I've lived here my entire life and have never been whale watching but have always wanted to,…read morehowever it's just not an experience I'd typically consider splashing out on for myself (**spoiler alert - my visit was less than two weeks ago and immediately after disembarking I told my husband I wanted to get on another tour stat!) For Christmas, my husband's aunt gifted tickets to our entire extended family to enjoy a whale watching tour together so we finally landed on a date and it was an awesome experience from start to finish. We arrived about 15 minutes early for our 9:30am boarding time, checked in at the kiosk and were given paper tickets to be handed over to the crew as we came aboard. Once onboard, we were introduced over the speaker to the captain and crew and given a quick rundown of the itinerary and safety procedures. We navigated through the harbor where we spotted our local sea lion neighbors basking in the sun which especially delighted the kids and the out-of-town/state passengers, sailed out of the harbor and into the open sea. It was a pleasantly calm morning with hardly any wind and very smooth sailing. The only slight downside was that it was a particularly gray morning, so there was little distinction between the color of the ocean versus the sky but it was very clear and we could see for a long distance. We got probably close to halfway through our two-hour tour without any sightings but once we were about 5 miles off the coast, we started hearing transmissions between the crew over their walkies so we knew to start keeping our eyes peeled. The next half hour or so was spent watching three beautiful fin whales take turns coming up for air, swimming under the boat, rolling playfully and showing their light-colored bellies. It was so fun to be able to move about the boat freely to try to get the best view, some photos and videos, while being filled in by the crew on interesting marine facts. Finally the whales took their deep dives, at which point we were informed they wouldn't be coming back up for air for a while and it was about time to head back. The cruise back was equally smooth as the adventure out, and we got in right on time and prepared to disembark but not before getting coupons for a future expedition and adorable fin whale stickers to commemorate our tour. I can't WAIT to go on another whale watching tour with Oceanside Adventures - it was the best time!! I would 100000% recommend.

What a great day for whale watching!…read more The crew is amazing! Ivy, Tekon, Saxon, Chris. Hope I got all the spelling right! I've been on this boat and it's not always a guarantee as nature is nature but today was perfect. Calm seas, thousands...yes thousands of dolphin and a dozen whales. Mostly humpback but we saw two finback as well. So rad. Can't wait until next time!

I went to the flower fields in Carlsbad towards the end of the season in late April. Initially I…read morethought I'd made a bad call when I purchased the tickets because after buying them I saw so many reviews online saying how the flowers were already all gone, and how it's a waste of money for an Instagram photo shoot. But I didn't find that to be my experience at all. I do think that the ticket cost is pretty steep, but my husband and I had a really lovely experience here. There were still a lot of flowers in bloom when we went. I could tell that a lot had withered away at this point already, but I was still happy with what we were able to see. It did make a lovely backdrop for lots of cute photos, and I got plenty of enrichment being by so many beautiful flowers. We also spent over an hour picking our own blueberries. Since we went so late in the season, a lot of the good blueberries had already been picked, so there were slim pickings. It took a long time to gather two good basketfuls, but it was fun (and actually really tasty). Definitely another reason to go earlier in the season next time. It was a great place for a date, and we got lots of steps in while doing so many fun things like the sweet pea maze, watching the birds, and venturing out to find the sunflower field. I thought it would be a one-and-done, but we are actually looking forward to going back another year!

Very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Beautiful…read moreflowers and a wagon ride for fun! Lots of photo opportunities and adjacent to a nursery if you live locally and can bring home plants.

This was such a unique experience. The food was incredible and SO MUCH. Definitely arrive hungry…read more Our tour guide, Dirt (yes that's his name) was very engaging and knowledgeable. I am a local and still learned so much about our cute town. Perfect for locals and out of state guests. Highly recommend.

I was really disappointed with this food tour. I've done several in the past and this one just…read moredidn't compare. The biggest issue was the structure of the experience. It started with a donut and then included two more desserts along the way crepes, and gelato. That felt excessive and unbalanced. Typically, food tours are paced more thoughtfully with a variety of courses like appetizers, soups, salads, and a solid main dish. The pasta was underwhelming and didn't feel like the highlight it should have been. You could tell the meatballs were previously frozen. Not one person finished the taste. Overall, the tour lacked variety, balance, and quality. It just didn't feel well thought out or worth the cost. It needs to be revamped. I really wanted to enjoy it, but unfortunately it missed the mark.

