Hoffy Tours

Understanding Islam
2022-11-12 09:30 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Laguna Beach School District Parking Lot, 550 Blumont St, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651-2038, United States
An educational visit to two Orange County mosques and a guided tour of Anaheim’s first cultural district – Little Arabia!
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Holiday Treat Tour: Cheech Museum, Mission Inn and Festival of Lights
2022-12-08 13:00 - 20:30 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
A Holiday Treat with a visit to the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, a docent-guided tour of historic Mission Inn, and a stroll along Riverside’s Festival of Lights.
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Cannabis 101: An Educational Tour to two OC Dispensaries
2023-01-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Cannabis 101 will take you to two of Orange County’s leading dispensaries – Pharmacy Santa Ana and Planet 13. We will have presentations from two experts on the uses of cannabis for older adults. Lunch included, along with product reps, free swag bags and T-shirts. A great learning experience.
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Balboa Island Walking Tour (with chocolate-covered banana)
2023-04-07 10:30 - 12:00 | 310 Marine Ave., Balboa Island, 310 Marine Ave., Newport Beach, CA, United States
Enjoy a 90-minute stroll around Balboa Island, including a ride on the Balboa Island Ferry and a visit to the Balboa Island Museum. We’ll search for some of the original island homes with their historic plaque. Meet at Sugar n Spice Donuts, 310 Marine Ave.
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Sustainability Tour: The Ecology Center and Tree of Life Nursery (farm-fresh lunch included)
2023-04-20 10:00 - 15:30 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Enjoy a guided tour of the 15-acre fields of the beautiful Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano as you learn about the latest in organic farming. Savor a farm-fresh lunch and pick strawberries to take home. The afternoon will find us at Orange County’s most famous native plant nursery – The Tree of Life – in Rancho Mission Viejo. There we will have a 1/2-hour guided tour and a chance to buy some California native plants. Spring will be blooming and you’ll have a chance to learn how we can be closer to nature and the food we eat.
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Huntington Library and Gardens (with bus tour of Pasadena craftsman architecture)
2023-05-17 08:30 - 17:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
After a brief orientation tour to get you started, enjoy four hours in the beautiful galleries, gardens and cafes of Huntington Library – truly one of Southern California’s best attractions. Enjoy both European and American paintings (including the classic Blue Boy and Pinkie and American artists such as Edward Hopper and Andy Warhol), stroll the famed cactus, Chinese and Japanese gardens, study the famous manuscripts at the Library, and enjoy lunch on your own at the 1919 Cafe or Jade Court Cafe. Following lunch on your own, we will do a 30-minute bus tour of craftsman architecture in Pasadena.
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What's UP with Downtown Los Angeles?
2023-05-31 08:00 - 16:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Flower Market, Fashion District, Arts District, Grand Central Market
This action-packed tour introduces you to five of the specialty districts of downtown LA. We’ll start at the Original Los Angeles Flower Market and the LA Flower District where you will have one hour to smell and buy flowers at wholesale prices! After this floral delight, we will cruise the highlights of the hoppin’ Fashion District, including Santee Alley. Lunch is on your own at the venerable Grand Central Market with its over 28 food vendors. After lunch, Hoffy will lead a guided tour of the 1926 historic LA Central Library with its beautiful murals and statuary. You’ll love the story of how the library was saved and then improved, and there will be time to shop at the excellent Library Store. On the way home, we’ll explore the hip Arts District at the Hauser & Wirth Gallery before crossing the amazing 6th Street Viaduct. This tour will acquaint you with the diversity of downtown LA and hopefully motivate you to explore more next time.
