Tours in Irvine

Capturing the essence of a city requires time—time to investigate and learn about local landmarks, time to discover hidden nooks and gems, and time to jump from spire to spire on the area’s tallest buildings. Snap Photo Tours affords urban explorers this needed break in day-to-day routines with two information-packed hours that yield dazzling photographic memories that last long after the final flash evaporates into the air.

Peeking out from behind their viewfinders or forehead-mounted etch-a-sketch, tour takers follow the instruction of the company's energized guides, who intersperse facts about passing sights with tips on how to squeeze the most out of every picture snapped along the way. Tour-goers learn about the history that oozes from each street corner in the Gaslamp Quarter, or marvel at the architecture of Balboa Park, where thriving gardens provide colorful backdrops. No matter the tour, San Diego natives and visitors alike walk away more educated about their surroundings and more prepared to immortalize the potential photographs held within.

Armed with a fleet of Currie Technologies e-bikes, San Diego Fly Rides introduces explorers to beautiful views of the coast and city accessible by easily navigated trails. After a quick introduction to the bikes, a story-telling guide leads groups of cyclists, rolling at about 20 miles per hour to stay ahead of heckling joggers. The visitors hear the secrets of storied surroundings in La Jolla, Little Italy, San Diego Bay, the historic Gaslamp Quarter, and other famed locales. For a more free-form tour experience, guests can opt for rentals of IZIP Zuma bikes, which come with all the materials necessary so renters can guide themselves, including a map, helmet, water, snack, basket, and bike lock. The shop also sells electric bikes, which generate propelling power but also allow riders to pedal to their heart's content or doctor's orders.

When sensor technology for humanoid robots becomes advanced enough to systematically eliminate human life, real human beings will have an eight mph head start on their Segways. Today's Groupon gets you rolling on a two-hour Segway tour of Mission Bay with Segway of Pacific Beach.