1. Morro Bay Tiki Tour (Morro Bay, CA)
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| My brothers on the Tiki Boat with Morro Rock in the background |
Why It's Cool: We were taken around the bay and learned about the history of Morro Bay in California, sailed past some sea lions, and even saw sea otters. Read my full recap and watch my video below:
Know Before You Go: It was an overcast windy day in late May, so make sure to wear layers and bring a jacket. I was freezing!
The tiny hut below says, "Lost Isle Adventure Tours: Worlds Smallest Tiki Bar." While on the ship, there was a bar on board for those looking to "sip and sail."
It was so awesome seeing all the sea lions on the dock. Some of them were scratched up with scars and we were told that it was likely due to escaping shark attacks.
If you're interested in booking the $25 45-minute Morro Bay Tiki Tour, check out https://morrobaytikiboat.com/
Located 2.5 hours from Los Angeles, CA, there's a fun 90-minute boat tour you can do while at Big Bear Lake for $39. The ship is named the Time Bandit after the movie it was featured in.
How to Board: You can board the WaterBus from a number of locations including:
You'll get to enjoy nice waterfront views while waiting for the WaterBus. Here we are waiting at Mother's Beach watching kayakers, paddle boarders, and boaters.
Know Before You Go: It was an overcast windy day in late May, so make sure to wear layers and bring a jacket. I was freezing!
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| Embarking the Tiki Boat on an overcast day |
If you're interested in booking the $25 45-minute Morro Bay Tiki Tour, check out https://morrobaytikiboat.com/
2. Pirate Ship Tour (Big Bear Lake, CA)
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| Pirate Ship docked at Big Bear Lake, CA |
Located 2.5 hours from Los Angeles, CA, there's a fun 90-minute boat tour you can do while at Big Bear Lake for $39. The ship is named the Time Bandit after the movie it was featured in.
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| Amazing views while on the lake |
Why It's Cool: Upon arriving at the marina, we checked in, signed a waiver, and then waited to board the ship. As soon as the ship started sailing, we were offered tea, coffee, beer, and even wine. It was awesome hearing Yacht Rock playing onboard. Read my full recap and watch my video below:
For those interested in camping with an RV, just outside of the parking area is an RV Park called Holloway's RV Park. Reservations start at $70 per night.
Every summer, the WaterBus in Marina Del Rey, CA runs from 11am-11pm. I finally got to try riding the WaterBus and it was fun! I embarked on the bus from Mother's Beach and then it took me to Burton Chace Park where I decided to stay onboard. Then, I disembarked at Fisherman's Village. To get back on the WaterBus, it costs just $1.
For those interested in camping with an RV, just outside of the parking area is an RV Park called Holloway's RV Park. Reservations start at $70 per night.
How to Book: If you're interested in booking the Pirate Ship tour, check out: https://www.bigbearhollowaysmarina.com/thepirateship
3. Brunch Cruise (Marina Del Rey, CA)
My friend Melissa and I booked a 2-hour brunch cruise in Marina Del Rey, CA which set sail from Fisherman's Village.
Why It's Cool: If you're into bottomless mimosas, this cruise is for you. I paid $12 for the extra drink package for bloody mary's and they were refreshing and delicious!
If you enjoy an unlimited buffet, this is a great way to spend a morning.
How to Book: If you're interested in booking a brunch cruise, you can book here.
Watch my video recap below:
4. $1 WaterBus (Marina Del Rey, CA)
Why It's Cool: It was so awesome being on the water, watching the other passing boats, and enjoying the ocean breeze. It was so convenient to take the WaterBus to get to multiple destinations around the marina.
- Outside of Tony P's Restaurant on Admiralty Way
- Mother's Beach Pier
- Burton Chace Park
- Fisherman's Village
- Outside of Brizo Marina Del Rey Restaurant
You'll get to enjoy nice waterfront views while waiting for the WaterBus. Here we are waiting at Mother's Beach watching kayakers, paddle boarders, and boaters.
