Viator
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 03, 2013
On July 4, sailors and spectators will descend on the banks of San Francisco Bay for one of sports’ most spectacular events – the America’s Cup World Series. As the “Summer of Racing” commences officially on July 7, San Francisco’s own Viator.com, the leading resource for researching and booking tours and activities worldwide, can help racing fans get closer to the action and make the most of their time in town with activities across San Francisco, excursions to Wine Country and other experiences throughout the region.
Set Sail with Viator
By the Bay is the place to be with special race-related venues including the official America’s Cup Village and America’s Cup Park, but getting out on the Bay is the best way to experience the action like an insider.
- The San Francisco Bay Cruise with America's Cup Viewing (from $69 per person), exclusively available from Viator.com, departs daily from July 4 to September 21. This 90-minute exploration of the Bay, the Race and the iconic local landmarks includes a box lunch with drinks and an amazing vantage point.
- Luxury Cruises with Lunch for Viewing America's Cup(from $149.93 per person and up, depending on race) puts the live action right before your eyes and includes a gourmet lunch buffet and an open bar. The luxe-yacht experience features top-notch service from your expert captain and crew, as well as live video screenings or radio broadcasts to ensure you don’t miss a moment of the races.
An Insider’s San Francisco
San Francisco is a unique destination and the team at Viator has a few suggestions for getting an insider’s glimpse into the America’s Cup host city. One of Viator’s top suggestions for how travelers can experience San Francisco is through the city’s world-renowned food scene. In San Francisco the options are endless, but some must-try culinary experiences include:
- The San Francisco Food Tour of the Mission District with Optional Cocktail Pairing explores this colorful, cultural and trendy area through its artisanal eats: eat like a local, get behind-the-scenes, meet chefs and owners, and enjoy a specially crafted cocktail and Belgian beer paired with cheese (if option selected).
- Foodies of all ages will enjoy the San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, where they will discover the quality and cultural diversity of the city’s artisanal food community while sampling local meats, cheeses, breads and chocolates.
Another way to feel more connected to a destination is to experience limited-engagement or specially-themed experiences including these race-related activities:
- Skip the Line: California Academy of Sciences General Admission Ticket features a special limited-time-only exhibit in honor of the America’s Cup, Built for Speed (through September 29). Learn about the sailing crafts’ design and technology and related conservation efforts while checking out the ORACLE Team USA's AC45 catamaran suspended from the ceiling.
- Legion of Honor Museum Admission features a new exhibit, Impressionists on the Water (through October 13). Explores the significant role sailing played in the lives of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists with more than 80 works from the likes of Claude Monet, Gustave Caillebotte, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Maurice Denis and Paul Signac.
Explore Wine Country and the California Coast
Just outside of the city lies another world of unique landscapes, beautiful natural wonders and fruits of the earth – wine! Travelers in town for the races can explore the wonder of Northern California including special activities like:
- One of Viator’s newest tours, the Napa Valley Wine Train, offers an unforgettable dining experience and optional wine tasting session aboard a restored antique train as it winds through Napa wine country to the quaint village of St. Helena.
- The Small-Group Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour with Lunch drives through wine country's gorgeous vineyard-covered hills, visits at least two top wineries and lunch at a gourmet Sonoma restaurant.
- A Private Limousine Tour of Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley from San Francisco lets travelers design their tour to fit their tasting levels with stops at well-known wine-makers and boutique wineries with the option of a catered picnic lunch
- If beer is your bubbly of choice, the Sonoma County Brewery Bike Tour fits the bill. This fun, scenic bike tour through Santa Rosa and Sebastopol cruises from brewery to brewery for three craft beer tastings.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row Day Trip with Lunch is a cruise (this time without a boat) along California's spectacular coastline along Highway 1 to the beautiful Monterey Peninsula for a visit to Steinbeck's Cannery Row and admission to the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium.
For more information about the America’s Cup race, Viator suggests checking out the official race site. For the best things to do in and around San Francisco, as well as the latest deals, promotions, contests and Viator news, travelers can check out the Viator Travel Blog and follow Viator on Facebook (ViatorTours) and Twitter (@ViatorTravel).
NOTE: Viator is not affiliated with or sponsored by the America’s Cup racing series.
About Viator
Viator is the world’s leading resource to discover and book travel activities, providing online and mobile access to more than 15,000 curated trip activities including tours, attractions, shore excursions and private guides, in more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. In-house travel experts work with trusted local operators to ensure the quality and value of every experience, all backed by Viator’s 24/7 customer service and global low-price guarantee. With more than 350,000 verified reviews plus exclusive videos and insider travel tips, Viator has everything a traveler needs to find and book the best things to do worldwide. In addition to the flagship site -- Viator.com – travelers can book in advance or in-destination via the Viator Tours and Activities App for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android, the Viator Shore Excursions website as well as local-language sites for European, Latin American and Asian travelers. Viator also provides tours and activities to more than 2,500 affiliate partners including some of the world’s top airlines, hotels and online travel agencies. Founded in 1995, Viator is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco with regional offices in Sydney, London and Las Vegas. Viator – travel with an insider.
