Top Santa Barbara Outdoor Activities

Paddle into the sunset along the Southern California coast during this beginner-friendly, small-group kayaking trip from Santa Barbara. Watch the last rays of the day melt into the Pacific as you travel through the glassy waters of Santa Barbara Harbor. Pass by the historic wharf, keeping an eye out for marine life; a guide and all necessary kayaking gear are included to make logistics easy.

Visitors who want a quick, fun overview of Santa Barbara's highlights will love this 90-minute trolley tour of the American Riviera. Drive past landmarks like the courthouse, the zoo, the Mission, and the Museum of Natural History. Learn about the town's culture and history from live commentary and note places that you might want to return to independently later.

Spend an unforgettable half a day enjoying beautiful Santa Barbara with your friends or family. Live like a local for a day, on a lively, engaging tour of the town. Fill up on delicious food from several local eateries and sample the region's best wine or beer with tastings in between strolls that take you past the town's many theaters and plazas.

Head into the hills around Ojai Valley in Southern California on a private guided hiking experience. Enjoy the stunning nature of the valley on a walk through the forest for a few hours with local guides. Admire the natural flora and fauna away from the crowds in town and relax by small creeks for a snack break whenever you feel the need.

Explore one of California’s last undeveloped coastlines on this small-group, half-day kayaking adventure. Paddle through pristine kelp beds, look out for marine wildlife including dolphins and sea lions, and take in stunning coastal views. All necessary kayaking gear, including wetsuits and helmets, is provided. Swim and relax during breaks to make the most of this scenic journey along the Gaviota Coast.

Discover the beauty of California’s famed Central Coast wine region on an all-inclusive Santa Ynez wine tour from Santa Barbara. Relax in a luxury passenger van as breathtaking landscapes lead you to the Santa Ynez Valley, where you’ll enjoy exclusive tastings at three partner wineries. With lunch, snacks, and insights from a knowledgeable local guide included, this is more than a tour—it’s a curated wine experience.

Learn all about Santa Barbara’s spookiest ghost stories and supposedly haunted highlights—and enjoy top-rated local wine as part of the experience—on this two-in-one, small-group tour. Meet your guide right at an area winery, indulge in sips and samples, and listen to their tales of paranormal encounters. Then embark on a walking tour around town, from El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park to City Hall and Chinatown.

As the only water sports rental company on Santa Barbara's West Beach, we pride ourselves on the easiest kayak and paddle board experience you'll find. Safe and high-quality gear is paramount to our business, so we constantly update our kayak and paddle board inventory. The best part? Our helpful and friendly staff is ready to assist to ensure you have a smooth, fun, and memorable ocean adventure.

Explore the rugged beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley on a 2.5-hour 4x4 Bronco tour across 1,200 acres of private ranch land. This educational adventure takes you through breathtaking landscapes while learning about the area's rich history, geology, and ecology. With an experienced guide at the wheel, enjoy an interactive journey that includes a visit to a working protea flower farm and insights into local wildlife. This tour caters to all ages, making it perfect for families and nature enthusiasts seeking an immersive outdoor experience. - Maximum of 4 guests - 2.5-hour professionally guided tour in a climate-controlled Ford Bronco - Experience the peek performance of a Ford Bronco over steep hill climbs and rugged dirt trails - Includes free trail snacks, drinks, and an exclusive photo opportunity access

Go on a unique parasailing adventure through Santa Barbara on the coast of California. See the city from above guided by an expert captain while enjoying the aerial views over the wharfs, beaches, and Californian waves. Enjoy this activity with your family and friends to share the memories of a lifetime.

Explore the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country on this easy tour. Visit 2-3 wineries with our Wine Country Shuttle service, while learning about local history from one of our tour guides. Travel in comfort and style from your pickup in central Santa Barbara, onboard a luxury, air-conditioned van. Stop for a tasty lunch in whimsical Los Olivos during the 5-hour tour.

Our very unique, immersive adventures are the only ones of their kind. We, unlike other companies, provide your very own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment! Guests get to discover in an alternate reality our favorite hidden gems off the beaten trail and creatively interpret fun art, history, and culture clues - for points! They get to enjoy fame and glory while appearing on our website’s international leaderboard, no matter what their score. They get to essentially race other teams in other cities, even if they don’t have competitors who have signed up in their city that day. Get ready to discover unusual oddities, laugh out loud, and make the experience your own!

Make Santa Barbara your own gameboard with an interactive, app-led scavenger hunt adventure. Use a smartphone to follow a series of locally-themed clues that lead to fun challenges with your friends and family. Trace a route past historic monuments, seaside neighborhoods, and hidden gems to get an insider's look at the city. Rack up points to compete against prior scavenger hunt teams, or simply enjoy the self-guided tour at your own pace.