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Laguna Beach Downtown Walking Tour
2023-06-21 13:30 - 15:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
LAGUNA BEACH DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR
Stroll Highlighting Art, Architecture and History
Includes a craft beer or refreshment at FINNEY’S at the White House!
Enjoy a 90-minute guided tour through Laguna’s quaint downtown. Starting at the Festival Grounds, we’ll trace the evolution of this famous art colony from the early 1900s to the present day. You’ll learn why the first settlers planted eucalyptus trees, and how the early plein air artists established their first studios. As we explore the highlights of downtown, we will see famous sculpture gardens, historic buildings, murals and public art. As we pass City Hall, we’ll learn about the creation of the Laguna Greenbelt and how the town rallied to preserve thousands of acres of open space. On lower Forest Ave., we’ll study efforts by the City to create a permanent pedestrian street. On Main Beach, we’ll study efforts to preserve marine life and discuss how the City has preserved a village atmosphere despite thousands of daily visitors. You’ll learn about the most famous Laguna personalities and how they left their mark on this wonderful art colony. We’ll end the tour with a complementary craft beer at Laguna’s newest restaurant – Finney’s at the White House.
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FISH, ART DECO AND THE QUEEN!
2023-07-12 08:15 - 16:00 | Laguna Beach School District Parking Lot, 550 Blumont St, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651-2038, United States
FISH, ART DECO AND THE QUEEN!
Long Beach Aquarium, the Queen Mary and picnic at Pt. Fermin Lighthouse Park
Wednesday, July 12: 8:15 AM – 4 PM – $115/120
“Savoring summertime along our beautiful coast!”
It’s time to cruise north up the coast and enjoy the great attractions of Long Beach. We’ll take in the coastal views along the Pacific Coast Highway prior to our first stop – 2 hours at the wonderful Aquarium of the Pacific. The Aquarium has over 100 exhibits with 19 major habitats. My favorites are Shark Lagoon, Penguin Habitat, and the Tropical Pacific Gallery. Then we’ll continue north crossing the new and spectacular Gerald Desmond Bridge and the venerable Vincent Thomas Bridge. The views of the Long Beach and LA Harbors are fabulous as we make our way to our included picnic lunch at picturesque Pt. Fermin Park in San Pedro with its historic 1874 lighthouse (pictured above). The afternoon will find us back in Long Beach for a one-hour Art Deco and Glory Days guided tour of the Queen Mary. Built in 1930 in Scotland by Cunard Lines, the Queen is one of the world’s best art deco landmarks with murals, paintings, carved wood and sculptures. After the tour, you’ll have time to explore the ship on your own and imagine what an Atlantic crossing must have been like.
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SAN DIEGO CLASSIC
2023-08-23 08:00 - 17:30 | Laguna Beach School District Parking Lot, 550 Blumont St, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651-2038, United States
SAN DIEGO CLASSIC
Harbor Cruise, Little Italy, Balboa Park, Chicano Park
Wednesday, August 23: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM – $109/104
Summertime’s a wonderful time to see “America’s Finest City”. We’ll start the morning with a delightful, 1-hr. narrated cruise on the Flagship Line. You’ll see San Diego’s beautiful skyline from the water as we cruise out to Ballast Point, learning about the City’s naval history After a narrated bus ride through the famous Gaslamp Quarter, you’ll have 90 minutes for lunch (on your own) in bustlin’ Little Italy. We’ll start at the gorgeous Piazza della Famigliawhere you’ll be given a restaurant map. Little Italy is the most vibrant “new urbanist” neighborhood I have seen in Southern California – colorful, accessible, and interesting. The afternoon will find us in the nation’s most beautiful urban park –Balboa Park – where you will have an hour-and-a-half to explore museums, gardens or shops of your choice. Hoffy will give you a brief on-site orientation and provide you with a map of the museums and gardens. As an added attraction, we’ll visit the nearby Chicano Park – a National Historic Landmark and home to the largest concentration of Chicano murals in the world. This day truly celebrates this wonderful city.

