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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The Santa Barbara coastline offers several fun locations for introductory surfing lessons. We will teach you the basics of surfing on the beach before hitting the water to catch some waves. This is a great way to get a taste of surfing in just a few hours. The trip will include an instruction session on the beach and then a 1-1.5hr surfing session with the instructor.

If you’re traveling solo or are otherwise unable to meet the minimum, we’ll do our best to add you into an existing group. Call us with your date.

Starting point and time: Santa Barbara, 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm.

Level of difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Guests must be comfortable swimming in the ocean and small waves.

Cost: $89 per person, 2 person minimum

Age minimum: Children must be at least 7 years old. It is very important that all guests be comfortable in the ocean.

Surfing trip includes: 3.2 wetsuits (short and full), soft-top surfboards, knowledgeable guides, comprehensive instruction.

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Learn To Surf – 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. Afterwards, relax on the beach, read that book you’ve been meaning to finish and enjoy the views!

Horseback Riding– Ride along the beach on horseback, with majestic mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Los Padres Outfitters offer guided horseback rides, both daytime and sunset. Their horses are suitable for all skill levels and their guides love to share a totally unique way to experience the beach. They can even prepare a picnic lunch for you to enjoy – you’re welcome to bring your own wine.

Tide Pooling at Coal Oil Point– Just a few minutes north of Santa Barbara, check out several low lying rock formations brimming with sea life for an experience you’ll never forget. Take a nice long walk during low tide, spotting barnacles, mussels, anemones, sea hares, crabs & more! Be sure to check when low tide is for the best experience – it could be morning, mid-day or afternoon.

Stand Up Paddle Lessons– 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.

Beach Art – Take some inspiration from British artist Andy Goldsworthy and challenge yourself to create natural art using only the elements around you, from sand & rocks to shells and seaweed. As the artist said,“It’s just about life and the need to understand that a lot of things in life do not last.”

Andy Goldsworthy

Combing for Sea Glass – Grab a re-usable bag and head to the beach nearest you! Comb the surf and surrounding area for weathered glass, a process that takes 20+ years for the signature characteristics of bottles long ago broken & tossed aside to develop. Spring tides and the first low tides after a storm are the best. Sea glass can be used for many fun projects from wall decor to jewelry. Take this opportunity to pick up any miscellaneous trash as well so we can all continue to enjoy pristine beaches.

Gaviota Coast Kayak Tour

Santa Barbara’s Gaviota Coast is a great spot for a short paddle and super fun beach day. Located on rural and undeveloped coastline, this is a beautiful area rich with marine life. We often see dolphins, sea lions and other marine life while on the water. At mid-day you’ll stop for deli lunch, served on a secluded beach. As the trip progresses, your guide may offer a fun series of kayak challenges and games. This unforgettable trip provides great opportunities to swim, play or just float. It’s perfect for all ages of swimmers.

Bring Your Pet – If you are lucky enough to have a four-legged friend, Hendry’s Beach this the perfect haven for you. Dogs are permitted off leash for a long stretch of perfect coastline. There are several great spots tucked along the cliffs where you can kick back while your dog goes wild in the surf. You can end the day with a nice meal at the Boathouse, a tasty brunch and seafood spot right on the water.

Volunteer for a Beach Cleanup – Interested in combining some relaxation and fun with a way of giving back? Consider volunteering for a local beach cleanup. There are many companies in Santa Barbara that have participated in the Adopt-A-Beach program who organize events throughout the year.

What other activities do you do on the beach?

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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.

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Hometown: Los Angeles
First car: 1969 VW bug
Favorite surfboard: lightning bolt 8′ mini gun . I got this board from an old local on Maui and it’s always waiting for me there when I visit.
Best place to eat in SB: The Sojourner Cafe. It has a great variety of healthy vegetarian plates, vegan deserts, it’s open late and has an old diner feel to it.
Most incredible place I’ve been: Channel Islands National Park! ha! Seriously, I’ve been to a lot of amazing places but my favorite spot is in my own backyard.

Landon at Channel Islands National Park. Courtesy of Erin Feinblatt Photography.

When did you learn to surf? Who taught you?
I learned to surf when I was 12. My uncle was a backyard shaper in Morro Bay. He taught me to shape my first board and that’s what I learned to surf on. I mostly taught myself by watching surf videos and spending a lot of time at the beach. It was a long road to shred-ability. I always tell my students how lucky they are to have a surf coach. I can teach someone in one day, what it took me to learn in one year!

