Changing up the scenery every now and then is essential for improving well-being and enhancing personal growth. Disrupting the monotony of routines in a convention center by planning off-site group activities gives attendees the opportunity to bond while engaging in a shared experience—and boosts morale in the process. By engaging in fun endeavors together, participants also have the potential to develop new skills and improve communication, leading to a more productive and supportive work environment.
With diverse geography that includes mountains, forests, deserts, and a lengthy coastline, California offers many settings that serve as the perfect backdrop for team-building adventures. From San Diego to the San Francisco Bay Area, groups can enjoy engaging activities ranging from scavenger hunts and sports competitions to culinary workshops and art classes that will inspire creativity and motivation while strengthening team camaraderie.
The state is known as a hub for the arts, and its team-building options are reflective of that. Located a mile outside the town of Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay Art Glass is a glassblowing studio that shares space with La Nebbia Winery and has been teaching classes for 16 years. Mare Island Art Glass, the company’s sister studio, is 12 miles from Napa on Mare Island in Vallejo. It accommodates up to 100 people per day depending on the project types chosen. “Participants learn a new skill in a safe and friendly environment, which fosters a sense of accomplishment and shared memory,” says Douglass Brown, owner of both studios. “Our Half Moon Bay studio is situated on winery grounds, making it easy for attendees to enjoy food, drink, and even bocce ball. Our sister studio is at one of the oldest naval bases in the country and has several tall ships from the 1800s parked behind it, offering a real treat for visitors.”
With studios in San Diego and Oceanside, Art Magic Creative Studio offers 10 distinct art classes and workshops with more than 100 project options, including epoxy resin classes, where participants create ocean-themed utilitarian pieces like cheese boards, coasters, and more using epoxy resin, pigments, and other materials. It also offers a transportable art station available for large corporate events, where attendees create a memorable keepsake. “At Art Magic, we believe creativity is for everyone,” says owner Ksenia Stockton. “Our workshops are designed to provide a fun, relaxing, and inspiring experience that can be tailored for teams of all sizes. We specialize in team-building activities that spark creativity and foster collaboration. Even if participants believe they have no artistic talent, our step-by-step guidance ensures everyone leaves with a masterpiece.”
Culinary Experiences
Get an insider’s taste of the regional food scene in Carmel-by-the-Sea with Carmel Food Tours, which offers a fun way to explore the seaside village. Its “Carmel-by-the-Sea Classic Food Tour” consists of five tasting stops and information about the area’s history, architecture, and culture. Tours are three hours and cover a little over a mile of walking, and each one runs with three separate groups (of up to 20 people each) with staggered start times. The newest tour option is “Sip & Stroll by the Sea,” a two-hour tour that features three tasting stops with a focus on adult beverages. Founder and Tour Chief Stacy Giovino says, “Food is universal, and, as a multisensory experience, it creates lasting memories.”
For groups of wine aficionados, planners might book adventures via Montage Healdsburg, a resort offering guided e-bike tours through Sonoma Wine Country. Tour options include a “Wine Country Cycle Tour,” where attendees explore 16 scenic miles of Healdsburg’s rolling hills; and “Sip & Cycle Healdsburg,” which takes meeting groups on a customizable e-bike route to curated tasting experiences at a selection of Healdsburg wineries. After indulging in some of the area’s best wines, a private shuttle chauffeurs attendees back to the property.
“What’s better than breaking away from the four walls of a meeting room and getting to know your colleagues while e-biking or hiking through lush countryside? Or strengthening relationships while learning to appreciate the wines of the region and their complex journey from farm to glass?” asks Alexandra Nicandri, director of sales and event management at Irvine-based Montage International, Montage Healdsburg’s management company. “There is so much to explore in Sonoma Wine Country, and we present opportunities for planners to not only showcase Sonoma County’s beautiful landscapes but to celebrate the literal fruits of the land. These offerings are specific to our place, providing attendees time to explore while also being productive.”
Outdoor Adventures
Nestled in California’s Santa Ynez Valley, Alisal Ranch in Solvang provides 10,500 acres of rolling hills and beautiful surroundings. Designed, built, and maintained by ropes-course experts, its Challenge Ropes Courses feature low- and high-ropes elements that build confidence, as well as enhance communication skills and teamwork. For leadership development, the ranch offers workshops involving interactive exercises with horses to facilitate personal growth for participants and foster deeper self-awareness.
