Santa Barbara, California isn’t real. How could it be? The weather is perfect for a walk on the beach all year long, the vibe is chill, the people are happy, and the food is GOOD.
It’s like someone plucked up a bustling Spanish village and plopped it down one hour north of Los Angeles, then added in a thriving surf culture with a modern artistic flair and laid-back southern California vibe.
This all sounds too good to be true, but it DOES exist! And outdoorsy people flock here from all over the world to bask in the sun and enjoy the temperate climate all year round!
I am lucky enough to call myself a Santa Barbara local, and I have taken full advantage of that! My top seven outdoor activities in Santa Barbara (in no particular order below) are what I recommend to my own friends and family when they come to visit, so I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, designed to allow The Unremarkable Climber (me) to earn a small commission if you choose to book through them, at no extra cost to you. This really helps support the site and lets me know you find this information valuable! That being said, all of the experiences I recommend, commission based or not, are genuine recommendations for some of my favorite activities, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I have! Feel free to contact me with any questions.
1. Hit the Best Beaches in Santa Barbara!
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day in the sun, a secluded area to relax, or some swell to surf, Santa Barbara has it all! Hitting the beach might be one of the most popular outdoor activities in Santa Barbara. However, let me give you some advice as a local:
- If you’re looking for sun, avoid the month of June, because a local weather phenomena called June Gloom will leave you stuck in the fog for weeks.
- Natural tar seeps out from the bottom of the ocean and washes ashore (you can actually see an active tar pit in Carpenteria!) You will inevitably get some little globs on your feet/shoes. Use oil to remove tar from skin, but avoid getting it on clothing!
- The surf isn’t always pumping in Santa Barbara, so form a backup plan just in case!
Best Santa Barbara Beaches for Sunbathing
If you’re looking for that surf vibe and want that authentic California beach experience, Santa Barbara has you covered!
You can expect sandy beaches with plenty of people watching opportunities. You might even spot a spotted harbor seal, California sea lion, or bottlenose dolphin playing in the surf!
Here are my favorites:
- Leadbetter Beach (short walk to Santa Barbara Harbor, Stearns Wharf, and State Street)
- Butterfly Beach (long sandy beach with a few less people than Leadbetter)
Best Santa Barbara Beaches for Avoiding People
Learning to avoid crowds of people in Southern California takes talent. If you’re looking for a secluded beach experience, I’d recommend going mid-week and looking for beaches that are off the main road.
If you can’t see the beach from the road, or the beach requires a short walk to access, there will be fewer beachgoers due to the sheer laziness of the general public.
Here are some of my favorite secluded beaches in Santa Barbara:
- Thousand Steps Beach (best accessed at low tide, park at Shoreline Park, walk a couple blocks and down a few flights of stairs)
- Mesa Lane Beach (best accessed at low tide, park respectfully in the neighborhood, walk down a lot of stairs)
- Loon Point Beach (short walk from the Loon Point Beach Parking area)
Surfing: One of the Locals' Favorite Outdoor Activities in Santa Barbara
Surfing is one of the locals’ favorite outdoor activities in Santa Barbara, but the swell has to be just right.
As a beginner, Leadbetter Beach is a good place to start if the swell is cooperating. For the more advanced, head southeast to Rincon Beach.
I’ve had good experiences renting surfboards here.
If you are a total beginner and want to try surfing for the first time, or feel uncomfortable heading out on your own, try signing up for this two-hour surf lesson.
For a longer and more authentic introduction to surfing, this surf experience will provide lessons while truly immersing you in the Santa Barbara surf lifestyle.
2. Explore Santa Barbara on Two Wheels!
E-Biking: One of the Most Popular Outdoor Activities in Santa Barbara
Even though I consider myself athletic, e-biking is one of my favorite outdoor activities in Santa Barbara! I love feeling the fresh ocean breeze across my face without profusely dripping sweat and wheezing my way down the coast.
Instead of focusing on my burning legs, I can focus on the beautiful views and historic sites throughout Santa Barbara!
Plus it’s eco-friendly!
Mountain Biking: One of the Most Underrated Outdoor Activities in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and San Ynez Mountains, which means there is a lot of opportunity to explore the local mountains with an ocean view!
Mountain biking is the perfect way to explore the canyons above Santa Barbara, but it’s definitely a workout.
Just be sure to bring a bell, as most trails are shared with hikers!
The top trails I recommend are:
- More Mesa (beginner)
- Elings Park (beginner)
- Romero Canyon Loop (intermediate)
- Camuesa Loop Trail (advanced intermediate)
- Tunnel Trail Shuttle (very advanced and technical)
3. Kayak the Santa Barbara Coastline!
For those that didn’t already know, I went to school for marine biology, so one of my personal favorite outdoor activities in Santa Barbara allows me to paddle alongside marine life and explore the kelp forests!
Kayaking and paddleboarding are two amazing ways to cover some ground and look down at the diverse sea life below without having to take the plunge.
However, if you DO want to take the plunge, go ahead and bring a snorkel set and wetsuit along so you’re ready to dive right in! I always regret it when I don’t.
Where to Go Kayaking in Santa Barbara
For a beginner kayaker, or someone new to sea kayaking, I’d recommend beginning your paddle in Santa Barbara Harbor where you can stay protected from the surf and still see sea stars, bright orange Garibaldi, spotted harbor seals, California brown pelicans, and California sea lions!