This past season you spent a lot of time in Channel Islands National Park. Most people visit Scorpion Anchorage for kayaking, but what other areas would you encourage visitors to see?
They just built a new pier at Bechers bay on Santa Rosa. They also just opened up camping at Skunks Point. One of the most unique things about the Channel Islands is that they are all different from an ecological viewpoint because they have been isolated from each other for so long. Santa Rosa and San Miguel have beautiful white beaches and dunes. This is a result of bio rich materials in the sand. The sand was blown up onto the island during the last glacial period when the water levels were very low. We are starting to do multi-day kayaking trips this spring! I am so excited to take people to the outer islands (Rosa and Miguel). The more people see of the Channel Islands National Park, the more they understand what a important natural resource it is for us.

What’s your best tip for new guides on how to run an incredible adventure? What should they never do?
Be confident in yourself and your abilities. Don’t ever show fear or self-doubt.

Your email address is “beach wood designs,” can you tell me about that?
I am a salvage wood carpenter. I salvage wood from beaches, ranches, and rubbish piles to use for one of a kind projects.

Any trips or adventures in your near future?
I am currently restoring a Malibu surfing Outrigger sailing canoe similar to what ancient Polynesian guys were sailing. I’ve never sailed one but supposedly they go wicked fast and you can ride open ocean swells for miles. I plan to sail the thing down the Sea of Cortez this winter.

Landon's restored Malibu surfing outrigger sailing canoe.

Thanks for sharing Landon. We feel so lucky to have you on our team!

If you have a memory of Landon from a trip or elsewhere, please share it in our comment section below. I am sure he would love to hear from you!

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Michael worked with Adventure Company for 2 years. Guests always loved him; his enthusiasm for nature and the outdoors is contagious. So I was thrilled and saddened when Michael was selected to work with the Community Environmental Council, we lost a great one to an even better cause. Since leaving Adventure Company he has been doing great work on high profile environmental projects. I caught up with Michael between organizing our locally loved Earth Day Celebration and educating locals on ways to preserve Santa Barbara’s natural environment.

Name: Michael Chiacos
Age: 31
First Car: 84 Toyota Corolla. Next one will be electric.
Best beach in town: Rincon, when winter swells are in. Butterfly beach in the summer for lazing around and people watching
Greatest Adventure: 8 month traveling through Asia, from surfing in Indonesia to mountain climbing in Nepal
Favorite Quote: Everything in moderation, including moderation

How long did you work for SBACo? What was your favorite trip to guide? Favorite memory/part of the job?
I worked for SBACo for about two years, and continued working the spring week long rafting trips for another two years, until my full time job made those trips hard to do. My favorite trips were the surfing lessons, because I got to get in the water, share the stoke of surfing with excited clients, and do something that I truly love. Doing the rafting trips was also quite fun, as it is so great to get away and spend a week camped right out next to a flowing river, get to spend some quality time with the other guides, and of course all the great rafting, kayaking, hiking and fun up on the American River. And then there was the time my neophyte whitewater kayaking skills got me over my head, literally, but that’s another story!

Any advice for someone wanting to be a guide? How to run a great trip?
My advice is to have a great attitude, as having a fun and positive attitude will rub off on the clients and make them rise to the occasion. I always hope I inspired people to not only have a lot of fun, but also learn something new about the environment we were playing in. Through that interaction with nature they learned a few things and also hopefully became more conscious of protecting the environment.

You’re a Santa Barbara local – what was it like growing up here?
Growing up in Santa Barbara was great – I grew up in the mountains in a little 1930’s cabin in a community called the Trout Club and was part of a feral pack of boys that ran around building forts in the oak trees and playing in the creek. My dad used to blow a conch shell at dark to round us up for dinner.

However, like most kids I didn’t realize how good it was until I left Santa Barbara. I lived in some cool places, Portland, Oregon, the Big Island of Hawaii, and traveled all around the world. However, every time I came home I was blown away by the natural beauty of Santa Barbara and all the access to amazing outdoors we have here. I can ride my bike from my house and in 15 minutes be hiking or biking through the mountain trails of our front country or hop in my car and be surfing in 5 minutes. On the culture and community side, Santa Barbara has the accoutrements of a much larger city and lots of great people. Those things made me want to move back here to Santa Barbara and experience living here as an adult. Well, that and the fact that every Christmas break when I’d come home I’d go hiking in the mountains and the smell of winter sage after a rain touched me so deep inside. The chaparral is where I grew up, and is in my blood. I had to come back.

Currently you are working for the Community Environmental Council to raise awareness about the most pressing environmental issues that affect Santa Barbara. What is the most pressing issue affecting our environment? How can we make a difference?
We are lucky here in Santa Barbara and the US in that we’ve made huge progress on most environmental issues. Compared to India, Peru, Kenya, and other places I’ve travelled we have relatively clean air, water, and cities, though things could always get better.

