote areas.

Even though many of our vehicles are capable of traveling our standard routes without the need to fill up with traditional fuel, it is not always possible. It is increasingly difficult on our multi-day tours to maintain non-petroleum fuel in our vehicles throughout the entire trip. This particular photo was taken during Aaron’s overnight tour through Yosemite. Travelling from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park and back (round-trip) is impossible on a single tank of biofuel. With our mini-coaches’ smaller tanks, we maximize our usage of biofuel and supplement with diesel given the availability in the surrounding area. We train our drivers to fuel up with the least amount of petroleum fuel as possible. If you see our vehicles fueling at traditional gas stations, they are often only putting in the number of gallons it requires for us to safely return to Dogpatch Biofuels back in the city.

Supplying Biofuels

Incredible Adventures has been running on non-petroleum-based fuels since 2003. In order to secure a more consistent flow of biofuels, our owners bought Dogpatch Biofuel in 2010. It’s the only alternative fueling station in San Francisco open to the public, benefitting not only our fleet, but also the community at large. We’re proud to say that all of our vehicles leave the city for their trips with 100% renewable fuel. Since 2008 the station has sold 666,133.7 gallons of none petroleum fuel, offsetting the equivalent of 15,860.32 barrels of oil. Our dedication to reducing tailpipe emissions in our fleet and community exceeds the efforts of any other privately held transportation company.

Fighting for Biofuels

Alternative fuels are fighting for survival against strong Big Oil lobbyists and motor companies. These interests are increasing restrictions to commercial alternative fuel in California, and reducing spend on alternative fuel research. You can often find our owners on the front lines of this Big Oil battle: our company engages in the promotion and education of alternative fuels and their benefits, and the owners and staff have spent countless hours lobbying both at the local and state levels. Once we even volunteered at a Willie Nelson concert with ReVerb to advocate for renewable alternatives. Willie’s a strong supporter of biofuels!

Most recently our owner, Brian Deninger, spoke on a panel at the Green Transportation Summit and Expo in Portland. The conference encouraged municipal and private fleets to embrace the adoption of non-petroleum fuels as a tool to slow global warming and reduce carbon emissions. These efforts do not only have a local impact, but also lasting impact globally.

It’s important to gather legislative support for wider distribution of Biofuel and alternative energies. Increasing access to fueling stations will allow our fleet to run higher volumes of alternative fuel on our tours, and will allow us to provide retail fuel customers with more sustainable options as well.

Worth the Costs

We know that doing the right thing for our environment’s future can make for tough financial decisions. We encourage business owners to make those decisions anyway! Incredible Adventures is committed to finding sustainable solutions at the state, national, and global stages, and we encourage citizens in tourism and other sectors to consider petroleum alternatives as often as they can.

As we venture to priceless destinations like Yosemite National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, and beyond, we’ve got to work together sustainably! We know that travel positively impacts our souls, but ironically (and inevitably), it causes negative impacts on our environment. We’re constantly reviewing how we can do better, and hope that consumers everywhere will do the same.

So thank you to our allies online, on the road, and across the globe that are monitoring the playing field. We need more watchdogs out there to keep us all in check. Our goal to run completely petroleum-free is ongoing – but it’s not beyond reach. Stay tuned and join us as we continue to campaign for sustainability!

The post FAQ: Fueled by Biofuels? Really?!? appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Book your Alcatraz Tickets Months or Weeks in Advance

If you’d like to book directly through the Alcatraz Cruises website, you’ll need to do so well in advance. High season for Alcatraz tickets is from June-August. Tickets can be sold out for weeks or even months prior to departure! In fact, June just started and tickets for the Alcatraz night tour are not available until mid/late-August. And let us tell you, that sunset from Alcatraz is spectacular, and does a phenomenal job of really setting the mood. Lucky for you, we have an allocation of Night Tour tickets, so please do read on

Find Alcatraz Tickets for Sold Out Days, or Only Several Days in Advance

Incredible Adventures is given an allotment of Alcatraz tickets from the National Park Service each month! We receive both day and night options to accommodate different requests and schedule needs. Two things that are very important to note though:

1. We MUST package these Alcatraz tickets with one of our tours. We’re a one-stop shop if you were already planning on visiting Yosemite National Park, Muir Woods, Wine Country, Silicon Valley, etc. We even can package Alcatraz tickets with Hop-On-Hop-Off options  or a quick Muir Woods and Sausalito tour if you’re without the flexibility to leave the city for more than a day. Tickets are no more expensive than buying directly through Alcatraz’s website. We’re just here to facilitate a chance to see make it over there!
2. Tickets must be arranged through Incredible Adventures at least four days in advance! We have to turn in our “manifest” to the parks service 4 days before departure. Ordering your Alcatraz tickets through Incredible Adventures works best at LEAST a week out, if not earlier.

Already in town and Alcatraz tickets appear to be sold out?

Wait… You want to go tomorrow?! Well, you still have options. They aren’t great, but you do have options!

Rise and Shine! If you are interested in lining up at Pier 33 at 5am on the morning of your desired tour date there is a last-chance option for you. Alcatraz Cruises releases up to 50 tickets the morning of the tour, on a first-come/first-served basis and subject to availability. Everyone in your party must be present to receive a ticket, so gather the troops, get a big commuter mug of coffee, and make a morning out of it. You won’t know what time of day your tour will be until you get it, so make sure you account for that in your day’s plans. All part of the experience, right?

Resellers.  The only legit way to get tickets within 4 days of the ferry tour is through Alcatraz Cruises at pier 33. But, just like at a sports arena or a music venue, Fisherman’s Wharf often has ticket scalpers offering last-minute Alcatraz ferry tickets at a high price. You may be thinking, “hmm, that seems a bit sketchy…” – that’s because it can be!  Incredible Adventures doesn’t recommend this option. ALWAYS use your best judgment. Trust your sources. There are plenty of scammers out there taking advantage of unsuspecting tourists.

Moral of the story: Plan ahead. We can help. Join Incredible Adventures on a tour to maximize your time in the Bay Area. Explore More. Explore Often. See it all! And follow these tips for your best shot at Alcatraz Tickets.

The post How to Get Last Minute Alcatraz Tickets This Summer! appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Breakfast Camping Recipes (serves ~6 people)

Breakfast Burritos

(can be adjusted for any quantity of campers)

• Olive Oil
• Frozen Hashbrowns
• Your choice of meat (chorizo, breakfast sausage, ham, bacon, etc)
• 2 Eggs/person
• Taco Seasoning
• Salsa
• Sour Cream (or Yogurt as a substitute)
• Cheese
• Tortillas (flour or corn)

Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in large skillet. Add hashbrowns and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously.

