Tours & experiences

Tours in United States

Small-group tours, day trips, cooking classes and multi-day adventures. Every tour vetted for traveller reviews first.

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Romantic Sunset Picnic at Pristine Beach with Photo & Video

When Jake from our team tried this sunset picnic setup on a Maui beach, it delivered exactly what it promised: a thoughtfully staged evening with decent food, a photographer snapping candid shots, and the ocean as your backdrop. You're looking at 90 minutes on the sand with a charcuterie spread, throw pillows, a blanket, and a Bluetooth speaker already waiting. It's pitched at couples after a meaningful moment together, though families work too. The beach itself is the star here—golden light, water views, the usual Maui magic—and the setup minimises faffing about so you can actually relax.

NYC Secrets of Grand Central Private Walking Tour

When Sarah from our BugBitten team did this walk through Grand Central, we realised the station itself is the real draw—not the tourist trinkets. A licensed local guide walks you through 90 minutes unpacking the building's quirks: a backwards ceiling, a hidden tennis court tucked away upstairs, a speakeasy-turned-cocktail-bar, and the family symbols embedded in the design. It's the kind of tour that makes you see a place you thought you knew completely differently. Grand Central's the sort of spot where thousands stream through daily, but most miss the actual story.

4-Hour Mangrove Island and Dolphin Watch Sandbar in Fort Pierce

When Sarah from our team tried this Fort Pierce mangrove and dolphin tour, we found a solid half-day paddle that mixes kayaking with motorised boat time across shallow sandbars and winding mangrove channels. It's a family-friendly outing in a working coastal area where you've got genuine chances of spotting dolphins, plus the quiet, tunnel-like waterways lined with sponges and wading birds. The 4-hour format (2 miles paddling, 2 miles by motor) suits mixed fitness levels, and the gear—lightweight carbon paddles, roomy kayaks, quality life vests—is well thought through. Expect a relaxed pace rather than an adrenaline rush; the appeal is slowing down to watch the ecosystem work.

Beverly Hills Food Tour with Gourmet Tastings and Drinks

When Tom from our team took this Beverly Hills food tour, we got a proper taste of how locals actually eat in this glitzy pocket of LA. Over three and a half hours, we hit four tasting spots—charcuterie boards, pozole, chocolate, smoothies—paired with two drinks (wine, champagne, or mezcal), all threaded together by Rodeo Drive's window displays and the odd film location. It's not the usual tourist shuffle; the guide steers you through private dining rooms and quieter bars where you can actually sit down, chat, and eat without feeling rushed. Works best if you're genuinely keen on good food and don't mind wandering a few blocks on foot.

3h 30mfrom AUD $267

The Sedona Experience - Hiking, Lunch and Wine Tasting (Private Tour)

★ 5.0 (82)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

United States

The Sedona Experience - Hiking, Lunch and Wine Tasting (Private Tour)

When Lily from our BugBitten team ran this tour, she got a proper full day of Sedona — hiking red rocks in the morning, lunch at a solid local spot, then two vineyard stops to taste Arizona wines. It's a 12-hour private vehicle setup departing from Phoenix or Scottsdale, though the restaurants and wineries themselves have other guests around. The pacing works: you're moving through different Sedona angles without feeling rushed, and the landscape does most of the talking. Suits anyone with decent fitness who wants to mix outdoors, food, and wine without booking three separate things.

12 hoursfrom AUD $530

Pike Place Market: Insider's Breakfast Tour - Tips Included!

★ 5.0 (82)

🍜 Food & Cooking

United States

Pike Place Market: Insider's Breakfast Tour - Tips Included!

When Tom from our team ran this Pike Place Market breakfast tour, we caught the market at its sweetest hour—8 am, before the crowds swarm. You get a proper local guide (trained storyteller, not just enthusiastic mate) who knows the vendors personally, and you'll taste your way through smoked salmon, fresh mini-donuts from that famous robot, and more across eight-plus stops. It's 2.5 hours of unhurried market life: chatting with fishmongers, watching the fish toss, and eating with people who've actually worked here for years. Small groups (12 max), tips already included in your ticket, and they reckon their guides are so good they'll comp your next tour if you're not keen.

