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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Winter kayaking at Scorpion Anchorage. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Are you looking for a unique and memorable way to spend the holidays with your loved ones? Channel Islands National Park offers a bucket-list-worthy adventure you will remember for the rest of your life.

Here are four reasons why sea cave kayaking at this stunning location is an ideal holiday getaway for families and friends:

1. Solitude

With fewer visitors in the winter, the park offers an even more serene and intimate experience than any other time of year. This tranquility makes it perfect for families looking to spend quality time together and for those looking to escape the holiday rush.

Father, son, and daughter on a hike along one of Santa Cruz Islands’ ~49 miles of trails.

2. Gray Whale Migration

The winter months, especially from late December to mid-April, coincide with the gray whale migration. The ferry ride to and from the Channel Islands gives you a chance at a front-row seat to this incredible wildlife display. Seeing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience that both adults and kids will treasure.

Gray whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal on Earth. Here a mom and calf are seen passing through the Santa Barbara Channel on their trek from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Photo from Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

3. Active Wildlife

Thanks to changes in ocean currents and upwellings, the waters around the Channel Islands teem with life during winter. This means better chances of seeing seals, dolphins, and other marine animals in their active, playful states. Our guides will share stories and educational insights about these wild inhabitants and their marine ecosystems.

A curious California Sea Lion closely watches kayakers in a marine protected area (MPA) at Scorpion Anchorage.

4. A Unique Holiday Adventure

Break away from the usual holiday activities and embark on an epic sea cave kayaking journey. It’s an adventure that suits ages 5 & up and all skill levels, making it a perfect group activity for families and friends. Channel Islands National Park is a destination guaranteed to provide a holiday experience unlike any other.

Our Channel Islands sea cave kayak tours are fun for the whole family!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are you still running tours during the winter?
Yes, we run our Channel Islands tours year-round. Winter at the Channel Islands is serene and full of wildlife encounters.

Is it too cold for kayaking in winter?
Our wetsuits and splash jackets are included in the price of your tour and will do a good job of helping to keep you warm and dry. Plus, kayaking is a great way to stay active and keep the blood flowing!

Are the seas too rough for kayaking in winter?
We monitor the weather closely and offer full refunds for cancellations due to rough seas. Many winter days are calm and perfect for kayaking.

Get Ready for an Unforgettable Adventure:
Channel Islands National Park is the perfect destination for an unforgettable winter adventure with family and friends. Book your sea cave kayak tour and make this holiday season extraordinary. Spots are limited, especially during this popular season, so secure your adventure today!

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Bird watchers travel from all corners of the world to get a glimpse of the rare Island Scrub Jay. Photo by Chuck Graham.

I followed a flash of blue in the dense oak woodland while hiking a side canyon within Scorpion Canyon on Santa Cruz Island. The lone endemic island scrub jay was doing what it does best, continuing to restore island oak groves across the mountainous isle.

Before or after a kayak tour with Santa Barbara Adventure Company, guests are always pointed in the right direction for a hike, or the best place to spot an island fox. There are those though, that want a glimpse at one of the rarest birds in the world, the island scrub jay. Bird watchers from all over the world come to Santa Cruz Island to see one of the most ecologically important avian species in the world.

Island Scrub Jay spreads its wings on a fig tree. Photo by Chuck Graham.

The island scrub jay is one of the many reasons why Channel Islands National Park is also known as “the Galapagos Islands of the north,” boasting rich biodiversity that exists nowhere else on the planet.

One of the Rarest Birds

Seeing an island scrub jay isn’t always a guarantee. Hearing them beforehand is more likely. Typically, it’s a harsh, rising shek-shek-shek throughout the narrow canyons shaded by island oak trees, manzanita, ironwood trees, and bishop pines. Having said all that, island scrub jays are in the corvid family, so like crows and ravens, they are equally as curious. Don’t be surprised if one of these brilliant blue birds’ lands right next to you.

Island Scrub Jays eat acorns, insects, spiders, snakes, lizards, mice, and other birds’ eggs and nestlings.

Island scrub jays have the smallest range of any bird in North America. There are approximately 2,000 jays on Santa Cruz Island. The windswept island is the only place in the world where island scrub jays exist. None of the other California Channel Islands have populations of jays, although neighboring Santa Rosa Island once did.

