Whether you love to spend your days at the beach, backcountry hiking, wine tasting, or visiting museums, there is so much fun to be had in Santa Barbara during the month of June!

Zoo Brew
WHEN: 6/7
TIME: 5-8PM
WHERE: Santa Barbara Zoo
Enjoy tastings from 30+ breweries and vendors while strolling the Zoo’s hilltop and enjoying an ocean view. General admission ticket includes unlimited beer tastings and one souvenir glass. Pub food and merchandise are available for sale as well. This event is for ages 21+.

Juneteenth Block Party
WHEN: 6/14
TIME: 11AM – 6PM
WHERE: Plaza del Mar
Juneteenth Santa Barbara is a local celebration of the national recognition of Black Independence Day. It is a collaborative effort to showcase Black culture, talent, and joy in Santa Barbara County. This event is a free community block party. 

Sunset Kayak in Santa Barbara Harbor
When: Every evening in June
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

SYV Pride Parade & Festival
WHEN: 6/14
TIME: 11AM – 4PM
WHERE: Downtown Solvang
The Pride Parade will roll through downtown Solvang with floats, music, and more, ending with a Pride Festival in and around Solvang Park. Open to adults and kids of all ages, the festival will feature live music, food vendors, a beer and wine garden, bounce houses, face painting, and more.

Photo by Danielle Methmann, courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara

Summer Solstice Celebration
WHEN: June 20 – 22
WHERE: Alameda Park
The Summer Solstice Parade and Festival is one of the largest art events in Santa Barbara County. Spectators can expect to see vibrant displays of artwork, costumes, performances, and more.

Sea Cave Kayaking at Channel Islands National Park
When: Every day in June
Where: Scorpion Cove at Santa Cruz Island
Explore sea caves on an exciting guided kayak tour at Channel Islands National Park. About 25 miles off the California Coast, the Channel Islands are like a step back in time due to their isolation over thousands of years. You’ll see up close unique marine life, plants, and birds found nowhere else on Earth! — Book Now

Santa Barbara Lavendar Festival
WHEN: June 28
WHERE: Great Meadow at Santa Barbara City College
An arts and crafts festival celebrating creativity through the artistic expression of lavender. This event will feature over 75 artisans and small businesses.

Butterflies Alive! at the Museum of Natural History
WHEN: Every day in June
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.

Santa Ynez Wine Tour
WHEN: Every day in March
TIME: ~10AM to ~4PM
Get a taste of the best local varietals from our very own wine country on a wine tour through Santa Ynez. Voted Best ‘S.B. Wine Tour Company’ in the Santa Barbara Independent’s Reader’s Choice Poll. — Book Now

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April is the perfect time to experience Santa Barbara. As the “American Riviera” comes to life with spring, our coastal paradise boasts a variety of events and attractions for all tastes and interests. From fun outdoor adventures to leisurely wine tastings and art events, there’s something for everyone.

Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival
WHEN: April 26 & 27
WHERE: Alameda Park
Experience two days of climate leadership at the longest-running public Earth Day celebration in the U.S. Engage in conversations with climate leaders, enjoy musical performances and art contests, and connect with over 200 eco-minded exhibitors. Don’t miss the green car show, plant-forward food court, beer and wine garden, kid’s zone, and main stage entertainment.

Sea Cave Kayak Tour at Channel Islands National Park
WHEN: Every day in April
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
Channel Islands National Park is a haven for wildlife, flora, and world-class sea caves. Join our experienced guides on an unforgettable island kayak tour. We’ll share stories and fascinating facts about the area’s history and ecology. Spring is arguably the most beautiful season on the island with lush green hillsides and wildflower blooms. — BOOK NOW

Santa Barbara Restaurant Week
WHEN: April 25 – May 4th
Get your appetites ready for the return of Santa Barbara Restaurant Week! This annual event highlights our city restaurants and wineries. All participating restaurants will present delicious pre-fixe menus. Don’t miss your chance to try special menu items at some of the best restaurants in Santa Barbara. 

Santa Ynez Wine Tour
WHEN: Every day in April
TIME: ~10AM to ~4PM
Celebrate springtime in Santa Ynez Valley! Discover the latest wine vintages, newborn animals, and vineyards with spring blooms. — BOOK NOW

Santa Barbara Fair & Expo
WHEN: April 24–27 & May 2–4
WHERE: Earl Warren Showgrounds
Experience endless family adventures at the Santa Barbara Fair & Expo, where over thirty exhilarating carnival rides await to twist, twirl, and spin you into a world of fun. For the youngest guests, a dedicated kiddie rides and games area ensures age-appropriate excitement. Revel in non-stop entertainment, live music, adorable farm animals, a petting zoo, and mouthwatering fair food. Discover the talents of youth and adults alike as you explore the creative projects displayed in the exhibit hall.

