My wife and I participated in a weeklong bike tour of Nova Scotia. The trip was well organized and…read moreour guides were friendly, supportive and made the experience so much better. Biking: flexible routes and there were both e-bikes and standard bike riders in our group. The GPS made it easy to navigate. Very scenic routes and mostly in low traffic areas. Accommodations: All three hotels were different but excellent. Convenient locations close to places of interest. Meals: group dinners were all amazing quality with options including vegetarian. The guides provided really good lunches and there was an endless supply of snacks. This trip exceeded my expectations and I look forward to riding with Backroads again.

I have had nothing but great experiences with Backroads throughout my past 5 experiences with them…read more This highly anticipated hike in Yosemite did not meet my expectations right from the start. Other trips included guest numbers of between 9-11 with 2 guides and one support guide. This trip had 19 with the same ratio of a team. Pretty forgivable until you factored in there were only 2 vans with 21 of us crammed during each of the long distances between each hotel and hike. The longest drive was, as expected, between our San Francisco meet-up for the 4 hour drive to the park. Two vans made for a very squished drive for many of us. The first hotel, a one-night stay, found us in a parking lot facing room. For the $$$ Backroads costs, I expect more than the cheapest view in the hotel. I expect a room with a view. I wouldn't book a room on my own without a view, and I expected more on our first night. Our first night Backroads reception, something that is a tradition and combines meeting our fellow hikers with an included cocktail and nice dinner, did not happen. We were led to a lonely back room of the hotel. Here, dressed in our finery, we waited to be greeted with an offering of a cocktail. Instead, set up in the corner of this dank room was a server with a few bottles of wine. Confused, a few of us went to the bar and purchased our own drinks. Those who wanted a second glass of wine you were out of luck because the server closed up shop before one had a chance to ask. Our guides arrived and began to stumble through an explanation as to why we weren't having our dinners inside of the hotel: something to do with the hotel confusing our Backroads trip with another Backroads trip that is also on property. The bottom line was that the hotel could not accommodate our dinner choices. We were cordially invited to join the barbecue that was taking place for the Backroads biker group. We traipsed around the chilly outside of the hotel in our finery, down to a picnic area set up with picnic tables, a buffet, and a lot of families with their children running around having a grand time. We were instructed to pick up a tin tray with a paper plate and begin our choosing from the tables of food. Basically, we were met with the leavings of the previous Backroads barbecue. No freshly stocked trays. The hamburger/hot dog tray held at least an inch of grease with a few sad looking hot dogs and hamburgers. The salads were picked over. The dessert tray held toppled over dregs of cakes. My husband, who typically goes with the flow, was even more shocked than me. We took ourselves to the hotel restaurant, with its very ample available seating, and bought our own drinks and dinner. It was great. My issue is this: this option of dining in the restaurant instead of the barbecue was not offered. It should have been. This isn't a low brow touring company. The extra cost of their guests dining independently should have been eaten by Backroads. Not on us. The next day, not a word was mentioned by the guides about the previous night's fiasco. I spoke to the support guide about it on my own. She was stunned to learn about the whole affair as she was not present for it. She must have spoken to the guides about it because, later on, the guides brought it up with apologies. Yet, no mention was made of reimbursement of our dinner. The remainder of the trip was Backroads great. The guides are always tip-top, the variety of snacks are set up with flare, the park hotels are always special. The Yosemite hikes are spectacular. I contacted Backroads via email two times about my issues. I have never had to complain about their trips, but I felt that there is a discernible slip in the quality of their product. I asked to be called via phone so that I could have a dialogue with someone. I never received a call. Instead, all of us on the group received an email apologizing for the terrible first night's confusion, and we are offered a $250. credit good for two years towards a future Backroads trip. I am not finding this an acceptable peace offering. Actually, I would have preferred my reimbursement of $200. that we spent on our first night's dinner and a phone call. We have paid in full for another Backroads trip coming up on September. This will be the make-or-break for us. I think that had we not paid for this trip, we would be looking for a different tour group. There were enough small signs that show a slip in service and a cut in costs. I spoke to many of us on this trip, some experienced Backroaders and some brand new. There was a noticeable disgruntled atmosphere regarding the tight vans. One guest told me she ate only a baked potato at the barbecue. Another told me she ate one sausage. Many keep their disappointments to themselves. I asked around. Backroads needs to step up to the plate to ensure a better product in the future.

