The summer is flying by and August is full of fun things to do here in Santa Barbara! With sunny weather and gorgeous beaches, it’s time to get outside and explore. The water is warm, dive in!

Photo credit: Blake Bronstad, Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara

Old Spanish Days Fiesta
When: July 30th–August 3rd
Where: Downtown Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara’s rich heritage comes alive during the first week in August with the music, dance, and pageantry of Old Spanish Days Fiesta, the granddaddy of city celebrations, reaching back to 1925.

Kayak & Snorkel Tours at Channel Islands National Park
When: Every day in August
Where: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
The water is at its warmest and clearest most days in August making incredible conditions for snorkeling and kayaking at the Channel Islands. See the California State Fish, the Garibaldi, bat rays, kelp forests, seals, and other species off the coast. Plus, explore some of the largest and most beautiful sea caves in the world! — Book Now

Santa Barbara Rodeo Days
When: August 1-3, 2025
Where: Earl Warren Showgrounds
This three-day celebration marks a new chapter in local tradition, with a bold, reimagined festival that honors Santa Barbara’s Vaquero roots while introducing fresh experiences for all ages. Guests can enjoy professional rodeo action, a vibrant carnival, live music, and family-friendly fun that blends western flair with coastal charm.

Santa Ynez Wine Tour
When: Every day in August from 10am to 5pm
Where: Includes pick-up/drop-off in Santa Barbara and transportation to Santa Ynez Valley
Spend a day wine tasting in Santa Ynez Valley on a wine country tour! — Book Now

Free Summer Cinema
WHEN:
• August 8 – My Dog Skip
• August 15 – Isle of Dogs
• August 22 – Marley and Me
• August 29 – Dog
WHERE: Santa Barbara County Courthouse
TIME: 8:30PM
UCSB Arts and Lectures is excited to announce the return of the free cinema series! The 2025 theme is “Dog Days of Summer” and will feature feel-good movies that span multiple decades and genres starring our favorite furry friends.  

Sunset Kayak in Santa Barbara Harbor
When: Every evening in August
Where: Santa Barbara Harbor
Enjoy a relaxing sunset ocean kayak tour around the Santa Barbara harbor & shoreline. This tour is fun and affordable for the whole family! Plus, it’s great for all sea kayaking skill levels including beginners to advanced. — Book Now

Butterflies Alive! at the Museum of Natural History
WHEN: Every day in August
WHERE: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Walk through a beautiful garden while nearly 1,000 live butterflies flutter freely around you. The exhibit features a dazzling variety of butterflies, from local favorites to exotic tropical species. Learn about the life cycle and behavior of these spectacular invertebrates while observing them up close.

Gaviota Coast Kayak Tour
When: Every day in August
Where: Haskell’s Beach
Kayak the Gaviota Coast, one of the few remaining sections of undeveloped, open coastline in California, and home to more than 1,500 species of plant and animal life. — Book Now

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Summertime is well underway in California! With sunny days and warm nights, there’s no shortage of fun things to do around here. Check out some of our favorite places and tips for enjoying the best Santa Barbara has to offer in July.

Fourth of July Celebration
WHEN: July 4th
WHERE: West Beach
The City of Santa Barbara’s traditional Fourth of July beachfront celebration will be back again and ready to build upon the fabulous events in years past. The festivities will be held at the beautiful Santa Barbara waterfront along West Beach on Independence Day for an afternoon and evening of food, music, fireworks, and fun for all ages.

Harbor Wildlife Kayak Tour
WHEN: Runs daily at 10AM and 1PM
WHERE: Santa Barbara Harbor
Join a fun and relaxing kayak tour around the Santa Barbara harbor. This is the perfect half-day activity filled with incredible views from the water and local marine life sightings. — Book Now

Concerts in the Park
LINEUP: 
• July 3 – The Molly Ringwald Project
• July 10 – Captain Cardiac and The Coronaries
• July 17 – The Academy
• July 24 – Soul Majestic
TIME: 6-7:30PM
WHERE: Chase Palm Park
Enjoy an evening of free live music along Santa Barbara’s waterfront. This annual concert series is hosted in partnership with the PARC Foundation.