Wine Tour Pros - Wine Tour and Transportation: SUV Up To 6 Guests

When Noah from our BugBitten team booked Wine Tour Pros' six-hour Napa Valley experience, he stepped into a plush SUV with a bottle of bubbly already chilling. The outfit's run by Jeremy, who's built genuine relationships with local winemakers and vineyard owners over years, and it shows — you're not just hitting the tourist circuit. You'll be driven through wine country with a knowledgeable guide, free to sip en route (yes, really), stopping at hand-picked wineries that feel more like insider spots than polished pit stops. It's a private experience for up to six people, hotel pickup included, and you walk away with a digital group photo to prove it happened.

6 hoursfrom AUD $1270

★ 5.0 (80)

🐠 Water Activities

United States

Milk Run Family Rafting Trip

When Lily from our BugBitten team took the family out on the Milk Run, we found a solid introduction to rafting for anyone with little ones in tow. This is genuinely beginner-friendly water—think gentle drifts and the occasional splash rather than white-knuckle thrills. The 2-hour outing (1 hour on the water, plus setup and chat) sits you in a raft with mountain scenery doing the heavy lifting while you float downstream. Kids from age two onwards can join, and the crew keeps things relaxed and safe. It's the kind of trip where your 4-year-old feels like an explorer and you get a bit of peace on the current.

Private Yellowstone Old Faithful and Lower Loop Tour

When Alex from our team ran Yellowstone's lower loop, we saw why this is the go-to single-day tour. Seven to nine hours takes you from Old Faithful's 150-foot eruptions to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone's thundering Lower Falls, plus stops at steaming geyser basins (Fountain Paint Pots, Black Sand, Thumb) where mineral-rich pools shift through impossible colours. The park feels genuinely wild — we spotted bison, elk, and kept eyes peeled for bears and wolves in Hayden Valley. It's packed with tourists, but the scale of Yellowstone absorbs crowds well. Lunch is picnic-style, binoculars and spotting scope included.

7 hours – 9 hoursfrom AUD $1554

Best of Yellowstone Guided Tour from Bozeman - Private Tour

★ 5.0 (79)

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

United States

Best of Yellowstone Guided Tour from Bozeman - Private Tour

When Em from our team did the full-day Yellowstone safari from Bozeman, we spent 10-plus hours in a private vehicle with a naturalist guide who actually knew their stuff—a wildlife biologist, not just someone pointing at maps. The park sprawls across three states and feels less like a zoo and more like genuinely wild country: geysers, bison, thermal pools, canyon views. You're moving through it all day with flexibility to chase wildlife sightings or pivot if weather shifts. It's the right way to see the park if you want depth rather than a rushed hit-and-run.

10 hours – 11 hoursfrom AUD $1021

San Diego Coronado History and Highlights Small Group Tour

★ 5.0 (78)

🛕 Culture & History

United States

San Diego Coronado History and Highlights Small Group Tour

When Charlie from our team ran this Coronado tour, we got the full charm offensive: a couple of hours wandering one of San Diego's most polished neighbourhoods, checking out the grand Victorian and contemporary homes, tree-lined streets, and the beach that makes the place feel properly separate from downtown. The guide knew the local stories—artists, aviators, engineers who put Coronado on the map—and threw in a snack stop along the way. It's short, walkable, and draws a mixed crowd of history buffs and people after a taste of seaside affluence without the pretence.

