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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It’s a New Year and a great opportunity to rediscover your passion for Adventure!

Santa Barbara is an amazing place with warm weather year-round. SB winters are well-known for amazing sunsets, great surf, and perfect hiking weather all day! Plus, last month brought much-needed rain to Central California and as a result, our hillsides are now covered in a beautiful and lush, green flora.

There are so many fun things to do both indoors and outdoors this January. See some of our suggestions below:

3rd Annual ZooLights
WHEN: January 1st–12th
TIME: 4:30-8:30 PM
WHERE: Santa Barbara Zoo
Walk through the Zoo and enjoy an interactive light exhibit, featuring thousands of handcrafted silk-covered lanterns lit with more than 50,000 LED bulbs showcasing animal and nature scenes representing wild places worldwide.

Sunset Kayak in Santa Barbara Harbor
WHEN: Every evening in January
WHERE: Santa Barbara Harbor
Winter is the best time of year for sunsets in Santa Barbara due to seasonal weather patterns including offshore winds. These winds keep the coast fog-free and carry medium and high-level clouds across the sky. Join us for a spectacular twilight sky viewing on our very special Sunset Kayak Tour! — Book Now

Open Mic Music
WHERE: Wylde Works
WHEN: Every Tuesday in January
TIME: 7-11 PM
Join local musicians at Santa Barbara’s best open-mic. Signups are at 6:45 — make sure to sign up early to save your spot. A few spots will be reserved for first timers. Enjoy great music, Hard Jun Kombuchas, Mead, Wine, and beers from Third Window Brew.

Hike up to Montecito Peak
WHERE: Cold Spring Trailhead
LENGTH: 7.6 miles (out & back)
DIFFICULTY: Strenuous
Enjoy the cooler winter weather on a nice, long hike that features a creek, small waterfall, and panoramic views atop Montecito Peak.

Adventure Sea Cave Kayak Tour at Channel Islands National Park
WHEN: Every day in January
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
Yes, it’s true, our Channel Islands kayak tours run year-round! Join us as we explore world-renowned sea caves, giant kelp forests and recreate alongside wildlife that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. — Book Now

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Here are five of our top choices!

1) Gaviota Coast Kayak Tour 

For a local kayaking adventure, the Gaviota Coast Kayak Tour is a great option. This tour meets at Refugio State Beach and explores the Gaviota Coast – one of the few remaining undeveloped coastlines in California! A local guide leads the tour, teaching basic kayaking skills beforehand and pointing out the local ecology and history throughout the tour. Lunch is included. This is a perfect half day adventure and a great way to get a new view of the California coastline!

2) Kayaking the Channel Islands 

If you are looking for a longer kayaking adventure, go kayaking in the Channel Islands! This all-day adventure starts in the Ventura area where you meet your guide, board a ferry, and head off to the Channel Islands National Park! For a limited time, we have the Channel Islands Sea Cave Kayak Tour that will run April 11th and 18th ONLY. This tour will be on a chartered boat to the Scorpion Anchorage area to kayak through sea caves weather permitting.

The other tour option will head to Prisoners Harbor, which will explore the north coast of the island. This area has a rich history and beautiful coastlines with a friendly guide who will point out wildlife. Kayaking in the Channel Islands is an experience of a lifetime!

3) Wine Tour in the Santa Ynez Valley 

The Santa Ynez Valley is another great area to explore and there are a variety of wine tours available to experience the region. This area is beautiful in the spring, the hills are green and the wildflowers are
blooming, making for a picturesque spring tour. The Santa Ynez Valley Tour is the classic wine tour and includes door to door shuttle service, wine tasting at three local wineries, fresh and local lunch, and a knowledgeable guide to share knowledge and insights from the area. Other options are available including a Wine and Bike Tour, Cupcake and Wine Tour, Wine County Shuttle service, and even custom group tours. The Wine Tours are a great way to explore the Valley and get a unique perspective of Santa Barbara County.

4) Visit the MOXI

The city of Santa Barbara itself is full of adventures and places to explore, like the MOXI museum. The MOXI is an interactive museum that offers guests a chance to learn and play. Exhibits include everything from interactive sound studios to a fluid dynamic sky garden. Located in the heart of downtown, this museum is great for all ages and has special events and programs for a variety of age groups throughout the year to make your trip even more fantastic.

5) Go to a Festival 

One not to miss spring event in Santa Barbara is the Earth Day Festival. Celebrating it’s 50th year here in Santa Barbara, this festival has two full days of entertainment, music, exhibits, and even a beer and wine garden! With exhibits for all ages and a variety of food options, this event has something for everyone. This festival is a great way to see the local side of Santa Barbara and help a great cause.

Santa Barbara truly is a great place to experience Spring Break. With access to so many trails, restaurants, and shops, as well as so many activities, it has something for everyone.

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Painted Cave Kayaking: Get ready for a full day at sea. Explore Painted Cave, one of the largest seacaves in the world! Painted Cave is within a Marine Protected Area and also a part of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Enjoy breakfast & a hot lunch, as well as whale watching on the boat ride where you may spot sea lions, otters, dolphins, marine birds and whales. Snorkel the protected kelp forest after kayaking the massive sea caves. This is an adventure you will remember for a lifetime. Select dates only.