Drew was such an amazing guide! He let us take our wedding photos on one of these beautiful…read moregondolas and his energy made us so happy. Lake San Marcos is stunning and we had the best experience from the view of our gondola! Will definitely be back and absolutely recommend

My wife and I recently decided a great way to spend a holiday Saturday with our son, his wife, and…read moretheir daughter, would be to spend some time on Lake San Marcos - and what better way to do that then a gondola? After some quick research on Yelp, we made our reservations (VERY easy to do) and met everyone on said Saturday at the Black Swan dock. (side note - they want you there 20 minutes early...this does NOT mean you can check in 20 minutes early...chances are very high that the person checking you in is your gondolier, and he/she will be on the water at that moment). We had Conner (VERY traditional Italian name....cough) - and he was awesome. He shared some great details as we made our way along the shoreline, including some of the local nicknames for the houses on the water. He was VERY knowledgeable about when the lake was created, the various depths, and gave us tips on when to avoid being on the water (July 4th was high on that). We brought along our own drinks and snacks, and thoroughly enjoyed our ride. Highly recommended!

Had so much fun on this wine tour!!! Went with 3 other girls...it was a rainy day but we didnt…read morecare! We were drinking wine! Made it even more of an adventure...Adam was awesome! Had a very good playlist of music for us...Took us to witch creek winery (where he had brought an assortment of amazing cheeses and meats to pair with our wine),carruth cellars and wine steals for a fabulous lunch...he even bought us an extra bottle and took us to a beautiful beach area to take pictures and pop the bottle of wine! The vehicle we were in was fun and it was a great day...good times :) definitely would recommend!

From the owner: Our open-air Jeep Tour was created for active and adventurous wine enthusiasts looking to enjoy San…read moreDiego's scenic beauty! Our Goal is to guide our guests on a relaxing day filled with Fun, Fine Wine, and Great Memories! We offer safe and professional guided tours to local Wineries, Wine Bars, and Vineyards in North San DIego County areas like Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solona Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, & Escondido. Enjoy A Coastal Tour or head out east on the Del Dios Highway to visit Beautiful Rolling Vineyards. Call us and Book your Wine Adventure Today!

we had the BEST time at oceanview mine!! truly such a fun and unique experience. we came in not…read moreknowing what to expect and ended up striking out big time. we found so much quartz, beautiful watermelon tourmaline, and a bunch of stunning crystals we honestly forgot the names of (there were sooo many). but honestly, what made the whole experience even better was Nate. he got right in there with us, hands dirty, fully invested in making sure our experience was a good one and you could feel how passionate he is about what he does. that kind of energy is rare and it made the hot day so much more memorable. we already want to come back and do a chief dig! the whole experience felt like a mix between treasure hunting and being a kid again we were fully in it for hours. highly recommend this to anyone looking for something different to do. we'll 100% be back!

My friend and I went for a birthday celebration. It was just the two of us. On March 14, it was a…read morefine spring day. Perfect to be on a mountain top in the sunshine sifting through rocks and hunting for gems. The Oceanview mine works in finding a number of different quartz, Tourmoline, and other gems. Take a look at their website. For $75 for an adult, you get all the equipment that you need to sift through rock and gravel piles which they set out for you. There are a big tables, the two grades of sorters, a bucket, trowel, and toothbrush to clean off rocks. Also a big tray of water to rinse your rocks in and clean them off. There were igneous rocks with black tourmaline and tiny pieces of garnet. It was a lot of fun. You have to get there promptly at the opening time in order to get situated and the digging/sorting/sifting begins sharp at 10 AM. You have three hours and 45 minutes to go through all the rocks that you want. Bring your own gloves! They also have shaded umbrellas, and 5 gallon buckets to purchase that you can load up with rocks to sift through on your own at home. While it was a fun adventure, and I've never been to a quarry mine that you could actually look for your own gems, the staff did leave a little to training, although they were very good about going around and assisting you. However, I think if you really want to find something, you need to educate yourself ahead of time as to what you are looking for and what is available. Five minute presentation to 50 people wouldn't you can't even really look at the rocks and no handout or guide sheet for reference was a drawback. They don't take credit cards for the entrance. You have to pay cash. Children are a lower price. But they do take credit cards for memorabilia, gemstones that they have turned into jewelry and other items. And also for the rentals. I thought the purchasing of a 5 gallon bucket for $10 was too much. They don't make it clear that if you want to take home a 5 gallon bucket of extra stones to sort through then you can bring your own. I thought for the price of $75 a 5 gallon bucket would be included. They are not. There are picnic tables in the shade where you can have your own lunch, there is a grill you can use if you want to utilize that. Bring all of your own beverages, water, and snacks and meal. There is a short tour that you can take of the areas that they mine on this mountain. You load up on a four wheel vehicle that holds six people and spin around the mountainside, stopping at the entrance of three of the mine shafts. This is only about a 5 to 7 minute tour. They don't allow you to stop get out and take pictures in front of the mine openings. This was certainly a drawback. They could've extended the "tour" to let you get out and take pictures in front of the mine shafts. Perhaps it is a liability issue I don't know. I would not do this for a second time since I've already done it, without further educating myself about gem hunting and what exactly I was looking for. But for a one time adventure, it was fun and we had a beautiful spring day. Don't forget your sunblock and sunglasses and hat!

