Picture this: you wake up Saturday morning with a half-formed idea about your next vacation. For example, this might be something involving cobblestone streets in Europe, a jungle canopy in Costa Rica, or a coastal road trip up the Pacific Northwest. By Sunday afternoon, that hazy dream transforms into a fully booked itinerary, complete with insider tips and exclusive deals. That’s not to mention a signed copy of a travel book from one of your favorite TV personalities. That’s exactly the kind of weekend you can expect when you walk through the doors of the Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show.
This popular annual event is held Santa Clara Convention Center at 5001 Great America Parkway, in Santa Clara, California. In fact, it’s practically across the street from Levi’s Stadium, site of the 2026 Super Bowl. The 2026 edition of the show runs Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or planning your very first international trip, this event meets you exactly where you are.
Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show, Santa Clara Convention Center
Tickets and Getting There
Admission is straightforward and genuinely affordable for everything you get. For example, a one-day adult ticket runs $18 iand a two-day pass costs $26 in advance. However, if you purchase your ticket online, you can save $4 for either ticket. In addition, kids 17 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult — making this a surprisingly great family outing. U.S. active duty military members and up to four of their immediate family members also receive free admission as a thank-you for their service. So if this applies to you, just bring your military ID to the registration counter.
The Santa Clara Convention Center sits just a few miles off the 101 freeway and offers convenient free parking on-site. In addition, there is additional free parking just a short walk away at the ACE Great American lot,, If you’re coming from San Francisco, Caltrain can take you to the Mountain View station. From there, you can take the VTA Light Rail to the Great America station. From the Great America station, it’s just a short walk to the Santa Clara Convention Center. Lastly, you also have ride-share options from the station or elsewhere to the convention center are plentiful. The show has booked Halls A through D for both days, meaning you’ll have the entire space to yourself — no competition from other events, just wall-to-wall travel inspiration.
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What You’ll Find on the Show Floor
Step inside and prepare to feel instantly overwhelmed — in the best possible way. The Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show brings together more than 350 exhibitors representing destinations worldwide, cruise lines, tour operators, and travel companies. In other words, think of it as a global travel marketplace, all under one roof, with no jet lag required.
You’ll walk past booths showcasing everything from African safari packages to Scandinavian fjord cruises. Tourism boards from dozens of countries set up immersive displays designed to transport you before you ever board a plane. Representatives stand ready to answer your specific questions and help you compare options. What’s more, they can even point you toward deals you won’t find online. The energy on the floor is infectious — you’ll catch yourself picking up brochures for places you never considered visiting. Then you’ll suddenly find yourself adding them to your must-see list.
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Catch World-Class Travel Experts in Action
The 2026 speaker lineup is loaded, and a few high profile names stand out. For instance, Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor and Emmy Award-winning journalist, takes the stage with decades of field reporting behind him. When Greenberg talks about navigating airlines, avoiding hidden fees, or finding destinations that actually deliver, you pay attention. In this case, Mr. Greenberg will talk about how to survive travel in 2026. That’s not to mention Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and Netflix star of Somebody Feed Phil. At the Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show, he will bring his signature warmth and humor to the show floor. Having eaten and explored his way through destinations from San Sebastián to Sydney, Rosenthal makes travel feel joyful, accessible, and deeply human. Listen to Mr. Rosenthal on how food and travel became his passion.
Also on the schedule is Angel Castellanos, the Pasadena-based travel journalist and media personality who has reported from more than 60 countries across four continents. Mr. Castellanos has worked for outlets including CBS, BBC, Fox, and Univision. His practical, get-up-and-go approach to travel planning makes every session feel like a masterclass.
With more than 60 seminars spread across both days, there’s something for every kind of traveler. Arrive early — the popular sessions fill up fast.
Deals, Giveaways, and More
If you’re looking for travel discounts, this event will make it even more worth the trip. The Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show is famous for its show-only deals — exclusive discounts and packages that exhibitors offer only to attendees on the floor. You might snag a discounted river cruise or a resort package at a fraction of the regular rate. That’s not to mention early booking perks on a trip you’ve been planning for years. Tens of thousands of dollars in travel savings circulate through this event every year, and savvy attendees know to come prepared with a budget and a list of dream destinations in hand.
Add to that the trip giveaways happening throughout the weekend, and you’ve got real incentive to stay on your feet and explore every corner of the convention hall. Past giveaways have included international flights, all-inclusive resort stays, and bucket-list adventure packages. You never know what your ticket might unlock.
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Why This Show Belongs on Your Spring Calendar
There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when you attend the Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show in person. Reading travel blogs and scrolling through Instagram only takes you so far. In this case, you’ll stand face-to-face with a destination expert, watching your dream trip take shape in real time. What’s more, you might find a brochure for a place that suddenly feels entirely within reach — that’s a different experience entirely.
For travel creators, photographers, and content-driven storytellers especially, this event is a goldmine. You’ll come away with story ideas, source contacts, exclusive content opportunities, and enough inspiration to fuel an entire year of editorial content. The conversations you have on this floor — with tourism boards, with fellow enthusiasts, with a travel legend like Rick Steves or Peter Greenberg — have a way of turning into the best material you’ll produce all year. Of course, every other travel enthusiast will enjoy this annual event.
Therefore, mark March 21 and 22 on your calendar. Block both days if you can. The Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show doesn’t just give you a reason to plan your next trip — it gives you everything you need to actually take it. In other words, your next adventure doesn’t begin at the airport. It begins right here, in Santa Clara.
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About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University and is a Bay Area Travel Writers (BATW) member.
