We took the stress of planning off your hands and put some suggested itineraries together to help you explore the greener side of Santa Barbara according to your mood or interest.
Try the Classic Santa Barbara for a general overview of the region and to take in the city’s main attractions. If you’re interested in art and design, go for the Art, Architecture & Design tour to learn the ins and outs of green building and eco-art. Learn the benefits of eating locally sourced food while tasting your way through Santa Barbara on the Livin' La Vida Locavore tour. Check out Eco Tourism to indulge in the great outdoors and our natural attractions.
Hop on the Waterfront-Downtown Electric Shuttle (look for the sailboat logo) for a self-led eco-friendly tour of the city. The fare is 25 cents one way and the shuttle runs every 8-10 minutes up and down State Street between the Arlington Center for the Performing Arts and Stearns Wharf. The Shuttle runs every 13-30 minutes along the waterfront between the Zoo and the Harbor. Line 22 offers weekend service to local attractions including the Botanic Garden, Museum of Art, Mission, County Courthouse and Museum of Natural History.
Suggested stops and activities along the way:
***Cruise the oceanfront, palm-lined bike path along Cabrillo Blvd. from the Harbor all the way to East Beach on a bike, skateboard, segue or surrey, or your very own two feet.
***Watch or play beach volleyball at East Beach and grab a bite to eat at the East Beach Grill (breakfast and burgers are their specialties!).
***Continue on to the Andre Clark Bird Refuge and walk the nature trail on the north side to see wintering ducks, herons, egrets, and sparrows. Check the observation platforms for denizens of the reeds, including rails and marsh wrens.
***See more exotic wildlife at our "zoo with a view," Santa Barbara Zoo (500 Ninos Dr., 805.962.5339), home to more than 500 animals.
***A walk out onto Stearns Wharf is a Santa Barbara must. Soak up the views, snap some pictures and be sure to stop by the Ty Warner Sea Center (211 Stearns Wharf, 805.962.2526) for a hands-on exploration of the Santa Barbara Channel. Sample fresh local catch at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company (230 Stearns Wharf).
***Down the road at the Harbor, follow the signs for a self-guided Fish Walk, which will teach you about sustainable fishing and tactics that have been traced back to the Chumash Indians. Delve deeper into local maritime industry at the Maritime Museum(113 Harbor Way #190, 805.962.8404). Check out the boats, rent a kayak or hop on a sunset or whale watching cruise.
***Head to the heart of Downtown Santa Barbara—State Street. You could spend all day here exploring the galleries and museums, shops, cafes, spas and historic and architectural landmarks. The self-guided Red Tile Walking Tour, starting at the County Courthouse, is a great way to learn about the city's history and signature architectural style…on foot.
***Get a taste of local color and meet the local growers at the Farmers' Market Tuesday afternoons/evenings (500 and 600 blocks of State St.) or Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (Santa Barbara St. at Cota St.).
***Head towards the hills for stops at landmark attractions—Mission Santa Barbara (2201 Laguna St.), the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (2559 Puesta del Sol Rd., 805.682.4711) and Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (2112 Mission Canyon Rd., 805.569.5923).
Art, Architecture & Design Tour
Santa Barbara's signature Spanish-Colonial architectural style may be world renowned, but in recent years Santa Barbara has established a reputation as a leader in the green building movement. Learn about green building and design practices or check out nature-inspired artworks. You can also make your own "green" art out of recycled materials and explore outdoor art in public spaces.
***Take a tour of Santa Barbara County's public art. Visit the County Arts Commission website to download a map and read up on the works.
***View environmental art exhibitions at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (2559 Puesta del Sol Rd., 805.682.4711), Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State St., 805.963.4364), Dan Merkel Gallery (632 State St.) and Brooks Institute of Photography's Cota Street Gallery (27 E. Cota St., 800.304.3456). Check the Community Environmental Council's website for information on current photography exhibitions.
***Make your own creation from recycled materials at Art from Scrap (302 East Cota St., 805.884.0459) and check out their latest art exhibition.
***Visit Living Green Gallery (222 Helena Ave., 805.966.1319), a showroom for artistic design and innovative sustainable products. Shop their fab selection of “green” building materials, cleaning products, home furnishings and more.
Food and wine fans and (aspiring!) bon vivants, this one's for you! Learn how to eat like a “locavore” while tasting your way through our bountiful region.
***Visit one of the county’s seven daily Farmers’ Markets (805.962.5354) for a quintessential Santa Barbara experience. Sample fresh organic fruit, meet the growers, rub elbows with locals and chefs, listen to live music and buy Santa Barbara lavender, oils, olives and honey to take home with you. Note: Guided tours available by appointment via Market Forays.
***Go on a Fish Walk at the Harbor to learn about our sustainable fishing industry and regional specialties. Don't miss the Fisherman’s Market, where you can buy fresh catch right off the boat, bright and early every Saturday morning, or pop your head into the Fish Market (open daily) to pick up fresh catch to grill at Leadbetter Beach.