Snorkel Tours at Channel Islands National Park
WHEN: Available Sundays in July at 11AM or 1:30PM
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
Explore beautiful kelp forests and sea life in a marine protected area (MPA) off the coast of Santa Cruz Island. — Book Now

The Swiftest Recovery, Island Fox Chronicles — Photography by Chuck Graham
WHEN: Every day in July
WHERE: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
TIME: 10AM to 5PM
Discover the inspiring story of the island fox’s comeback through stunning, intimate wildlife photography by Chuck Graham—captured while paddling the Channel Islands and hiking remote trails. This powerful exhibition reveals the beauty, resilience, and conservation success behind one of America’s fastest wildlife recoveries.

Santa Ynez Wine Tour (All-Inclusive)
WHEN: Every day from 10AM to 5PM
Spend a day wine tasting in Santa Ynez Valley on a wine country tour! Includes pick-up & drop-off transportation, lunch, tastings, and a knowledgeable guide. — Book Now

Free Summer Cinema
WHEN:
• July 11 – 101 Dalmatians
• July 18 – The Sandlot
• July 25 – Best in Show
WHERE: Santa Barbara County Courthouse
TIME: 8:30PM
UCSB Arts and Lectures is excited to announce the return of the free cinema series! The 2025 theme is “Dog Days of Summer” and will feature feel-good movies that span multiple decades and genres starring our favorite furry friends.  

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Come explore some of the biggest sea caves in the world. Join us for an incredible adventure to this world-class destination. Space is limited on these amazing kayak trips and summer dates are filling up quickly, so book your dates now. Check out our Special Rates on Channel Islands Kayaking! And for the truly adventurous, check out our Adventure Sea Caves Kayak Tour and the Ultimate Sea Caves Kayak Tour.

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Our answer is always the same – “the best time of year to go is now!” We offer trips year round and guests rave about their experience no matter what month they visit. So while there is no “best” time to go, below you will find a summary of the experiences you could have during the different “seasons”.

Winter: December through February is the peak season for Gray Whale migration, so during the boat ride over and back, as well as during the kayaking portion of the trip, there is a great chance of sighting whales! After the first few rains hit the Islands for the winter, the island will start turning green, making for majestic hiking and picture taking conditions. In addition, for those who enjoy solitude, this is the best time of year to be on the Islands with the fewest crowds. You will generally get a more personal experience with our guides during the quietest time of the year!

Spring: The Island comes alive during the spring! Flowers bloom all over the hillsides and valleys, and the temperature will start rising. For those passionate about plant life and hiking, this is the time to book, as this is the peak season for plants and longer days. In addition, many trips stop requiring wetsuits, as the sun’s heat is enough to keep us warm on the water. Spring is the best time to see birds nesting in the sea caves and offers the highest chance of seeing Orca Whales in the Channel.

Summer: It goes without saying that summer is our most magical season on the island. Blessed with the Mediterranean climate found around Santa Barbara, we get nearly perfect conditions daily: the days are long, the sun is out, the water begins to warm up, and humpback and blue whales are seen in the channel almost daily! If you are looking for the best time to explore caves and enjoy a stunning day on the water, this is the time to go!  Swell is generally the smallest this time of year, which translates into calmer waters and the best opportunities for cave exploration.

Fall: Many locals often call the fall our “second summer” since Santa Barbara usually feels just as pleasant in the fall, as summer does in many other parts of the world. The fall season generally has sunnier, calmer days than the month of June!  In addition to the ideal weather conditions, the winds usually stay calm and the water is the warmest it will be all year.  This water is also the warmest in the fall and while snorkeling is always available year round, this is definitely the most fun time to swim.

Have you traveled to the Channel Islands yet? When is your favorite time to visit? Leave us a comment below and let us know!

You can see all of our Channel Islands Kayaking Tours on our website here.

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Island fox on an agave plant at Santa Cruz Island. Photo by Chuck Graham.

There was a time on Santa Cruz Island when one could go days without seeing an island fox. There was a time when you would easily see more feral pigs than the endemic Urocyon littoralis. 

That was in 1999 when non-native golden eagles colonized Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel Islands. Lured to the Northern Chain by the feral pig population on Santa Cruz, golden eagles quickly realized the island fox was an easier, more readily available prey source. And because island foxes had never been preyed upon, they didn’t know to look up. Before anyone knew it, golden eagles nearly wiped-out island fox populations on the three northwesterly isles.

Hungry island fox climbs tree to reach sweet figs. Photo by Chuck Graham.

The island fox is a direct result of island dwarfism, where that long period of isolation and lack of food sources forced them to evolve into a smaller species. At full size, island foxes are about four pounds. They are very cat-like with semi-retractable claws. On Santa Cruz Island they are proficient tree climbers. The foxes at Scorpion Anchorage are especially adept at scaling up the old fig trees, nimbly counterbalancing their way to the ripest, sweetest figs.

