Destination
Type of Activity
Editors Pick
Read MoreArlington Center for the Performing Arts
This theater, formerly a movie palace, is a great example of the area’s architectural tradition. The Santa Barbara Symphony is now settled at its new home, The Granada, but concerts may continue to be held at the Arlington; films are...
Courtesy Visit Santa BarbaraRead MoreBeaches
Depending on who you ask, there are numerous favorite beaches in the Santa Barbara area. Some of the best are gated, like Hope Ranch, and you need a pass or a friend with one. Don’t miss: East Beach (great for volleyball),...
Courtesy Visit Santa BarbaraRead MoreBiking
The sunshine and scenery make Santa Barbara an optimal place for scenic biking. For bike tours we recommend Santa Barbara Adventure Company (www.sbadventureco.com) and Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling Tours (www.winecountrycycling.com), which offers half and full day tours of different...
Read MoreFour Seasons Biltmore Spa
A visit to the ultra luxurious spa designed by Peter Marino at the Four Seasons Biltmore is almost mandatory for anyone who loves to be pampered in beautiful surroundings. Treat yourself to a facial or massage, then cleanse body and...
Courtesy Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa BarbaraRead MoreGolf
One of locals’ favorite golf options is the championship course designed by Robert Muir Graves and Damian Pascuzzo at the Glen Annie Golf Club (www.glenanniegolf.com) boasting stunning mountain and ocean views. The Sandpiper Golf Course (www.sandpipergolf.com) is considered by many...
Read MoreGranada
Completely refurbished a few years ago, this state-of-the-art theater celebrates the glamour of the 1920s, with many decorative period touches added to the already striking historic space. The handsome venue seats 1,550 patrons and is home to the Opera Santa...
Read MoreHiking/Walking
Check out the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County (www.sblandtrust.org), as there are great hikes on Land Trust preserves. Favorites include the Carpinteria Bluffs, Arroyo Hondo Preserve and the Coronado Butterfly Preserve.
Read MoreLotusland
This fabulous Montecito estate was the personal preserve and paradise of the late flamboyant opera star Madame Ganna Walska. On thirty-seven acres, she created her own eccentric Eden, which Connoisseur magazine declared “America’s most exotic garden.” It’s really more like...
Read MoreMarket Forays
Laurence Hauben, a proponent of the Slow Food movement, leads guided walks with a culinary focus to enrich gourmands’ knowledge of local produce. She will customize her tour to a group’s or individual’s interest. She also teaches cooking classes. Her...
Courtesy Visit Santa BarbaraRead MoreOld Mission Santa Barbara
Established in 1786, the Old Mission Santa Barbara was the tenth of twenty-one missions established by the Spanish Franciscans. Take a self-guided tour to learn how the mission was constructed and explore the life of the Native Americans who helped...
Read MoreOstrichLand USA
If your child has never met an ostrich, you will want to bring a camera to capture their expression at the first face-to-face with one of these freaky-looking birds. The farm allows feeding but no riding.
Read MorePascale’s Kitchen
Since 1999, Pascale Beale has been teaching Mediterranean cooking classes that combine instruction with preparation and a meal and wine tasting. She has written several cookbooks and is a regular contributor to James Beard’s publication Edible Santa Barbara.
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Sailing/Boating
Among the many ways to get out onto the beckoning Pacific Ocean are Channel Cat Charters (www.channelcatcharters.com), a fully crewed luxury catamaran that holds up to 149 and can be chartered for special events. The Condor Express (www.condorcruises.com), a seventy-five-foot...
Read MoreSanta Barbara Museum of Art
The Santa Barbara Museum of art is a jewel of a museum in the heart of downtown with an impressive fine-arts collection and exhibition calendar. European works include oils by Monet, Sisley and Van Gogh, as well as works on...
Read MoreSanta Barbara Polo & Racquet Club
Founded in 1911, the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is the third-oldest polo club in the country. While the tennis and pool facilities are only for members, the public can attend the tournaments. The season runs from April or...
Read MoreSanta Barbara Zoo
How many zoos do you know where the giraffes get an ocean view? Not many, I’m sure. Set on the former estate of Lillian Child, the Santa Barbara Zoo boasts a prime slice of Montecito real estate and is now...
Read MoreSimpatico Pilates & Gyrotonic Studio
The Pilates classes here have a cult following for a reason.
Read MoreSoho Restaurant & Music Club
With everything from indie rock bands, salsa musicians and EDM DJs to spoken word performances and book signings, the Soho Club is a great place for urban entertainment.
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Surfing
Professional surf instructors from Santa Barbara Adventure Company will suit you up and guide you into the waves, and teach you everything you need to know, from how to paddle and crouch on the board to wave etiquette and how...
Read MoreTy Warner Sea Center
Beanie Babies founder—and Santa Barbara resident—Ty Warner endowed this new marine center on Stearns Wharf, which is a great complement to the zoo. Highlights include getting up close and personal with small sharks in the touch pools and climbing through...
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Wine Tours
The Central California wine country, where the cult film Sideways was set, has been declared the next great American wine region by many, including Robert Parker Jr. With almost 100 wineries, Santa Barbara County is one of the fastest-growing wine...
