A local favorite! Old Borges Ranch is a peaceful step back in time hidden right in the Northgate…read morearea. It's well-known for being a great educational spot for kids to interact with farm animals like rabbits and goats, but don't stop at the ranch fences. The spring hiking here is incredible. The hills turn a vibrant green, and the atmosphere is so serene that it's just you, the birds, and the occasional cow. The trek through the different ecosystems is beautiful, and the panoramic views at the top are worth every step. A perfect escape for anyone looking to trade the city sounds for rolling hills and fresh air.

Taking hubs on a fun day of places he hasn't been and revisiting for me and our son…read more Old Borges Ranch is one of those rare gems that you just don't hear anyone talk about. It's the site a multi generational family that worked and owned this ranch and eventually becoming part of the park on Mount Diablo. Lots of old buildings and dilapidated tractors. Artifacts on display. We could only see from outside of the buildings. And the ranch house itself is furnished but only viewable from outside and through the windows. Pleasant Hill 4H has some animals there but they are not for petting or teasing. So be kind! There are picnic grounds in several places and a restroom that is accessible. Beautiful drive or hike in.

I am writing to express our sincere appreciation for the exceptional service provided by Michael…read moreMcKay. His dedication and responsiveness truly went above and beyond our expectations. He was very patient with our group of 11 trying to decide what cruise line we should pick. Michael answered all of our questions in a quick and timely manner, ensuring that we were always informed and confident in our decisions. What truly stood out was his commitment to customer satisfaction--he even took the time to call us over the weekend, outside of regular working hours, to let us know that an upgrade we were interested in had become available and to ask if we would like to proceed. This level of attentiveness and care is rare and highly commendable. He is the best travel agent we have ever had and we want to thank him for his outstanding service.

Allison Conrad was more than helpful. She went above and beyond to make my trip happen on short…read morenotice. Even when I had to reschedule the trip she was more than happy to assist in rearranging everything. She was so professional and knowledgeable, she created an itinerary based on just a few things I told her I was interested in doing. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to travel. I personally look forward to using her as my travel agent again in the future. Thank you Allison for all your kindness and attention to detail!

It truly does not get any better than this! Picture a train, travelling through the beautiful…read moreSierra Nevada mountains, with a wild group of people that love to party, 21 and up, where you can bring all the booze you could possibly consume with you! Freaking AWESOME! Does this sound like your kind of party? Well, welcome aboard the Reno Fun Train! We flew to Sacramento the night before and stayed at the Vagabond Inn that is closest to the Amtrak station.It is one street away from Old Sacramento, so we were able to do the touristy stuff, take a carriage ride, etc. and had a lot of fun. We arrived at the train station with lots of time to spare with the free shuttle from the Vagabond Inn.Good thing, too, since we forgot our camera and had to return to the hotel ! (Parking is SUPER LIMITED at the train station, but there is a parking garage a block away). The party had already started on the platform, plenty of people were already imbibing freely before boarding the Fun Train, and the police were not hassling anyone as most were discreet about it.(See photos) Our Mardi Gras Fun Train was late to depart, as apparently freight trains are given preference ahead of passenger trains, but since we had plenty of drinks to sustain us, nobody seemed to mind the cold! A great cheer arose as our train made it's way down the tracks and we all boarded ( with quite a bit of confusion, since the car numbers were not super obvious and alcohol had been flowing freely). Yay ! We were on our way to Reno. They have live music to dance to in the Dance Car, you can sing along in the Piano Lounge ( that also has a bar with super reasonably priced drinks), they even have *gasp*, a Smoking Car,( don't worry non-smokers, it's way the hell at the end of the train), so pretty much, anything you could possibly want! They also have strolling musicians, a Dome Car where you can admire the passing scenery AND they feed you a decent chicken pot pie. You can bring any snacks and beverages you want, they provide cups, ice , water and cans of Lipton's tea. We met with a group of people we met on facebook and had a GREAT time, I highly recommend this trip to anyone. You can get "Train only " packages or one with the 2 nights hotel accomodations- they have many to choose from- we chose the El Dorado because it had the highest rating on Trip Advisor, and loved it. They have all kinds of fun themes for these trains: Wine tasting, St. Patrick's Day, Hawaiian, Country Western, Mystery, etc. One caveat : if the train doesn't have enough people, it can be cancelled, so get a bunch of friends together and PARTY!!!

Buyers beware!! This company takes your money, doesn't book your trip and DOES NOT REFUND your…read moremoney!! I have lost 800.00.. please don't make the mistake I did!!

This was a memorable trip. We were originally slated to visit in late June before my birthday but…read moreboth Deb and Kirk were recovering from surgery. We stayed in touch over the next several weeks before settling on an August date. We braved the high temps and winding roads to arrive at the ranch. It's a beautiful space on a hillside and you can see the herd and their guardian llama as you pull into the parking lot. We learned a lot about the alpaca life cycle, fed the boys, and my daughter got to hold and carry a cria. We bought two cute alpaca shaped soaps. I didn't experience any of the negativity others have complained about. It is a working ranch so it's not a petting zoo or a tourist attraction. Go with the flow and you'll have a great experience.