How did island foxes reach such a plight? It began during the island’s long ranching history from the 1820s through the late 1990s. Thousands of sheep and pigs denuded the island of its native flora. The pesticide DDT was also to blame. It had been illegally dumped into the California Bight by Montrose Chemical Corp and other companies from 1940 – 1970. Wreaking havoc on the pelagic food web, keystone species like bald eagles that feed on fish, seabirds and scavenge marine mammal carcasses went extinct locally on the island chain. Pesticides forced bald eagles to lay thin-shelled eggs that were crushed during incubation. Eventually, bald eagles were absent from the Northern Chain from 1952 – 2002, thus, opening the door for golden eagles.

In 2002, the island fox was added to the Endangered Species List. However, the Channel Islands National Park (CINP) partnered with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) and unleashed an aggressive plan to restore a natural balance to the Northern Chain.

A pair of island foxes after a winter rain shower. Photo by Chuck Graham.

The Swiftest Recovery

A four-pronged effort ensued. From 2002 – 2006, 12 bald eaglets per year were released on Santa Cruz Island. Forty-three golden eagles were trapped and released back to northeastern California. About 5,000 feral pigs were removed from Santa Cruz Island. That project began in the fall of 2006 and finished in the spring of 2008. 

The island fox populations on each island were at critical lows. There were less than 100 foxes on Santa Cruz, and only 15 foxes each remained on Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands. Captive breeding of island foxes began in 1999 on all three islands. After several years, the steadfast efforts by the NPS, TNC, and IWS culminated in the successful recovery of bald eagles and island foxes across the chain.

By 2016, the island fox was removed from the Endangered Species List. It was the swiftest recovery of a terrestrial mammal in the history of the Endangered Species Act. The Channel Islands National Park is a shining example of multiple agencies coming together to reach a common goal of returning a natural balance to one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. 

Once close to extinction, island foxes now thrive on the Channel Islands thanks to coordinated restoration efforts. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Island Fox Facts

Today, island foxes are thriving. On Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands, there are well over 2,000 foxes on each island. On smaller San Miguel Island about 250 foxes enjoy that remote, windswept isle. 

Visitors are virtually guaranteed of seeing them once they disembark the Island Packers ferry at Scorpion Anchorage on the southeast end of Santa Cruz Island. Watch the foxes foraging for food on a short jaunt up Scorpion Canyon or hike the sweeping marine terraces above overlooking the shimmering Santa Barbara Channel. 

The largest land predator on the island is omnivorous, but it’s also the smallest fox species in North America. The island fox is the cousin of the mainland gray fox. They didn’t swim to what was then the big island known as Santarosae (before sea levels rose and created the Northern Chain) but were transported over either on storm debris during floods, or the Chumash Indians who paddled them over in their dugout canoes, also known as tomols. In fact, the Chumash kept foxes as pets.

A couple of adorable newborn island pups. Photo by Chuck Graham.

May and June are also a time to spot adorable island fox pups. Visitors are not guaranteed of seeing pups, but since 2017 there have been several island fox families spotted in Scorpion Canyon. Some of the Santa Barbara Adventure Company kayak guides have been fortunate to witness the rearing of pups throughout the canyon.

Seeing adult island foxes with their pups is one of the many joys of the Channel Islands National Park and a great reminder of a conservation success story.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

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If you have an image from the islands, please share it on our facebook page. If you have a favorite memory please share it in the comment section below.

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On the day of the event, they dive down and retrieve items, often by tethering ropes to larger items and having volunteers hoist up garbage. Volunteers load up wheelbarrows full of trash and cart it up to the dumpster. Santa Barbara Adventure Company enjoys participating in the Santa Barbara Harbor Clean Sweep because it’s a way to give back to the community and to our environment which we all share.

The ocean is a common resource and we need to work together to protect it and help make it safe for ocean life. Andrea Dransfield, an employee at Santa Barbara Adventure Company, states

“I do the harbor clean-up every year and it’s very rewarding. I take it upon myself to make sure all sea creatures collected along with the garbage are safely returned to the sea.”

During the clean-up, a record number of two-spotted octopi were seen hiding in the garbage. We even found an octopus nest in a pipe! Last year only a couple octopi were found so this is good news for the populations in the harbor. We also found many small white eggs covering the surfaces of several items we pulled up. They may be octopus eggs but we are not sure. Please comment if you know what kind of eggs these are!

