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!

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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.

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.

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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!

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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!).

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