Adventure Tours

Discover marine science through hands-on activities!

Experience a three-hour Educational Sail on San Diego Bay, where students hoist sails, navigate, and explore the physics of sailing while comparing modern teamwork to life aboard an 1800s vessel.

Hands-On Marine Exploration & Learning

Explore and gain an understanding of marine-related opportunities through hands-on activities at our Museum. Dockside and on the water programs can be tailored to your schedule and age group, so you have some options with the activities.

Adventure Tour

Day or Overnight Program

Minimum of 9 years old.

The Adventure Tour offers a variety of hands-on activities at our Museum. This program can be tailored to your schedule and age group, so you have some options with the activities.

The program can include:

  • Guided tour by our Education staff of the Star of India (World’s oldest active tall-ship) with a sail raising activity
  • Rowing lesson and rowing out on San Diego Bay aboard one of our longboats
  • Black powder gun or cannon demonstration on the Museum barge
  • Add a 45 minute tour around San Diego Bay on the historic 1914 Pilot Boat for $10 a participant

Contact for pricing and availability.

Adventure Tour Overnight Option:

This program can be followed up with a Sleepover aboard one of our Tall Ships. Participants will continue the program with more activities, have dinner and breakfast, and sleep aboard either the Star of India, HMS Surprise, or Californian (Ship dependent on availability). There are no age restrictions to this program, siblings are welcome as well. The minimum/maximum number of participants to book an overnight option is 20/50.

Contact for pricing and availability.

Days of Oar

Minimum of 13 years old.

Generally conducted over 5 days, this program offers rowing instruction and teambuilding aboard the Museum’s collection of historic longboats. Get out on the water and foster water safety, self reliance, communication, the spirit of adventure and team work. Maritime skills taught through the practice of long boat rowing accomplishes many personal developmental goals while kids have fun on the water. Discover the traditions and history of rowing in San Diego, and then take off on an adventure row and picnic on San Diego Bay

Contact for pricing and availability.

Californian Challenge

One Day/Multi-Day/Weeklong

Minimum of 13 years old.

The Californian Challenge provides our most extensive opportunity to participate in team-building activities aboard our historic vessels. This program can vary from 1-5 days.

Our one day Californian Challenge starts around 9:00am and the morning session consists of tours of the ships, rowing in the Bay, and climbing out (in climbing harnesses) on the Californian’s jibboom. This will prepare the scouts for sailing the tall-ship Schooner Californian in the afternoon. This program is from 9am to 4pm. Cost: $100 per participant (adult and youth), Organizer is free.

This can be tailored into an overnight program and sleeping aboard either the Star of India, or Californian (Ship dependent on availability). Dinner and breakfast are provided by us. This program is from 9am until 9am the following day. Cost: $200 per participant.

Our weekend (multi-day) Californian Challenge would involve arriving at the Maritime Museum in the late afternoon/evening of Day 1 and sleeping two nights aboard either the Star of India, HMS Surprise, or Californian (Ship dependent on availability). Breakfast the next two days would be provided by us. The first morning would be a tour of the Museum, sail training and rowing. There would be at least an hour break for lunch (on your own). The afternoon will be sailing on the Californian. In the evening we would provide dinner. The next day we would row and build upon team building activities with lunch provided by us. This would conclude around 1:00pm. Check-in: 6-8pm Day 1. Check-out 1pm Day 3. Cost: email for pricing & availability.

Our weeklong (5 days, 6 nights) Californian Challenge is a “camp-style” program where participants live aboard one of our dock-side tall ships during the duration of the program. Meals are provided by us. Extensive sail training will be conducted throughout the week including training in climbing aloft. This prepares participants for a 6 hour ocean sail on the Californian on the final day. Activities during the week include rowing, blackpowder gun firing, guided hikes at Cabrillo National Monument, Safety at Sea training, and many more. Cost: email for pricing & availability.

This program is suited for ages 13 and above (please contact us in regards to age waivers), the minimum number of participants to book a program is 26.

To learn more or book a program: