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Things to do in Silicon Valley

Our most recommended things to do in Silicon Valley

San Jose: Winchester Mystery House Tour

1. San Jose: Winchester Mystery House Tour

Come explore the fascinating Victorian mansion built by Winchester rifle heiress, Sarah L. Winchester. Marvel at this vast, strange and unusual place. Take a 65-minute guided tour of this architectural marvel, built for 38 years from 1884. Experience beautiful stained glass windows, ornate parquet floors, and turn-of-the-century craftsmanship. Discover strange oddities such as doors to nowhere, stairs to the ceiling, and windows in the floor. See rooms bare with remnants of the 1906 earthquake damage, and others furnished with lounge chairs, grand pianos, and chandeliers. After your tour, walk round the beautiful the gardens, and enjoy the fresh flowers, picnic benches and palm trees. Try your hand at axe throwing or the shooting gallery for an additional charge, or browse for souvenirs at the gift shop.

Silicon Valley: Self-Drive Audio Tour

2. Silicon Valley: Self-Drive Audio Tour

Hop in your car and enjoy this self-guided audio tour of the birthplace of tech. Cruise through Silicon Valley while checking out the headquarters of tech giants and learn about the visionaries who’ve shaped the world, from Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to the controversies around Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos and the eccentricities of Elon Musk. Simply hop in your car, get the tour guide app set up on your phone, and get started. Start your tour at Facebook's headquarters and learn about Zuckerberg and his vision. All audios play automatically based on location. As your tour continues, learn about the oldest struggle in tech — idea vs execution. Arrive at the backbone of Amazon, AWS, and learn about Bezos and Amazon's humble beginnings. Next, head to the Android Garden and learn about the fight between Google and Microsoft. Continue down the road to Google’s headquarters, called the Googleplex, and enjoy a stroll through the campus before arriving at Microsoft and the beginnings of the modern world. Learn about Gates, BASIC, and Windows. Stop at a museum to play the first-ever video game and see one of the first-ever computers. From there, continue onto Apple to learn about the feud between Jobs and Gates and even stop by Jobs’ Garage. Finally, switch from smartphones to smart cars and learn about Elon Musk and Tesla as you drive towards the heart of Silicon Valley. Finish your tour at Stanford, the school of choice for tech entrepreneurs.

Pacific Coastal Highway Tour to Monterey & Carmel

3. Pacific Coastal Highway Tour to Monterey & Carmel

Travel along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. This full-day tour takes you along California’s stunning coast to experience the beauty of Highway 1. When you arrive at the Monterey peninsula, follow the 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach to visit the Lone Cypress, where your guide will stop for you to take photos of the rugged, beautiful coast. As your tour continues, visit Monterey city where you can walk down Cannery Row, or visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium (for an additional cost). From Monterey, your tour continues to the coastal town Pacific Grove, which features charming Victorian-era buildings; and the artsy Carmel-by-the-Sea, where you will visit the historic mission established in 1770. On the way back to San Francisco, drive through Silicon Valley, the tech capital of the United States; and, as you circle round the north end of San Francisco, catch a glimpse of the Seal Rocks in the distance.

Silicon Valley Private Tour

4. Silicon Valley Private Tour

In just 4 hours you will see Facebook, Apple, Google, and any other company you wish to see. Besides the famous high-tech companies you will also have the opportunity to visit Stanford University. Traveling by private car, enjoy the comfort of seeing the places you want to see without worrying about your departure or arrival times. Learn more about the famous landmarks with a reliable service, offering maximum security and, most of all, the best level of hospitality in the industry. Following a pick-up from your accommodation in San Francisco (pick-ups in other cities in the Bay Area are available on arrangement), get recommendations on the best places to stop to take pictures or explore further - you decide where you want to go.

San Jose: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Trip

5. San Jose: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Trip

Towering granite cliffs and giant sequoias headline this full-day Yosemite tour from San Jose. Expert guides will make sure you don’t miss the history, geology, wildflowers, and wildlife, that have made this glacier-carved valley the jewel of America’s national park system. Your Yosemite Giant Sequoia Tour from San Jose begins with pickup from your hotel, then heads east crossing through California’s fertile San Joaquin (aka Central) Valley and into the craggy Sierra Nevada mountains. This is the only Yosemite Valley tour where you will also experience the solitude of the Tuolumne Grove of giant sequoias, the largest living things on earth. You’ll reconsider your place in the world, 2,000-year-old trees can make people do that. Your heart (and camera) will be racing as you enter Yosemite Valley, enjoying stops at Inspiration Point and El Capitan Meadow. You will stop for moments at Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Bridalveil Falls, with plenty of time allocated to "take some selfies". Yosemite is open year-round, and if you visit in the winter months, you can picture Yosemite Valley covered in soft white snow, with animal footprints scattered about in the meadows and the snow-capped Half Dome casting its long shadow.

California Highlights Express: 3-Day Tour from Los Angeles

6. California Highlights Express: 3-Day Tour from Los Angeles

Discover the most iconic highlights of California, as well as some lesser-known gems, on this 3-day tour from Los Angeles. Drive the renowned 17 Mile Drive, explore Santa Barbara, and visit Yosemite Valley National Park or Hearst Castle. Enjoy 2 nights of accommodation and a bay cruise in San Fransisco included. Day 1: Los Angeles – Santa Barbara – 17 Mile Drive – Carmel Summer RouteDepart north up the spectacular California Coast to the first stop in Santa Barbara. Visit a Spanish Mission and learn how these religious outposts were key in the development of the entire region. Continue to Solvang, a quaint Danish community to browse in the local shops. See the spectacular California coastline up close (small vehicles will travel the southern portion of route 1 while full-size coaches will travel the 17-mile drive exclusively). Visit the town of Carmel, home to the actor Clint Eastwood. Enjoy some free time to stroll in town before departing to reach your hotel at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport. Winter RouteDepart north up the spectacular California Coast to the first stop in Santa Barbara. Stop at the heart of downtown at the “state street promenade” and stroll through the exclusive shops and restaurants. Continue to Santa Barbara beaches and Stearns wharf to “walk on the water” and enjoy the beautiful view of the ocean. Finish your visit at the Spanish Mission Santa Barbara and continue to Solvang, “the Danish capital of America” a quaint Danish community at the heart of California. After your lunch break, head north through Silicon Valley before departing to reach your hotel at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport. Day 2: San Fransisco – Bay Cruise – Golden Gate Bridge – ChinatownSummer RouteStart your tour at the Fisherman’s Wharf with a cruise in the world-famous bay. Enjoy great views of both the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Next, return to Pier 39 for a leisurely lunch before an afternoon tour that takes in all the city’s famous landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Union square, Chinatown, and Nob Hill. Stay overnight in Modesto. Winter RouteStart your tour at the Fisherman’s Wharf with a cruise in the world-famous bay. Enjoy great views of both the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz island. Then return to Pier 39 for a leisurely lunch before an afternoon tour that takes in all the city’s famous landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Union square, Chinatown, and Nob Hill. Stay overnight at the Springhill Suites Oakland Airport. Day 3: San Fransisco – Yosemite – Los Angeles Summer RouteHead east through the farmlands of the Joaquin Valley to Yosemite National Park. Stop at El Capitan, Bridal-Veil Falls, and Half Dome. See the highest waterfalls in North America, Yosemite Falls. Then head back to Los Angeles in the evening. Winter RouteStart the day with a visit to Monterey including the wharf and Cannery Row. Continue your tour of the beautiful California Coast with a visit to the town of Carmel-by-the-sea. Then head south to the world-famous Route #1 where you'll see the spectacular California coastline up close (small vehicles will travel the southern portion of route 1 while full-size coaches will travel the 17-mile drive exclusively). Then drive back to return to Los Angeles.

Silicon Valley: Self-Driven Audio Tour for Technology Lovers

7. Silicon Valley: Self-Driven Audio Tour for Technology Lovers

Journey through Silicon Valley with maximum flexibility, safety, and value on a self-driven audio tour. Simply hop in your own car, get the tour guide app set up on your phone, and set off on the ultimate adventure for technology lovers. During the tour, make various stops at tech giants like Apple, Google, Facebook, Tesla, and more. Learn about the visionaries who’ve shaped the world around us on an audio tour developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists. Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Hear about the feud between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, the controversies around Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, the eccentricities of Elon Musk, and more. See Facebook's headquarters, as well as the real backbone of Amazon — Amazon Web Services. Possible stops include Google's Android Garden; a museum where you can play the first-ever video game and see one of the first-ever computers; Steve Jobs's garage; and the Googleplex, Google's headquarters, where you can walk through the campus. All audios play automatically based on location. The tour concludes at Stanford, the university that churns out tech entrepreneurs. You can even visit the true birthplace of tech, the Hewlett-Packard Garage. Not sure you can fit all this into one day? No worries — once booked, the tour is yours forever. Split the drive into two days or come back later for a second round. Travel dates change? Again, not a problem — this Silicon Valley self-guided tour never expires.

San Francisco: Monterey and Carmel Tour

8. San Francisco: Monterey and Carmel Tour

Begin your tour by traveling south on the famous Pacific Coast Highway, California Highway 1. Head to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. At your first rest stop in Davenport, you will have a chance to take a selfie with the whole Pacific as your backdrop.  At Monterey, you will have 2 hours on your own to explore. You can visit the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, rent a kayak or paddleboard, hike along the coast, or take a bike to roam. You can also stroll among the quaint boutiques and art shops along the historic Cannery Row. Grab a seafood lunch at Old Fisherman’s Wharf.  Enjoy another eyeful of Pacific beauty along the scenic 17-Mile Drive through Del Monte Forest and take photographs of the hardy Lone Cyprus Tree. This famous road winds its way by magnificent homes and the spectacular coastline, between the greens and tees of world famous golf courses, and among the last remaining forest of a rare species of the Monterey Cypress.  Your scenic drive finishes at Pebble Beach Village. Upon arrival in the enchanted town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, you can explore the boutique shops on Ocean Avenue and be dazzled by the white sandy beach. If there is time, you can visit the historic Carmel Mission. Then, it will be time to head back to San Francisco. 

