Things to do in Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara Trolley Tour: 90 minutes, 8 stopsYou board near Stearns Wharf and spend ninety minutes on a narrated trolley passing the County Courthouse, Old Mission, Museum of Natural History, Butterfly Beach in Montecito, and the harbor district. The guide handles the history and timing; you just sit and look. It's the original Santa Barbara trolley tour, running for thirty years, and it covers the sights most people come for without the logistics.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see Santa Barbara's main landmarks in one morning or afternoon without driving or navigating parking—the trolley and narration handle both. Ninety minutes is enough to get the lay of the land and hear the history, though it's a continuous ride, not a hop-on-hop-off tour.
Santa Barbara: Electric Bike Tour with Funk Zone & MissionYou’ll cruise Santa Barbara’s waterfront by electric bike, wander through Montecito’s leafy streets, check out murals in the Funk Zone, and pause at historic sites like Old Mission Santa Barbara—all led by a local guide who keeps things easygoing. Expect ocean air, unexpected laughs, and plenty of chances to see the city from new angles.
Santa Barbara: Downtown Wine & Food Walking TourYou walk through downtown Santa Barbara with a local host (not a scripted guide) for 3.5 hours, stopping for wine tastings, food, and stories about the city's landmarks and hidden corners. Wine, a second beverage, and all food tastings are included—enough for a light meal. Small groups keep the pace social and personal, and you begin and end on State Street so the rest of your day stays flexible.Is it for me?Book this if you want to eat and drink your way through downtown Santa Barbara without planning the route, choosing the spots, or timing it yourself—the local host and fixed itinerary take all that off your hands, and small group sizes keep it feeling like a walk with a friend instead of a formal tour.
Santa Barbara: Harbor Kayak Tour with Sea Lions & Local GuideYou’ll paddle Santa Barbara’s calm harbor waters with a local guide, spot sea lions up close (and maybe dolphins), learn quirky facts about boats and mountains, and feel that salty breeze on your face. All gear is included — just bring your swimsuit, towel, and curiosity. It’s not fancy or hard; it’s just real time on the water with good people.
Solvang Ghost Hunting Tour: EMF Meters & Spirit BoxYou'll hold real ghost hunting equipment—EMF meters, Spirit Box, dowsing rods—and use them to search for paranormal activity at Solvang's most haunted locations. A guide shares the village's dark history: founder's ghosts, haunted bakeries, restaurants with unexplained figures, and true crime stories. The tour ends with a closing ritual. Suitable for ages 12+, fully wheelchair accessible, and includes all gear and local folklore.Is it for me?Book this if you're curious about paranormal investigation and want to try real ghost hunting equipment in a place with actual haunted history—the hands-on gear and local folklore make it feel less like a spooky story and more like a real search.
Santa Barbara: Private Family Wineries Tour & Organic LunchYou’ll join a tiny group for a day trip from Santa Barbara into real family vineyards — not commercial tasting rooms — meeting winemakers over small-batch wines and homemade lunch. Expect laughter around farmhouse tables, quiet vineyard walks, and time to just breathe in those California hills.
3 Ziplines near Santa Barbara: California's LongestRide three of California's longest and fastest ziplines across 1,200+ acres of ranchland near Santa Barbara, with all safety equipment and a trained guide. The tour lasts roughly 1 to 2 hours depending on group size. Guides speak English and Spanish. You'll ascend over 1,000 feet in a Highline Hummer 4x4 through protea flower fields, then launch from the top with sweeping views of the Santa Ynez Valley before descending via all three ziplines.Is it for me?You show up, the guides handle the climb and timing, and you fly California's longest and fastest ziplines over the Santa Ynez Valley—no logistics to manage.
Santa Barbara: Taco Walking Tour with Drinks & Local GiftsYou’ll taste five different tacos across downtown Santa Barbara, sip on craft beer or margaritas at two stops, and wander between local taquerias with an easygoing guide who shares stories along the way. Expect laughter, new flavors, and even a small local gift card to keep exploring after you’re full.
Santa Ynez Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & Lunch in Santa BarbaraYou visit three working wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley with a guide who knows the region's history and winemaking details. Tastings, lunch with local food, and cold beverages are included at the wineries themselves. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Santa Barbara means you taste without driving, and the pace — roughly an hour per stop — lets you actually talk to the winemakers instead of moving through a checklist.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to taste Santa Barbara wine without driving yourself or arranging three separate winery visits — the guide, the tastings, the lunch, and the transportation all come together in one morning, which is what makes a full valley experience possible in a single day.
Kayaking in Santa Barbara Harbor: Wildlife & Marine ViewsA 2-hour kayaking tour in Santa Barbara Harbor where you paddle through the working harbor, past the historic wharf and under the pier while looking for harbor seals, sea lions, brown pelicans and other coastal wildlife. Your guide provides all gear, a safety talk and paddling instruction before you set out, and discusses Santa Barbara's marine ecology and natural history along the way. Children from age 5 are welcome; double kayaks are standard, with singles available for solo paddlers.Is it for me?Small groups work best here—the tour runs with a minimum of 2 paddlers, so you're never alone on the water, and the guide can keep everyone together and point out wildlife as you move along the coast. If you're a single traveler, call ahead to confirm a departure is scheduled.