2h 45mfrom AUD $90

6-Hour Exclusive Wine Tour Experience: Up to 6 Guests

★ 5.0 (78)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

United States

6-Hour Exclusive Wine Tour Experience: Up to 6 Guests

When Noah from our team booked this six-hour wine country tour, he got picked up in a black SUV with a pastry and bubbles—the kind of opening that sets the tone. You're in the hands of a local guide who knows which small-batch wineries stay off the tourist map and how to actually get into places most visitors can't. The tour hits a mix of established names and cult producers, with the route shaped around what you're after. It's California wine country done via someone who actually lives there, not a script.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Walking Tour

When Mia from our BugBitten team did this walking tour through Savannah's Historic District, it became clear why the *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* book and film still pull visitors here decades on. You'll wander past the actual houses and spots that anchored John Berendt's narrative—Joe Odom's place, Helen Drexel's home, Berendt's own Savannah digs—with a guide sharing the real stories and old photographs of the characters who made this Southern city a tourism draw. It's a meandering 90 minutes through moss-draped oaks and squares, equal parts literary pilgrimage and local history.

1.5-Hour Semi Private Surfing Lesson in Honolulu

When Alex from our team took this out in Waikīkī, it was a properly organised introduction to surfing without the cattle-call vibe. You get a licensed instructor who tailors the lesson to your group's mixed abilities—whether you're absolute beginners or mates with some board time under your belts. The instructor walks you through reading waves, positioning for takeoff, and the unwritten rules of the break. It's ninety minutes in the water with gear sorted (board and rash guard included), and the focus stays on safety and actual progression rather than rushing through numbers.

Coffee Crawl & VIP Morning in Pike Place Market

When Noah from our BugBitten team ran this Pike Place Market crawl, we started early to catch the market as it woke up—that quiet-before-the-rush moment that makes Seattle's most iconic spot feel almost secret. The guide, a trained chef, steered us through two hours of stops at small roasters and breakfast spots, tasting cold brew and pour-over alongside waffle bites, scones, sambusas, donuts, and cookies. It's a tight, purposeful wander rather than a meander, and you're moving between licensed, hand-picked producers rather than just wandering the stalls yourself.

Sunset Hike and Photography Adventure in South Lake Tahoe

When Ben from our team ran this sunset hike near South Lake Tahoe, we climbed boulder-scattered ridges for two hours as the light turned the lake golden. Tahoe Outdoor Adventures pitches this as a photographer's trek through alpine terrain that most day-trippers miss—and they're not wrong. You're hiking moderately steep ground with a guide who doubles as your photographer, snapping shots of you against the panorama while you frame your own views on phone or camera. It's built for couples, families, and small groups after the main tourist rush clears out. The vibe is intimate rather than grand-tour.

The "Madams of DC" Guided Walking Tour

When Lily from our BugBitten team did this DC walking tour, she got a side of American history you won't stumble upon in the usual museum circuits. The guide walked us through the Civil War era when Pennsylvania Avenue transformed into a thriving red-light district — brothels, taverns, theatres packed alongside what's now government marble. It's a solid 2.5 hours that flips the script on how you see those formal streets today. The women who worked these establishments shaped their own fate and occasionally government business too, which is the real hook here.

Scuba Certification

When Em from our team did her scuba cert in the US, she got the credentials to actually dive instead of just snorkelling. This three-day course takes you from classroom basics through confined water training to open water dives where you're genuinely underwater, working through skills and building confidence. It's hands-on, instructor-led stuff in a way that sticks — you're not just watching, you're doing. The crowd's mixed: keen travellers, bucket-listers, people who want to explore properly. By day three you're certified and actually dangerous in the best way.

2 hour Lahaina Sunrise Whale Watch

When Tom from our team joined this 2-hour sunrise whale watch off Lahaina, the whole operation felt genuinely personal. The boat's been freshly refitted with wide sightlines and comfortable spacing—and yes, the hot pink hull apparently appeals to humpback whales as much as photographers do. The crew are long-time Maui-based, many rebuilding after the 2023 fires, and you can feel the investment in getting things right. Small groups mean you're not jostling for rail space, and the hydrophone lets you eavesdrop on whale calls underwater. Sunrise timing means reasonable odds of spotting them during their winter migration season.