TOUR LEAVES FROM THE LAGUNA BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT PARKING LOT,
550 BLUMONT ST. (corner with Park Ave.)
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HISTORIC DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES
2023-10-21 09:30 - 18:30 | Laguna Beach School District Parking Lot, 550 Blumont St, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651-2038, United States
HISTORIC DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES

Saturday, October 21: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM- $94/89
See how historic preservation has transformed Los Angeles. Learn over 20 architectural styles! We will visit to seven historic districts enjoy lunch at Farmer’s Market, and finish in downtown LA’s historic core.

TOUR LEAVES FROM LAGUNA BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT PARKING LOT
550 BLUMONT ST. (corner with Park Ave.)
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ORANGE COUNTY COLLAGE
2023-11-16 09:00 - 16:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
ORANGE COUNTY COLLAGE
Dim Sum in Little Saigon, Wine Tasting & History in Santa Ana, California Art at the Irvine Museum

Thursday, November 16: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: $125/120

(price includes dim sum brunch, wine tasting)
This active tour celebrates Orange County’s diversity with food, history and art. We’ll start in bustling Little Saigon (home to the largest population of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam) for a Dim Sum brunch at the Seafood Cove– one of the most popular restaurants serving authentic Chinese cuisine. From here, we’ll head to the Old Courthouse in Santa Ana for a guided history tour about the birth of our county in 1889, the tragic event at the dedication ceremony, and several of the famous court cases which captured the nation’s attention. You’ll also have time to explore the many exhibits in this gorgeous Romanesque Revival building. We’ll then make our way to bustlin’ 4th Street in downtown Santa Ana for a wine and cheese plate repast at the Alta Baja Market<https://www.altabajamarket.com/>. Owner Delilah Snell has hosted several Hoffy Tour Tastings, and she will pour wines from northern Baja’s hip Guadalupe Valley Wine Country. She will also serve Mexican craft beers – “cervezas artesanales” – for those who prefer hops to grapes. Our last stop will highlight the exciting changes in the OC Art scene. The UCI Langson Institute & Museum of California Art and its huge collection will move to a new building near campus in 2024. Before it moves to its larger digs, we will enjoy the current exhibition – Bohemian of Arroyo Seco: Idah Meacham Strobridge – will highlight the early pioneers of the plein air style and the Arts & Crafts movement who settled in the Pasadena area at the turn of the 20th century. Although this interim museum is small, it is beautifully curated and we will learn a ton. Looking at the day, it will be fun to support local entrepreneurs, visit our county’s most historic site, and have some great food and drink!

TOUR DEPARTS FROM FESTIVAL OF ARTS GROUNDS, 650 LAGUNA CANYON RD.
(Parking available across the street in Lot 11 for $4 a day)
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Holiday Treat
2023-12-12 12:30 - 20:30 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Holiday Treat:
Riverside’s Mission Inn, Cheech Museum, Festival of Lights
Tuesday, December 12: 12:30 PM – 8:30 PM – $94/89
This holiday treat includes a guided tour of the historic Mission Inn, a visit to Riverside’s new “Cheech” Marin Museum of Chicano Art and free time to experience the Festival of Lights

TOUR DEPARTS FROM FESTIVAL OF ARTS GROUNDS, 650 LAGUNA CANYON RD.
(Parking available across the street in Lot 11 for $4 a day)
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DOWNTOWN LA: OLD AND NEW
2024-01-27 08:00 - 17:30 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
DOWNTOWN LA: OLD AND NEW
Broad Museum, Our Lady of Angels Cathedral, Little Tokyo, Olvera Street Tour & Mural

Saturday, Jan. 27: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM – $87/82

This is a tour highlighting how cool Downtown LA has become, and I can’t wait to show you! From world class architecture to great museums to historic and ethnic districts, DTLA has something for everyone. We’ll start at the magnificent and modern Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral with its stunning tapestries and 330 foot nave. From there we will tour the Broad Museum with its stellar collection of post-war and contemporary art. While on Bunker Hill, we’ll explore the newest additions to Grand Avenue on including the Conrad Hotel and Jerry Moss Plaza at the top of the Grand Park. Lunch will be on your own at the historic Grand Central Marketon Broadway Street. You’ll have over 20 food vendors to choose from and Hoffy will lead an optional tour of the Bradbury Building – a National Historic Landmark. After a bus tour of the historic theaters, we’ll head to vibrant Little Tokyo where, after a brief orientation, you’ll be free for some shopping and strolling along the Japanese Village Plaza. Here you’ll be treated to a Korean-style soft serve ice cream treat. Our last stop will be LA’s birthplace – LA Plaza and Olvera Street. We’ll visit the museum which tells the amazing story of the David Siqueiro’s controversial mural “America Tropical” – the first large scale mural painted on an ordinary external wall. The mural was white-washed a year after its opening in 1932 and restored in 2012. After viewing the mural, you’ll enjoy free time visiting the colorful stands of Olvera Street or having a refreshing drink. What a day in DTLA!

Each guest will receive maps of downtown LA, Little Tokyo and El Pueblo de los Angeles as well as the words to “La Bamba” which Hoffy will sing on the bus! Prizes for the trivia quizzes will be from Little Tokyo and Olvera St.