Add in your meat of choice and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until both have browned (about 8-10 minutes). Note: if the meat is very greasy, you can cook it separately and drain it before adding it to the cooked hashbrowns.

Whisk eggs in separate bowl. Add taco seasoning. Pour eggs into skillet with hashbrowns and meat. Stir frequently until eggs are set.
Warm tortillas, and place desired amount of egg mixture onto each tortilla. Add Salsa, Sour Cream, Cheese as desired. Roll up and enjoy!

Lunch Camping Recipes

Chicken Gyro Wraps (serves ~6 people)

• Greek Yogurt
• Feta Cheese
• Cucumbers
• Garlic
• Lettuce
• Grape/Cherry tomatoes
• 2 Lemons
• Red Onion
• Parsley
• Pitas
• 2 lb boneless chicken breast or thigh (or 1 pre-cooked rotisserie chicken)
• Olive oil
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Salt & Pepper
• Dill

Tzatziki Sauce/Dressing

Dice or grate cucumbers (pour off any excess liquid). Add to yogurt. Add garlic, dill, and lemon juice.

Salad Toppings
Dice/quarter the tomatoes, dice the red onion, & chop parsley. Mix with the tzatziki dressing, and season with salt and pepper

Chicken (if raw)
Heat up a wok with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Sear the chicken for 7 minutes – add water, bring to a boil, flip chicken until cooked ~15 mins. Once cooked let cool enough to shred the chicken. Add the shredded chicken back to wok with more olive oil, oregano, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pita bread.

Dinner Camping Recipes

Pesto Chicken Pasta (serves ~6 people)

• Box of pasta
• 1lb Boneless chicken breast or thigh (can be skipped, for a vegetarian camping recipe option)
• 1 jar/2c Pesto
• 1 jar/1c Sundried tomatoes (cut the sun-dried tomatoes in half or in strips if they’re big, drain the oil off & reserve)
• ½c pine nuts
• Parmesan cheese

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Cook the chicken in a few tablespoons of the reserved oil from the sundried tomatoes. Toast the pine nuts in a small pan on low while chicken is cooking; make sure to watch them, though – they can burn quickly! Cook pasta according to packaging. Combine additional ingredients and serve with salad.

Vegan Camping Recipes

Vegan Coconut Sweet Potato Soup (serves ~6 people)

• 2-3 cans Veggie Broth (~6-8 cups) OR ¼ jar of veggie bullion + water
• 1-2 cups of uncooked rice
• 3-4 cloves of Garlic (minced)
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 1/2 Serrano Chili (if you like spice)
• 2 cans of Coconut milk
• 2-3 Sweet potatoes, diced
• 1 Small Bag/Bunch of Kale, washed and cut into small pieces.
• Turmeric powder
• Ginger powder
• Sriracha
• Fresh cilantro (optional)
• Lime wedges (optional)

Prepare rice as directed on package, set aside.

Bring the veggie broth to a boil, and add in coconut milk. Bring this back to a simmer. Add in onion, sweet potato, chili, garlic and spice to taste. Cook for 15 mins until sweet potatoes are soft. Add kale and let cook for 5 more minutes to let soften.

Serve over rice, add sriracha if desired. Garnish with cilantro/lime.

Couscous Salad

• Box of Israeli couscous (big grains) about 2 servings per box – double check servings per box
• 3 Tbs olive oil (plus more for “dressing”)
• 3-4 cloves garlic
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 1/2 lb Green Beans
• 1/2 Red, yellow, or green bell pepper
• 1/2 bunch radishes (4-5)
• 1/2 can corn off the cob
• Cilantro or basil

Cook couscous according to box. Saute garlic and onions in olive oil. Add diced veggies and cook to al dente. Mix al dente veggies and couscous together. Add corn, radish and cilantro/basil raw, add more olive oil if needed for moisture.

Dessert Camping Recipes

Banana Boats (1 per camper)

• Aluminum foil
• Bananas
• Chocolate/Nutella/Peanut Butter
• Cinnamon
• Marshmallows, Chopped nuts, etc.

Slice a slit in the inside curve of a banana lengthwise while the peel is still on, making a “boat”. Place this in a large square of aluminum foil (this will need to wrap all around the banana, so maybe 20″ square. Stuff your banana with chocolate, Nutella and/or peanut butter or sprinkle with cinnamon. Add anything else you want! Wrap the foil tightly and toss your parcel directly into the fire/coals for a few minutes. Carefully remove, check to see that contents inside are melted to your preference, and enjoy!

Smores (duh)

• Graham Crackers
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate Bar of choice (Hersheys and Reeses are our favorites!)

Put a stick through your marshmallow, long enough that the marshmallow can be roasted without endangering your arm. Be careful to use a stick that isn’t chemically treated (lumber) or secretly poison oak. Trust us.

Prepare graham cracker by first breaking it into two pieces. Cover one of those halves with chocolate. Make sure it’s nearby and ready to receive your melted marshmallow BEFORE you start roasting.

Roast your marshmallow over the fire till golden all around (it’s an art, and a personal preference). Then, squish the toasted marshmallow on top of chocolate graham cracker with its plain counterpart. Allow your masterpiece to rest a few minutes so heated marshmallow can melt the chocolate a bit, then devour. Repeat as desired.

Enjoy!

These camping recipes may require a stove, propane tank, pots, pans, dishes and other kitchen tools, though some can be accomplished with nothing more than a roll of aluminum foil! No worries, though – all of these tools are included on our 3-day Camping Escape Tour in Yosemite National Park!

…And when all else fails, there’s always PB&J.

The post Camping Recipes for Your Next Camping Escape appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Camping Video

There are parts of the park that many people never see because of time and transportation limitations. It’s said that more than 80% of visitors only see about 7% of Yosemite National Park, which is 1,169 square miles of wilderness. On this adventure, you’ll go beyond Yosemite’s Valley floor. This is your chance to explore more! Our small-group tours have unique access to Yosemite’s High Country and the Giant Sequoias. We’ve also opened up more tours this year with five departures a week from May to October.

We provide the camping equipment, and offer sleeping bags for a small rental fee. We’ll also include five fresh meals for your crew. Experience what it’s like to Camp like a Californian as we roast s’mores around the campfire, hike to astounding vistas, and sleep under the stars.