Santa Barbara E-Bike Wine Tour: Solvang & Los Olivos TastingYou ride an e-bike through Santa Ynez Valley's vineyards and stop in the Danish village of Solvang, then finish with wine and olive oil tastings and a gourmet lunch at a local winery. Round-trip transport from Santa Barbara, professional guide, and all bikes and helmets are included. Minimum two people per booking; moderate fitness level recommended.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste Santa Ynez Valley wine and see the vineyards without arranging your own transport, bikes, or timing — the e-bikes and shuttle handle the logistics, leaving you to ride and taste at a real pace.
Santa Barbara: Electric Bike Rental & Waterfront RideYou pick up an electric bike at the Santa Barbara shop (free parking, test ride included), get a helmet, lock, and marked map, then ride the waterfront and inland neighborhoods at your own pace. The motor handles the hills, so you cover more ground without exhaustion. Return whenever you're done — no fixed schedule, no guide, just you and the city on two wheels.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to cover Santa Barbara's waterfront and neighborhoods in one afternoon without arranging transport or navigating on foot — the e-bike motor means you see more ground and more of the city than you'd manage on a regular bike, and the flexible rental means you set your own pace and return time.
High Ropes Adventure Course near Santa Barbara: 80+ ObstaclesA high ropes adventure course near Santa Barbara with 80+ obstacles built within an old growth oak grove, where you climb ladders, cross rope bridges and navigate aerial challenges up to 60 feet high across four routes at two difficulty levels. A live guide teaches you the double clip harness system and stations themselves throughout the course to assist you. The activity takes up to 2 hours and includes all gear.Is it for me?The course demands sustained climbing and balance over 2 hours at height, so you need moderate fitness and comfort moving through obstacles 60 feet up. If you're looking for a ground-level walk or a passive experience, this is the opposite—you're doing the work yourself, clipped in, moving through the treetops.
Santa Barbara Wine Tour: Private Estates & Vineyard TastingsYou visit three to four private Santa Barbara wine estates on the Santa Ynez Wine Trail, taste limited-release wines in seated settings often with the winemakers themselves, walk through vineyards and barrel rooms, and eat an organic lunch—all in a group of no more than eight people. Hotel pickup and drop-off in a luxury coach are included, and you avoid the crowded commercial tasting rooms entirely.Is it for me?This tour suits wine drinkers who want to taste real wines from small producers without the commercial tasting room experience—the small group size and private locations are what make conversations with winemakers possible in a single afternoon.
Solvang & Santa Ynez: Small Group Wine Tour with LunchYou’ll taste artisan wines across three small wineries in Solvang and Santa Ynez Valley, enjoy a private barrel room tasting with chocolate pairing, share a laid-back picnic lunch among new friends, and hear stories from local winemakers—all with hotel pickup included. It’s easygoing but full of moments you’ll remember after you leave.
Santa Barbara Bike Rentals: Electric, Mountain & HybridYou choose your bike type and rental length, get fitted with a helmet and water bottle, then explore Santa Barbara on your own schedule. Electric bikes let you cruise without pedaling, mountain bikes unlock the Santa Ynez trails, and hybrids give you speed and comfort for town riding. The rental shop provides maps and free gear like a tool kit and air pump.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Santa Barbara without a car or a guided group. Plan for moderate physical activity — that's what lets you cover the waterfront, neighborhoods, and mountain trails all on your own timeline.
Santa Ynez Valley Bike & Wine Tour: E-bike or Sport BikeThis Santa Ynez Valley biking and wine tasting activity takes you through wine country on your choice of an electric-assist Rad Power e-bike or a Poseidon sport bike, with a professional guide who brings over 20 years of sommelier experience. You'll ride past lavender fields and through Ballard Canyon, stop in Solvang for a rest, and finish with two wine tastings, an olive oil tasting, and a locally sourced gourmet picnic lunch. The ride lasts about five hours and requires at least moderate fitness; different distance options let you choose your pace.Is it for me?Choose the e-bike if you want to focus on the wine and the scenery without burning out on the climbs; pick the sport bike if you're looking for a harder physical challenge mixed with the tasting experience. The five-hour pace gives you time to ride, rest, and linger over the wines without rushing through either one.
Solvang Wine & True Crime Tour with 3 Drinks IncludedYou visit three wine bars in two hours, tasting three wines, a wine cocktail, and champagne, while your guide shares stories of crime and hauntings tied to Solvang's historic sites. You don't arrange transportation between stops or worry about what to order — the tastings and route are set, and you show up ready to listen and drink.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a night out that's equal parts wine and storytelling, and you'd rather have someone else plan the route and pour the drinks. The small group and fixed itinerary mean you show up, listen, and move at a pace that lets the stories land.
Santa Barbara Wine Country Tour: 4 Wineries, Small GroupA small-group wine tour through Santa Ynez Valley visiting 4 family-owned and independent wineries for tastings, with gourmet picnic lunch and door-to-door transportation from your Santa Barbara accommodations. The itinerary varies based on which wineries are featured that day. Minimum age is 21; a guide leads the group in English and handles all driving so you can taste without worrying about the road.Is it for me?Most wine tours in the region run the same route every day, so you see the same tasting rooms and the same crowds. This one rotates through 25+ wineries, which means smaller producers get your visit and you taste something different each time you go.
Santa Ynez Wine Tour: 3 Wineries, Picnic Lunch & TastingsYou get picked up from your hotel, driven to three Santa Ynez wineries with tasting fees already paid, eat a picnic lunch with a view, and return without worrying about driving or logistics. The whole day is planned; you just show up and taste.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste three good Santa Ynez wineries without arranging transport, paying tasting fees separately, or deciding which wineries to visit—the driver handles the route and the timing, which is what makes a full day of tasting possible without the logistics.