***Visit Southern California’s oldest organic farm, Fairview Gardens Farm(598 North Fairview Ave., Goleta, 805.967.7369), an agricultural easement in Goleta. Take an educational tour, buy some produce or participate in a cooking class.
***Head to the wine country for a sustainable/organic wine tasting excursion. Visit Alma Rosa (805.688.9090), Clos Pepe (by appointment only; Lompoc, 805.735.2196), Gypsy Canyon (by appointment only; Lompoc, 805.737.0204), Beckman Vineyards (2670 Ontiveros Rd., Los Olivos, 805.688.8664) and Sunstone (125 N. Refugio Rd. Santa Ynez, 805.688.9463). If you want someone else to do the driving, opt for a guided Sustainable Winery tour in a biodiesel-fueled van with Sustainable Vine (805.698.3911) wine tours.
***Stay in the wine country for dinner or head back to Santa Barbara to have dinner at a local restaurant that specializes in “Farm-to-Table” Cuisine.
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County (805.966.4520) works to protect important open space, wildlife habitats, farms and ranches and makes it possible for the public to experience and enjoy these spaces. On the Gaviota Coast and in the Santa Ynez Valley, the Land Trust is using conservation easements and landowner incentives to protect agricultural and scenic open land from development. Since 1985, the Land Trust has worked with willing landowners, the community and public agencies to protect over 13,000 acres in Santa Barbara County. The Land Trust has protected some of the county’s most beautiful areas, including:
***Arroyo Hondo Preserve (reservations required; 805.567.1115): the 782-acre Arroyo Hondo Preserve is a magnificent canyon located west of Santa Barbara between Refugio State Beach and Gaviota State Park.
***Sedgwick Reserve (805.686.1941): Set in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, the Reserve stands not only as a historical tribute to the Valley’s agricultural heritage, but offers a breathtaking picture of what California was like for centuries before Western man brought "progress" to this part of the globe.
***Carpinteria Bluffs: Open every day sun up to sundown for walking, hiking, painting and bike trail rides. Exit Bailard from Hwy. 101, turn towards ocean.
***Carpinteria Salt Marsh (call 805.684.5405 for a schedule of docent-led tours): Nestled between homes, agriculture, nurseries, the railroad and freeway, the marsh is one of the last remaining coastal estuaries in California and is a healthy ecosystem filled with rare birds, fish, snails, sharks and plants. Less than 10% of the historic wetland habitat exists in California, and this 230-acre reserve is one of the only places left where the land meets the ocean, providing an essential environment for numerous plants and wildlife. The Nature Park is open during daylight hours every day, and docents lead tours of the nature park are available. Take Linden Ave. towards the beach, turn right on Sandyland and follow to the end at Ash St.
***Coronado Butterfly Preserve: The Butterfly Preserve is home to native coastal sage scrub habitat, eucalyptus groves and numerous birds and wildlife that thrive in this urban community treasure. The 9.3-acre preserve includes Devereux Creek, woodlands and meadows as well as trails, and acts as a gateway to existing and future protected coastal resource areas nearby, via trails linking the Ellwood Main Monarch Grove, Ellwood Shores coastal bluffs, Santa Barbara Shores County Park, the Devereux Slough and the beach. See the monarch butterflies nesting during their winter migration (seasonal: November through March). From Hwy. 101, exit Storke Rd./Glen Annie and head south (away from mountains). Turn right on Hollister Ave., drive about 1.2 miles and take a left on Coronado Dr. Entrance is at the end of Coronado Dr.
In addition to the Land Trust sites, Santa Barbara County is a nature lovers' dream and there are many eco-tourism adventures to be had. Take your pick of the following:
***Go tidepooling at Carpinteria State Beach (Carpinteria, Exit Linden Ave. off of Hwy. 101).
***Walk or bike through the Douglas Preserve a 70-acre grassy oceanfront mesa in the city of Santa Barbara. Access trails via Cliff Dr. at Los Positas or Linda St. off of Mesa Ln.
***Hike the Bill Wallace Trail, departing from El Capitan Canyon (Exit El Capitan State Beach off of Hwy. 101 and turn towards mountains) and take a no-waste picnic lunch.
***Kayak at El Capitan State Beach (Exit El Capitan State Beach off of Hwy. 101).
***Visit Channel Islands National Park, the "Galapagos of the West," a chain of five islands about 25 miles off the shore of Santa Barbara. The islands are home to 2,000 species of plants and animals (145 found no where else on earth) and the untouched landscape is a stunning natural jewel. SCUBA diving, snorkeling, kayaking, boating, hiking, birding and camping are popular activities and excursions depart from Ventura and Santa Barbara Harbors daily. A variety of guided tours and activities, including multi-day trips, are offered by local operators.