The western scrub jay of the California mainland is the cousin of the island scrub jay. Due to a lack of competition, abundant food sources, and isolation the island scrub jay has evolved over thousands of years into its own species. It’s enabled it to grow to be a third size larger than its mainland counterpart, a natural phenomenon known as island gigantism. Island scrub jays are also a deeper and prettier blue than the western scrub jay, and they possess a larger, beefier beak.

Eco Engineers

Island scrub jays love their acorns, and that’s a great thing for the ecology of Santa Cruz Island. Biologists from the Smithsonian have told me that the island scrub jay is directly responsible for the recovery of oak woodland habitat across the craggy island. Among biologists in the field, they are known as “Cache Kings,” or “Eco Engineers.”  

The island scrub jay is directly responsible for the recovery of oak woodland habitat across Santa Cruz Island.

One adult island scrub jay caches an incredible 3,500 to 6,000 acorns a year. When considering the entire island scrub jay population, that’s a whole heck of a lot of acorns. They also innately cache the acorns point down, so they germinate across the island ecosystem. It doesn’t end there though. Island scrub jays are also known to plant those acorns upslope, which means island oak trees reach the highest serpentine ridgelines of the largest isle off the California Coast.

Fog drip is the largest water input across Channel Islands National Park. Surprisingly, it’s not rain; although rain plays a hand in the unique island biome. However, fog drip is more consistent, and on some parts of the northern chain it feels and looks like rain. 

As that fog sweeps and billows across Santa Cruz Island, it allows those newly cached acorns to germinate, and over time that moisture drips from the leaves and importantly continues to sustain groundwater, replenishing many of the creeks that flow down steep, narrow canyons and eventually reaches the ocean.

In addition to bird watching, Santa Cruz Island offers a variety of outdoor recreation activities including sea cave kayaking.

Whether the island scrub jays know it or not, they play a vital role in the ecology of Santa Cruz Island. So, after finishing your kayak trip around Scorpion Anchorage, take a stroll up Scorpion Canyon to see one of the hardest-working birds in North America.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

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From a distance, kayakers observe a cozy harbor seal soaking up some sun rays. Photo by Chuck Graham.

There’s something about their sweet pushed-in faces and long whiskers, as they seemingly smile at us as we paddle onto the next toothy sea cave around Scorpion Anchorage, on the long southeast finger of Santa Cruz Island.

Spotted harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are a species of pinniped frequently seen on guided kayak trips with Santa Barbara Adventure Company. They are the friendliest and most curious, but smallest of the six species of seals and sea lions that utilize the Channel Islands National Park for hauling out, breeding, and pupping. They are true seals, meaning they don’t possess external earflaps.

A cute harbor seal keeps a close eye on kayakers pass by. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Around the Scorpion Anchorage region, they rest easy inside Harbor Seal Cave less than a mile northwest of where guided trips begin and end. Usually, they haul out at or above the high tide mark always looking comfy on the steep, rocky backend of the massive grotto. If they don’t move inside the cave, they appear to be just like another rock, blending into their craggy habitat. Sometimes, though, inquisitive harbor seals follow rafts of kayakers from cave to cave, frolicking underwater while guests maneuver through narrow corridors and gaping caverns.

A harbor seal almost appears to smile as it rests on a barnacle-encrusted rock. Photo by Chuck Graham.

However, they can be seen anywhere around the Northern Chain, and because harbor seals don’t migrate far out to sea, not venturing any further out than the Channel Islands, spotting spotted harbor seals is easy to do. While leading kayak tours, guides are aware of the tides and will search for harbor seals on exposed rocks. Some of the same harbor seals seek out their favorite rocks and haul out on them day after day as soon as the tide recedes. Watching a harbor seal clamber up a barnacle-encrusted rock with their short forelimbs is always entertaining, especially if there’s a little bit of swell. They are not the most adept on land, scooching like an inchworm to find that sweet spot on their desired haul-out sites.

Visitors on guided kayak trips will notice that harbor seals make very little noise or nothing at all. The cute, little pups that way 35 pounds at birth, have a light yelp, but as they grow toward adulthood, they are virtually silent. Occasionally, though, an adult will growl at another. Pupping season in the Channel Islands can begin in February, and last into May. The only time harbor seals touch each other is during mating and nursing. You’ll never see them piled on top of each other like raucous California sea lions.