Snorkeling Tours at Scorpion Anchorage: On our guided snorkel tour at Scorpion Anchorage, guests receive expert knowledge while exploring the beautiful kelp forests and along pristine coastlines. Guides will offer discussions of marine ecology and natural history of the islands while guests view sea life up close. This is the only snorkeling tour in all of Channel Islands National Park!

Birding by Kayak Tour: On Sunday, June 3, beginner and expert birders alike will have the opportunity to see endemic species on land and sea on the birding by kayak tour. As you paddle along the rugged shoreline, find Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants nesting on the cliff edges and Pigeon Guillemots flying in and out of their nests in rock wall crevices as we paddle through sea caves, California Brown Pelicans flying above and diving into the crystalline waters surrounding the Channel Islands, with the occasional Peregrine Falcon or Osprey appearing. After getting off the water, we’ll explore the island on foot in search of the endemic Island Scrub Jay! 

If you have any questions or need help booking or deciding what is best for you or your group, let us help! Call us at 805.884.WAVE

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Catch a movie at the Arlington Theater
The Arlington Theater at 1317 State Street will be showing holiday favorites throughout the holiday. This historic theater is a great venue for catching a show. The interior has been decorated to resemble a historic village complete with twinkling lights on the ceiling. Relax and enjoy some ction!

Check out of the holiday lights on the SB Trolley Lights
This 90 minute tour takes you to some of the best light displays in town. Snuggle up with a blanket and enjoy all the flashing decor Santa Barbara has to offer. This tour is offered the 9th through the 22nd, but does often sell out – so call in advance to book your date.

Visit one of Santa Barbara’s beautiful parks
There are several parks through out the city for guests of all ages to enjoy. Chase Palm Park sits across from the shoreline, features a marine themed play structure. Downtown you will find Alice Keck Park Gardens featuring a duck pond and wandering paths. Here is a list of other parks in the Santa Barbara area. For the adventurous at heart, there is also the Channel Islands National Park just off the coast of Santa Barbara.

Book an fun activity for the day
If you love to get out and see the sights, then book a biking tour, kayaking trip or SUP tour. Santa Barbara Adventure Company has trips departing every day and can work with groups big or small. The holidays are best when you can come together and explore – let us help you plan a day of bonding and fun this season.

From our family to yours, Santa Barbara Adventure Company wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope these suggestions help you make the most of the holiday season, and provide fun for the whole family. If you are looking for some more suggestions and tips, check out all the other trips we offer or give us a ring (805-884-9283)  or send us an email and we will be happy to plan an unforgettable adventure customized just for your needs.

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The yearly poll recognizes the most popular and respected businesses in town based on votes by the public.

As a token of our appreciation to everyone who voted, we are offering a locals’ special!

Save $50 on a Channel Islands Sea Cave Kayak tour through November 1^st, 2015.

Join us for a fun day of adventure, including a phenomenal 3-hour tour of the sea caves on Santa Cruz Island, and incredible self-guided hiking and snorkeling. Call our office to book!

Promo Code: BESTOF15

Must book 2 or more people. All tours are subject to minimum numbers and availability. Offer expires Nov. 1, 2015.

Be sure to check out all of our other tours. From Channel Islands sea cave kayaking tours, coastal kayaking tours, surf lessons, and stand up paddle boarding, to team building and outdoor education programs, we’ve got something for everyone.

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The Adventure Company family is happy to welcome two new vans with open arms. A silver Honda Odyssey and white Honda Odyssey recently joined our crew, and we are excited to announce that they have been officially named.

There was an overwhelming amount of clever suggestions from our followers and staff, from Yolanda Honda, to Flotsam and Jetsam, to Diatomaceous Earth. Due to the importance of issue, our management team had to make a decision.  After several rounds of voting, passionate debates, and even a freestyle song, the team came to a conclusion.

The silver Honda, which has been referred to as “Honda” for the past year, has been awarded the name Arroyo Honda. The name is a play on Arroyo Hondo, a land preserve on the Gaviota Coast north of Santa Barbara. Rich in both history and natural life, the preserve is a canyon that offers some of the best hiking and walking trails, and also serves as an outdoor classroom for environmental education.

Photo: https://songsofthewilderness.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/trail-quest-arroyo-hondo-preserve/

The white Honda Odyssey won the name Migaloo, after the world’s only documented white humpback whale. As an Australian resident, he was given this Australian Aboriginal name meaning “white fella.” His hypo-pigmented color makes him easy to spot, giving researchers insight into humpback migratory patterns. The charismatic creature has also earned his own website, Facebook page, and Twitter account.

Photo: Qld Environmental Protection Agency

Cheers to you, Arroyo and Migaloo! You have already proven yourselves as trusty vans, and we know you’ll live up to the big names you have earned. Here’s to all the salty, sandy surf days, massive food buys, and runs to the harbor yet to come! Be strong; we dread the day you become old and rusty and retire to the big adventure trip in the sky. But have peace of mind in knowing you’ll join the legends of the past: 1-2 and Silver Bullet await, as do others who have rolled before you.

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