There’s hardly a better place to learn to surf than the Southern California locale of Ventura, which offers fantastic weather year-round. During this 1.5-hour private lesson, an expert instructor shows you how to stand up on your surfboard and balance, offering tips on how to catch the perfect wave while ensuring your safety in the water. Wetsuit and surfboard rental are included, and all skill levels are welcome.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our vineyard, meticulously cultivated using organic practices, produces grapes that are transformed into wines of remarkable quality. Our portfolio features a variety of wines, including our signature Cabernet Sauvignon, vibrant Sauvignon Blanc, robust Petit Verdot, and our rare Cabernet Franc. Visitors can immerse themselves in the winemaking process with a guided tour of our vineyard. Learn about our sustainable farming methods and see firsthand how our wines are crafted with precision and care. The experience culminates in our cabana, where you can savor our wines' distinct flavors and aromas while enjoying the serene vineyard views. Our Estate is more than just a winery—it's a place to relax and reconnect with nature.

Get around Santa Barbara with a 1- or 2-day bicycle rental that provides three options: an electric, mountain or hybrid bike. You can cover a lot of ground, including the city streets and coastline, without even pedaling, or explore the nearby hills or Santa Ynez Mountains on a mountain bike. Opt for a hybrid bike if you want to experience the speed of a road bike combined with the stability of a cruiser. Choose from a selection of models appropriate for both beginning riders and those with more advanced skills.

One of the best ways to explore Santa Barbara is by bike; avoid becoming fatigued and rent an electric bike to discover the coastal city. Cruise around the pier, Stearns Wharf, Point Castillo, 1000 Steps Beach, and many more points of interest. Electric bikes are easy to use and come with three different modes to help get you around town.

Santa Barbara's wine country is one of California’s most beloved regions, but this verdant spot also produces another treasure: olive oil. On this half-day bike tour, you'll hit the open road up into the Mediterranean hills of Los Olivos, learning from your guide and exploring along the way. Winding your way to an olive oil farm, you'll sample the local goodness before heading back to city life.

Explore Santa Barbara's wine country without the hassle of driving on this private tour for just you and your group of friends or family. Visit three wineries of your choosing for wine tastings of different varietals, and enjoy pickup and drop-off in Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Buellton, Los Alamos, Santa Maria, Montecito, Summerland, and surrounding towns.

Drive the Pacific Coast Highway your way with a tour that plays right from your phone. Follow the coast at your own pace, stop at any beach, and hear simple stories that guide you along ocean cliffs, wide sandy shores, and famous seaside towns. You choose when to start, where to stop, and how long to stay. Begin in Santa Barbara and head south toward Santa Monica. Pull over at scenic lookouts, walk along quiet beaches, or grab food in local beach towns along the way. Watch surfers ride the waves, spot dolphins in the distance, and enjoy cool ocean breezes as you drive. Your phone gives easy directions, works without internet, and stays with you forever so you can return anytime. Download the tour, hit the road, and enjoy one of California’s most beautiful coastal drives—your route, your pace, your day by the sea. *Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours*

Dive into adventure , your go-to for the ultimate app-led adventure hunts! Step into a world where every landmark and hidden gem is waiting to be discovered. Challenge yourself with trivia, tackle brain-teasing puzzles, and embark on an epic journey of exploration! Whether you’re collaborating with your crew or turning up the competition, Hunts guarantee a blast for all. Perfect for any occasion—whether it’s a spontaneous outing, a wild bachelorette bash, a festive birthday celebration, or a team-building extravaganza. Each player gets to dive into an interactive role, ensuring every challenge is as thrilling and unique as the next. So, gather your squad, choose your adventure, and let the good times roll! Every outing becomes a treasure trove of memories and excitement. Are you ready to conquer the city and create unforgettable experiences? Let’s Roam and make every day an adventure!

Stacy, a former Professional player on the tour for 10 years, who competed at The Wimbledon Championships and U.S. Open Championships numerous times, uses her patience and personable nature to have you playing great in no time! She also competes currently on the Senior Pro Pickleball tour and has a DUPR of 5.27.

Discover a side of Solvang that few other visitors get to experience—and tap into the region’s supernatural lore—on this evening ghost tour. Meet your guide in the center of town and set off with EMF meters, dowsing rods, and other ghost-hunting tools to aid you. You’ll see historic highlights of the town, and can attempt to spot local spirits, all while your guide shares Solvang’s spookiest ghost stories.