One could easily spend months, or maybe even YEARS, in Yosemite and find a new hike or vantage point almost every day. As you can see in this camping video, there is so much to see and do! If you don’t have time in your vacation to San Francisco for a 3-day camping trip, we also offer one and two-day trips to the park that will still leave you in awe.

However much time you spend out there, be sure to FIND YOURSELF in Yosemite National Park this Summer!

The post Camping Video: Find Yourself in Yosemite National Park appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Those things are great, but this year, all we need are our National Parks!

While there are so many things to love on this special day, there are few things in this world that we adore more than our National Parks. As Edwin C. Bearss, NPS Chief Historian, 1981-1994, said, “Our national park system belongs to all of us, both legally and spiritually.”

Whenever you’re down, our National Parks are there for you. If you need peace and quiet away from your routinely busy lifestyle, our National Parks are there for you. If you are itching for an escape outdoors, a taste of fresh air or a night under the stars, our National Parks are there for you. If you want to learn something new, our National Parks (and thousands of volunteer docents, scientists, and rangers) are there for you!

We feel immensely connected to these protected plots of land. And we wanted to share our love with the whole world (wide web). We shout it from soaring maintained mountain tops and scream it to beautifully sheltered seas. So for Valentine’s Day, we’re sharing Trading Cards for our land conserving followers to share with loved ones all over the Earth!

*that said, if you ARE going to propose, what better way to do so than in one of these amazing locations? The national parks are an inspiring and beautiful backdrop for you to pop the big question, or even celebrate the big day! 

The post Valentine’s Day Trading Cards: National Parks Edition appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

They say 80% visitors to Yosemite National Park only end up seeing about 7% of it – the Valley.

The park is enormous and hard to sum up in a couple of hours. Heck, it’s hard to see a good portion of it in a couple of days. But for first timers to the park, and especially for first-time campers, this is the best kickstart to understanding the area.

On top of spending time in the Valley, this tour includes a visit to the Giant Sequoias and a day spent in High Country! We supply all of the camping equipment, and offer sleeping bags for a small rental fee, so even adventurers traveling light can join us. Five fresh meals are also provided and we’ll spend time camping like Californians around the campfire.

Have no fear, there is also running water at our campsite. So, while we may not be completely ‘roughing it, you can guarantee you’ll have everything you need on this Incredible Adventure.

Thanks TravelMag.com for the mention!

time you’re traveling, be sure to give their site a peek. They have travel tips for destinations all across the globe.

The Best Yosemite Tours from San Francisco

The post Best Tour to Yosemite from SF by TravelMag.com appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

One great thing about traveling with Incredible Adventures is that we’ll be continuing our tours to the park daily throughout the season. Our vehicles are small enough and our guides are trained to apply chains to our tires if road restrictions are enforced. Travelers can avoid the stress of driving in uncharted territories by hitching a ride in our small group biofueled mini-coaches!

Once you make it to The Valley, there’s still a lot to see and do. We have single day options, but our if you have the time, we’d recommend our Overnight Hotel Stay-and Play option to experience it all! Here are our favorite Winter activities to check out on our 1 and 2-day tours to the park:

Hike to Lower Yosemite Falls

An easy 30-minute loop trail. While the falls themselves may be dry until rain or snow return, there are still plenty of educational exhibits or places to stop in awe over the nature that surrounds you!

Hike around Mirror Lake

The trail around Mirror lake is open year round and provides a unique perspective to some of the park’s most photographed icons. This hour trail made the list of our favorite Winter Activities for its base views of Half Dome.

Yosemite Museum

Too cold outside? Venture into the museum formerly known as Ansel Adam’s Gallery, to learn about the cultural history of Yosemite’s native Miwok and Paiute people from 1850-present. Demonstrations of basket-weaving, beadwork, and traditional games are presented.

Yosemite Valley Visitor Center

Strike a pose with John Muir! View the exhibit hall where you can learn how Yosemite’s spectacular landscape was formed, how people have interacted with it through the centuries, how wildlife adapts and survives, and how your national park continues to evolve.

Pro Tip: There’s a free 23-minute film that will provide a stunning overview of Yosemite’s splendor

Ansel Adams Gallery

One of the first people to capture Yosemite’s essence was Ansel Adams. Check out his gallery of photos that inspired a nation to head West and recognize the park’s significance!

Majestic Yosemite Hotel

Formerly known as the famous Ahwahnee Hotel, here’s a chance to step back to an earlier era of history as you explore the National Historic Landmark erected in 1927. The hotel provides a cozy atmosphere in which to relax and enjoy a warm drink!

View Half Dome at Sunset

Towering more than 4,000ft above the Eastern end of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome is in a prime location for some pristine sunsets!

Fireside Storytelling campfire at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel

Totally family friendly

Starry Night Skies Over Yosemite

Discover the stories of the night sky. Advanced Registration required at any tour & activity desk once you’re in the park.

Ice Skating

Half Dome Village Ice Rink is open and weather permitting, it costs $9.75/adult, $9/child. Skate Rentals are an additional $4.

Rent Snow Shoes

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can rent a pair at Half Dome Village!

Other Evening Presentations are weather permitting. Have a look at the Park’s website for the most up-to-date winter activities information: http://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/evening-programs/

The post 11 Winter Activities in Yosemite National Park appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

The media likes to hype us up for Black Friday. “Save big on the Holidays” “Holiday Sales” “If you don’t buy it now, you’ll be a big, fat, broke, GRINCH come Christmas!” Instead of bringing joy, these sentiments leave both the consumer and businesses with pressure-ridden anxieties! How can you combat the corporate giants this holiday season? Two words: Get Outside! Being out amongst nature and avoiding the malls today will bring many benefits that will make you want to say “Thanks” year-round! Here are our 3 favorite reasons to  opt outside this Black Friday!

Save Money

Consumerism. Capitalism. Some other ‘ism’ that dictates how you should be spending. With less cash registers and price tags out in the wilderness, you’ll have less temptation to throw your money away. Besides a possible park entrance fee (Here’s a list of California State Parks that waived their fees today), maybe some gear and a couple of snacks, your bank account will thank you for making it outside!

Live Stress Free

You know all of those crazy videos where people get trampled running around the store for savings? Or the ones where grown adults physically fight over toys because of a sale sticker? Don’t camp overnight in line for the malls to open their doors. Put your tent to better use and camp in the great outdoors. Sit around the campfire and wake up to the fresh air and freedom to do what you please.

Support Responsible Businesses

Materialism and the selfish desire to always get ahead has employers acting all sorts of crazy this time of year. The hours start earlier and go way later. The expectation of spending time with family is pretty much out the window. Consumers expect accessibility and some employees pay the price.