YOU Drive the Jeep! Guided 4x4 Tour in Idaho Springs (Denver)

When Sarah from our team took the wheel of a Jeep in the mountains near Idaho Springs, she realised this wasn't your standard tour—you're actually driving the vehicle yourself, not just watching from a seat. A guide leads the way on beginner-friendly trails with genuine scenery and a decent dose of adventure, keeping groups small and manageable. It's a refreshing spin on the Denver-area tour circuit, targeting folks after something more hands-on than the usual coach-load experience. The whole thing runs 3–5 hours depending on conditions and how deep into the backcountry your guide takes you.

3 hours – 5 hoursfrom AUD $777

Afternoon Adventure Snorkel from Ka'anapali

★ 5.0 (76)

🐠 Water Activities

United States

Afternoon Adventure Snorkel from Ka'anapali

When Lily from our BugBitten team ran this snorkel trip off Ka'anapali, she found a tight-knit afternoon operation that keeps numbers low and the vibe relaxed. You're heading to one of Maui's best west-side reefs in a small group, with a guide who stays in the water alongside you the whole time. It's a 2-hour hit, no mega-boat crowds, and the shaded seating on board beats sitting in the sun between dips. The crew sorts you with gear, snacks, and water — just remember to bring your own towel and keep cash or Venmo handy for tips.

Tour DeVine by Heli - Helicopter Wine Tour

When Jake from our team booked Tour DeVine by Heli, we got a very different kind of wine-country experience. You're airborne for roughly 6 hours, touching down at hand-picked Northwest wineries to taste a broad range of reds and whites (yes, it's Pinot Noir territory, but there's more to it). The day kicks off with Champagne and snacks before takeoff, includes lunch at one of the stops, and wraps with a photo opportunity back at base. It's luxe without pretension — a solid option if you want vineyard visits without the van-tour vibe.

6 hoursfrom AUD $3330

★ 5.0 (75)

🌿 Nature & Wildlife

United States

Secret Places of Central Park

When Lily from our team ran this Central Park walk, we headed straight for the quiet corners most visitors miss — the northern reaches above 100th Street where Revolutionary War fortifications sit tucked among formal gardens and the park's surprising Adirondack-style terrain. Our guide, a licensed historian with two decades of NYC knowledge, anchored the 2.5-hour ramble with real stories about what stood on this land before Olmsted and Vaux reimagined it. It's a proper hike, not a stroll, covering about 3.25 miles of uneven trails, dirt banks, and rocky passages that demand decent fitness and solid footwear.

Private Guided Sunset and Eco Tour up to 6 Passengers

When Noah from our BugBitten team took this private sunset cruise in Destin, it hit the sweet spot between flexibility and doing almost nothing. You're on a small boat (up to six people) hunting for dolphins or anchoring at spots like Crab Island and Norriego Point as the light goes golden. The vibe is yours to control — bring your playlist via Bluetooth, crack open a drink from the onboard cooler, and let the Gulf do the heavy lifting. Ninety minutes of exactly what you want without a tour script.

Historic Garden District Walking Tour

When Alex from our BugBitten team did this walking tour through Lafayette's Garden District, we got a proper sense of how the neighbourhood evolved from plantation land into a patchwork of distinct communities—American settlers, Irish immigrants, Jewish families, and large African American and Creole populations all carving out their own spaces from the 1830s onwards. It's a National Historic Landmark now, and the licensed local guide brought real cultural knowledge to the streets. The two-hour walk covers the bones of that layered history without feeling rushed, and you'll spot the architecture and street patterns that still reflect those old divisions and connections.

Sand Boarding and Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon UTV Adventure

When Lily from our BugBitten team ran this two-and-a-half-hour UTV adventure in Southern Utah, the real payoff was the slot canyon itself—a narrow, sculpted natural corridor that demands a camera and a good sense of humour about tight spaces. You're driving your own Can Am through red-rock country to get there, which is half the fun, and the local guides know the area cold. It's the kind of tour where the drive out matters as much as the destination, and you'll want your legs fresh for the sand sledding on the way back.