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A memory of Santa Barbara’s earliest residents, Painted Cave State Park, exhibits some of the most intricate known Native American cave paintings created by the Chumash Tribe. Just a short drive into the mountains from downtown Santa Barbara, you can view original aboriginal artwork, some features and symbols of which were also painted by Chumash artists in the Old Mission sanctuary.

Old Mission Santa Barbara

Founded on the Feast Day of St. Barbara, December 4, 1786, this “Queen of the Missions” was the 10th of 21 Franciscan missions established in California along El Camino Real, the route that connected the missions and presidios. The Mission not only offers incredible viewing opportunities in and around the architecture, but also a hilltop view of the city and ocean, as well as a beautiful rose garden for picnicking, Frisbee, or a stroll.

Santa Barbara Courthouse

A National Historic Landmark, this “Andalusian castle” still functions as home of the California Superior Court and is open to visitors daily until 5pm. Their devoted team of docents offers free tours to the public at 10:30am (M-F) and 2pm (every day), beginning in one of many jewels of the courthouse, the Mural Room. Even if you skip the tour, it’s certainly worth a walk around the gardens and/or a quick pop up to the clock tower for spectacular city views.

We love swinging by the grounds for a picture perfect stop on our Mountains to Shore Bike Tour.

Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens

Hiding in plain sight, the Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens building marks the hub of Santa Barbara’s historic Chinatown and Japantown, located in the Presidio quadrangle. Much of Chinatown was disassembled in the reconstruction period following the 1925 earthquake, yet Jimmy’s and surrounding structures remain as a well-preserved snapshot into Santa Barbara’s Asian American history. The building still serves as a deli and cocktail bar.

Pass by this historic area on a corporate team building favorite: The Great Race!

Stearn’s Wharf

The oldest working wooden wharf in California, Stearn’s Wharf still offers a myriad of entertainments including an aquarium, fishing, wine tasting, dining, and even fortune telling. Prior to its completion in 1872, Santa Barbara was extremely isolated from other developments due to the natural boundaries of coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean, but Santa Barbara quickly developed into an economic hub of fishing, agriculture, and tourism, as it remains today.

Pro tip: experience Stearn’s Wharf from the best vantage point of all: on the water! Join us on our Harbor Wildlife Kayak Tour to explore by kayak.

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Island Fox

The most photographed, and arguably the cutest animal on the island, is the island fox. This small mammal lives on six of the eight Channel Islands and is found nowhere else on earth. In fact, each Island has its own subspecies of the fox, yet they all descended from the mainland gray fox. Although this fox is easily found on Santa Cruz Island, the fox was on the endangered species list less than 20 years ago due to an unbalanced ecosystem. Thanks to drastic conservation efforts, the island fox population is now healthy once again. At only about a foot high, it is hard to believe, but this little animal is the top predator on the island, so they are now plentiful and easy to spot while exploring Santa Cruz. Just resist the urge to feed them!

Island Scrub Jay

Did you know that there is a famous bird that people travel all over the world to see on Santa Cruz Island? The Island Scrub Jay is a vibrant blue bird with a distinctive call, which makes it relatively easy to spot and a treat to see. This bird is related to the mainland Western Scrub Jay and is slightly larger and bluer than its mainland relative. The Jay is only found on Santa Cruz Island though there is historical evidence that the Jays also used to live on Santa Rosa Island. Although the birds seem plentiful on the island, because they only live on the one island, they have an extremely small population and are one of the rarest birds in the United States!

Spotted Skunk

The Island Spotted Skunk is another mammal endemic to the islands, found only on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. This little guy is named after the white broken lines marking its back that appears like spots against its black glossy fur. It is one of two terrestrial carnivores on the islands, the other being the foxes.  The spotted skunk is a nocturnal animal, most active in the early morning hours just before dawn and tends to stay away from humans, so it is one of the more difficult animals to spot.

Island Paintbrush

An endemic plant found throughout the national park is Island Paintbrush. Species of this beautiful plant are found throughout North America, yet this specific variety grows only on the islands and is well adapted to the dry, Mediterranean climate in which it grows. The flower of this plant is typically red, but yellow blooms can be found as well. The spring season is a great time to get out and hunt for flowers.

Torrey Pine

One other plant worth noting is the Torrey Pine. It is found in two places in the world, Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park and Northern San Diego. The interesting disparity between the range of the plant relates back to the geological theory that the Islands were once off the coast of San Diego and moved their way up over the centuries. The Torrey is one of the rarest pine trees and grows well in the coastal climate in which it dwells; it is drought tolerant and often grows beautiful, twisted trunks as the wind daily shapes it. Although it is more out of the way, it is a great tree to see!

Learn more about animals at the Channel Islands National Park here!

With all these unique plants and animals out on the Channel Islands, try to spot some on your next trip out, they are well worth the hunt!

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Refugio State Beach

Refugio State beach hosts a long stretch of undeveloped coastline, where various types of wildlife can be spotted daily. This beautiful beach also has palm trees planted along the creek and campground area for shade. This is a great location for kayaking, provided by Santa Barbara Adventure Company!