This was our first time in Sonoma and we weren't sure where to start so we booked the full day…read moreadventure it and it was worth every penny! Emily is the most wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide and we had the best day biking the back roads of Sonoma with her and our new friend who was also on our tour. We had no idea how much we'd learn and just how much fun we would have! Neither of us are regular bikers, but with the e-bikes we kept up without any issues. The wineries and cheese shops were high quality and perfectly spaced apart throughout the day. This will always be our first recommendation to anyone planning a trip to wine country!

Rented electric bikes here with friends and the service was amazing! Both women who helped us on…read more6/28/25 went above and beyond. They provided us excellent instructions on the use of the bikes and Google map links to all the destinations we had in mind. They chose the routes carefully so that we could enjoy a relaxing, beautiful bike ride. Highly recommend!

More then a month later. Almost 3 emails to the company and multiple phones. Have not gotten a.l…read moresingle phone call back. They are a freaking scam!!! DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THEM

For my daughter's 1st SF trip I sought out bike tours and Streets of San Francisco (SoSF) REALLY…read moredelivered !! Our first day we got oriented thanks to the classic downtown tour that takes you through the city heart at a very manageable pace....seeing things I guarantee you'll never find on your own. Our guide Josh is a SF native and simply the best guy giving 200% to help visitors share his pride in this magnificent city. You visit the various barrios (e.g., Mission, Haight, Castro, civic center, golden gate park, etc.) learning about their history & challenges due to gentrification. This is what I really appreciated from Josh...his native viewpoint on what's happening to hs city with all the tech worker riches. 2) On the next day we returned for their Golden Gate bridge & Sausalito bike ride....this time Staci led us across the most famous bridge in the world (??). Again, WONDERFUL....her detour past the Palace of Fine Arts was really appreciated too. But the ride isn't all you get, his shop had available sunscreen (NO charge....where will you find that) and spare wind breakers for tourists like me who underdress for the chill SF winds). And once your ride end there are the local restaurant & bar guides for free to plan the rest of your stay ---and avoid tourist trap rip-offs. HIGHLY recommend for your first day in the city--this firm one of the best I've ever had in world-wide travelling :)

it's such a great experience to rent bikes from NVBTR. They are nice folks and the bikes are…read morealways ready when you arrive. Napa Valley is a great place to ride. Staff will guide you to some great routes and destinations. Pro Tip: Much better to ride in the morning in Napa as traffic is heavier in the afternoon

When visiting Napa Valley, it is vital that one soaks in the beauty of their surroundings through a…read morebike ride through the valley floor. My sister and I decided to rent bikes with Napa Valley Bike Tours, and I am so glad that we did. Mackenzie, Kelly, and the other ladies we met upon arriving to the shop greeted us with so much enthusiasm and kindness! Before we even stepped foot into the shop, our bikes were already conveniently sitting outside the shop, ready to go. Everything is so well organized from the tools they provide (i.e. Storage bag on the bike, water bottle holder, bike map) to the instructions they give. Mackenzie gave us the run-down on which trails and Wineries we might want to visit during our ride which we appreciated greatly. The views and the vibes you get while biking on the scenic trail along Dry Creek Road are so worth it. I would highly recommend booking with NVBT as you will not regret it. Pro tip: For an even better ride, I would recommend adding a gel seat for $5 more if you plan to rent a comfort cruiser, especially if you are 200+ lbs. ;)

If you're visiting San Francisco and thinking about doing an e-bike tour over the Golden Gate…read moreBridge... just book it. Seriously. It ended up being one of the best parts of our entire trip. The e-bikes made everything effortless -- especially the hills (which are no joke). You still get that fun, active experience, but without feeling gassed halfway through. The ride across the Golden Gate Bridge was unreal. The views of the skyline, Alcatraz, and the bay were absolutely next level. Riding above the water with the wind coming through the bridge towers is something you just can't replicate any other way. Our guide was fantastic -- knowledgeable, engaging, and paced the ride perfectly for the group. We got cool history about the bridge and the city without it feeling like a lecture.