Last year, REI shook up the idea of Black Friday and the crowd went wild! The president closed their stores nationwide, urged it’s employees to ‘opt outside’ with loved ones and their target market couldn’t agree more. We support businesses like REI in their efforts to respect the sustainability of their workers and the environment.

So what are you doing looking at your screen right now? Get outside! Unplug your devices. Disconnect from you WiFi and your comfort zone. Forget about Black Friday. Let’s make it a Green Friday! Find yourself in nature today.

The post 3 Reasons to Find Yourself Outside this Black Friday appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

We sent out Mari Johnson, a California native, as a tourist in her own city. Whether you’re traveling from across the world or across the Bay, a day spent in Wine Country is always a treat!

Check out the video from her day tour below:

This tour includes an educational tram ride around the Benziger Family Winery, tastings at Benziger and Imagery, lunch from Glen Ellen Market and property visits to 4-6 wineries.

The post Video Footage: An Incredible Day in Wine Country appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Step One: Safety

The most crucial aspect of our training process is our focus on Safety. Once a permit is acquired we can begin driving practice. It is no easy feat learning how to reverse or cruise through the city in a transit van with a trailer properly hitched to the back. We focus on skills like J-Docking, Alley-Docking and Offside Parallel Parking to prepare them for their Commercial Driver’s License test that lies ahead.

However, before anyone steps into the vehicle and starts the ignition, a thorough Pre-Trip Inspection MUST occur. Required by law, every time our drivers approach one of our vans, they are to check tire pressure, fluid levels and suspension systems. They make sure that all the seatbelts buckle, turning-signals blink and brakes…. brake. Passengers boarding our vehicles can rest assured that our fleet has been well vetted.

Recently, Incredible Adventures became certified Smith System administers. This nationally recognized standardized safety training adds an extra stamp of security for our guests. 

Step Two: Knowledge

Most of our guides come to us with a respectable amount of experience already! Whether they’ve previously guided cross-country, were born in the Bay Area, or are just Incredible world travelers, we love the diversity they each bring to our tours. We have a guide that lived and worked inside in Yosemite National Park, and another that rock-climbed back in the 70’s – some of the park’s greatest years of elite climbers. Some specialize in their knowledge of Indigenous People and others might as well be certified sommeliers.

To ensure consistency on our tours, we provide study material for *everyone* to learn Yosemite and Wine Country basics. We let them shadow our experienced guides and practice their guiding and narration a few times in front of their peers before the true test – their first group of eager passengers! From there, we let their personalities and creative storytelling techniques take it away to deliver an incredible product.

Our guides are also expected to value our green ethics and know what it takes to be green both on the road and back at the office. This includes recycling, composting and powering our vehicles with alternative biofuels. Ask your guide about what makes Incredible Adventures so proud to be San Francisco’s greenest tour provider!

Step Three: Hospitality and Fun!

In the end, even if you are safer than a risk manager and smarter than a neurologist, if you’re not a total people’s person, this line of duty may not be entirely for you. Tourists coming from all over the world come equipped with a diverse set of expectations, needs, sensitivities and aspirations! We train our guides on customer service to prepare them for almost any situation.

The intimacy our small-group tours provide require our guides to engage with and build camaraderie amongst our passengers. This means more flexible and customizable options as we go. We can stop at one photo stop or one winery over another depending on the group’s communicated wishes.

Incredible guides are exhilarated to lead hikes, recommend tastings and have a s’more around the campfire to involve, get to know and better serve their guests. It’s not all fun and games, but when you’re a tour guide, sometimes it’s just part of the job!

So if you thought we just hired a bunch of hooligans that got lucky with their GPS systems and Google searches – Think Again. Tour guides are all around rock&roll all-stars and we like to think we have hired and trained the most incredible of them all!

See for yourself and book a tour with us today! Experience anything from the mild to the wild and Find Yourself Anywhere.

The post Guide to Incredible Guiding appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

See below to learn what’s going on, how it is affecting Incredible Adventures, and how you can help! 

Incredible Adventures’ owners, Jolie Ginsburg and Brian Deninger, have been part of the Biodiesel community since its roots in San Francisco.  This started in 2002 with our vision of having Incredible Adventures become the first fleet in the US  to power its vehicles entirely free of petroleum.  Our petroleum-free fleet helps protect our National Parks which we value so dearly and rely on for our families’ livelihood.

Over the years we have enjoyed many successes, but we have also endured many challenges, whether it be fueling our fleet or ensuring our community has access to a petroleum-free alternative.   Dogpatch Biofuels has always struggled and never been profitable. However, we have stayed the course and continue to advocate and provide a cleaner fuel to promote a cleaner planet.

We regret to inform you of our biggest challenge to date.  As of January 1, 2016, sale of Biodiesel blends above 20% is prohibited by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) regulations. Our variance from the State of California Department of Weights and Measures to sell blends above B20 does not override this new CARB regulation.

Interestingly enough, this prohibition comes on the heels of Incredible Adventures receiving a Cool California Business Award. The award is issued by CARB for California businesses who demonstrate the ability to reduce CO2 emissions and help California achieve it goals of reduced green house gases for a cleaner tomorrow.

We will continue to work with CARB on the possibility of obtaining an “Executive Order” to resume B99 sales in the near future.  In the interim, we are committed to fueling our community and our fleet on petroleum-free fuel.  To achieve our goal, we are changing the fuel sold at Dogpatch Biofuels to a blend we term RB20 (80% Renewable Diesel, 20% Biodiesel).

Much like Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel is derived from both the waste stream and plant oils.  Renewable diesel is a drop-in diesel alternative with no compatibility issues.  Its emissions profile is better than traditional diesel and is not controlled by big petroleum.  With RB20, we are able to have more competitive pricing when compared with petroleum diesel.  This is due to potential volume increases at the station as vehicle engine compatibility is a non-issue.  Over the last 4 years, renewable diesel pricing is more consistent with petrodiesel than biofuel has been.

According to the Air Resource Board and the EPA, the single biggest positive impact that alternative fuels can have on air quality is in the mid-heavy duty fleets.  Dogpatch Biofuels’ RB20 is compatible with all mid-heavy duty vehicles.  With this fuel change, we have an opportunity to reduce petroleum addiction and improve local air quality. So whether you have a connection with Google Bus or know a small construction company looking to lower their impact, please have them call our office (415) 642-7378 and ask for Brian Deninger.