A silvery-colored harbor seal with dark spots. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Besides carrying spots on their fur, harbor seals come in an array of colors. When grouped up on tranquil coves and deserted beaches around the islands, you might see tan, black, brown, and even silvery-colored harbor seals. And wherever they are seen, it’s likely they were born in that region, and remain in that vicinity during their lifespan that can reach 30 years.

A full-grown harbor seal can reach 5-to-6 feet in length, and weigh as much as 350 pounds. Sounds like a lot, right? Not so fast. At the Channel Islands National Park, the harbor seal is tiny compared to their burly cousins, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) that can be seen on Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands. There are even a few of these brutes on tiny Santa Barbara Island. The bulls can reach 16 feet in length and weigh somewhere between 3,000 to
5,000 pounds!

A large Northern Elephant Seal sleeps on the shoreline of Channel Islands National Park. Photo by Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

On those two remote, windswept isles, harbor seals and northern elephant seals can be seen sharing some of those same wave-battered beaches, one making a lot of noise, and the other peacefully silent.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

The post Channel Islands Wildlife: Harbor Seals appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

I’ve heard Southern California doesn’t have a change in the seasons. I’ve always scoffed at that notion, especially out at the Channel Islands National Park. Each August, I can feel a gradual shift from late summer into early fall, approaching like a wispy warm easterly wind. It’s arguably the best time of year to experience one of the least visited national parks in North America. 

Northwest winds have subsided, water temperatures are warming, and kayaking and snorkeling conditions are sublime. It’s the remnants of summer transitioning into fall. It’s the time of year that typically delivers the best sea conditions at the national park, particularly around Scorpion Anchorage on the southeast end of Santa Cruz Island. 

It’s a perfect time to kayak on a guided trip into the throng of sea caves that honeycomb the sheer, volcanic cliffs surrounding the largest, most diversified isle off the California Coast. With such stellar conditions, it gives guests the best opportunity to explore at least 10 toothy grottos under the most optimal weather during the nearly 3-hour Adventure Tour offered by Channel Islands Adventure Company. 

Visibility is also phenomenal. Don’t forget that Channel Islands National Park is also one of the most unique parks in North America because half of it is underwater. There is a one-nautical mile boundary extending around each isle. Dense kelp forests are havens, teeming with garibaldi, sheepshead, opaleye, blacksmiths, calico bass, bat rays, halibut, several species of baitfish, and countless invertebrates. And don’t forget those curious spotted harbor seals and California sea lions that keep snorkelers entertained with their balletic pelagic rhythms. 

A bat ray glides across on the ocean floor. Image courtesy of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Visitors to Scorpion Anchorage have the opportunity to rent snorkel gear at the on-island storefront and venture out on their own. They can also participate in a guided snorkeling tour where guides take guests on kayaks to some of the stunning pocket beaches near Scorpion Rock and Little Scorpion Anchorage. After landing their kayaks, guests then gear up and explore the crystal-clear waters lapping against craggy rock outcroppings and wave-battered cliffs. 

This transition in seasons also signifies that fall migration has begun for many wayward bird species, and California’s Channel Islands are the perfect landing spot for weary birds blown off course while flying north to south. Don’t forget your binoculars. Scorpion Anchorage and its adjacent canyon are a haven for a variety of songbirds, seabirds, and shorebirds. Many of the seabird and shorebird species can be observed from a kayak during guided trips in Scorpion Anchorage, or farther afield on a late-season paddling trip to Potato Harbor. 

A black oystercatcher perched atop a rock. Photo by Chuck Graham Photography.

Resident species like California brown pelicans, western gulls, and Brandt’s cormorants are seen daily preening from the cliffs and many rocky outcroppings. At lower tides, black oystercatchers enjoy the teeming intertidal zone foraging for crustaceans in the barnacles and mussels. Some of the migratory species seen are striking Pacific loons, tail-wagging wandering tattlers, and surfbirds. Each fall, ospreys and belted kingfishers arrive, and are spotted from the kayaks diving for fish from the towering cliffs. 

After paddling, easy hikes into shaded portions of Scorpion Canyon might reveal yellow-rumped, and Townsend warblers, American redstarts, hermit thrushes, chipping sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, and western tanagers are regularly seen. A good place to look for the plethora of songbirds is the old fig trees leftover from the ranching era, which lasted from the 1820s–1990s.