The biggest environmental challenge humans have ever faced is now pressing on us, but oddly not pressing too hard. Climate change is something distant and faceless enough to think about that it is hard for humans to rally around and agree to tackle it. Our whole economies are built on cheap oil, coal, and natural gas, and we need to totally transform many things to address our dependence on fossil fuels and the environmental, social, and economic issues with them. I believe there will be huge economic benefits, amazing new technology and a whole new economy that emerges as we transition to the clean energy economy, but in the meantime there are powerful vested interests and a whole infrastructure that needs to be changed.

Here’s an example. As the Transportation Specialist at CEC I work on everything from bikes and carpooling to electric cars and better city planning. Lately I’ve been working a lot on electric cars, and they are a great example of the new green economy. They get around 100 mpg equivalent, emit zero tail pipe emissions, and on California’s green grid cut greenhouse gas pollution by around 70% compared to gasoline cars. Our local utility, SoCal Edison supplies 20% renewable energy to our local grid, and that will go up to 33% by 2020, so these cars actually get cleaner as they age, not dirtier like a internal combustion engine. Even more inspiring, many electric car early adopters also get solar panels, so they are driving on sunshine instead of oil! These are the things we need to be moving toward, and where we can have some competitive advantage over China and India. We are working right now to build charging stations and make it easier to use electric vehicles in Santa Barbara –you can check out a short video of our efforts at Plug In Santa Barbara or watch it below.

You just finished working on the Santa Barbara Earth Day celebration. How did it go this year?
Amazing! We had over 38,000 people over two days and the most fun, educational, and peaceful vibe ever. We’ve been able to grow tremendously (around 8,000 attended in 2007) while keeping a great vibe and an emphasis on not only having a fun time with the community, but also learning some positive things to take back and incorporate into life the rest of the year.

Where can we find you when you’re not working these days?
Well, lately making raised beds and laying brick and flagstones as I transform my front yard from a grassy weed patch into a food forest! It’s been a lot of work the last couple months, but is now starting to look great. I bought a house 6 months ago and have been working on it a lot lately – mostly on the outside as thankfully the bones of the house are pretty good. I now have over 50 types of edible fruits, vegetables, and herbs growing on a little downtown lot.

After this big front yard project is over I promised my girlfriend that instead of working on the house three weekends a month, and going on an adventure one weekend a month, we can revert back to our old schedule of three weekends of adventures a month! So starting this summer you’ll see me a lot more in the mountains, in the ocean, and out on the islands.

Thanks for lots of great memories Michael. Look forward to seeing you around town and at the 2012 Earth Day Celebration!

If you have a memory of exploring nature with Michael, please share it in the comment section below. I am sure Michael would love to hear from you.

The post Michael Chiacos: Santa Barbara’s Nature Boy appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

I hadn’t heard from Jesse since he moved on to attend college full time. Then last month he was on the cover of the Santa Barbara Independent with a feature article about his travels to the Middle East and new digital book, “Surfing the Middle East.” I caught up with him between book signings and publishing meetings. It was great to hear he was still seeking new adventures and doing well.

Birthdate: June 12, 1985
First Job: Grease Jockey @ gas station
First Car: 1962 Ford F100
Favorite Surfboard: 6’3 Dave Johnson short board
Favorite Spot in Santa Barbara: Jalama
Philosophy of  Life: “They  train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders  won’t allow them to  write FUCK on their airplanes… Because? It’s obscene! ” Col. Kurtz, at the top of the river, Apocalypse Now – or Everyone gets everything they want.

When did you guide for SBACo for how long?

I guided for SBACO for just over a year. While going to City College. And, well, frankly, had a hell of a time doing it!

Did working as a guide help you in your current journalistic adventures?

During my years at SBACO, I learned the dedication and care it takes for planning any such adventure. Like sharing our beloved California coast on guiding trips, surfing the Middle East was a journalist stunt that drew on my practical skills as a guide.

Rule number one: empower yourself to help others. Surfing from Israel to Lebanon was no easy gig – the basic idea was to tell a story about a region divide, plagued by war, deemed by the New York Times as being the “worlds must combustible region”.  It was the pre-trip planning and ability to problem solve on the fly that made this adventure possible. Many of these skills I learned from my time guiding at SBACO.

What where your first trips like? What was your favorite trip?

My first trips were very much like writing Surfing the Middle East: “It’s like Maui with rockets”: sharing my passion with people. The natural coast of California is something I dearly cherish, and helping people understand its magic was definitely the vocation for me.

What was your funniest SBACo memory?

The funniest thing that happened to me while working at SBACO was flipping my kayak after trying to set some kind of example of what NOT to do.

Thanks for catching up Jesse. I am looking forward to reading about all your travels.

If you want to read more about Jesse’s travels, visit his blog “Blogging The Casbah” or download his fascinating three-part e-book “Surfing the Middle East”, the first installment of which was just published for the iPad this month. Catch a preview in the video below.

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