We ask our community to stand with us.  Whether you are a retail customer, fleet customer, traveled with us, friend, family, employee, or motivated to create a cleaner planet, please share this newsletter.  Other positive actions could include writing your representatives, putting pressure on car manufacturers to support alternative fuels, and/or demanding better products that support local business and a cleaner future.

We urge you to contact the Air Resource Board to express any concerns.  General inquiries 800-242-4450 or email helpline@arb.ca.gov.

Brian Deninger and Jolie Ginsburg
Owners of Dogpatch Biofuels and Incredible Adventures

The post The Current State of Biofuels appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

On Wednesday, March 3, California Air Resources Board (CARB), a division of the state’s Environmental Protection Agency, presented San Francisco’s greenest tour provider, Incredible Adventures, with a CoolCalifornia Small Business Climate Leader award!

CoolCalifornia’s Small Business program acknowledges steps a company takes to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize its environmental impact. To qualify for this award, a business must have less than 100 employees and be in compliance with all applicable environmental regulations. Much of what already qualifies us as an SF Green Business  made us eligible to apply.

Submissions from a wide array of businesses from all over the state were thoroughly vetted by a panel of 17 judges. Nineteen winners represented an auto body shop, a dental office, a pet cleaning company, a winery and vineyard, a hotel, a catering company, a gym and more!

Our biofuel fueled mission on the road and green practices in the office demonstrated to the committee our approach to integrate sustainable practices throughout our operations. Factors taken into consideration during judgement were our plumbing, light fixtures, recycling, composting and green purchasing policy that all align to reduce our costs and increase sustainable efficiency.

As a designated climate leader, we now qualify to distinguish ourselves as a Business of the Year at their next event. We look forward to documenting our improvements this coming year and continuously evolving our operations to proactively work with the environmental issues at hand.

Our commitment to protect the natural areas that we visit on our trips is more than just the physical award or a few paragraphs for the blog. We are leading California towards a healthier economic future. We look forward to the day when green business becomes less of a trend and more of our reality. Less award recognition necessary – we’ll just all do what’s right! But hey, in the meantime – our beautiful, shiny, heavy, blue and perfect award made of recycled glass sure does look nice at our receptionist’s desk

Congratulations to all who shared this prestigious honor!

We are proud to be grouped  together with such an incredible crowd!

The post CoolCA Small Business Climate Leaders appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Could you imagine your day getting any better? Well just around lunchtime – it does!

Here are some ways you can spend your free time in historic Sonoma Town Square:

Grab a Bite to Eat
Lunchtime’s main focus should be the act of lunch. Especially considering the 3-4 tastings on your itinerary, you’ll want some food to soak up the alcohol. Nobody wants to be THAT passenger

A couple of our favorites in the square are Sunflower Caffe as a sit-down option, Sonoma Cheese Factory for a sandwich and cheese sample, or The Girl & The Fig.

Cheese Tastings
While not an official tasting, there are definitely samples to try before you buy. Grab a toothpick and go to town. Try the Jacks; try the cheddars; try em all! We have a feeling you’ll think they’re all grate.

Drink More Wine
Don’t let lunch get in the way of a good time. Keep the wine tastings going! It’s not everyday you’re in a premium wine-growing region. Choose between free pours or pay-to-play. Maybe multitask and order a bite to eat to accompany your glass. However you’re feeling,

Have A Beer
There is a tavern and Irish Pub to take a break from tasting grapes. Sonoma is becoming more recognized for their craft brews so you may want to pair lunch with what’s on tap.

Shop til You Drop
Or at least until you’re supposed to meet back up with your guide! Browse through boutiques full of high-fashion clothing and accessories. Maybe you’ll find the shoes to match that dress you’ve been waiting to wear. Or that dress to match your shoes. Maybe a the perfect golf-themed wine bottle holder for your uncle (no kidding). Skip the cheesy souvenirs (unless it is literally cheese…) and buy yourself something nice!

Learn Something
Sonoma Town Square has a lot of history to it. It’s the site of the Bear Flag Revolt – yes that cute little bear on our state flag – and home of California’s northernmost mission, Mission San Francisco de Solano. Explore the Barracks whose first inhabitants were Mexican soldiers back in 1835!

Chocolate Tastings
Tucked away in a little alley of shops is a delightful chocolate shop sure to appease your sweet tooth. No reservation necessary, you can waltz in and sample their truffle ganache flavor of the day and taste chocolates in varying cacao percentages. Try their world class truffles filled with ganaches made of fruit, honeys, peanut butter, and you guessed it – more wine!

Our guides spend a lot of time in Sonoma Town Square. They’re friends with the locals that work downtown and know all of the hidden gems. Be sure to ask your guide for advice if you’re not sure what to do! However you choose to spend your time – we’re sure you’ll enjoy your break on this Incredible Woods and Wine Combo Tour!

The post Lunchtime in Sonoma Town Square appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

In 1882, Yellowstone was signed into law as protected land. As some years went by, other monuments and natural/historic areas were recognized, but the management of these properties was assigned to multiple agencies from the War Department to the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture.

In 1915, to help streamline operations, Teddy Roosevelt established the National Park Service; a federal organization whose mission was to protect and manage the 35 national parks and monuments acknowledged at the time.

In celebration of this milestone and to kickoff their centennial year, NPS is offering free admission to more than 400 parks across the US on August 25 – including Muir Woods National Monument and Yosemite National Park (two of our favorites!).

The post Happy 99th, National Park Service! appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Check out their video interview here!

It was the middle of the night when our owner, Jolie Ginsburg, woke up with a harsh realization: Our petroleum tours to the natural gems surrounding San Francisco were harmful and unsustainable. She woke her partner, Brian Deninger, up and confessed her unwillingness to be complacent on the matter any longer.  From then on, they vowed to only use alternative fuels whenever possible.

And we did! Today, our growing fleet sets the standard for sustainability by running on 99.9% biofuel!

Click here to learn why IA chooses eco-friendly biofuel alternative fuel!

The post Biodiesel: By All Means appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

You know the bottle we’re talking about. The expensive one you bought on vacation in Napa 5 years ago. The one you got as an anniversary present, or from your boss for a job well done, or that you bought for a “special occasion” that never really manifested. Yeah, THAT bottle. The one gathering dust in your cabinet.

Maybe it feels like the time isn’t right, or that you haven’t reached your goal yet, or that it’s just too “special” to open. Maybe your friends aren’t wine connoisseurs and you think you shouldn’t “waste” it. While those excuses may be legitimate for you, you may be missing out on the chance to celebrate and re-live the experiences that got you the wine in the first place.

