There is no denying that a major draw to the San Francisco Bay Area is the electric energy stirred up by the region’s dynamic attractions and nightlife. From world-class spas to designer golf courses to unbeatable shopping, Northern California is truly a desirable location for your event.

Planning group entertainment is a great way to keep meeting attendees together and to promote team-building and networking.

Many entertainment options and attractions offer pre-package ticket discounts, while others offer same-day rewards. It is best to check with all vendors, including ticket outlets, before the scheduled event to discuss special group rates and any detailed instructions.

Numerous tour companies offer themed excursions that give a local perspective to all that Northern California has to offer. From the famed San Francisco cable cars to a ferry to Alcatraz, the San Francisco Bay Area has a tour option to fit any group’s needs.

The following is a small sampling of some of the unique options for group tours in the Bay Area.

Wine and Dine
The Bay Area has long been thought of as a gourmet destination for wine connoisseurs and for good reason! California has approximately 1,400 wineries, and 650 of them are located in Sonoma and Napa counties. Typically, a wine-tasting tour will give guests the opportunity to sample anywhere from five to 12 wines at each winery. Highlights include: Viansa Winery & Italian Marketplace in Sonoma, Cline Cellars in Sonoma, Chateau St. Jean in Kenwood, Chateau Felice in Healdsburg, Canyon Road Winery in Geyserville, Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena, Napa Cellars in Oakville and Handley Cellars in Philo.

Shopper’s Paradise
Shopping destinations run the gamut from ultra-swanky designer boutiques to shopping centers and outlet malls. With so many options, visitors can spend days on end simply roaming around the Bay Area from retail center to neighborhood shop. Highlights include: San Francisco's Union Square, Ghirardelli Square, Japantown, Stonestown Galleria, The Cannery, Westfield's San Francisco Shopping Centre, Evergreen Village Square, Jack London Square, Rockridge Market Hall, The Shops at Tanforan and Larkspur Landing, and the Stanford Shopping Mall.

Antique Adventures
The Bay Area is rich in history and numerous museums, parks and monuments offer a historic look at the heart of the city. With traditional elements and vintage attractions, the Bay Area offers the best of the old with the modern amenities and technology that are so highly valued today. Highlights include: Alameda Historical Museum & Cultural Center, Alcatraz, San Mateo County Historical Museum, Roaring Camp and Santa Cruz Big Trees and Pacific Railroad, Marin Museum of the American Indian, Mission San Jose Chapel, Museum of Local History and Crockett Historical Museum.

The Great Outdoors
In addition to being the most picturesque region in the U.S., the San Francisco Bay Area is a haven for those who love the outdoors. Every day of the week you will see throngs of San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors jogging, biking, fishing on the piers, walking their pets or simply enjoying being outdoors. Highlights include: Golden Gate Park, the Presidio and National Golden Gate Recreation Area, Candlestick Park State Recreation Area, Washington Square Park, Sigmund Stern Memorial Grove, Marin Headlands, Angel Island State Park, Tilden Park, Mount Diablo State Park and Año Nuevo State Reserve.

Sumptuous Spas
The Bay Area’s reputation as a world-class destination for entertainment, spa retreats, fabulous hotels and luxury dining pays dividends for meeting and event sponsors. Bay Area spas offer rest and relaxation to visitors in some of the most luxurious settings in the world. With the growing trend of “destination spas,” Bay Area locales are offering amenities that are as unique as the spas that house them. Highlights include: Kenwood Inn and Spa of Sonoma County, Fruition Day Spa, Marilyn Jaeger Skincare Studio, International Orange Spa, Surfaces, The Spa and BellaPelle Skin Studio.

Coveted Cuisine
Condé Nast Traveler's Concierge.com says of San Francisco: "Not only does the City by the Bay have thousands of restaurants, dozens of ethnic enclaves, and an informed public…but it is surrounded by some of the country's best wineries, farms and coastline. To reap the benefits of this exceptional California produce, gastronomes from all over the world come to visit and shop.” Highlights include: Gordon Biersch, Cliff House, Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant, Harris’ Restaurant, Scoma’s, Le Colonial, Buena Vista Café, Belden Taverna, Restaurant Gary Danko, Jardiniere, NOPA and Incanto.

Tee Time
Thanks to the San Francisco Bay Area’s mild temperatures, golfing is a favorite sporting activity. Outstanding courses are available throughout the region, all offering varied levels of challenge. The City and County of San Francisco operates six municipal golf courses under the jurisdiction of the Recreation and Parks Department. Tour Bay Area greens for endless entertainment. Highlights include: Harding Park, Golden Gate Park Golf Course, Presidio Golf Club, Sharp Park Golf Course, Mill Valley Golf Course, Chuck Corica Golf Complex, Coyote Creek, Half Moon Bay Golf Links and Santa Clara Golf Club.

Museum Madness
The Bay Area is a museum lover’s dream. The city offers dynamic art galleries, quirky special-interest displays and treasured collections of the region’s vibrant past. Take an art tour through the Bay Area’s numerous venues or celebrate pop-culture with a tour of the zany, entertainment-inspired locales located throughout the region. Highlights include: Cartoon Art Museum, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Asian Art Museum, de Young Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Cantor Arts Center, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, University Art Museum, Children’s Discovery Museum and Bay Area Discovery Museum.

Premier Performances
San Francisco is one of a handful of cities in the world with internationally recognized resident companies in all the major performing arts: San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet and the American Conservatory Theater. Throughout the region there are excellent symphonies, including Contra Costa, Napa and Marin Counties and the cities of Oakland and San Jose. Highlights include: War Memorial Opera Center in the Civic Center, Davies Symphony Hall, American Conservatory Theater, Cable Car Theater, Curran Theater, Mason Street Theater and Theater on the Square, Berkley Repertory theater and California Shakespeare Theater.

Northern California offers something for everyone! For more information, see the resource directories in this chapter of the guide.