We had a great outing with EcoBike along the bay shore. Electric bikes are perfect for team…read morebuilding since each person can pick the appropriate level of assistance for their skill level. My team of ~6 had a great time and I'd highly recommend the service!

If you're planning to bike around Sonoma, do yourself a favor and rent from Sonoma Valley Bikes…read more This place is fantastic. We booked our bikes online for two days of riding, and when we showed up Emily already had everything dialed in and ready to go. But the real magic was the itinerary she created for us. She mapped out two days of riding that were basically the perfect Sonoma combo: beautiful routes, great lunch stops, and wineries along the way. We followed her plan exactly and it felt like having a local cycling guide in our pocket. Amazing roads, gorgeous scenery, delicious food, and wine stops at just the right moments (very important cycling fuel, obviously). Huge thank you to Emily and the team at Sonoma Valley Bike Tours & Rentals for making our trip so easy and so much fun. We're already looking forward to coming back and doing it again! ‍

We had a lovely tour with Bruce as our guide. Bruce asked us what we wanted to see since we were…read morethe only two on the tour. He said we could do a more history centric tour, or winery centric tour. We chose historic. First, we stopped off at historic House of General Vallejo, then we rode to Buena Vista winery. We had a wine tasting there where Antwon was super-accommodating for my husbands very specific wine tastes. Then we traveled throughout Vineyards to go through Bartholomew park and back to the Square. We had an olive oil tasting at Figone's on the plaza which was delicious. We had excellent weather and the day couldn't have been better.

Didn't know what to do for my birthday, and came across this beer bike tour. I don't drink, but I…read morefigured it would be fun and my friends can do the drinking. It was very easy to book online on their website. We were a group of 12. It was $27.5 for each of us. If you have 14 people you would get a deal for $25 a person, and the whole bike would be yours. Our "driver," Travis was real nice and laid back. We didn't go too far, but it was more for the experience. It lasts about 2-2.5 hours. We biked to 3 different breweries, and hung out at each for about 30 mins. It was fun! I would definitely do it again!

My friend booked this tour for her birthday outing, and we all had a great time! We had 11 people…read moreon one vehicle. The only downside is that the two seats above the back wheels don't have pedals, so only 10 people can bike at a time (5 people on each side). This may not be a bad thing if you get tired and want to take turns pedaling. It was $27.50 a person, and every individual is required to sign a waiver. The vehicle has shelves inside where you can store your belongings and there are cup holders on the table for you to place your water or phone. There are seatbelts for each chair, but none of us really used them (oops). They also have an aux cord, so you can play your music while pedaling! We met our tour guide at Independent Brewing Company. He was very friendly and considerate that we were a little late. Before we got started, he asked what type of drinks we were interested in. He took us Seawolf first, then Slainte and we finished at Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon. All were great choices although Slainte was my favorite. Neat Irish tavern with people playing live music inside. Heinold's was a little small and claustrophobic, but they are known for their beer. When we returned to our vehicle after the second bar, our tour guide came in clutch and stocked our cup holders with pretzels and water. Please don't forget to tip your tour guides! The tour was about 2 hours long. No, drinks are not included in the fee. But this was a fun way to get around the neighborhood, drink, laugh, dance, sing, and overall just be together with friends. Highly recommend!

We had a great Saturday evening tour, pleasant easy riding through the city. Truly a fun way to…read moreexplore San Jose and learn a little bit of its history.

Truly a fun way to see the city. Run by locals. Not the rote tour and it can be customized to your…read moreinterests and duration. Check it out.

i've been doing things that add more novelty to my life. This fit the bill perfectly. My cousin and…read moreI took our gondola ride on Lake Merritt, at 6 pm just as dusk was setting in. If you live in the Bay, this is a must. It's a very romantic experience, soft and feminine. I absolutely loved it. You can bring your own wine and food. The dock that you take off at is located directly outside of a restaurant with excellent food. We had the privilege of being the last ride of the day and meeting the owner who was an absolute magnificent human being. He even played a song for us on the guitar. All around great Service and great experience. Loved it.

We had the most magical time celebrating my boyfriend's birthday with Dolce Vita Gondola this past…read moreSunday! From start to finish, everything was charming, and full of joy. Our guests enjoyed enchanting gondola rides through the water--everyone was blown away by the experience! The gondolier, Amelia was friendly, fun and engaging- she added the perfect touch of Venetian romance to the afternoon. The venue also allowed us to live music by the incredibly talented Rob Reich--his performance created the perfect addition for dancing and celebration. There's something unforgettable about dancing by the water, surrounded by friends, music, and the glowing warmth of the sun.