Ive been here a total 3x and its been a great experience. Id totally recommend coming here for the…read moreexperience and knowledge. Such little cuties there

A fun, interactive, and incredibly well done "Travel Around the World" Smart Cooking and Wine…read morePairing Event. My team and I had an amazing experience at Miggi's Kitchen. We learned to cook with the Thermomix while working in teams at different stations, preparing dishes from around the world. It was hands-on, interactive, and a lot of fun - every dish turned out delicious. Miggi is a fantastic teacher: clear, detailed, confident, and incredibly knowledgeable. She explains techniques in a way that's easy to understand, and we all walked away genuinely better cooks. We also paired the experience with wine tasting and learned how to taste and appreciate wine properly, which made the evening even more memorable. On top of that, Miggi's fun, warm personality really brings the whole experience together. My office team loved it and is still talking about it. Highly recommend for team events or anyone looking for a unique, engaging culinary experience.

Our group of 12 just completed an "around the world" cooking class with Miggi and we could not have…read morebeen happier. What a great environment - even better food, and Miggi was very entertaining and informative. We will definitely recommend this to friends. John S

Lots of details about this interesting corner of the Bay Area provided by our guide Dan G. He was a…read morewealth of information, pretty funny and as a local was able to share a lot of perspective on the islands changes. Great day trip and I wish we had more time to poke around.

Wonderful tour led by Jim. History + nature! A great morning spent on the island…read more For people who are looking to visit the Naval Museum on the island, it is no longer open, but this tour is operative and you get to see the naval chapel and walk around the area. I was originally looking for information about the museum and arrived at this page: https://www.mihpf.org/tours. I hope this will help you find their tour options and dates! All digitalized, no fuss. And it turns out I was the only who signed up for today's tour, and they did not cancel on me because of that. I really really appreciated it. One last thing, the money you spend on the tour goes into helping this foundation : ) Yay!

This was the 2nd time that I've booked a wine bus service with eXtraordinary Tour Services. Both…read moretimes we've received excellent and accommodating services. We booked a party style bus for a group of 7 to Kenwood from the Marina. Our driver Paula was a star and we really appreciate the above & beyond service. Each time we've known which wineries we wanted to book but if you do not know, Dean was ready to make recommendations each time. I would recommend booking with Dean as you will not be disappointed!

Excellent experience. Dean was communicative, responsive, flexible, and easy to work with. The…read moredriver showed up early and was also communicative. I would definitely recommend.

i loved every second of this tour. I went with me and my dad for 2 hours. our tour guide, Travis,…read morewas excellent, and helped me, who was a complete beginner, learn how to use the controls and everything essential for the journey, and going up some of the hills had great views with many photo opportunities. I would definitely recommend this tour if you would like a well guided experienced that goes at your own pace. You do not have to go on any part you dont want to, also, which is nice. This tour has definitely made me more interested into offroad vehicles, thanks to this amazing experience and tour guide.

Absolutely amazing adventure! Went on a Mother/daughter outing and had soooo much fun…read more Travis is the best guide. He made the check in easy and the ride was an adrenaline rush and so enjoyable. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND them. Thank you Travis!

4.4 stars We all…read moreknow some of his famous quotes: "The mountains are calling and I must go." "Going to the mountains is going home." "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." According to Brittanica, John Muir was largely responsible for the establishment of Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park. Muir was a preservationist that didn't agree with allowing industries to harvest resources within the national parks. He was able to swing public and congressional opinion in favor of national forest reservations through his writing, which led to the establishment of Mt. Rainier National Park in 1899 and Grand Canyon National Park in 1919. His home became John Muir National Historic Site in 1964. Much of the exhibits within the home discusses his personal life and achievements. He was the eldest of 8 children, immigrated to the U.S. in 1849, and he married Louie Wanda Strentzel in 1880. He and his wife had 2 daughters named Wanda and Helen. In his lifetime, he has written 300 articles and 10 books, which can be purchased online and at Muir Woods National Monument and Bear Valley Visitor's Center. I highly recommend visiting this site if you'd like more information :) there's a lot more details here.

John Muir lived right here in Martinez! I have been here…read moretoo many times to count. It is open every day, and free to visit!! John Muir was a very interesting man. His life story better told here and online than by me. I definitely recommend a visit! 5 stars for sure

This was a VERY FUN DAY !!! This balloon trip was an Anniversary Gift from our kids. Originally I…read morewas not too sure and something that I would not have planned to do !! However it turned out to be VERY FUN DAY !!!

I give it a 4.5. We had to arrive super early and wait for them to set up everything. It was cold…read moreoutside and they did provide coffee, hot chocolate and snacks. We the weather being so unpredictable we had to wait. I was fine with wait because i do value my life. I had the chance to cross off a major item from my bucket list. A hot air balloon ride and wow, what an experience! The views were absolutely breathtaking. Floating high above the landscape, seeing everything from a completely new perspective, was truly magical. The sunrise was especially beautiful as we drifted along, and the silence up there, broken only by the loud occasional burst of the burner, was unlike anything I've ever experienced. That said, there were a few things to consider. The heat from the burner can be overwhelming, especially if you're not prepared for it. I didn't wear a hat, and I really wish I had and i am short 5'2 those blasts of hot air can get pretty intense when they hit you directly! So, if you're planning this trip, definitely bring something to cover your head. The landing was a bit of a wild ride, too. The ground was much harder and more uneven than I expected, and we didn't quite know where we'd land until we were almost on top of it. Also getting in and out can be extremely challenging. It's hard climbing into and out of the basket and it's very tightly packed. Not a lot of space to move. I knew the risks going in but the whole experience was so worth it. Even with those little surprises, it was absolutely incredible. Would I do it again? Definitely not! Despite the heat and the bumpy landing, the beauty of the experience makes it all worthwhile and a one timer for me. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something unique and unforgettable to add to your list of adventures. Just don't forget your hat!