1) Start by booking your campsite with the National Park Service.
You will want to stay at Santa Cruz Scorpion, part of Channel Islands National Park. The campground has an Upper Loop and Lower Loop. All the group sites are in the Upper Loop and this area is further to hike to. Print out your confirmation and take it with you on your trip. All campers are required to have camping reservations prior to their departure from the mainland. Island camping reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance.

Campground Information:
The Lower Loop at Santa Cruz Scorpion campground is about ½ mile from the dock (the Upper Loop is further). The hike to the campground is along a flat, dirt trail and takes approximately 10 minutes. Visitors must carry all gear to the campgrounds. Camping conditions are primitive, and users must camp within designated areas. All campgrounds are equipped with picnic tables and pit toilets. Potable water is available and we will provide a water container for you to fill up at the site. No trash containers are provided; campers must pack out their own trash. No fires are permitted. To prevent scavenging animals from entering your site, please store all food in the fox boxes provided.

2) Make your ferry boat reservation with Island Packers.
You will want to book your ticket from Ventura Harbor to Scorpion Cove. Book your camper ferry ticket online here or call (805) 642-1393.

3) Lastly, book an amazing sea cave kayak and/or snorkel tour with us!
Whether you want to kayak/snorkel on the day you arrive, the day you depart, or someday in between, it is up to you!

Please book all three reservations as far in advance as possible as there is often limited space for camping, ferry boat seats, and kayak tours.

View Additional Camping Information.

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How to Prepare for Your Kayaking Adventure:

1. First, make sure you know when and where your trip starts. All of our kayaking adventures meet on-site, meaning at the starting point of the actual trip, not at our warehouse. Be sure to fully read your email confirmation to see what you need to bring and where to meet the guide the day of your trip.
2. Water – Hydration is the most essential step we must take to comfortably maintain a high level of activity over extended periods of time (such as kayaking)! Your motto should be, “drink early, and drink often,” meaning on the day of your trip wake up and start drinking water immediately and regularly up to and during your trip. We provide water on our coastal kayaking trips, but you are responsible to bring your own water on all island trips. We recommend at least 2 quarts per person for a full day trip.
3. Synthetic Clothing – Although most of the clothes we own these days are made of cotton, you do not want these layers when kayaking! Cotton gets wet, and gets cold. What you want to bring is synthetic (think polyester, fleece, nylon, swimsuits) clothing, as it wicks away moisture, including both sweat and water. Of course, you do not have to go out and spend hundreds on a new wardrobe of synthetic layers to kayak with us, but if you expect to kayak in jeans, you may want to think again! (Note: Wetsuits are provided on cold days and wind & water resistant paddle jackets are provided on all kayaking trips and we leave it up to you whether or not to wear them.)
4. Sun Protection – It is amazing what a hat, water shoes, and some sunscreen (well applied) will do to protect our skin from the sun. A hat is a great first step to protect your face from burning, but be sure to lotion up your face regardless, as the water reflects the UV rays off its surface, exposing your skin even if it appears to be shaded from the sun. Additionally, when applying sunscreen, apply it EVERYWHERE your skin is exposed, not just dabs on your cheek.
5. Water Shoes – On all of our sea kayak trips you will spend some time walking on uneven surfaces such as rocky beaches or harbor launch ramps and reliable footwear is a must. durable wet shoes such as “Tevas” or “Aqua Socks” are preferable but or an old pair of tennis shoes will work fine as well (just remember they will get wet).
6. The Little Things – A change of clothes for after the tour, a hat with a brim, sunglasses with a neck strap, waterproof camera and a towel.
7. A Positive Attitude – You are going on an adventure! Don’t let the nerves get to you, and if you have any pressing concerns or questions, our office staff will happily answer your questions through our website’s chat service, via email, or over the phone (805) 884-WAVE.

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There are many iconic images surrounding surfing: Bronzed bodies in bikinis and board shorts gallivanting on the beach, long boarders hanging ten, hot babes everywhere, bonfires burning, guitars strumming, and of course, extreme stoke. In mainstream media, surfing has become the internal search for the eternal summer. What many visitors to the California coast do not realize is that locals wait all year for winter swells. Sure, a suntan is cool man, but a macking ten-foot barrel ride is way cooler.

Santa Barbara is a hot spot for winter surf. When swell starts to travel from the northwest, every sand bar, reef, and point starts breaking. What does that mean for the adventure tourist? Ample opportunity to find an empty wave to learn on! While the summer is packed with beach-goers, winter sand is often deserted, making the entire experience very personalized. It’s just you, the view and some tasty waves.  Before you go, there are some crucial elements to cover to make sure your surf safari is an epic journey.