So, whether you are day-tripping on Santa Cruz or camping in Scorpion Canyon, get the most out of your visit paddling, snorkeling, or both with Channel Islands Adventure Company. They will guide you so you can experience all the natural wonders the islands possess.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

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Kayakers at Potato Harbor. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Nearly finished with another circumnavigation of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands, my friend Craig Fernandez and I made a pit stop inside Potato Harbor. While stretching stiff legs along the cobbled shoreline within a pocket cove inside the harbor, one of the islands’ many natural wonders arrived in the shallow waters. A giant bait ball of fish eased into Potato Harbor, swaying with the gentle ebb and flow of an outgoing tide.

I suggested to Craig to get back into his kayak and gradually paddle over the bait-ball, and rest easy atop the dense, black mass of tiny baitfish. Once he did, the baitfish never budged as they swarmed around Craig’s sleek, green kayak, continuing their balletic sway within scenic Potato Harbor. 

It is easily one of the most idyllic and breathtaking natural harbors found throughout the Channel Islands National Park. I sometimes refer to it as “Studio P” for its photographic appeal, beauty, and diversity found in virtually every corner of the anchorage.

View of Potato Harbor. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Located near the southeast fringe of Santa Cruz Island, Potato Harbor is wave-battered yet gorgeous, and it possesses a Mediterranean allure shrouded in chalky diatomaceous earth, gritty sandstone, and lush island flora. It is no wonder Santa Barbara Adventure Company calls their guided tour to Potato Harbor the “Ultimate.”

Their 5-hour, 6-mile out-and-back guided kayak trip to the massive cove begins at tranquil Scorpion Anchorage, the main hub of the national park. Guides will lead guests, paddling along towering cliffs honeycombed with toothy sea caves in the utmost island grandeur. This is a 6-mile, out-and-back trip that sees way more spotted harbor seals and California sea lions than it does kayakers.

Kayakers on Santa Barbara Adventure Company’s ‘Ultimate Sea Cave Kayak Tour’. Photo by Chuck Graham.

The Ultimate provides the epitome of what kayaking is like throughout the entire Northern Chain. The whole route is exposed to wind and swell from the west/northwest, and its rugged beauty cannot be denied. Depending on the swell and tides, the most remarkable sea cave of the trip is known as “Surging T.” It has three access points, with one long corridor carved through a burly, 200-foot-tall sheer cliff.

Santa Cruz Island is a vital nesting ground for many sea birds including brown pelicans. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Seabirds also abound during the entire trip. Expect to see squawking western gulls, soaring California brown pelicans, comical Brandt’s cormorants, and perky black oystercatchers foraging in the intertidal zone. There are strong possibilities of spotting predatory peregrine falcons that soar overhead and feast on a smorgasbord of unwary sea birds. The fastest flying bird on the planet can reach at least 200 miles per hour on their impressive dives. They are the feathery blur of the Channel Islands, and there are approximately 17 nesting pairs of peregrine falcons on the most biodiverse island off the coast.

Potato Harbor is the halfway point of the trip, and it is an ideal lunch spot after landing kayaks at the backend of the harbor. A sliver of a beach awaits, and it’s out of the way of perpetual northwesterly winds. The beach is an ideal place to stretch your legs, swim and cool off in the crystal-clear waters, and absorb one of the most beautiful locations throughout the windswept isles.

This harbor seal found a comfortable place to rest. Photo by Chuck Graham.

While relaxing on that sandy shoreline, the cacophony of nearby barks and bellows may become too much to ignore. A small rookery of California sea lions also awaits on the western finger of Potato Harbor. Fortified with long rocky ledges ideal for hauling out and thermoregulating, sea lions in various stages of maturity bask in the afternoon sun. The curiosity of those pinnipeds may also lure them around the kayaks. They’ll porpoise off your bow and strain their elongated necks for a better look at a handful of wetsuit-cladded paddlers.

As much effort as it might take to reach Potato Harbor, the return paddle to Scorpion Anchorage is that much easier. Downcoast swell, current and northwest winds propel participants back to the protected anchorage where another island adventure reluctantly ends, and the Island Packers ferry waits for your return trip to Ventura Harbor.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

The post Kayaking Potato Harbor: The Ultimate Channel Islands Adventure appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

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

The post The Island Fox: An Icon’s Triumph on Santa Cruz Island appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

Photo of seaside daises and kayakers at Scorpion Anchorage by Chuck Graham.

After four months of steady, consistent 2022/23 winter rains, anticipation mounts amongst island lovers for an incoming, colorful, vibrant spring. Waterfalls are gushing off sheer cliffs, and side canyons that are typically dry are like vital tributaries breathing life into significant canyons such as Scorpion Canyon on the southeast fringe of Santa Cruz Island.

