USA · SELF-GUIDED TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 self-guided tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part of planning.
Review of Fort Sumter’s ferry tour from Charleston, with harbor views, Civil War history, practical tips, accessibility notes, and value advice.
“Great ferry ride. Wonderfully i formative Park Rangers. They were great at answering the numerous questions. Flag ceremony was really nice. Perfect weather”
Explore Alcatraz by ferry with a self-guided audio tour, prison cells, escape stories, and sweeping San Francisco Bay views.
“Superb attraction. A live parks department guide first gave us an historic perspective of the island and the facility - she was full of facts and enthusiasm. The prison itself - the cells, the common areas - was exhibited with great authenticity - and was richly described by a super audio tour. The book store was great too. Highly recommended, not to be missed. The only fly in the ointment were the flies - if you know you know.”
Review of the Los Angeles Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, covering four routes, 40+ stops, ticket value, audio guide, timing, and practical tips.
“Their choice of tours offers LA to all tastes. I rode the Red Route, which gave me a range of my interests, notably La Brea Tar Pits. As I rounded a corner the bus was pulling away from the pickup poin, but pulled in for me when I waved.”
Review of Los Angeles City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, with route details, value advice, delays, stops, and practical tips.
“Was a good way to drive around LA and would highly recommend you only do this on a weekend day as the week day traffic slows the service down. There was too long a wait between buses if you did want to get off and then if you wanted to connect to a different line, they didn’t meet up very well. If you do the whole round trip then there is nothing to worry about”
Review of Chicago’s Medieval Torture Museum, with audio guide and ghost hunting app, pricing, practical tips, highlights, drawbacks, and booking advice.
“Super cool! Was a tiny bit gore-y but also super informative. Our trip revolved around museums and this one was probably the most fun! Check it out if you’re ever DT!”
Explore Gettysburg’s 19-mile battlefield route with 60+ audio stories, flexible stops, offline maps, and lifetime access for one car.
“It’s good to hear the stories and explanations of what you are seeing. Practice before starting was helpful.”
Ride an electric bike through Red Rock Canyon with hotel pickup, marked stops, snacks, water, and freedom to set your own pace.
“Steven was awesome - so friendly and helpful and kind. Bikes were in great shape and we loved the ride. Would highly recommend this operator!”
Review of the Joshua Tree self-guided audio tour, with route details, app tips, pricing, highlights, drawbacks, and advice for a smooth park visit.
“Interesting, informative stories, easy to use. Very complete.. Liked that it tells you approximately how long different hikes might take, good for planning outings.”
Watch Haleakala sunrise, then bike 15 miles downhill with a Maui guide, park access, gear, Makawao time, and a flexible self-guided ride.
“The biking down was the best part, so exhilarating and breathtaking views. Eddie Buddy was a wonderful, very knowledgeable guide.”
Explore Alcatraz by official ferry with cellhouse audio, island stories, protest history, and an optional night visit from Pier 33.
“Overall it was a good visit. Although there was the Asian lady at the counter with a lot of attitude. She Definitely need to look at different job because customer service is not her best skill. Other then that it was a good experience”
Review of Acadia’s self-guided audio drive, with route details, app tips, costs, timing, drawbacks, and advice on who should book.
“It can be self paced. Very well done and informative. We gained a great knowledge of the history and interesting points of Acadia National Park.”
Review of Maui Sunriders’ Haleakala downhill bike tour, with self-paced riding, mountain views, Makawao, Paia, gear, pricing, and practical tips.
“The bikes are appropriate to the task with good brakes, tires and gearing for safely running the steep descent for both experienced riders and relative novices. The guides leap frog their riders in two vans so help is never too far away and no rider is left behind. They do a good job of preparing us for the route which could easily be a bit confusing. The ride was thrilling and worth the time dedicated to make it happen!”
Explore Lake Tahoe at your own pace with 70+ audio stories, scenic stops, offline maps, and yearlong access for $16.99 per car.
“Excellent tour, the app worked flawlessly. We enjoyed the local history as well as the lore tied to national events and celebrities. Perfect level of detail and nice balance of dialogue and quiet time.”
Ride Las Vegas desert trails at your own pace with an ATV, safety gear, training, hills, open routes, and no guide-led convoy.
“Great experience, plenty trails to explore , hills to climb. Truly self guided so pay attention where you're riding. Staff was great.”
Explore Acadia’s carriage roads by pedal-assist e-bike with Island Time, including gear, route tips, Jordan Pond access, and flexible ride time.
“Bring a snack and camera! Get off the bike and experience the park too. It is amazing! We loved the e bike experience. First time on one and can see why it is so popular.”
Every kind of American day out, and the best of each.