THIS WEEKEND ONLY: save BIG on a wine tour!
Promotion ends soon.

It’s time to live a little: National Open That Bottle Night is coming up on February 28th (this Saturday). This is an opportunity to come together with friends, get creative with a special meal, and finally breathe life into that aging beverage; making new memories and savoring the old ones. Open That Bottle Night was invented by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brechter of the Wall Street Journal’s weekly wine “Tastings” column (see their article about OTBN here, and learn some tips to ensure success). They believe that “wine is more than the liquid in the bottle. It’s about history, geography, relationships and all of the things that are really important in life”.

Regardless of the age, price, or varietal, open a bottle of wine this Saturday and relive the memories that make it special.

…And hey, you’ll need some new memories, so come along with us on a Muir Woods and Sonoma Tour, a Napa & Sonoma Wine Education Tour, or even our Napa & Sonoma Overnight Hotel Tour and get a couple new bottles, bring them home, and stick them in the back of the cupboard for a special occasion*. There’s another Open That Bottle Night coming along on February 27, 2016, after all.

THIS WEEKEND ONLY: save BIG on a wine tour!
Promotion ends soon.

*Here at Incredible Adventures, we believe strongly that Wednesdays are special occasions (#WineWednesday). Also any day when traffic is bad, or there’s nothing but reruns. Also all other days. YOU make it special! OPEN THAT BOTTLE!

The post Open That Bottle! appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Since our previous GM (Gussy Haun) made the move to grad school in South Carolina in December and transitioned to managing our group contracts, we’ve been on the hunt for the right person to join our team and fill her role. JD comes to us with a lot of industry experience, and a passion for Adventure Travel and sustainability. Here’s a little bit about JD (you can learn about all of our staff and guides on our Staff Bio page):

JD found his way to the mountains of Steamboat Springs, Colorado from the hills of Kentucky in 1995. He quickly began to expand his knowledge and love of the wilderness as a white water rafting guide, a rock climber and an avid backpacker. Moving south to continue his education at Fort Lewis College in Durango turned out to be a perfect fit as it was situated near all of the outdoor activities he loved and the study of the surrounding geology was absolutely enthralling.

In the spring of 2000, after guiding raft trips for four years, JD began his career as a North American Tour Leader spending most of that decade guiding people from all over the world to the highlights of the USA, Canada and Mexico as well as Guatemala and Belize.

After several years on the road as a guide, JD took a more serious role in transportation working with Con-Way Truckload and became a Certified Director of Safety through the North American Transportation Management Institute. He served as an Operations Assistant Manager, then the Fleet Safety and Compliance Manager and Head of Department for an international tourism organization.

The sense of adventure and care for the environment is still strong for JD, as he pedals his Surly LHT to work most days and with the recent purchase of a 37 foot sailboat, he’ll often be found exploring the San Francisco Bay under the power of the wind and, of course, the occasional use of some of that sweet recycled cooking oil from Dogpatch Biofuels when he has to crank up the diesel.

JD says, “There’s a lot of positive change happening in tourism and transportation right now. I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the Incredible Adventures team, our partners, and our clients up the path toward true sustainability and meaningful adventure.”

Welcome to the team, JD!

The post Meet Our New General Manager: JD Boyle! appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

A) Incredible Adventures travels to Yosemite EVERY DAY. Many tour companies around here shut down their Yosemite operations during the snowy winter months, but we’re one of the few that stay operational year ’round! With the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years’ Day (the only 3 days we don’t operate tours), we run our Yosemite Day Tours daily, year ’round, and our Yosemite Winter Stay & Play Hotel Tours daily throughout the winter season! Our Yosemite Hotel Tours run 3 times a week in the summertime, as do our Yosemite Escape 3-Day Camping Tours.

Q2) What about all the snow and road closures in Yosemite in the winter?

A2) Yosemite is located up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, so it gets quite a bit of snow in the winter time. For us coastal-California types, this is super exciting (we’re not very used to snow down here at sea-level)! Still, it can make transportation through the mountain passes a little more complicated, so we are always well-prepared for any kind of weather. All of our vehicles are small-format (no more than 15 passengers), which makes it easier for us to get around. Every mini-coach in our fleet is prepared with snow chains, and our guides are rigorously trained to know when and how to use them safely. In the winter months, we check the road conditions several times a day, making sure that our routes to and from Yosemite are the safest and clearest available (to assure the safety and comfort of our guests, and also to maximize the amount of time you get to explore the park)!

Q3) Are there differences in the tour in the wintertime?

A3)There are  a lot of areas of Yosemite that aren’t accessible in the wintertime, and you’d be pretty miserable in the cold if you COULD get there. So, we try to format our tours to make sure you’re getting the best options for you within the season that you’re traveling! The links below will take you to our summer and winter itineraries for both our day and overnight tours:

SUMMER:

Yosemite Day Tour
Yosemite Experience 2-Day Hotel Tour
Yosemite Escape 3-Day Camping Tour

WINTER:

Yosemite Day Tour
Yosemite Stay & Play 2-Day Winter Hotel Tour

If you have any concerns or questions, you can ALWAYS contact us and we’ll help you with anything you need to fully enjoy your time in Yosemite!

The post FAQ: Winter in Yosemite appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Our 

href=”https://incadventures.com/tour/yosemite-winter-day-tour/”>Yosemite 1-Day , Muir Woods and Wine, and Napa & Sonoma Wine Education tours run every day during the winter, providing a great get-away for guests who don’t have a lot of time (but would like to get a glimpse of California’s beautiful countryside). For travelers with a little more time to explore, we offer two-day tour packages (hotel stay included) of both Yosemite and Wine Country through the winter. These tours are a great way for passengers to take in everything California has to offer.

This is an excellent time of year to see Wine Country, and there’s no better way than to get a hotel right next to beautiful Sonoma Square and spend a couple of days! With our Napa, Sonoma, and Muir Woods 2-Day Hotel Tour, you can do just that! This time of year the tasting rooms are less crowded, everyone is starting to get into the holiday cheer, and new wines are being pulled out for special holiday sales (yay)!

In addition to folding up the tents from our last camping trip of the season, we’ve also completed all of our summer hotel tours to Yosemite National Park. The roads to Glacier Point and the Giant Sequoias will be closed soon, and the trails are beginning to be snowed in. Now we move to our winter itinerary, which focuses on the beautiful solitude of Yosemite Valley in the snow, as well as offering our more active guests an option for some skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, ice skating, and fun on the slopes! This trip includes a stay in a cozy hotel INSIDE Yosemite Valley, where you’ll be immersed in the winter beauty throughout your stay. Our Yosemite Stay & Play Winter Hotel Tour is an awesome way to experience Yosemite Park.