“With our robust offering of activities and experiences to inspire creativity and connection, Alisal Ranch is uniquely poised to deliver meaningful team-building activities and memorable experiences,” says General Manager Kathleen Cochran. “From ropes courses to equine communication workshops, along with barbecues and area winemaker dinners, our programming for corporate events fosters team development and personal growth while encouraging team members to collaborate, reconnect outside the office, and have some good old-fashioned Western fun.”
Teams can enjoy the great outdoors in Big Sur and on the Monterey Peninsula with Big Sur Guides & Hiking, which leads guided beach walks and hiking excursions. A client favorite is the 2 1/2-hour Big Sur hike, during which participants explore old-growth redwoods, mountain streams and waterfalls, coastal trails, and ocean coves. Big Sur Guides & Hiking provides flexibility and activity customization to meet each group’s needs, arranges professional transportation, and offers picnic lunches. Groups of up to 100 participants can be accommodated, broken into smaller groups.
“I have booked several groups with Big Sur Guides & Hiking, and the guides know so much about the area and environment,” says Anita Cowen, director of sales and catering at The Sanctuary Beach Resort in Marina. “They tailor their narration to facilitate the group’s goals. One corporate group specifically wanted hikers to be completely in the moment and to leave their thoughts behind. When the guests returned to the resort, they were so engrossed in what they learned that they delayed their afternoon session to allow more time to explore the beach and dunes.”
Sports & Scavenger Hunts
Pickleball tournaments at Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego offer the perfect balance of friendly competition and relaxed entertainment. The 2 1/2-hour experience is designed for up to 16 participants and takes place within the resort’s recently enhanced racquet sports facilities, including one with bleachers for spectator viewing. “Fairmont Grand Del Mar is the ultimate destination to gather with your group for pickleball. Here, spirited play meets breathtaking canyon views and luxury surrounds every serve,” says Nenad Praporski, the hotel’s general manager.
Puppy yoga classes at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, were created in partnership with Pasadena-based nonprofit Pup Culture Rescue. Private classes might be arranged for groups and take place outdoors on the lawn of the hotel’s Horseshoe Garden. All puppies involved in the classes are adoptable, and a portion of the proceeds benefits the rescue. “Puppy yoga is a unique wellness experience that invites all participants to be playful, present, and carefree,” says fitness instructor Anne Harriger, who leads some of the classes. “By blending movement with sunshine and the joyful presence of puppies, this heartwarming yoga class naturally lifts spirits and encourages meaningful connection. We’re very proud to offer a community-focused experience that is inclusive and accessible to all fitness levels. Puppy yoga not only fosters group bonding—it also supports a great cause and leaves everyone smiling.”
Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) was the first private club in downtown Los Angeles and has offered extensive fitness and social experiences in a historic building since 1880. In addition to a private members club and hotel, LAAC offers a collection of event spaces available to nonmembers—including a 4,160-square-foot rooftop for up to 130—as well as engaging team-building add-ons. During the club’s scavenger hunts, teams search for QR codes throughout the winding halls, each containing hints that guide to sub-sequent clues. The activity concludes in the Blue Room, a speakeasy hidden behind a bookcase, and it is a fun way for groups to solve a mystery together while learning about LAAC’s history. “Scavenger hunts are a great team-building activity for fostering connection, where groups work together to search for clues while simultaneously exploring new spaces,” says Nikki Salvatera, executive meeting manager at the club. “LAAC will work directly with event organizers to tailor the experience and clues to the theme of their organization while weaving in historic and design elements from the property.”
Fun on the Water
Just 15 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport in Marina del Rey, Naos Yachts offers custom charters and sailing lessons on a variety of boats that make for fun and memorable team-building activities. Options include marina harbor tours, coastal cruises, sunset sails, and yacht racing, as well as the opportunity to be on a spectator boat during the races, accompanied by catered meals and sunset drinks. The company’s larger yachts accommodate up to 12 attendees, while planners with larger groups can charter several yachts that sail parallel.
In Coronado, The Gondola Co. offers private Venetian-style gondola cruises around the canals of the Coronado Cays. Rides are 50 minutes, and different cruise options are available depending on party size. Its fleet cruises accommodate groups up to 44 people traveling side by side in as many as six gondolas, and larger groups have the option to celebrate and mingle on the patio as gondolas continuously embark and return with attendees. “Our cruises offer a change of pace from the typical team outing,” says Sean Jamieson, founder and owner of The Gondola Co. “Being out on the water, away from computer screens, creates a natural opportunity for colleagues to connect in a relaxed setting. These cruises are designed to bring teams closer together in a way that promotes genuine camaraderie.”
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fairmont.com
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laac.com
langhamhotels.com
montage.com/healdsburg
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