Scorpion Canyon empties into Scorpion Anchorage, which is the main hub of the Channel Islands National Park. It’s where Santa Barbara Adventure Company launches our sea cave kayak tours guiding trips through toothy grottos. Those wave-battered caverns and surrounding crags are currently popping with native flora. Giant coreopsis, seaside daisies, and Santa Cruz Island liveforevers are just some of the wildflowers blooming on those Mordor-like cliffs, easily enjoyed from the seat of a kayak.

Giant coreopsis is typically one of the first flowers that bloom on Santa Cruz Island. Usually beginning to bloom in late February or early March. When they are not blooming they look like little dormant trees. Photo by Chuck Graham.

After a kayak tour, there is often enough time for guests to take a quick hike up to Cavern Point Loop, an easy 1.7-mile round-trip ramble to the scenic overlook. Swaying stocks of spindly blue dicks are abundant atop the marine terraces. If time allows, follow the North Bluff Trail out to Potato Harbor to marvel at more coreopsis and bushels of golden yarrow. This 5-mile round-trip hike offers stunning views of the north side of the isle. The fleeting spring bloom thoroughly enhances this jaw-dropping landscape.

The blue dick wildflower has a rich history in California, with its nutritious corms being a vital food source for Chumash Native Americans for over 10,000 years. Photo by Chuck Graham.

However, to experience the most diversity of island wildflower species, walk up Scorpion Canyon past the lower and upper campgrounds. It’s here where visitors will see a vast array of colors. From the moment visitors walk off the pier, island morning glory (a flower that blooms year-round) and California brittlebush brighten the craggy mouth of Scorpion Canyon. Once past the two campgrounds, search for three species of lupine: silver, stinging, and arroyo lupines standing alongside and in the seasonal creek bed.

Silver Lupine is very fragrant. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Continuing up the main creek are liveforevers growing out of cracks in the volcanic rock. Blue dicks are aplenty up the canyon, but there are also some hidden gems such as large flower phacelia and desert-wishbone-bush. The first Santa Cruz Island silver lotuses are beginning to bloom in the back of the canyon. And it’s still early for other native flora. Soon Indian pink, California fuchsia, island buckwheat, Humboldt lilies, and blooming ironwood trees will continue to fill the canyon with a colorful palette.

Santa Cruz Island silver lotus is only found on Santa Cruz Island. Photo by Chuck Graham.

So, after your kayak trip with Santa Barbara Adventure Company, ask your tour guide and they will point you in the right direction for finding spring wildflowers, a bonus after a stellar day on the water around Scorpion Anchorage.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

The post 2023 Superbloom: Chasing Island Wildflowers appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

To say Aubrie Fowler wears many hats might be a slight understatement. She’s been leading kayak and snorkel tours for Santa Barbara Adventure Company (SBACo) at Scorpion Anchorage on the Southeast fringe of Santa Cruz Island at Channel Islands National Park since the spring of 2018.

She’s also on the ground (and in the water) working hard to protect our local Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with partners throughout California. I recently caught up to Aubrie mid-winter. With spring quickly approaching, she’s gearing up for another season of guiding at Santa Cruz Island. Read on. There’s much to learn from this young lady who hails from San Diego.

Photo by Chuck Graham

Interview with Aubrie Fowler

SBACo: Can you tell us a bit about your background? 

Aubrie: I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biological sciences with a concentration in Marine Biology and Fisheries from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I now have my Rescue Diver certification which is really exciting! My current full-time job, in addition to kayak guiding, is as the South Coast Specialist at the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Collaborative Network. Our mission is to empower diverse communities to engage in MPA stewardship for a healthy ocean. We connect partners across California and beyond to improve the management of the network of 124 MPAs, which includes the nearly 20 MPAs surrounding the Channel Islands (e.g., Scorpion State/Federal Marine Reserve).

SBACo: At what point in your life did you develop a profound interest in marine biology and outdoor exploration? Can you share a pivotal experience or influential individual who has contributed to nurturing this enduring passion?

Aubrie: I grew up playing in the waves at the coast, watching nature documentaries, and going camping often with my family. I later thought I wanted to photograph and film the Big 5 on the Serengeti but realized I wasn’t patient enough (or arid-tolerant enough) for that! I’m a fish at heart so need to be by and in the ocean. I grew up swimming competitively and fell in love with the underwater world. These events, interests, and values coalesced to shape me and my career. 