As the busier summer months fall away, the shoulder season is the optimal time to finally go on that wine country tour you’ve been meaning to arrange with us. Or catch a glimpse of Yosemite, made no less beautiful by the winter months. Bundle up and come away with us on an Incredible Winter Adventure!

The post Winter with IA appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Tomorrow, over a hundred world leaders in many fields (including President Barack Obama) are gathering for a Climate Summit at the UN headquarters in New York to begin work on a global agreement to address climate change. The Climate Summit’s website says “The Climate Summit will be about action and solutions that are focused on accelerating progress in areas that can significantly contribute to reducing emissions and strengthening resilience – such as agriculture, cities, energy, financing, forests, pollutants, resilience and transportation.”

“By promoting climate action, it aims to show that leaders across sectors and at all levels are taking action, thus expanding the reach of what is possible today, in 2015, and beyond.”

To kick things off, more than 300,000 people showed up in New York for the People’s Climate March over the weekend, making it the largest climate-focused march in history. This march filled 4 miles of streets around Columbus Circle and Central Park West and got a LOT of news coverage. Among the crowd were politicians, policymakers, and famous environmentalists – including Leonardo DiCaprio. Leo was recently named a “Messenger of Peace on Climate Change” by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, joining the likes of Edward Norton, Michael Douglas, Charlize Theron, and Jane Goodall (to name a few influential folks that also hold the MOP title). Leonardo will be speaking at the summit tomorrow as well.

Things are starting to change. In the news this week, it was reported that the Rockefeller family is divesting of their shares in fossil fuels, and have pledged to invest in cleaner alternatives. According to the New York Times, “their actions…could help spur international debate, while the shift of investment funds to energy alternatives could lead to solutions to the carbon puzzle.” (read the full article).

At Incredible Adventures, we use biofuel fuel made from locally-sourced, 100% recycled waste vegetable oil to run our fleet of mini-coaches. We think protecting the environment from global warming and traveling the world shouldn’t be conflicting goals, and are dedicated to finding ways to travel responsibly. To see so many people taking to the streets (and putting their money where their mouth is) to bring awareness to these environmental issues is encouraging and inspiring!

The post People Don’t Care About Climate Change? Think Again. appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

We believe strongly in responsible tourism and sustainable travel. In order to minimize waste and support our community, Incredible Adventures has several ways that we reuse and donate these items:

1. FIX IT: We order new parts (instead of buying whole new sets) to decrease waste and make the most use out of our gear. If we wind up with equipment that’s too damaged to donate or pass on, we’ll take any usable parts off of them, so that we can repair our equipment.

2. RECYCLE: We then try to recycle anything we can. San Francisco has launched a zero-waste initiative that now includes textiles, and we’re very excited to have new options for safely and responsibly recycling these items when they’re too worn to use or donate!

3. DONATE: There are many programs in San Francisco dedicated to providing shelter, food, and safety to the low-income and homeless populations in the city. We donate all of our usable sleeping bags and blankets to Project Homeless Connect to be passed down to people in need. Side note: the PHC office also saves all of their single-side printed paper for us to re-use for our own internal printing needs (so that we’re only using new printer paper when it’s necessary)!

This week, Incredible Adventures also donated roughly 30 sleeping bags and some tents to SFUSD Starr King elementary school’s 5th grade class camping trip.  This school serves a large population of low income families, and camping trips like this can help inner city kids get in touch with nature and learn more about the environment.

We’re happy to be able to provide assistance to our community, and are glad that the equipment we accrue can go to good causes.

The post Sustainable Travel: Donating Camping Gear appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

A new study called “In Vino Veritas” was presented on September 2, 2014 at the ESC Congress by Prof Milos Taborsky of the Czech Republic. This study showed that though wine DOES protect against cardiovascular disease, it only works if you exercise. The theory of heart-healthy wine consumption has been kicking around since the ’90s, but this is the “first randomised trial comparing the effects of red and white wine on markers of atherosclerosis in people at mild to moderate risk of CVD”, said Taborsky. “We found that moderate wine drinking was only protective in people who exercised”. 

Basically, a bunch of folks had to drink wine (Pinot Noir or Chardonnay-Pinot) for a year FOR SCIENCE. Sounds like a great job. Corks were collected to prevent cheating (who would cheat by NOT drinking wine?), and the participants tracked both their consumption and exercise, and maintained their regular diets. Their cholesterol levels were tested after a year.

Ultimately, it was found that wine alone isn’t a magic heart-protector, but that when paired with moderate exercise (defined as “at least twice a week”), good things happened. HDL (“good cholesterol“, which protects your heart) levels increased in this subgroup, and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and total cholesterol levels decreased overall.

You can read a detailed description of the In Vino Veritas study and Taborsky’s findings here.

Soooooo…basically, you should probably go for a walk, and then have some wine. If you need some help with that, check out our Muir Woods and Wine Tour, our Napa & Sonoma Wine Education Tour, or our Woods & Wine Overnight tour. We’re not saying it’ll help your heart, but it sure won’t hurt to try!

The post I Heart Wine: Drinking for Health appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

A) Incredible Adventures picks up at nearly every hotel in the city proper: hotels in SOMA, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, the Financial District, the Embarcadero, and Lombard Street are all within our pickup radius! That said, we cannot pick you up (or drop you off) at the San Francisco Airport, or at any of the nearby airport hotels. Here’s why:

It’s a little-known fact that the San Francisco Airport (SFO) isn’t actually located in San Francisco proper! Because of our city’s unique geography (we’re bordered on 3 sides by water), there’s not a lot of space for things like airports, so it got placed approximately 13 miles to the south. San Francisco has mastered this complication fairly well, with several public transportation options (and many cabs and airport shuttles) to make sure folks visiting our fair city can get here.

Because of this additional space and the long haul to the city, many “Airport Hotels” have popped up in the South San Francisco, Burlingame, and Millbrae areas. These hotels are often less expensive than hotels in the center of the city, and are ideal for business travelers and people who are arriving or departing very early (or very late) from SFO.