River Fishing and Bear Watching

When Alex from our team ran this Alaskan fishing trip out of Icy Strait Point, we got the real deal — a 4-hour push into remote river country where brown bears outnumber people. You'll drive through the Tlingit village of Hoonah, then onto old logging roads that thin out fast, leaving you at a secluded river to fish (spin or fly, your choice) while genuinely watching for wildlife. It's designed for active types willing to get off the cruise-ship circuit and into proper backcountry, not a gentle float. Groups over 6 need to arrange separately.

Bee Farm Ecotour and Honey Tasting in Waialua, North Shore Oahu

When Alex from our team visited this North Shore operation, it was a straightforward look at how a working honey farm actually runs. You suit up (full protective gear supplied), walk through the hives to see the bees at work, and taste a few different honey varieties. The farm sits in Waialua, a quiet corner of Oahu's North Shore that feels a world away from the tourist crowds. The whole thing takes about an hour and forty minutes. It's genuinely family-friendly — kids from about three onwards tend to engage with the bees and the tasting, and there's enough breathing room for all fitness levels.

1h 40mfrom AUD $191

★ 5.0 (73)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

United States

Classic Monuments & Memorials Tour

When Noah from our team tried this tricycle tour of Washington DC's monuments and memorials, he found it a genuinely smart alternative to the usual coach-and-foot shuffle down the National Mall. You'll glide past the Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR memorials, hit the war monuments (Korea, Vietnam, WWII), see the White House, and tick off the Washington Monument — all from a covered tricycle that keeps you out of the rain, snow, and punishing sun. The National Mall sprawls across 2 miles, so covering it by foot is a slog; this outfit's done the tour over 100 different ways depending on what guests want. Three hours is a comfortable pace, and it's genuinely accessible for kids, dogs, and anyone with mobility concerns.

Private Half-Day Canyoneering Tour in Moab

When Charlie from our team did this half-day canyoneering tour near Moab, we were dropped into red-rock terrain most visitors never see. Desert Highlights runs routes the founder pioneered back in the '90s—genuine technical canyoneering, not a walk down a slot. Ropes, harnesses, and proper gear get you safely through water-carved canyon systems; the guide reads the geology and ecology as you go. It's five hours of actual descent and scrambling, not sightseeing. The Moab desert is their backyard, and it shows in how they move through it.

5 hoursfrom AUD $316

★ 5.0 (73)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

United States

Private Ketchikan Tour in '67 VW Van

When Em from our BugBitten team took this private tour, we rattled through Ketchikan in an actual '67 VW van — the real deal, not a replica — with a local guide who knew the place inside out. The 2h 15m loop hits a working beach (if the tide cooperates), Herring Cove for wildlife spotting, a waterfall, and photo stops along Nichols Passage. You get the bones of Southeast Alaska's Native heritage and colonial quirks without the cruise-ship crowds. It's scrappy, flexible, and genuinely local — the guide will pivot stops based on conditions and what you actually want to see.

1.5 Hour Surf Lesson in Laguna Beach

When Alex from our team took to the waves at Laguna Beach, we found ourselves in one of California's most stunning coastal strips—turquoise water, protective marine reserve status, and a genuine swell. This 90-minute lesson strips away the mystique: you get wetsuit, board, and an experienced instructor who'll have you standing and riding within the hour. The beach itself draws a mix of serious locals and curious holidaymakers, so expect company but not chaos. Laguna's sheltered conditions make it friendlier than rougher breaks elsewhere, though the water stays cold year-round.

Private Grand Teton Wildlife Safari Tour

When Alex from our team did this full-day Grand Teton Wildlife Safari, we found it a genuinely solid way to clock the park's big hitters without the self-drive stress. The private setup means your guide reads the conditions and your interests on the fly — shifting routes based on where wildlife's been spotted that morning, what the weather's doing, and whether you want to linger at a viewpoint or move on. Eight hours covers geology, ecology, and actual animal sightings across one of the USA's most dramatic landscapes. It's built for mixed fitness levels and has no age floor for private groups, so families with younger kids can make it work.

BEST! Poison Spider U-Drive 4X4 Tour in Moab +Dinosaur Tracks!

