Hoffy Tours

LAGUNA CANYON NATURE WALK
2024-05-22 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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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Three LA Landmarks Tour
2026-01-28 08:30 - 17:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Three LA Landmarks Tour
“Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, Disney Concert Hall, LA Central Library”
(lunch on your own at Grand Central Market)
February 21: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – $76/81
“A day of stunning architecture”

This tour visits three famous and diverse landmarks of downtown LA. We will start with a self-guided visit to Frank Gehry’s masterpiece – Disney Concert Hall. Opened in 2003 at a cost of $274 million, the Hall’s exterior “deconstructivist” form of curved stainless steel has become an LA icon. The stunning interior uses an “acoustics-first” approach with “vineyard seating” around the central stage. Panels of Douglas fir and oak provide a highly reflective surface for sound.
After lunch, our second stop will be at the Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral on Temple St. Completed in 2002 and designed in a unique contemporary style by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, Our Lady is the only Catholic cathedral to be completed in the US in the last thirty years. The Cathedral is bathed in natural light, filtered by the world’s largest use of alabaster. Among the many works of art are the stunning, fresco-like tapestries by John Nava depicting 135 saints and the faithful of all ages.
Our final landmark is the beloved LA Central Library – a 1926 design featuring early Art Deco, Egyptian and Mediterranean influences. Our tour will include the sculptures, murals and art which survived a devastating 1986 fire. The Library was later restored when a local developer bought the developable air space above the building which later financed a stunning new wing.
Lunch will be at the venerable Grand Central Market – a downtown LA favorite since 1917. You’ll have 90 minutes to savor over 20 food vendors. For those interested, Hoffy will lead a brief visit to the famous Bradbury Building – a National Historic Landmark for its innovative and beautiful interior design.
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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Vaccines and Vaqueros
2026-03-25 08:15 - 16:00 | Festival of Arts 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, LAGUNA BEACH, CA, 92651, United States
Vaccines & Vaqueros — New Tour!
Salk Institute and Mission San Luis Rey
Wednesday March 25: 8:15 AM – 4:00 PM – $89/94
“A Modernist Masterpiece with the King of the Missions”

This tour pairs one of the world’s most famous modernist designs with the largest of the California Missions . The contrast is enormous – a world-famous scientific research facility with a 235-year-old historic landmark. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, founded in 1960 by the developer of the polio vaccine, consistently ranks as a top 5 research facility focusing on healthy aging, cancer, immunobiology, neuroscience, and plant science. The stunning, brutalist architectural design by Louis Kahn is considered one of the world’s best examples of modernism and has won numerous awards from the American Institute of Architecture. The guided tour will highlight the collaborative spirit of the design with open laboratory spaces with no walls separating the labs on each floor.
Lunch will be on your own at the trendy Westfield University Town Center. With over 22 eateries, from sushi to cheese steaks, you’ll enjoy the lively atmosphere, and well-designed public space. This part of San Diego is fun to explore and has some really interesting architecture (and good food!).
Our next stop will be at the beautiful Mission San Luis Rey, an active Franciscan Missionand National Historic Landmark, in Oceanside. Here we will have lunch and tour the only California Mission whose large church is designed in the cruciform (cross) shape. With its intricate baroque facade, beautiful courtyards, excellent museum, period rooms, restored “lavanderia” (sunken, outdoor laundry), and historic cemetery, it’s no wonder that Mission San Luis Rey was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The story of the Missions is fascinating, complex and often tragic.
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