Among the tons of trash recovered from the harbor this year, we found a microwave, glasses/cups, an uncorked wine bottle, a bicycle, garbage bins, steps, brooms, a fisherman’s receiver, and more!

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What adventures have you been on in the last 6 months, guiding and otherwise?

I believe strongly in making the most of every day.  So while I’m very busy guiding others for SBACo, I love to go on my own adventures whenever I get the chance.  Santa Barbara affords me endless opportunities for exploration.  There is great surfing and hiking locally and I love to take advantage of it when I get the time.   As lucky as I am to live in Santa Barbara, though, I do like to travel.  I went to Bocas del Toro, Panama for 10 days this past December to visit one of my dearest friends.  She is there volunteering for the Smithsonian Institute, Reef Check, 5 Gyres Institute, and Water for People.  We surfed, snorkeled, boated, and laughed a lot.  After that trip, my husband, my dog, and I took 3 weeks to go on our annual trip down the Baja Peninsula.  We take our camper and our surfboards and relish in the delight of having no internet, phone, TV, or responsibilities other than eating, sleeping, and exercising.  Baja is one of my favorite places.  It’s the perfect place to recharge my batteries, which is just what I need after a long season of guiding.

How did you get to choose guiding as your way of living? What is it about guiding that makes it so energizing?

When I started college, I knew I wanted to work with at-risk youth in outdoor settings.  I didn’t know the best route though, so I picked psychology as my major.  When I took a Recreation 101 class, I was told about opportunities to intern at the school’s Ropes Course.  The experience was an eye opener.  I learned so much about myself and about how to work with and manage groups.  Most importantly I worked with an amazing group of people who eventually convinced me to change my major to Recreation.  My degree taught me a vast range of things, including the legal and fiscal aspects of managing recreation programs, programming, resource interpretation, and land use planning.  I think what I learned most, though, is that everyone has some connection to the outdoors, whether they know it or not.  And if you look deeply enough you can help others find that connection.   Through guiding I’ve learned that all people benefit from outdoor recreation.  This is true now more than ever, considering the ever-increasing amount of technology we use and the ever-decreasing amount of time we spend outside.  I love that I introduce people to the outdoors, show them things they may never  have noticed, and build their confidence to do outdoor activities.  The most energizing thing about guiding is knowing that we created an unforgettable experience for our guests. 

And lastly, what can you tell people who read about these trips with fascination, but think it’s probably not for them?

Our trips are for everyone! Some of my kayaking guests in the recent year included grandchildren and grandmothers, ultra-marathoners, people overcoming their fear of the ocean, school groups of all ages, non-swimmers, river guides, and entire families.  I encourage anyone to try our trips; chances are we have something perfect for you.  One of the best things about SBACo is the staff.  My coworkers are one of the greatest benefits of my job.  We all take pride in our work and want to create the best experience possible for our guests.  Our office staff is very helpful and will take the time to answer any of your questions and help you find the adventure that best suits your needs.  Our guides are well-accustomed to having all types of participants on our trips and are happy to accommodate you.  So my advice is that if you’ve always wanted to try an adventure like this, there’s no better time than the present.

Thanks for sharing Brina!

Photo courtesy of Erin Feinblatt Photography

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“The discovery of the Billings is a result of excellent collaboration with the local community,” Robert Schwemmer, maritime archaeologist for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries said. “Now we can write the final chapter of not only the largest, but the last sailing vessel built by the Hall Brothers during their 30-year career of designing some of the finest ships sailing the Pacific.”

The shipwreck will be protected under state and federal law, and it is illegal to disturb or damage any archaeological sites in sanctuary and park boundaries. The Billings shipwreck remains are now owned by the state of California and managed by the California State Lands Commission. “The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park are a world destination for sport diving,” said Chris Mobley, sanctuary superintendent. “For years, divers have shared new discoveries with both federal agencies and we commend them for their spirit of stewardship so these historic resources can be surveyed and shared with the American public.”

About the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary:
Established in 1980, the sanctuary is an area of national significance because of its exceptional natural beauty and resources. It encompasses the waters that surround Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara Islands (five of the eight Channel Islands of California), extending from shore around each of the five islands. The sanctuary’s primary goal is the protection of the natural and cultural resources contained within its boundaries.

Historical information courtesy of Justin M. Ruhge
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

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