I have been inspired by many including Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Sylvia Earle. Their work as female scientists and conservationists and paving the path for a life devoted to the natural world has opened up my world in ways they’ll likely never know.

SBACo: How long have you been a guide? 

Aubrie: Since March 2018.

SBACo: How did you get to become a Channel Islands kayak guide? 

Aubrie: After going on an Aquasports Ultimate Tour with my family led by former guide Tony Chapman, I fell in love with the Channel Islands. I later met Mike Cohen through the NOAA Channel Islands Sanctuary Advisory Council while I was a Sea Grant Fellow and made it a priority to apply to be an island kayak guide. The rest is history!

Photo by Chuck Graham

SBACo: How long have you been kayaking? 

Aubrie: As a guide, about five years, but I’ve kayaked (and canoed) since I was a young kid.

SBACo: When you’re leading a kayak tour, what do you hope guests will come away with after experiencing one of your trips? 

Aubrie: I hope they get out of it what they hope and expect to (and then some!). Anything additional that I can facilitate like an enhanced connection to nature, a greater understanding of Channel Islands’ specific conservation success stories in the face of human impacts on wildlife and the environment, a few kayaking skills, improved ocean confidence in/on the ocean, a sense of awe in the sea caves or underwater (if on a snorkel tour), and a greater love for the blue planet are all wins in my book.

SBACo: What is your favorite tour to lead at Santa Cruz Island?

Aubrie: Adventure tours at the islands. I recommend this for people who have a bit of paddling experience since it’s extra fun to send it in our amazing sea caves!! I also think this length of the tour allows me (and likely other guides) to connect better with clients since there’s sufficient time for this experience.

SBACo: Can you tell us about your best/favorite wildlife encounter in the water, whether it was from the kayak or beneath the surface? 

Aubrie: I’d have to say that while I led a snorkel tour last summer, having two playful harbor seal pups follow us the whole time was an incredible experience! Always make sure to keep a respectful distance from these wild animals, that way we can continue to enjoy their presence and not stress them out.

SBACo: What are some of your other passions when not guiding at the islands? 

Aubrie: Traveling, crushing sprint triathlons, diving, strength training, hiking, listening to live music, beach walks with good friends, and visits to the local Farmer’s Market.

SBACo: What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why? 

Aubrie: Oof, a very tough question. Traveling solo internationally for the first time when I was 25 to the land of Pura Vida was life-changing. I loved it so much, I went back a few months later (and was reminded how small the world is when I had the same cab driver from the airport!). The kind people, culture, gorgeous expansive beaches, warm waves, diverse rainforest, and the most incredible nocturnal bug tour just scratch the surface of my love for Costa Rica. SCUBA diving in 80+ degree water at depth and hanging out with some adorable sloths didn’t hurt either!

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

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We are thrilled to share the exciting news that our company has been named 2023 Hospitality Business of the Year by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce! Our team, including President Michael Cohen, attended the Annual Meeting & Business Awards on February 2nd where Michael humbly accepted the award and shared these thoughts:

“My heart is full of gratitude and humility as I receive this award for Hospitality Business of the Year.

25 years ago, I started Santa Barbara Adventure Company with just five kayaks, a pick-up truck, and three credit cards. I remember my mother saying, ‘Well, at least he’ll always be able to feed himself.’ Little did we know that the business would grow and evolve into the thriving company it is today.

We now host thousands of guests on various adventures, from kayaking at Channel Islands National Park, to outdoor education programs, team building events, and wine country tours. The last 25 years have been full of proud moments for me, including our business surviving the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, being part of an award-winning team of managers and guides, our partnerships in the tourism industry, and our many repeat guests.

I am particularly proud of our concession to Channel Islands National Park, our designation as “Top 10 Best Kayaking Company” by USA Today, and our 100% solar-powered operation at Santa Cruz Island. Our efforts to remove trash through volunteer island clean-up missions are also a source of pride for me.

This award would not have been possible without the support and hard work of my team, our partners in the Santa Barbara community, and all of those who have believed in us along the way. I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Hospitality is integral to our city’s economy and culture, and I am honored to be a part of it. Thank you for this recognition, and I look forward to many more years of promoting and supporting Santa Barbara tourism.”

Michael Cohen
President
SB Adventure Co

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