“Learn about DTLA like never before”

TOUR DEPARTS FROM FESTIVAL OF ARTS, 650 LAGUNA CANYON RD., LB 92651 PLUS A STOP AT LAGUNA HILLS MALL PARKING LOT AT CARLOTA AVE.
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Warner Brothers Studio & the Autry Museum of the American West
2024-02-03 09:30 - 17:45 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
MOVIES and COWBOYS
Warner Brothers Studio & the Autry Museum of the American West

Saturday, February 3: 8:00 AM – 5:45 PM- $159/154*

This tour combines the LA area’s best studio tour with a wonderful museum dedicated to telling the stories and history of the American West. We’ll spend the morning enjoying a 2.5 hour tour of Warner Brothers Studios, seeing sound stages, movie and TV sets, prop rooms, and interactive exhibits. The tour guides are wonderful, and we’ll be whisked all over the massive studio on open-air carts. We’ll explore back lots, the Batcave, DC Universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones exhibit, and the set of the Big Bang Theory. Since February is close to Oscars Season, the studio will likely have costumes from the hit movie – Barbie! For lunch we’ll enjoy an included picnic adjacent to the Autry Museum of the American West in Griffith Park. At the museum, you’ll enjoy 2 hours to explore the many exhibits including Art of the American West, Cowboy Gallery, and California Road Trip. The museum also documents the history of the native peoples of California including the forthcoming exhibition – Reclaiming El Camino: Native Resistance in the Missions and Beyond.

* This is a pricier tour than normal. Studio tours are rather expensive, but offer a rare chance to see firsthand how movie magic is made. Having been on the tour several times, I highly recommend it. The tour price includes entry into both Warner Brothers Studios and the Autry.

TOUR DEPARTS FROM FESTIVAL OF ARTS, 650 LAGUNA CANYON RD., LB 92651 PLUS A STOP AT LAGUNA HILLS MALL PARKING LOT AT CARLOTA AVE.
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WATER, TAMALES & BIRDS
2024-04-02 09:15 - 15:30 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
WATER, TAMALES & BIRDS
OC Water District, Mercado Gonzalez, San Joaquin Marsh
“Follow the Water”

Tuesday, April 2: 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM – $72/67 Tour limited to 30 guests

This tour combines the “Big Three” – education, food and nature. We’ll start out at a world leader in ground water replenishment – the Orange County Water District. We’ll do a 90-minute tour of this impressive $1 billion facility, seeing first hand how sewer water is treated through reverse osmosis, UV light and micro-filters to be pumped back into the groundwater table. The infrastructure equipment is amazing to see first hand. You’ll receive a “swag” bag at the end and have a chance to drink the treated water (“from toilet to tap”). I did and am still alive! Beaming with pride that our County is on the cutting edge in water treatment, we’ll move on to a delicious lunch at the Mercado Hidalgo – the largest Mexican food hall I’ve seen north of the border. The place is brimming with pride and great products. Hoffy will give you some Spanish lessons and a map, and you’ll be on you own to buy tortillas, sip tequila, try some “tacos de birria”, and savor some delicious churros. Honestly, the food is top- shelf and deliciosa, and the colorful signs and merchandise enhance the experience. On the way home, we’ll stop at the wonderful Sea and Sage Audubon Center in the San Joaquin Marsh by for a bird walk, talk and tour. Bring a sun hat and binoculars.

TOUR LEAVES FROM FESTIVAL OF ARTS (parking across the street) AND LAGUNA HILLS MALL
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JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
2024-04-30 07:00 - 18:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
“See the beauty of our closest national park in one fun-filled day”
April 30, 2024: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM – $98/103
Includes picnic lunch; stop at Hadley’s Fruit Orchard

Sit back in comfort and take in the beautiful vistas of Joshua Tree National Park.
We’ve picked the most beautiful stops inside the park for nature walks, photos and, of course, a picnic. We’ll marvel at desert flowers, cacti, the amazing Wonderland of Rocks, and the iconic Joshua Trees (actually, not trees but a variety of yucca). You’ll learn lots about protecting the flora and fauna of this fragile ecosystem. It is a long bus ride, but there’s lots of scenery, trivia quizzes, food and drink along the way. Here’s the itinerary:

STOP AT OASIS VISITORS’ CENTER (and Mara Palm Oasis)
PHOTO STOP AT SKULL ROCK
SCENIC OVERLOOK AT KEY’S VIEW – scenic overlook at 5000 ‘ elevation
PICNIC LUNCH AND GUIDED HIKE AT HIDDEN VALLEY – the most beautiful loop trail in the park!
WILDFLOWER LOOP AT CAP ROCK – get your cameras ready
STOP AT HADLEY’S FRUIT ORCHARD – date shakes and shopping!

* This is a pricier tour than normal. Studio tours are rather expensive, but offer a rare chance to see firsthand how movie magic is made. Having been on the tour several times, I highly recommend it. The tour price includes entry into both Warner Brothers Studios and the Autry.