For the more experienced, continue up the coast and explore the kelp forests and sandstone cliffs and coves! I’d recommend paddling northwest (upwind) to begin then let the wind and swell assist you on the return trip. The wind generally picks up over the course of the day and you don’t want to get stuck downwind!
For the devoted sea kayaker, take a full day trip to Channel Islands National Park and kayak through Painted Cave— one of the largest sea caves on the planet!
Renting a Kayak vs. Joining a Guided Kayak Tour
Sometimes sea kayaking is similar to lake kayaking when the sea is calm. Most of the time though, you will battle prevailing wind and swell once you leave the safety of Santa Barbara Harbor.
If you can read the sea conditions and would like the freedom to explore on your own, you can rent kayaks and paddleboards here for an affordable price at a convenient location requiring no transportation.
For those uncomfortable going alone, or those wanting to learn a bit of local history and marine life (which I highly recommend!), consider the following guided kayak tours:
- Two-Hour Santa Barbara Harbor and Wildlife Tour
- Half-Day Wildlife Tour along Santa Barbara’s Undeveloped Coastline
- Sunset Kayak Tour
- Guided Kayak Excursion through Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island
4. Go Wine Tasting!
The long growing season and diverse temperate microclimates of the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys make Santa Barbara County one of California’s richest wine regions. Just north of Santa Barbara proper, the wine region is home to over 100 wineries where wine tasting has become a year-round activity!
There are a couple ways to explore this stretch of the central coast depending on your energy level and budget.
Option 1: Take a drive up Highway 154
Drive north on Highway 154 until you reach Santa Ynez. Then, consider continuing north to Los Olivos or take a detour west to Solvang—a small Danish-style town with lots of wineries and LOTS of baked goods to try!
From there, return the way you came or make it a loop and come back by Gaviota State Park and check out a hiking trail or the State Beach.
Option 2: Book a tour in a comfy van
If you want a bit more luxury in your life in the form of a comfy van with a knowledgeable tour guide, I’d recommend this seven-hour wine tasting tour through Santa Ynez Valley!
Option 3 (and my favorite!): Tour wine country via e-bike
I’ve already mentioned how much I love e-biking. For those with a plethora of energy and an adventurous spirit, consider this e-bike tour including both wine and olive oil tastings. I’m honestly not sure which I enjoy more!
The best part of e-biking is actually taking advantage of the beautiful weather and spending your day in the great outdoors as you flow through the vineyards without feeling beat by the hills!
5. Walk through the Iconic Funk Zone!
Whether you are interested in art, wine, architecture, history, cute boutiques, or good food, the Funk Zone has it all!
Take a walk down to this 13-block industrial district which is located just across the street from Stearns Wharf. There, you’ll find countless craft breweries, food joints, and wineries. There is somewhere to stop on every block, so everyone in the party is satisfied!
My particular favorites are McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Shalhoobs Funk Zone Patio, Lama Dog Tap Room, and the MOXI museum for kids (and adults)!
I can’t even begin to narrow down my favorite of the 16 wine tasting rooms, but check in with the State Street Visitor Center and they’ll hook you up with the latest deals. Last time I ended up with BOGO wine tastings at J. Wilkes!
If all of the options are a bit overwhelming, this three-hour food and photo tour of the Funk Zone is a good place to start!
6. Take a Hike!
You could say that hiking is towards the top of locals’ favorite outdoor activities in Santa Barbara, but that would be an understatement. I think “hiker” has become a personality trait for local Santa Barbarans— part of our identity.
Once you get a glimpse of the panoramic ocean views, you’ll understand why!
Below are some of my favorite hiking trails/areas near Santa Barbara!
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden: wind through trails of native Californian plants, then cross the street and walk through a native pollinator garden out to a view of the ocean and Channel Islands (extra beautiful in the springtime!)
- Inspiration Point + Seven Falls Trails: ocean vista point + scramble up a shady creek bed
- Cold Spring Trail Loop: nice half-shaded loop along a creek
- Montecito Hot Springs: pretty busy (but still cool) series of hot pools up the canyon above Montecito
Rock Climbing: My Favorite Outdoor Activity in Santa Barbara
If you love scrambling, there is a TON of rock climbing locally. As the unremarkable climber, you might be able to guess that rock climbing is, in fact, my favorite outdoor activity in Santa Barbara.
Whether you’re looking for boulders, sport climbs, top ropes, or trad climbs, the Santa Barbara sandstone has it all just minutes from town!
My favorite crags are Lizard’s Mouth (bouldering), Gibraltar Rock (top rope and trad), and Invisible Wall (sport).
7. Go Camping!
There is something extra fun about beach camping! Make sure you bring along a surfboard and some s’mores when you check out these campsites right on the coast near Santa Barbara:
- El Capitán State Beach: my personal favorite
- Carpenteria State Beach: lots of harbor seals, tidepooling, and tar pits within walking distance of downtown Carpenteria
- Refugio State Beach: a bit further up the coast but still nice
- Gaviota State Park: small campground quite a ways up the coast
Each of these outdoor activities in Santa Barbara is a fantastic way to experience the city and surrounding areas while breathing in the healing ocean air. Regardless of which activity you end up choosing, I know you’ll have an awesome time exploring this beautiful town just as I have time and time again!