Top 5: Sightseeing Tours in America

Sometimes you need to get away and explore a completely new city — and for that, we’re here to help. From known landmarks to iconic beaches, museums, parks, restaurants and breweries, there’s so much to see and so little time, so we’ve researched the top five sightseeing tours in and across America to help maximize your adventure.

The Coast Starlight

Driving up the Pacific Coast is as classic as an American road trip can get, but if you’re behind the wheel it may be difficult, and dangerous, to really take in the sights. The Coast Starlight, a grand West Coast train adventure, hits all the highlights. The 1,377-mile train, in route daily, travels between Los Angeles and Seattle and passes through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland for a total of 35 hours. Linking the greatest cities on the West Coast, it’s regarded as one of the most spectacular train routes. The scenery along the route is unsurpassed, from the dramatic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, to lush forests and long stretches of the Pacific Ocean shoreline. You’ll experience a journey like no other. Tickets begin at $120.

Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

If you’re traveling to New York City, see the Big Apple with a Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour. Pass top attractions like Central Park, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and more. Learn about the history of the city from an on-board guide and when you’re ready to explore Times Square in greater depth, hop off. Guests have the opportunity to hop on and off at more than 30 stops to visit city sights at leisure, admiring top New York attractions and neighborhoods. There are three different loops available, the Downtown Red Route, the Uptown Blue Route or the Midtown Purple Route, all 2.5 hours. Choosing to upgrade to a two-day pass includes a bus loop around Brooklyn and a sightseeing cruise or night tour; however, if a three-day pass includes all tours plus a two-hour night bus tour and sightseeing cruise. Tickets for a one-day tour begin at $53.

Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour

Escape to California’s famous wine country on a full-day Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour from San Francisco. Taste regional varietals at three different wineries, big-name and family-run estates in Napa Valley and Sonoma. Learn about the winemaking process during guided tours of vineyards and barrel rooms, savoring the area’s gourmet culture with a lunch stop in Yountville where you can choose from Michelin-starred restaurants, casual bistros or picnic provision spots. While departing San Francisco, you’ll drive over the Golden Gate Bridge for views of the Bay Area and Alcatraz before admiring the rolling hills and vineyards that make up America’s top wine region. The eight-hour tour begins at $91. While children under the age of 21 can take the tour, the wine tasting is only for those 21 years or older.

Swamp Boat Adventure and Plantations Tour

Experience Cajun Country New Orleans, La., on this full-day Swamp Boat Adventure and Plantations Tour. In a small group, head deep into the secluded bayous to witness Cajun living and spot native wildlife. Visit Oak Alley Plantation and Laura Plantation to view stunning architecture, oak-lined esplanades and sugar cane fields. Enjoy a traditional lunch in Oak Alley, one of the oldest plantations in the south. A Cajun guide awaits to take you on an unforgettable wildlife-spotting expedition through remote cypress swamps, while learning about the area’s wildlife population. The nine-hour tour beings at $171 per person; however, if you upgrade, guests will enjoy a two-hour, high-speed airboat ride through the bayous.

Deluxe Grand Canyon All-American Helicopter Tour

Tour one of America’s natural wonders with a scenic helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. The low-level flight takes you through the Hoover Dam, extinct volcanoes, the stunning Lake Mead, the Las Vegas Strip and, of course, the Grand Canyon. The half-day tour includes a Champagne picnic at 3,200 feet below the canyon rim, allowing for plenty of afternoon exploration once the flight concludes. In flight, guests will be up close at the West Rim and other local highlights in a state-of-the-art EC-130 helicopter. The guide navigates you through the red rock canyon walls as you soar over the Colorado River. The flight is approximately 45 minutes each way, and includes a 30-minute picnic. The Deluxe Grand Canyon All-American Helicopter Tour begins at $426.99 per person.