Tour departs from the Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road and Laguna Hills Mall, 24001 Via de la Carlota.
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CLASSY, COLLEGIATE CLAREMONT
2024-05-18 09:00 - 16:30 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Murals, Music, Art, Native Plants
“A wonderful day in the City of Trees and Ph.D.s”
Saturday, May 18, 2024: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM – $69/74

Claremont was voted the “best suburb in the West” by Sunset Magazine, and I’d like to show you why. It is a wonderful college town with a friendly, walkable village and world-class art. We will start with a walking tour highlighting the art and architecture of Scripps and Pomona Colleges – voted among the most beautiful US campuses. Lunch and shopping time is on your own in charming Claremont Village as Hoffy will provide a map of over 12 restaurants within a three-block area. After lunch we’ll enjoy a brief visit and music demonstration at the famous legacy store – Claremont Folk Music Center. The afternoon will find us strolling one of the state’s largest native plant gardens California Botanic Garden with over 22,000 species. You’ll have time to buy some plants at the Native Grow Nursery and spring blooms should be amazing after all this rain!

ART HIGHLIGHTS

See the mural Prometheus by Jose Clemente Orozco, one of the Big Three Mexican muralists. One of most famous murals in US
See the agrarian deco mural – The Flower Vendors (1946) by Alfredo Ramos Martinez – in a medieval-style cloister garden.
Visit the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College to see the Cahuilla Basket Weavers and 500 Years of Italian Drawings exhibitions.

TOUR DEPARTS FROM FESTIVAL OF ARTS 650 LAGUNA CANYON ROAD AND LAGUNA HILLS MALL AT 24001 VIA DE LA CARLOTA (near King’s Fish Co.)
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LAGUNA CANYON NATURE WALK
2024-05-22 09:00 - 10:30 | Home, 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Laguna Coast Wilderness Nix Nature Center
Wednesday, May 22: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM – $25
(Tour limited to 15 guests)
“Exploring springtime in our beautiful Laguna Greenbelt”

If you haven’t visited the beautiful Nix Nature Center in Laguna Canyon or if you want to learn more about the natural wonders of Laguna’s Greenbelt, this would be a great tour for you. We’ll start with a brief visit to the Nix Nature Center’s excellent exhibits as we learn about the topography, flora and fauna of the area, and how dedicated residents worked to save Laguna Canyon from development. We’ll then enjoy a 1-hour hike along Mary’s Trail to Barbara’s Lake – Orange County’s only naturally-occurring lake. Hiking flat but bring comfortable shoes and sun hat.

TOUR STARTS AT NIX NATURE CENTER
18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 – Parking $3
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PASADENA CRAFTSMAN CLASSIC
2024-05-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Gamble House, Norton Simon Art Museum, Old Town Pasadena (lunch on your own)
Thursday, May 30: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – $92/97

Consider this tour the one-two punch of Pasadena’s world-class art and architecture. We’ll start the day with a docent-led tour of the famous craftsman Gamble House (1908), the crowning achievement of Henry and Charles Greene and a National Historic Landmark. The entire house is a work of fine art, and the architects designed all the furniture, light fixtures, rugs, and leaded windows. Lunch time will find us in nearby Old Pasadena for lunch on your own. Hoffy will provide a restaurant map showing you over 20 choices from modest to fancy fare. Old Town was way ahead of its time in creating a walkable town center with historic architecture and public art. The afternoon will find us in the Norton Simon Museum with one of the most remarkable private art collections in the world. The art includes European masterworks from the Renaissance to the 20th century, including works from artists such as Rembrandt, Degas, Goya, Picasso and Van Gough. In addition, the Museum has a collection of South and Southeast Asian art that spans 2000 years!

TOUR DEPARTS FROM FESTIVAL OF ARTS 650 LAGUNA CANYON ROAD AND LAGUNA HILLS MALL AT 24001 VIA DE LA CARLOTA (near King’s Fish Co. Restaurant)
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"Orange" You glad! Another Hoffy Tour!
2024-07-20 09:15 - 16:30 | Laguna Beach School District Parking Lot, 550 Blumont St, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651-2038, United States
Nixon Library, Anaheim Packing House, Hilbert Museum of California Art
July 20 : 9:15 AM – 4:30 PM – $94/99

This tour combines a highly-rated Presidential Library and Museum (and one of only two National Historic Landmarks in the county), Orange County’s first Food Hall, and the best collection of California Scene Painting in Southern California. First, we’ll enjoy a one-hour docent-lead tour of the Nixon Presidential Library followed by one hour of free time for you to explore your areas of interest. Many people visit Nixon’s birthplace home, built in 1912, while others are drawn to the library’s special exhibits. The museum is run jointly by the National Archives and the Richard Nixon Foundation, ensuring vetted treatment of controversial topics. The recent $15 million renovation has produced excellent exhibits and galleries. Our entry ticket will also include access to the special exhibit – Civilizations of the Middle East.