Still, this 13 miles from the city can be quite a long way, especially in high-traffic commute hours. This means an added 20+ minutes each direction to get to these hotels, which cuts into the precious time we have to take our guests to see the amazing views of Yosemite Valley (or worse, it cuts into your wine tasting time)! Also, commercial vehicles like Incredible Adventures’ mini-coaches are required to have special permits before they’re allowed onto airport property. Because of this, we do not have pickups available from SFO or the surrounding area.

Q2) So…How can I meet your tour, then?

A2) You have several great options:

– Some airport hotels have a shuttle into the city, or to the airport (where you can catch BART easily). Check with your concierge or the front desk; they will be able to assist you in making the best choice of transportation.

– If you’re staying at an airport hotel with a car, we can suggest a local hotel in the city proper that has very reasonable flat-rate all-day parking. Contact us and we’ll give you directions.

– You can take a cab or Uber, but make sure you check the price before you go. It can sometimes be very pricey, so unless you have a large group and are splitting the fare, be careful!

– Our public transportation systems are very reliable and are a great way to get around. We often suggest taking BART into the city and meeting us right by the Powell St station at a central hotel meeting point (usually the Wyndham Parc 55, which is right next to the station), or taking CalTrain in to the San Francisco Station at 4th and Townsend. We know navigating a new city can be tricky; feel free to give us a call and our staff will be happy to help you figure out the right transportation for you!

The post FAQ: Pickups from SFO / San Francisco Airport appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

A. Incredible Adventures uses a petroleum-free biofuel fuel. This this isn’t yet common in the industry and isn’t directly influenced by gas prices, but we’re still at the effect of market prices for our fuel, and sometimes even subject to limited supply. The surcharge is designed to adjust for fluctuating fuel/operation prices during the tour season. Generally the surcharge is about $10 per-tour and is limited to the tours with the longest drive-times (our Yosemite Tours). If your tour has an additional fuel surcharge, it will be clearly stated on the website or in the brochure.

We believe that protecting the environment from harmful emissions (and not being reliant on oil) is worth the additional cost of using an alternative fuel, and worth the extra work we do to maintain biofuel as a viable alternative in our industry. Our hope is that we can always be clear with our guests about these sorts of additions so there are no surprises, and make sure our clients know exactly what they’re getting, and what they’re paying for it.

The post FAQ: Biodiesel Fuel Surcharge on Yosemite Tours appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Within two years of his first experience of this area, Galen had built himself a log cabin which became known as “Clark’s Station”. Here he provided visitors (including John Muir, when he first traveled to Yosemite) with food, shelter, and education about the area. He and John became friends; Muir later stating that Clark was “the best mountaineer” he’d ever met.

On June 30th, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant (which celebrated its 150th anniversary this year!), designating Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove as a grant “inalienable for all time” to the state of California “for public use, resort and recreation” – not for settlement. A guardian was chosen to oversee the board of commissioners, and that guardian was Galen Clark. He maintained this position for the next 24 years.

It is said Galen used to hike through the park barefoot, and was quoted as saying that shoes are “cruel and silly instruments of torture, at once uncivilized, unhuman and unnecessary.”

To see the beautiful Giant Sequoias and Yosemite Valley that inspired Galen Clark, join us on our Yosemite Experience 2-Day Hotel Tours or our Yosemite Escape 3- Day Camping Tour. Shoes are optional, but strongly advised – sorry Galen!

The post Did You Know? Galen Clark Was First Guardian of The Yosemite Grant appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

You’ve seen it in the news, in advertisements, on the television, and in your local stores. With the mainstream media *finally* recognizing the devastating effects of global warming and conscious consumers demanding change, being green is “cool” these days and everyone’s jumping on-board.

Corporate “greenwashing” is rampant. You may see the words  “Sustainable”, “Eco-Conscious”, “Good for the Environment”, “Smart Choice”, or “Responsible”, but….how do you know what that means? How do you quantify “green”?

1. Know Where You Stand. If you don’t know enough about the issue, how can you make an informed decision? Knowledge is power, and knowing the details can help you choose the businesses and causes you support. Learn where your boundaries are, and know enough to stand up for them when they’re challenged. Here are some Biodiesel Basics to get you started.

2. Do Your Research. Just because a company says they’re doing something to combat climate change doesn’t mean they’re doing it, or that they’re doing it the way you think they are. Go to the source (if you can) and find out what actual steps they’re taking. Look up reviews and articles to see what people are saying, and ask questions directly if you can’t find the anwers online. Here’s a great resource for finding more local San Francisco Green Businesses while you’re visiting!

3. Beware of Greenwashing. There’s lots of ways to look responsible without having to actually BE responsible (usually by paying someone to do it for you). In our industry, the most common form of this is buying Carbon Credits in order to “offset” transportation emissions (read: exhaust from their vehicles). The thing is, pollution is pollution, so even if you’re planting trees or buying credits from a company that’s decreasing its emissions “on your behalf”, that stuff is still going into the air. It shouldn’t be about someone doing less damage, so you can do more damage and “it’ll balance out”. We ALL need to be doing our part. Incredible Adventures’ Biodiesel Tours are carbon-neutral right out of the tailpipe (no carbon credits needed here)!

4. Walk the Talk. If you want to use these words, be prepared to show you know what they mean. You can learn more about Incredible Adventures’ sustainability efforts here: What Does it Mean to be Green?

The post Let’s Talk About Greenwashing appeared first on Incredible Adventures.

Incredible Adventures has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence for the fourth consecutive year! This prestigious award, which honors outstanding service in tourism and hospitality worldwide, is given only to the top 10% of businesses that consistently achieve exceptional traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. There’s a lot of tourism in San Francisco, so to be labeled as “excellent”, well, it feels pretty darn good.

One of our co-owners, Brian Deninger, says “As a small, family-owned company, we are very proud to accept this distinguished award. We have offered petroleum-free tours from San Francisco for more than a decade. In the past 4 years alone, we’ve run over 2 million miles on Biodiesel alternative fuel; offsetting over 65,000 barrels of oil in that time. Our recognition on TripAdvisor shows that you don’t have to travel at the expense of the environment.”

At Incredible Adventures, minimizing our impact on the destinations we visit is second only to the satisfaction of our passengers. To be recognized for the quality of our service empowers us to pursue our ethos of responsible tourism. When you come with us to Yosemite, Muir Woods, or Napa & Sonoma Wine Country, you know that you are traveling responsibly.

We strive to provide experiences for our clients that are sustainable, unique, and also FUN! It’s with the help and feedback of all of you out there that we can continue to do so, and we thank you for keeping us “Excellent”.

The post Incredible Adventures is a 2014 Award of Excellence WINNER! appeared first on Incredible Adventures.