We had a great time with Emil on a 1 hr ride through rain and snow flurries. The ride was safe,…read morewell paced and super fun. I would recommend wearing some waterproof pants/jacket if you are going during such weather. This is my new favorite activity! Can't wait to do it again.

I booked this adventure for 2 reasons: (1) to FINALLY get out of the house during this pandemic…read moreespecially since all we have been doing is working and we have been working more than ever since our job is considered 'essential', and (2) celebrate my boyfriends 30th birthday. This was my first time on a quad/ATV and my boyfriend has been riding dirt bikes since he was like 6yrs old. I love being outdoors & going on new adventures, and he loves riding ... so the mixture of those things i came upon this place. For birthdays I love and prefer creating memories instead of giving materialistic gifts. Example: For his 28th birthday I booked us a little personal speed boat in San Diego. Upon arrival check-in was easy, quick, and they gave us hand sanitizer so we felt assured. They had helmets and other PPE lined up and available for us to use, however we had brought our own (riding gloves, riding jerseys, riding DOT certified helmets, and googles) which they allow. Our guide Jorge was funny and very easy going. The ride overall was really fun!! During our ride our guide also took pictures of us and he took some awesome ones with amazing backdrops! The only complaint I have was that I only booked us the 1 hour ride. Next time we are doing the 2 hour ride for sure! And maybe the Big Bear location as well.

Do yourself a FAVOR & BOOK THIS YACHT!!…read more We had the best experience with the Champagne Yacht! The entire crew was absolutely incredible and made the whole trip so fun, relaxing, and memorable. Brittany, the bartender, was especially amazing -- she was so hands-on, attentive, friendly, and truly went above and beyond to make sure everyone was having a great time! The captain was professional and made us feel safe and comfortable the entire trip, and deckhands Jeff & Drew were awesome as well. Everyone on the crew brought such great energy and hospitality. You can really tell they care about creating an unforgettable experience for their guests. Highly recommend Champagne Yacht for an amazing day on the water! A day I will cherish forever & wish I could relive again & again!

this is the second time i've celebrated a friend's birthday with champagne yacht. their crew is the…read morebest. they're beyond nice and attentive. when it was time to dock, the yacht was cleaned up and everything was packed for us to take home. the yacht itself was super clean and well kept. brittany was one of the crew members that remembered my friend and i from the first time we attended a friends birthday party. looking to book my own birthday with champagne yacht next year because of the service !

This is a bit of an overdue review, but I had such an amazing time horseback riding! I hadn't…read moreridden since I was about 5 years old, so I was definitely a little nervous going into it. I'm not sure it's exactly like riding a bike--but Karen made me feel completely at ease from the start. Kiwi, my horse, was incredibly patient and gentle with me. I swear she knew I needed a little extra TLC! It made the whole experience so enjoyable and stress-free. I even got to do a tiny bit of trotting, which was such a fun bonus. Overall, it was such a great experience, and I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking to try horseback riding or get back into it!

We highly recommend! The ranch was very well kept, the owners and staff were all friendly and very…read morewelcoming. You can feel the love for the animals and how well they are taken care of. We felt at home, in their home. We can't wait to got back again very soon!

Amazing whale watching experience! The crew was friendly and knowledgeable, and we got incredible…read moreup-close views of whales and dolphins. The smaller boat made the trip feel much more personal and exciting. Highly recommend!

BUYER BEWARE: This excursion looks appealing because it promises a small group and a fun, fast boat…read moreexperience. However, booking with this company comes with a real risk: if the boat isn't completely full (6 people), they may cancel your trip. We planned a special outing around this excursion for our wedding anniversary, only to have it canceled with less than 8 hours' notice. Ironically, their own policy requires customers to give at least 24 hours' notice to cancel. If you don't want your plans disrupted at the last minute, I strongly recommend booking with a more reliable company.