Lunch will find us at a true OC gem – the Anaheim Packing House – where you’ll have time to choose your favorite lunch spot. This 1921, Mission-Style building houses 15 great eateries and is a lively, colorful spot. Three cheers for the creative developer Shaheen Sadeghi who has reimagined the retail experience in OC. His projects include The Lab Anti-Mall, The Camp, Leisuretown and many others.

The afternoon will find us in the newly expanded Hilbert Museum of California Art in Orange. With over 26 galleries, the Hilbert is “the only museum in the world committed to tracing the rich, iconic history of the Golden State from the 1900s to the present”. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum is showing Disney animation drawings, Navajo weavings, modernist art, Norman Rockwell drawings, and Milliard Sheets’ watercolors.

TOUR DEPARTS FROM LAGUNA BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT PARKING LOT 550 BLUMONT ST. (across from high school) AND LAGUNA HILLS MALL (24001 Av. de la Carolota)
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LA's MARVELOUS MUSEUM ROW!!!
2024-07-29 08:00 - 17:00 | Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90036, United States
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures “Hollywoodland” Exhibit, LACMA’s Ed Ruscha Exhibit, Petersen Automotive, La Brea Tar Pits

Monday, July 29: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – $99/104 (includes entry to Academy Museum)
Lunch on your own at wonderful Farmers Market

Museum Row LA might be one of the best collections of attractions in the country – all within one block! Both LACMA and the Academy Museum have new exhibits, and the Petersen Automotive and La Brea Tar Pits never disappoint. This tour will allow you time to enjoy at least two of them in one day.
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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WALKING TOUR
2024-08-30 10:00 - 11:30 | Mission Store, 26801 Old Mission Rd, San Juan Capistrano, 92675, United States
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WALKING TOUR
Historic Downtown San Juan Capistrano: Everything but the Mission!
August 30: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: $40/35

Downtown San Juan Capistrano has become one of Orange County’s most popular downtowns – a beautiful blend of old and new. I imagine many of you have visited our famous mission, but may not be as familiar with the rich history of Orange County’s oldest town. Join me on a 90-minute walk as you learn about the City has embraced its past through historic preservation and architectural controls. We’ll use my popular listening devices on our walk. Here some of the tour highlights:

California’s oldest, continuously lived-in neighborhood: Los Rios Historic District
The new, 60,000 square foot River Street Market – the largest commercial development in decades
The Butterfly Garden at the Montanez Adobe
Camino Capistrano’s historic adobes
Verdugo Street’s gorgeous make-over and restaurants
Results of the City’s Design Review on contemporary buildings

Meet Hoffy in front of Mission Store at corner of Ortega Highway and Camino Capistrano at 9:50.

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SAN DIEGO ADVENTURES
2024-09-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
SAN DIEGO ADVENTURES
Cabrillo National Monument, Liberty Station Public Market, USS Midway Museum
Sept. 19: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – $95/99

September is a great month to visit San Diego, and this tour combines some venues we haven’t explored in a while. First, we’ll visit the dramatic Cabrillo National Monument at the end of Point Loma. There are only 19 National Monuments in California, and this one offers expansive views of San Diego Harbor. You’ll learn why there are more places in California named after Juan Cabrillo than any other person. You’ll also have time to enjoy the film on this famous explorer as well as visiting the lighthouse and numerous history and nature exhibits.

Lunchtime will find us at wonderful Liberty Station – a beautiful 1920s Naval Training Center that has been transformed into a hub of restaurants, art galleries and museums. We have lunch at Liberty Public Market – a rockin’ food hall with over 15 great food choices. Stone Brew Company is also next door for those who love craft beer. After eating, we’ll have a tour of the Liberty Station Arts District to meet several artists in their galleries.

We’ll top off the afternoon at San Diego’s top attraction – USS Midway Museum, the US’ longest-serving aircraft carrier. You’ll stroll the flight deck, see many of the aircraft that defended our country and talk to the veterans who flew these planes. A top activity is to see the 20-minute movie – “Voices of Midway”. The views of the San Diego skyline and harbor are beautiful and you won’t forget his memorable visit.

