As the gifting season approaches, you’re probably thinking about the perfect gifts to give and receive. One of the most unique gifts might not be a piece of jewelry or trendy hot item but a memorable experience. This year, give something to truly treasure and remember like fun San Diego tours.
San Diego’s tour companies are committed to providing memorable and safe adventures that go above and beyond and create everlasting experiences for residents and visitors alike. Whether you’re exploring your hometown or planning for a future visit, consider these unique San Diego tours as a gift for that special someone, including yourself.
The Gondola Company
You don’t need to travel to Venice to ride on a gondola. Cruise through the gentle canals of scenic Coronado Cays with The Gondola Company. Enjoy views of the sweeping San Diego-Coronado Bridge and the luxurious homes along the waterways. Feeling romantic? Bring a favorite wine for a sunset cruise, preferred by couples, especially when accompanied by Italian-style music. If the mood is right, gondoliers will often burst into song.
The private tours are 50-minutes long, and each gondola can accommodate up to six passengers. Wines, non-alcoholic beverages and locally crafted chocolate truffles can be added for an additional cost. Check in is contactless, and sanitizing protocols are applied between tours. Gondoliers stand more than six feet away from passengers.
Another Side of San Diego Tours
Discover San Diego with local experts of Another Side of San Diego Tours who specialize in the best of the city’s offerings on walking and Segway tours. Choose from various tours options that cover must-see historic landmarks and popular neighborhoods. Check out the Ultimate San Diego, a private tour of Coronado, the historic Gaslamp Quarter and luxury La Jolla. Have fun on the Balboa Park Segway Tour, a semi-private tour around Balboa Park, one of San Diego’s best-kept secrets.
Guests must wear masks on the Segways and during the walking tours. Every Segway is disinfected between tours.
Corporate Helicopters of San Diego
View the beauty of San Diego from the sky with Corporate Helicopters of San Diego, offering private helicopter tours and charter flights. Experience a unique adventure or celebrate a special occasion as you fly over the coastline and inland regions and gaze at some of San Diego’s most iconic areas. Take a Diego Delight, a 30-minute flight over downtown, San Diego Bay, the USS Midway Museum, Mission Beach, SeaWorld, La Jolla, and the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Immersive yourself on the Winery Lunch Flight, a 3.5-hour tour that stops in Temecula for lunch and wine tasting.
Tours vary in length and locations and are available 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM seven days a week. Passengers must wear a mask during the flight. Before every flight, the crew disinfects the helicopter and equipment.
Old Town Trolley Tours
Enjoy a fun and comprehensive tour of San Diego’s most popular locations on an Old Town Trolley Tours. Sit back in an open-air trolley for a two-hour, fully-narrated tour that covers 25 miles, over 100 points of interest and 11 distinct neighborhoods. Learn fun San Diego facts and history and hear humorous stories by the trolley’s conductors that not even the locals know about. You can also hop on and off at key stops along the way.
Tours start at 9:30 AM in Old Town and run until 4:00 PM daily. 50% seat capacity allows for appropriate social distancing. The vehicles are constantly cleaned. Face masks required while aboard the tour.
Wheel Fun Rentals
Explore San Diego and have a fun day outdoors with family and friends on a surrey from Wheel Fun Rentals. Pedal along the waterfront on these easy-to-navigate, modern-day four-wheel carriages that look like a golf cart with trimmings. The single surrey fits up to three adults and two small children. The double surrey is ideal for six adults and two small children.
Find Wheel Fun Rental locations along the downtown Embarcadero, Harbor Island and Coronado. Beach cruisers, electric bikes, choppers, tandem bikes, and mountain bikes are also available. Bike helmets, maps and bike locks included. All rental items and equipment are fully disinfected after each rental. Only members of the same household can rent multi-user products.
Everyday California
Enjoy San Diego’s 70 miles of stunning coastline from the water. Rent a kayak on your own or take a group tour with Everyday California in La Jolla Shores and paddle along La Jolla’s impressive seven sea caves. Take in the sun’s rays as you observe kelp beds and curious sea lions. Hear interesting La Jolla anecdotes and history on a kayak tour with skilled and knowledgeable guides.
Everyday California also rent bikes, SUPs, snorkeling gear, surfboards, and other beach equipment. Don’t forget to shop for its dashing apparel line. Curbside check in is available. The shop also runs a PRO-Cell UV Light Cleanser with Carbon Air Scrubber to eliminate airborne bacteria and viruses.
GoCars Tours and San Diego Speed Boat Adventures
Look cool while learning about San Diego in a GPS-guided “storytelling car.” The three-wheeled yellow vehicles from GoCars Tours allow you to choose your own adventure. Follow the informative GPS-guided tour and stop whenever and wherever you want. Check out popular points of interest including Little Italy, the USS Midway Museum, Balboa Park, Cabrillo National Monument, colorful Ocean Beach and more.
Double the fun by adding a Speed Boat Adventure tour. Be the captain of your two-passenger, high-adrenalin boat ride. Zip along scenic San Diego Bay and stop at key points of interest like the Maritime Museum with the Star of India and the USS Midway Museum for photo ops. The tour is guided and narrated through a two-way communication system.
GoCars and Speed Boat Adventures hold a maximum of two people. Guests must be 21 years or older to rent. Crew members clean all rental equipment and touch services between tours.
Hydrobikes San Diego
Ride on water on a fun, safe, and easy to ride hydrobike. These human-powered watercrafts offer a great way to relax or workout while exploring San Diego by water. Easier than riding a bike, with little effort you can cruise at 5 miles per hour. Hydrobikes San Diego offers single and tandem rentals at its San Diego Bay and Mission Bay locations. This is a great activity for families and kids and even pets who get to ride for free.
Face masks required for sign in. Tandems can only be rented to family members or those living together.
Next Level Sailing
Take part in a once-in-a-lifetime whale watching experience with Next Level Sailing. Come aboard The America, a historic 139-foot racing yacht, and sail away to catch a glimpse of San Diego’s rich marine sea life. See whales year-round in San Diego with gray whale watching season spanning from mid-December through April. In addition to whales, you’ll also see dolphins and sea lions.
The 4-hour tour departs once a day at 11:00 AM from Shelter Island. Tours are implementing social distancing protocols with reduced capacity and enhanced sanitary measures. Feel safe with contactless check-in and disinfected railings after each household group boards. Masks required at all times.
Pedego San Diego
A great way to explore San Diego is by riding the scenic bike paths along downtown, San Diego Bay, Harbor Island and Liberty Station. If you don’t have a bike Pedego San Diego provides electric bike rentals perfect for short and long-distance rides. Pedal their electric bikes manually or use the motor to help propel the bike up to 20 miles per hour. These bikes can allow you to see more in less time with less effort.
Pedego San Diego is located at the BRIC hotel complex at Lane Field, a block away from the Santa Fe Depot train station. Rental options range from one-hour to full-day rentals and include beach cruisers, tandem bikes, and fat tires. Locks and helmets included with every rental. Physical distancing and masks required.