Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [318]
Beaches
The long sandy stretch between Stearns Wharf and Montecito is East Beach (Map); it’s Santa Barbara’s largest and most popular beach, and has a dozen volleyball nets for pick-up games. At its eastern end Armani swimsuits and Gucci sunglasses abound at the narrow but chic Butterfly Beach (Map), in front of the Biltmore Hotel.
Between Stearns Wharf and the harbor, West Beach (Map) has calm water. It’s popular with families and tourists staying in nearby motels. On the other side of the harbor, Leadbetter Beach (Map) is a good spot for surfing and windsurfing, with access to a grassy picnic area atop the cliffs.
West of Santa Barbara near the junction of Cliff Dr and Las Positas Rd, Arroyo Burro Beach (Map; also called Hendry’s) has a parking lot, a picnic area and a restaurant. It’s flat, wide, away from tourists and great for families with kids.
ACTIVITIES
Cycling & Skating
For info on biking in Santa Barbara, contact the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (www.sbbike.org), which also has online printable self-biking tours.
The Cabrillo Blvd beachfront bike path runs for 3 miles along the water, between the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge and Leadbetter Beach. The Goleta Bikeway continues west to UCSB – see www.sbbike.org for route details. Wheel Fun Rentals (Map; www.wheelfunrentals.com); Cabrillo Blvd ( 805-966-2282; 23 E Cabrillo Blvd; 8am-8pm) State St ( 805-962-2585; 101 State St; 10am-5pm) rents bikes at two locations near the beach. Beach cruisers cost about $7 per hour for the first two hours and $16 per half day; single surreys, which seat two people, cost $34 per hour for the first two hours and $72 per half day.
Road cyclists should check out Open Air Bikes (Map; 805-962-7000; www.openairbicycles.com; 209 State St) for rentals, sales and accessories. The helpful staff has loads of information on local rides. Road bikes rent for about $75 per day, with costs decreasing the longer the rental. It’s about $210 per week.
Boating & Whale-Watching
The whale-watching season runs from February 15 to May 15. The following companies offer trips to see the whales, but this list is not comprehensive; you can also wander the harbor, talk to captains and pick a boat based on whom you like best. Always make sure the vessel is Coast Guard certified – and that you dig the captain.
Sea Landing (Map; 805-882-0088, 888-779-4253; www.condorcruises.com; 301 W Cabrillo Blvd), on the beach at the foot of Bath St, rents kayaks, jet skis and jet boats and also operates whale-watching excursions to the Channel Islands aboard the Condor Express, a state-of-the-art high-speed catamaran that is stable enough for most stomachs. Trips last about 4½ hours and cost $88 per adult and $45 per child. Whale sightings are guaranteed, so if you miss out you can come back for a free trip. It also runs half-day fishing excursions for $42 per adult and $34 per child.
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SANTA BARBARA IN FOUR DAYS
Spend your first morning soaking up rays at convenient East Beach (opposite) then savor the indie lifestyle with a vegetarian lunch at Soujourner Café or Nature’s Grill. Explore the museums, landmarks and shops downtown, using the Red Tile tour map as your guide. Conclude with a stop by the courthouse for views from its 85ft tower. Head to Julia Child’s favorite Mexican restaurant, La Super Rica, for a casual but delicious authentic Mexican dinner. Finish with ice cream at McConnell’s or a cold one at the Brewhouse.
Start Day Two with a diet-busting breakfast at Tupelo Junction. Stop by the Funk Zone for a sandwich to go from Metropulos then bike along the coast or hike in the Santa Ynez foothills. Visit Montecito or Summerland for afternoon