A day of exploring the beauty and history of America’s finest city

TOUR LEAVES FROM THE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS AND LAGUNA HILLS MALL

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MERCADO GONZALEZ
2024-10-30 13:00 - 17:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
MERCADO GONZALEZ
A Celebration of Mexican Cuisine and El Dia de los Muertos
Oct. 30: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – $55

Hoffy Tours has a special date with the owners of Mercado Gonzalez – the 70,000 square foot, first-of-its-kind Mexican food hall!!! The Gonzalez Family will give us a private tour of their amazing market that’s catching Orange County by storm. Joshua and Yvette Gonzalez will guide us through five stations throughout the market explaining the cuisine, the art and the history. We’ll sample food as we go and you’ll have plenty of time to ask questions and learn about the important holiday – Dia de los Muertos. The Mercado will be decorated with “calaveras” (skulls), “ofrendas” (altars remembering those who have passed away), and plenty of marigolds (“cempasuchils”).

Following the guided tour, you’ll be given a map and Mercado Food Guide so you can explore the Mercado on your own. You’ll learn lots of Spanish and stimulate your taste buds. And Hoffy will sing “La Bamba” on the bus. Song sheets included!

SPECIAL NOTE: One of the pleasures of running a small tour company is exploring fun venues and supporting local businesses. I must say that the Gonzalez family, with their pride of ownership, attention to detail and outstanding customer and employee relations, is a role model for the business community. The family owns 43 Northgate supermarkets throughout Southern California.

Tour leaves from the Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd.; parking across the street in Lot 11 ($4 all day; free with resident Shopper’s Sticker)

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INLAND EMPIRE GOLD
2025-03-08 08:00 - 16:30 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
INLAND EMPIRE GOLD
Cheech Museum of Chicano Art, State Historic Citrus Park, Abraham Lincoln Memorial – Redlands (with included lunch at Old Spaghetti Factory)
Saturday, March 8: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM – $124/119

You might call this tour – “Follow the Oranges” – because we’ll visit two cities made very wealthy from citrus. We’ll start our day among the 220 acres of orange groves at the Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside. We’ll tour the museum exhibits and then walk among the trees to see multiple varieties of our iconic fruit. Then it’s off to historic downtown Riverside where we’ll tour the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art to see the latest exhibitions – Amalia Mesa-Bains, Desde Los Cielos, and Shifting Perspectives – as well as to enjoy the permanent collection. Your entry also allows you to view the art at the Riverside Art Museum in the Julia Morgan Building next door. Your lunch at the historic Old Spaghetti Factory, with three entrees to choose from with salad and ice cream, is included in the tour price. You’ll love this historic, Mission Revival building that started out as a packing house in 1912.
Then it’s on to the beautiful university town of Redlands. Here we will tour the historic Smiley Library (1894) and the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Museum – a beautiful piece of architecture dedicated to deepening understanding of the 16th President and the Civil War. We’ll conclude our day with a bus tour of some of the mansions of Redlands, once known as “The City of Millionaires and the City of Beautiful Homes”. A highlight will be the “Kimberly Crest Mansion”, a chateauesque beauty surrounded by Italian gardens and orange groves.

TOUR LEAVES FROM THE FESTIVAL OF ARTS, 650 LAGUNA CANYON RD. AND THE LAGUNA HILLS MALL PARKING LOT,24001 AVENIDA DE LA CARLOTA.

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BALBOA ISLAND WALKING TOUR
2025-05-15 10:30 - 12:00 | Sugar n Spice Donuts, 310 Marine Ave, Balboa Island, 92662, United States
BALBOA ISLAND WALKING TOUR
Including Chocolate-Covered Banana and Ferry Ride
Thursday, May 15: 10:30 – 12:00 – $35/30 (adults/seniors)
“Learn the backstory of this gem of Newport Beach”

This is one of the most beautiful walks in Orange County. Our first stop will be at the Balboa Island Museum to learn how William Collins created a famous island from a sand spit in 1909! Then we’ll walk along the Bay Front promenade admiring the beautiful architecture, great landscaping, and views of the bay and boats. Then it’s on to the Balboa Island Ferry for our short ride to the Newport Peninsula where we’ll visit the only Victorian structure in Newport – the Balboa Pavilion. It was here that Henry Huntington’s Red Car dropped folks off to enjoy the beach. Once back on the island, we’ll continue our stroll around the island, checking out the diverse architectural styles, ending up at Marine Ave. for a scrumptious chocolate-covered banana!

