Viator Travel Blog

With sapphire waves, warm beaches and famous tourist sites, San Diego’s reputation as an iconic surf and sun destination is justified.  Yet, visitors exploring beyond beaches and the Zoo can take these roads less traveled, enhancing a visit to this popular SoCal enclave. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about San Diego:

One of the best ways to see the canyon is to cycle, which is why I’m wearing a helmet and straddling a bike for the first time in, ooh, more years than I care to remember and readying myself for The Earthquake Canyon Bike Express.

Whether climbing Everest is at the top of your bucket list or you’d prefer a gentle hike through the British countryside, the world is full of jaw-dropping natural landscapes that beg to be discovered on foot. From Iceland’s otherworldly topography to unveiling the real Middle Earth in New Zealand, here are 10 of the best places to hike in the world.

HURRY! Book by April 25th, 2013 to save 50% on the recommended retail price if you buy either the Customizable Wine Country Tour or the Shopping and Napa Winery Day Trip. This exclusive offer applies to all scheduled departure times and dates through December 31st, 2013. Please note that this offer is available for new transactions only and cannot be applied to any existing booking.

While white sand beaches with azure waters and billowing palms are nice, they’re far from unusual. For those looking for a truly unique coastal experience, the following beaches provide just that. Barking sand, star-shaped fossils and natural underground hot springs are just a few of the strange experiences you can have on the following weird beaches.

“You got air back there?” Dori asked from the front of the Jeep. Bouncing around in the back seats (although fortunately strapped down), we replied in the affirmative: yes, we had gotten airborne for just a moment.

“Good,” she yelled happily, “it ain’t a Jeep Tour until you’ve got air”.

For those who love experiencing beautiful landscapes, visiting waterfalls is one of the best ways to add some extra beauty to a day in the outdoors. Not all falls are created equal, however. If you want to view some of the world’s best cascades, here are our suggestions.

Lake Tahoe is in the grips of California and Nevada the way a prized sapphire might be in the claws of two rival gem dealers. Once you stand on the shores of the turquoise lake and gaze up at the surrounding mountains, whether they’re covered in snow or lush with pine forest, Tahoe is the perfect all-season destination for sports enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. And as the winter melts into spring, and spring blossoms into summer, the area’s myriad and stunning offerings evolve, too.

Craft breweries are exploding as tourist destinations for tasting a culture. Here’s how to do your own beer tasting tour, plying Highway 78’s craft breweries, ending at the Disneyland of craft brewing, the architecturally stunning Stone Brewing.

Hearst Castle has topped my bucket list for years, and Viator.com’s Santa Barbara, Solvang and Hearst Castle Day Trip from Los Angeles surpassed all expectations.

The sunny SoCal climate, eclectic sites and tour stops, and tour guide, Richard, who can entertain non-stop about every topic from early Spanish missions to William Randolph Hearst’s young Hollywood mistress, while driving a large van (or minibus) up the Pacific Coast Highway makes this 12-hour tour a must-do for visitors to the City of Angels.