5-Day Wild West Tour From Los Angeles

9. 5-Day Wild West Tour From Los Angeles

Day 1: LOS ANGELES – SANTA BARBARA – ROUTE 1/17 MILE DRIVE – CARMEL Summer Route: Depart north up the spectacular California Coast to the first stop in Santa Barbara. Visit a Spanish Mission, then continue to Solvang, a quaint Danish community to browse the local shops. After, see the spectacular California coastline up close (small vehicles will travel the southern portion of route 1 while full-size coaches will travel the 17-mile drive exclusively). Visit the town of Carmel home and enjoy some free time to stroll in town before departing to reach your hotel overnight at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport. Winter Route: Depart north up the spectacular California Coast to the first stop in Santa Barbara. Start your tour and stop at the heart of downtown at the “state street promenade.” Stroll through the exclusive shops and restaurants in this beautiful part of town. Continue to Santa Barbara beaches and Stearns Wharf and finish your visit at the Spanish Mission Santa Barbara. From the mission, continue to Solvang, “the Danish capital of America.” Enjoy the Danish-style architecture while browsing in the local shops and restaurants. Then head north through Silicon Valley before departing to reach your hotel at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport. Day 2: SAN FRANCISCO – BAY CRUISE – GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE – CHINATOWN Start your tour at the Fisherman’s Wharf with a cruise in the world-famous bay. Marvel at views of both the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. Return to Pier 39 for a leisurely lunch before an afternoon tour that takes in all the city’s famous landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Union square, and Chinatown. Summer Route Overnight: Modesto – Modesto Hotel Winter Route Overnight: San Francisco - Springhill Suites Oakland Airport Day 3 SAN FRANCISCO – YOSEMITE Summer Route: Head east through the farmlands of the Joaquin Valley to Yosemite National Park. Stop at El Capitan, Bridal-Veil Falls, and Half Dome. After a day in the park, head down to Stevenson Ranch for the evening. Winter Route: Start the day with a visit to Monterey and see the wharf and Cannery Row. Continue your tour of the beautiful California Coast with a visit to the town of Carmel-by-the-sea. Enjoy some free time to stroll in town and enjoy the beautiful boutiques and galleries. Head south to the world-famous Route #1 and spend your evening at Stevenson Ranch. Day 4: STEVENSON RANCH – LAS VEGAS Summer & Winter Route: Arrive in Las Vegas and take a tour of the strip to see some of the truly amazing hotels and fantasies that are built in the middle of the desert, such as Caesar’s Palace, Mirage, Luxor, Paris, Mandalay Bay, New York New York, Treasure Island and more. Stay overnight at Harrah’s Hotel. Day 5: LAS VEGAS – HOOVER DAM – LOS ANGELES Summer & Winter Route: After a leisurely breakfast, leave Las Vegas and make your way to the Hoover Dam. Then head west and cross back into California. Your tour ends back in Los Angeles.

San Francisco Bay Area: Sonoma Wine Valley Private Charter

10. San Francisco Bay Area: Sonoma Wine Valley Private Charter

Experience the wine country of Sonoma Valley and visit the places of your choosing with a private transportation charter for just you and your group. Sit back and relax as your driver takes care of the driving, leaving you free to make the most of your day at the wineries. After pickup at your chosen location, board your air-conditioned vehicle. Depending on your group size, ride in style in a comfortable tour van (up to 10 people), Mercedes Sprinter (up to 14 people), or executive coach (up to 28 guests). Enjoy a customized day that gives you the chance to focus on your interests. Discover wineries, restaurants, and more, and keep cool throughout the trip with cold water onboard. At the end of your day, you'll be dropped off at your location of choice.

Frequently asked questions about Silicon Valley

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What people are saying about Silicon Valley

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 133 reviews

Fred was genuinely a kind friendly soul with tons of knowledge! Really enjoyed every stop he made for us! We definitely couldn’t have done all the thing we did in one day, especially with a toddler! You get the cool facts, and information that you wouldn’t get if you were trying to do this on your own! On top of that, imagine all the planning it would haven taken, renting a car, looking for parking at every spot, deciding where to go, which route to take, they saved SO MUCH time & stress for our family! This was a wonderful surprise gift for my husband! He throughly enjoyed it!!

For those, like us, who want to be amazed in a short time, this tour is ideal. I shared these moments with my 10-year-old daughter…unforgettable… The roads are long, of course, but the discovery of all these mythical places steeped in history offers us magical moments. The bus is air-conditioned, comfortable. The guides are friendly.. a small flat on the breakfasts of certain hotels which do not offer much choice.

This tour is great, and allows you to visit to great cities on the Coast without renting a car and have to park. The guide was super funny, available, and nice. The tour is very well organized and you watch the best panoramas ever, comfortably sitting in a great bus and learning new things about California. We totally recommend it.

The excursion is very worthwhile, a good bus and the driver explains everything in great detail. I recommend it

Easy to follow, lots of fun information, possible to jump things on the route.