Tours & Activities in Santa Barbara

Guided tours into the Santa Ynez Valley (Solvang, Los Olivos, Santa Rita Hills) — Pinot Noir and Chardonnay country made famous by the film Sideways. Most tours include 3-4 tastings and hotel pickup.

Boats depart from the harbor for the Santa Barbara Channel, one of the richest marine mammal habitats on the West Coast — gray whales in winter, blue and humpback whales in summer, plus dolphins year-round.

Hop-on hop-off narrated trolley covering the Mission, courthouse, waterfront, and Funk Zone — an easy orientation for a first visit or for travelers without a car.

Flat, paved coastal path running from the harbor past Stearns Wharf to East Beach and beyond — bike rentals are widely available along Cabrillo Boulevard, and the route is one of the easiest ways to see the coastline.