Watch my video below for a 15-minute boat ride:
How to Book: You can book multiple whale-watching tours at this link: https://getyourguide.tp.st/Ow1Tvfam
7. Ferry to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (Victoria, BC)
How to Book Black Ball Ferry Tickets: I booked three walk-on tickets to board the ship at a designated time. I made sure we had a full day to explore Victoria, BC. Visit: https://www.cohoferry.com/schedule-fares
Would you try any of these boat activities? Let me know in the comments!
If you’re planning a road trip, here are some helpful sites that I use. Note, below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission for every booking, with no extra cost to you. Thanks so much, in advance!
5. Whale Watching Tour (Marina Del Rey, CA)
Why It's Cool: My mother-in-law booked a whale-watching tour a few years ago and while we didn't see any whales, we did see a ton of dolphins and sea lions. This boat ride was the first time I ever got seasick and I didn't even have Dramamine (motion sickness pills) with me. Since then, I've enjoyed every boat ride listed in this post thanks to Dramamine.
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| Seasick selfie while whale watching |
How to Book: You can book multiple whale-watching tours at this link: https://getyourguide.tp.st/Ow1Tvfam
6. Ferry to Bainbridge Island (Seattle, WA)
As someone born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, it's rare for me to ever drive a car onto a boat. I had the experience of doing that this past July on our way from Seattle to Port Angeles for a visit to Olympic National Park.
Why It's Cool: While on the 30-minute ferry ride, you can enjoy nice views of downtown Seattle and try to spot whales in the distance. You can also go to the cafeteria and get a bite to eat or drink.
How to Embark: We drove up to the ferry port, told the man at the booth where we were headed (Bainbridge Island), then we fell in line. When it was our turn, we followed the cars onto the ship and it was like a parking structure with two levels.
Watch my video below as I recap the experience:
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| Photo by my brother Steven Buena |
After a day of hiking and exploring Olympic National Park in Port Angeles, WA, we decided to take a ferry to Victoria, BC. I figured, hey we took a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, why not leave the country and take a 90-minute ferry to a place we've never been?
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| Photo by my brother Steven Buena |
How to Embark: We filled out the customs forms, were given our tickets, and showed our passport cards, and were interviewed by customs agents. The experience was seamless!
Why It's Cool: I loved seeing people with their bicycles, groceries, luggage, dogs, and we even saw the same people returning back to Port Angeles, WA.
I booked three tickets for the hop on, hop off double decker bus and it made for a perfect day trip since we didn't have our rental car.
Watch my video below about our day trip to Victoria, BC.
How to Book Black Ball Ferry Tickets: I booked three walk-on tickets to board the ship at a designated time. I made sure we had a full day to explore Victoria, BC. Visit: https://www.cohoferry.com/schedule-fares
What About Sea Sickness?
If you're prone to motion sickness like me, I always carry Dramamine pills with me. They came in handy during the ferry ride to Victoria BC as the waters were a bit choppy.
Overall, I'm glad I've tried multiple boat tours and enjoyed things I've never tried before like riding a ferry boat.
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Trip Resources
If you’re planning a road trip, here are some helpful sites that I use. Note, below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission for every booking, with no extra cost to you. Thanks so much, in advance!
Booking.com - Anytime we need a rental car, we use this site to find deals.
Expedia.com - I like to use this site to explore upcoming cruises that I'd like to take. I also refer to it to compare hotel prices, flights, and car rentals.
GetYourGuide.com - Book things to do, attractions, tours and discover new food.
VRBO.com - When we’re not staying in an AIRBNB, we’re in a VRBO rental. We use this option when we want to enjoy a full house with individual bedrooms, a kitchen, backyard and other amenities.
TripAdvisor.com - Anytime I want reputable reviews, tips, and overall advice about a vacation area, I leverage this site.
Viator.com - Looking for cool tours in your vacation area? This site has a number of options.
Hey, I'm Christy Scronce, a Filipina-American Los Angeles native and travel enthusiast. I love visiting new places and trying new food. Welcome to my adventure blog where I capture both State & National Park visits, family excursions, and road trips, while sharing my travel photos and recaps. My goal is to visit as many National Parks using my “America the Beautiful” annual pass. 
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