Tour meets at Sugar n Spice Donuts, 310 Marine Ave, Balboa Island.

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Masters of Wood & Clay
2025-06-04 08:45 - 16:45 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
MASTERS IN WOOD AND CLAY
Sam Maloof Foundation and the American Museum of Ceramic Art with lunch at Claremont Village
Wednesday, June 4: 8:45 AM – 4:45 PM: $99/94

This tour features American craftsmanship and art in two great venues, one in Alta Loma, the other in Pomona. Our first stop will be a tour of the historic home of master furniture maker Sam Maloof, nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. We’ll enjoy a docent-lead tour of his home and workshop and have time to explore the exhibition center and gardens. The two exhibitions should be great: 1) Printed & Stitched – featuring 58 original artworks created by members of the California Society of Printmakers and Studio Art Quilt Associates: and 2) Handwork: Crafting the Counter Culture by famed wood-working artist Garry Knox Bennett and New-Mexico-based feather artist Nicki Marx.

For lunch, we’ll visit nearby Claremont Village – a wonderful compact downtown with excellent restaurants and shopping. Hoffy will provide you with a restaurant map and guide. For music enthusiasts, we’ll enjoy a visit to the legacy business – Claremont Folk Music Center. After lunch (you may never want to leave this delightful downtown), we’ll have a tour of another gem – the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona. This museum has the largest collection of ceramic art on the West Coast and has a wonderful variety of pieces. In addition to the regular collection, the two special exhibits are Hot and Ready to Serve! – Functional Ceramics and Making In-Between: Indigenous Americans.

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FARM TO TABLE
2025-06-25 09:30 - 16:30 | Laguna Beach School District Parking Lot, 550 Blumont St, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651-2038, United States
The Ecology Center (SJC) and Tanaka Farms (Irvine)
“Walk the farm fields and pick your own produce!”
June 25: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM – $84/89

We’re going back to the Farms! This tour gets us in touch with the earth and where our food comes from. We’ll start at the bustlin’ Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano for a 45-minute, guided walk through the farm fields where over 60 varieties of fruits and vegetables are grown. The Center is a certified, regenerative organic farm, and you’ll learn how its community programs are educating and training people for a more sustainable lifestyle. After the tour, you’ll have a chance to explore the Ecology Center’s beautiful campus – its Campesino Cafe, Farm Stand, greenhouses, and Community Table. Lunch will find us at Irvine’s Tanaka Farms where you’ll enjoy an included picnic lunch, a narrated tractor ride through the 30-acre farm, stops to pick your own produce, and time to visit with the animals at the barnyard. Both venues take a different approach to bringing people closer to the food they eat: whereas The Ecology Center is certified organic farm, Tanaka Farms uses the “agri-tourism” approach. It will be fun to experience both.

Wear a sun hat, bring sun screen and wear comfortable shoes. We’ll be in the fields and on a tractor for a fun experience in urban agriculture. This tour has a moderate amount of walking.

TOUR DEPARTS FROM LAGUNA BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT PARKING LOT, 550 BLUMONT ST., AND LAGUNA HILLS MALL PARKING LOT, 24001 AVENIDA DE LA CARLOTA.
(Tour limited to 35 guests; picnic lunch included)

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Cowboys & Planets
2026-01-28 08:30 - 17:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Cowboys & Planets
“Autry Museum & Griffith Observatory”
(includes includes picnic lunch and planetarium show)

January 28: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM – $109/114

This tour combines two wonderful landmarks within Griffith Park – a stellar museum of the American West and a beloved Art Deco observatory with amazing views of the City of Angels. Our first stop will be at the Autry Museum. This hidden gem contains the nation’s second-largest collection of Native American artifacts as well as a diverse collection of new and ongoing exhibits. Favorites include the Cowboy Gallery, California Road Trip, Art of the West, the Colt Revolver and many more. New exhibitions often include thought-provoking views of the West through popular culture and diverse communities.
The tour includes a picnic lunch at the Autry before an afternoon visit to the Griffith Observatory. At the Observatory, Hoffy will lead a brief walking tour of architectural and vista highlights. After time to explore the astronomy exhibits, the group will enjoy a 35-minute show inside the 290-seat Samuel Oschin Planetarium. With the fabulous Zeiss star projector, we’ll sit back and explore the cosmos!!!

Tour departs from Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, and Laguna Hills Mall parking lot, 24001 Avenida de la Carlota.

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