Alice Keck Park and Kids World

If you are downtown and need a great spot to relax for lunch, let the kids roam or take an afternoon nap – this is the place. The gardens include a pond filled with turtle and koi, as well as a gazebo and many walkways and paths. All the plants in the garden are chosen specifically to be able to thrive in Santa Barbara’s climate. Just across the Street you will find Kids World, an amazing play structure with swings, climbing and much more.

Chase Palm Park

This park runs from East Beach to Stearns Wharf.  On the harbor side there is a long bike and rollerblading trail, a skateboard park, a recreation house and access to the beach. There is grass for soccer and other activities. On the other side of the street there is a pond, music pavilion, merry-go-round, playground and many paths.

Shoreline Park

Shoreline Park is one of Santa Barbara’s most popular parks and includes a playground, a whale watching area, as well as a  Japanese garden. It also has a clear view of the Channel Islands on a virtually cloudless day. Walking from the Harbor to Shoreline Park is about 5.8 miles round trip. Santa Barbara Adventure Company offers a Coast Biking Trip that explores this area and often stops at Shoreline Park.

Channel Islands National Park

Are you ready to relax, snorkel and kayak at a home away from home? Channel Islands National Park is the perfect place. Kayaking through the various caves, you may see seals, sea lions, bright colored fish, sea stars, different species of bird and other wildlife. The translucent water paired with the giant kelp beds is very picturesque. Channel Islands National Park also has great campsites available for those who wish to savor its grandiose beauty for more than a day.

These are a few of our favorite parks. If you have a favorite, please share it with us in the comment section below.

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Hot summer days and long evenings are the best time to take advantage of Santa Barbara’s greatest events and activities. Enjoy some of our favorite places and tips for enjoying the coast in July. We included as much helpful information as possible, including both free events and some with fees. If we missed something, feel free to add details in the comments section below. Hope you are enjoying your summer, exploring the beaches and having lots of family fun!

Stand Up Paddle Lessons – available most days in July. Enjoy a unique view of the American Riviera while enjoying an ocean sport quickly becoming a favorite among locals. Most tours see wildlife including sea lions, seals and sea stars.

Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens – Tours are scheduled on weekends at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and are included in admission. Tours are led by a knowledgeable docent and generally last for one hour. Join guest lecturer Susan Van Atta on July 18th for the SBBG Wine & Cheese Botanic Lecture Series. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve ahead of time.

Channel Islands Foxes Playing

Channel Islands National Park Kayaking Tours – available most days in July. Kayak and explore this remarkable ocean environment. Only 20 miles off the California Coast, the Channel Islands isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants and birds found nowhere else on Earth. Come explore the beauty and richness of California’s Channel Islands.

Painted Cave Kayak Tour – 5, 7, 10, 13, 17, 26, 27, 28, 31: Venture into one of the largest sea caves in the world. This three-hour tour of some of Santa Cruz Island’s best sea caves is accompanied by free time for snorkeling and plenty of opportunity for wildlife viewing. Enjoy breakfast and lunch on the two-hour boat ride out to the island while keeping an eye out for dolphins and whales in the channel. A fun, all-inclusive day!

Learn To Surf – available most days in July. Experience the waves of the Pacific Ocean with our surf instructors who have over 25 years of experience. Find the best local breaks in the area while mastering the fundamentals of one of Santa Barbara’s favorite past times.

26th Annual S.B. French Festival – Oak Park transforms into a French Village with all the sights, sounds, aromas and flavors that Paris has to offer. You can even enjoy a poodles and pals parade! Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19, 11am to 7pm.

Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show, Every Sunday – Approximately 300 Santa Barbara County resident artists come to display their own works in an informal atmosphere under the palms of seaside Chase Palm Park. All items are original art, created by the artists you meet. Every Sunday from 10 a.m. ’til Dusk.

Explore the Funk Zone or Presidio, Santa Barbara’s foodie neighborhoods, through your taste buds and camera lens with Eat This, Shoot That! Spend an afternoon savoring amazing food or sipping top-shelf wines while learning food and travel photo tips from a pro tour guide/local foodie.

Fun Paddle – available most days in July. $55 per person. Join us for a relaxing introduction to kayaking where we’ll take a 2 hour paddling adventure around Santa Barbara shoreline. This tour is the perfect half day activity, and a great introduction to the exciting sport of sea kayaking. Fun and affordable for the whole family!

Downtown Santa Barbara Farmers Market – Come down and buy local fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, small plants and specialty items. Street musicians, music and downtown shops and restaurants. Year round, rain or shine. Corner of Santa Barbara and Cota Streets on Sunday and on State Street (500-600 bocks) on Tuesday. Every Saturday and Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m/4:00pm – 7:30.

Please add events and activities that we may have missed in the comment section below.

Photo credit: Zabowski/Creative Commons

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Thank you for letting us share this fun day with you, Julia. Come back and join us again soon.

I love Julia’s photo of the bachelorette; What is your favorite photo? Tell us in the comment section below.

Originally published April 2011

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