When Sarah from our BugBitten team tackled the Poison Spider Trail near Moab, Utah, she found herself gripping the roll cage of a UTV as it climbed steep rocky switchbacks overlooking the Colorado River. This 4-hour self-drive tour puts you behind the wheel of a proper off-road machine—2, 4, or 6-seater options available—through one of the American West's most notorious trails. You'll navigate high-ledge sections, tight switchbacks, and wide-open speed zones while dinosaur tracks and rust-coloured arches punctuate the desert backdrop. It's the kind of tour where your hands are genuinely busy and the adrenaline stays honest.

Storied Charleston Walking Tour by Author Liz Butler

When Charlie from our BugBitten team joined Liz Butler's Charleston walk, it became clear why a tenth-generation local and award-winning author draws crowds to these streets. Over 90 minutes, Liz threads together the city's full arc—triumphs and tragedies—as you weave through cobblestone lanes, past wrought-iron gates and window boxes, down hidden alleyways, and out to harbour views and Fort Sumter. It's the kind of tour where you realise the stories matter as much as the sights, and a guide who's lived them for decades changes how you read a place.

Chickamauga Dam Lock Kayak Tour by Chattanooga Guided Adventures

When Sarah from our team paddled this tour with Chattanooga Guided Adventures, the real drawcard was the lock descent itself—a genuine industrial spectacle that doesn't feel staged. You kayak into the Chickamauga Dam lock chamber as gates seal behind you, then watch the water level drop 45–60 feet around your boat, exposing the high-water mark on the walls inch by inch. It's an odd, absorbing 10 minutes of physics in action. The rest of the 2.5-hour outing paddles the quieter river stretch below, mixing the novelty with genuine paddling time. The crew handles safety and logistics smoothly, and you're supported with full kit—kayak, lifejacket, paddle, light, and safety gear.

Beginner Group Rock Climbing in Joshua Tree National Park

When Charlie from our team joined Mojave Guides for a half-day climb in Joshua Tree, it was exactly what beginner climbers need: small group, patient instruction, and proper gear from the start. You're learning actual technique on real granite walls — not gym holds — with maybe a dozen other travellers keen to try something new. The park itself is surreal: twisted Joshua trees, massive boulders, and that desert light that makes everything look a bit unreal. Four hours is enough to get the fundamentals down and actually feel the rock beneath your hands.

Private Sailing Charter with Captain, BYOB

When Mia from our team booked this private sailing charter on the Esprit de Joy, we got the run of a 2.5-hour cruise around Charleston Harbour with a dedicated captain and room for up to six friends. The boat cuts through the water past Fort Sumter, the USS Yorktown, and the Ravenel Bridge — all the big historical names that define this city. The real draw is timing it for golden hour: that window where the light turns everything warm and the sunset hits different. You bring the drinks, they bring the water, ice, and a couple of plastic keepsake cups, and the captain steers while you actually relax.

Private Guided Hike through Peekaboo Slot Canyon

When Tom from our BugBitten team ran this private hike, Peekaboo Slot Canyon felt genuinely tucked away—a narrow sandstone corridor just outside Kanab that doesn't get the foot traffic of its flashier cousins. Two to three hours of walking through layered, rust-coloured rock formations that've been carved over millions of years. The vibe is quiet, almost meditative, and the guide knows the backcountry well enough to get you there smoothly. It's the kind of place that rewards showing up early and moving slowly.

2 hours – 3 hoursfrom AUD $275

Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine

★ 5.0 (70)

🛕 Culture & History

United States

Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine

When Sarah from our BugBitten team did this walking tour, she got the full Emperor Norton experience—a bloke in 19th-century regalia leading two hours through downtown San Francisco's roughest and most storied corners. Norton was a real character who declared himself emperor of the US in the 1860s, and this tour resurrects him as your unlikely historian, weaving stories about the Barbary Coast's seedier days, the 1906 earthquake, and the landmarks dotting Union Square. It's quirky, anchored in actual history, and feels like a mate who actually knows the stories showing you around rather than rattling off dates.

2 hoursfrom AUD $42

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