Tips for new surfers: While air temperatures have been known to reach the high 80’s (yes, pack your bikini and sunscreen), water temperatures drop into the 50s. So you are going to need a good wetsuit, and even might consider booties and a hood. I always have an old laundry detergent bottle full of hot water waiting for me to rinse off with, a couple of dry towels, snacks, drinking water, hot coffee, my IPhone to Instagram, sun glasses, a hat, special sunscreen for my face, a waterproof box to store all my wet gear, extra leashes, and at least two boards in my car.
Recommended surf board (type face and color): Start out on a foam board, a minimum of 9 feet long. If you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, A-Frame Surf shop on Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria, can rent you all the gear you need to get in the water. The best part is they are located on one of the most popular beginning spots in the county. Just south of Santa Claus are some really mellow long boarding waves such as Mondos, Solimar, or, my personal favorite, C-Street in Ventura.

Get a surf instructor through Santa Barbara Adventure Company: The truth is winter surfing takes a ton of gear and preparation. You can save weeks of banging your head in the sand and be up riding waves in one day by booking a lesson. Santa Barbara Adventure Company guides are dedicated to making sure that every one of their clients gets to experience the joy of wave riding in the winter. The best part is they will take care of the boards, wetsuits, booties, food, and even do the picture taking for you.  While most other companies offer standard one hour lessons, SBACo keeps you in the water for half a day. Most importantly, the guides know where to surf and where the waves will have enough power to get you riding, but at the same time keep you safe from rocks, reef, riptides and pounding shore break.  Just smooth rides and good vibes.

You are on your way to living your surfing dreams! Keep the stoke, and don’t stop paddling. Paddle, paddle, paddle, smile, laugh, paddle…paddle.

Amy DiChiro, Adventure Blogger and Celebrity Guide.

The post Why Surf in the Winter? appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

1. Rest. Before you even board the ferry, try to get a good night’s sleep. A well-rested body is better able to handle the stressors associated with sea travel.
2. Stability. Avoid sitting inside the galley on the ferry ride out to the island. Instead, try to sit outside on the back of the boat. This is the calmest section and helps you stay close to the water line for a smoother ride. (Avoid going in the bathrooms! People tend to think this is a safe spot, but the small room will just make things worse!)
3. Sit. Do not stand. Standing will have your body in a constant state of trying to maintain balance.
4. Focus. Keep your eyes focused on the horizon or on a stationary object that is off in the distance.
5. Don’t read. Reading or looking at your phone for an extended period will have your eyes moving and stimulating signals that can trigger a sudden onset of motion sickness.
6. Eat. Don’t travel on a full or empty stomach. If you start to feel ill, eat some crackers and a carbonated beverage to settle your stomach. You can also ask one of the Island Packers crew members for a ginger chew.
7. Hydrate. Dehydration while traveling can aggravate motion sickness. Drink plenty of water.
8. Dramamine or Bonine. Take over-the-counter medication for motion sickness or an over-the-counter antihistamine, especially if you are a person that knows you are susceptible to motion sickness. These medications can make you drowsy or cause other side effects, so use them with caution.

Think you’re ready to take on kayaking at the Channel Islands? Join us on one of our incredible tours exploring sea caves on the Channel Islands: our Sea Cave Kayak Tour.

If you have any personal experience/tips on avoiding sea sickness, please list them in the comments section below.

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1) Know the weather forecast. Check the forecast and know what type of day to plan for. While a thermal shirt and windbreaker might be perfect for a cool, breezy day, it will be very uncomfortable on a hot summer afternoon. Find out ahead of time if you are going to need wind or chill protection for your day. If it is looking like a wet or rainy day, consider wearing a wetsuit.

2) Don’t wear cotton. Cotton absorbs water and stays wet, making for a cold and uncomfortable day on the water. Even if you never flip your kayak, you will get wet from splash, spray, and drips. If you are in a sit-on-top kayak you will be sitting in some water, so cotton pants will quickly become soaked and cold. Instead of cotton, wear synthetic materials such as polyester, fleece, or Gore-Tex. This means you shouldn’t show up for your kayak trip in jeans and a cotton T-shirt unless you like being cold and wet.

3) Dress in layers. Your outer layer should help you stay dry. A good paddle jacket is a water-resistant, breathable layer that should fit snuggly and help keep you dry.  If you are going on an Adventure Company trip, we will provide you with a lightweight paddle jacket to use for the day. Under your paddle jacket, you should have a few synthetic layers so you can easily peel out of clothing if the weather gets warm.

4) Wear shoes that will stay on your feet. A water bootie or water shoe is the ideal choice for kayaking. They will stay on your feet, keep out the rocks, and your feet will stay warm while kayaking. Water sandals with proper straps are also a good option, such as Tevas, Chacos, or Crocs, though you might have chilly feet if the weather is cool. Flip flops are not recommended, as they tend to easily come off your feet in the water and the soles are often slippery.

5) Protect your head! Wear a hat or beanie to protect your head from the sun or cold, but don’t forget to protect your brain with a proper helmet if you are kayaking whitewater or in a rocky environment. (Helmets are provided by Santa Barbara Adventure Company and are required for all guests on Channel Islands sea cave kayaking trips and for kayak surfing.)

6) Pack a change of clothes. At the end of your kayak trip, chances are you are going to be wet. So pack a towel to dry yourself off and a comfortable change of clothes for your journey home.

Lastly, wear your biggest smile. It helps make every experience better!

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