This is to provide a "heads-up" for what to expect from the Telegraph Berkeley Historical Walking…read moreTour. This is also to supplement the Walking Tour, in case some of the more interesting points were missed. I doubt if this Walking Tour includes any of the really important things about Berkeley, such as Melvin Calvin's discovery of the Calvin Cycle, or the discoveries relating to vitamin B12 by Horace Barker, or the discovery by Gilbert Lewis of the covalent bond and his concept of electron pairs. Instead, the Walking Tour is more likely to disclose: (1) Anti-war demonstrations and riots; (2) Free Speech Movement; and (3) Curiosities, such as People's Park, Holy Hubert (evangelist), Pink Cloud (Berkeley Barb salesman), Pravda, the Hate Man, Stoney Burke (performs political comedy), and the successful and famous poet, Julia "Bubble Lady" Vinograd. And so, to prepare yourself for the Walking Tour, I suggest buying a copy of BLESS YOUR DIRTY HEART by Hubert Lindsey, a.k.a., Holy Hubert, and by buying two or three poetry books by Julia Vinograd. I suggest, CANNIBAL CASSEROLE to start out with. MY PHOTOGRAPHS. I took these photographs in the years 1969 to 1971. During the time I was taking freshman chemistry in Latimer Hall, us students were faced with a tough decision. Should we open the windows and let the stinky smell of our chemicals go out the window, or should we keep the windows shut to keep out the stinky smell of the tear gas that the Berkeley police were shooting at the rioters. The day after the riots, I would go out and collect spent tear gas bombs. I have a tear gas bomb that was a rubber ball with a valve on top, and another tear gas bomb that was a blue-painted can made of thick metal, with holes in the can to let the gas come out. I washed the residual tear gas out of the bombs by flushing water over the spent tear gas bombs in the bathroom sink in PRIESTLY HALL dormitory. My photographs show: (1) Bluegrass trio in Sproul Plaza with a mandolin case where you donate money, and where the mandolin case has a sign reading, "KITTY." The term "Kitty" is sometimes used to refer to a place for putting spare change. (2) Also on Sproul Plaza, people playing trombone and clarinet. (3) Holy Hubert on Sproul Plaza. One of the signs reads, "Jesus Christ is coming again to judge this world, follow Christ here on earth. Be persecuted and go to heaven not hell. Another sign reads, "REPENT-REPENT-REPENT Communist Party USSR Communist Party Red China Communist Party U.S.A. Marx-Lenin-Maotsetung ALL 3 ATHEISTS. Bible says Atheist=Fools. I won't follow fools. (4) Riot police on Telegraph Ave. escorting boy to paddy wagon. (5) Sandwich board on Telegraph Avenue. Sign reads, LEOPOLD'S RECORDS New Stones Album $5.99. (6) Boy gets put into paddy wagon, on Telegraph Avenue. (7) Four rioters on Telegraph. One of them flips bird at me. (8) Protest against Nixon and bombs. I took this photo at entrance to U.C. Berkeley campus. (9) Hippie is glad that LBJ died. See headlines from Berkeley Daily Gazette that reads, "Washington Funeral For LBJ." The sign attached to the wooden post reads, "ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL . . . ALICE STEWART & SNAKE . . . June 23." Please note that Alice Stewart & Snake also performed with Big Brother and the Holding Company, at Bimbo's in 1972. (10) Happy gathering on Telegraph. (11) People's Park with Pravda in the nude, as usual. (12) People's Park with row of four friends. (13) Happy gathering on Telegraph, near La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant. You can see GARDEN SPOT MARKET next to La Fiesta. But me and my roommates called this place the GARBAGE SPOT.

I checked out this tour on a recent rainy Sunday and as a Berkeley native learned so much I never…read moreknew about our local history, specific to Telegraph Avenue, Cal as well as Berkeley in general! It's a great tour and I'd recommend it to residents and visitors alike. It's a free app to download and my friend and I each but an earbud in our ear and walked the tour together. Totally recommend!