MainTour Vacation Cruise Central
Planning your next getaway? Whether you are looking for a last-minute three-day cruise to the
Bahamas or a 21-day cruise through the Orient several months from now, we can help with savings of up to 70%!
Tour Park City
This mountain community is home to three world class ski resorts and hosted
several alpine venues of the 2002 Winter Olympics. The historic district is a
bustling year-round draw for vacationers.
Most beaches in Santa Barbara County offer day-use facilities such as restrooms, barbecue pits, telephones, and picnic areas. Lifeguards are usually on duty only during summer months unless otherwise noted. The more remote beaches usually offer greater solitude and adventure.
Stearns Wharf Sea Center
Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara; (805) 962-0885;
Open: Daily 10AM-5PM; Admission: Adult $3 / Child (3-12) $1.50;
Models, aquariums and photographs featuring marine and birdlife of the
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Includes live animal exhibits in saltwater tanks.
Annual Semana Nautica Summer Sports Festival - [JULY]
This event promotes athletic and recreational activity in Santa Barbara for all ages and abilities.
Thousands of participants from the western United States will participate in every beach sport under the sun.
Carpinteria State Beach
Parks Website;
84 acres at Carpinteria off SR-224, popular for camping, fishing, wilderness trails, and watersports along
a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring, etc. Spot seals and sea lions between December and May.
El Capitan State Beach
Parks Website;
15 miles west of Santa Barbara off US-101, popular for camping, fishing, wilderness trails, and watersports.
Beach offers visitors a sandy beach, rocky tidepools, and stands of sycamore and oaks along El Capitán Creek.
Refugio State Beach
Parks Website;
19 miles west of Santa Barbara off US-101, popular for camping, fishing, wilderness trails, tidepools, and watersports.
Gaviota State Beach
(805) 968-1033; Parks Website;
Located 33 miles west of Santa Barbara off US-101, this beach is a popular spot for swimming, picnicking and surf fishing.
Highlights include a pier at the west end, the railroad trestle, hiking trailhead, and a view of the coast and the Channel Islands.
Point Sal State Beach
Near Guadalupe, popular for camping, fishing, wilderness trails, and watersports .
Arroyo Burro Park
(805) 687-3714; Park Website;
Hendry's Beach -- a place to meet for breakfast or a cocktail at sunset, stroll or jog the sandy shore, watch for whales, surf fish, or ride the wild surf.
Goleta Beach County Park
(805) 967-1300; Park Website;
These 29 acres are often a destination for bicyclists on the area's paved trail system. Between the lively restaurant and BBQ picnic areas are volleyball, horseshoes and children's playgrounds.
Jalama Beach County Park
(805) 736-6316; Park Website;
Picnic, fish, bird-watch, surf and windsurf. A sign 4.5 miles south of Lompoc off Highway 1 will direct you onto Jalama Road. Follow this scenic 14 mile road to the coast.
Rincon Beach County Park
(805) 681-5650; Park Website;
Offering some of the Central Coast's best surfing, Rincon Beach is located 3 miles east of Carpinteria adjacent to the Santa Barbara/Ventura county line.
City East Beach
1400 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara CA; Parks Website;
Santa Barbara city waterfront from Andree Clark Bird Refuge to Chase Palm Park. Popular for
swimming and fishing, venue includes children's playground and picnic areas. Look for the Cabrillo
Bathhouse (built in 1927) for day-use facilities and restaurant.
City West Beach
400 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara CA; Parks Website;
Santa Barbara city beachfront running from Stearns Wharf to the harbor. Picturesque area for sunbathing, swimming,
wind surfing, kayaking and sand volleyball.
Leadbetter Beach
Shoreline Dr, Santa Barbara CA; Parks Website;
Large city beach adjacent to the harbor along Shoreline Drive and Loma Alta. Primary launch point for
catamarans and wind surfing. Picnic area, beach volleyball courts.
Shoreline Beach Cafe -
Mesa Lane Beach
Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara CA; Parks Website;
Also known as Thousand Step Beach, this is Santa Barbara's secret hideaway because of its remote location behind a cliff
and accessible by a 1,000 step staircase. Amazing scenery and surfing.
Whale Watching Dec-Apr
Whales, dolphins, sea lions and other marine mammals can be seen
year-round in the Santa Barbara Channel. This nutrient-rich area
also sees the annual migration of nearly 30,000 California gray whales.
Humpback whales can be seen May through September.
Blue whales, the largest of all animals, appear in summer months.
Tour Channel Islands National Park
Accessible only by boat, these islands are a primary home for
marine mammals and nesting sea birds. Primitive camping, diving,
sportsfishing and boating opportunities abound.
Santa Barbara Beachfront Bike Paths
Traffic Solutions - Santa Barbara bikepath maps
Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition - Santa Barbara bikepath maps
Santa Barbara Surf Shops
A-Frame Surf Shop - Team riders, apparel, boards * accessories
Channel Island Surfboards - online board shop
More Beach Resources
Friends of Channel Coast State Parks - junior rangers, kayak tours, school programs.
More Santa Barbara Beaches
Goleta Slough - bike trails and bird-watching
Goleta Pier - fishing
Santa Barbara Shores - county park in Goleta (800) 646-5382
Lake Los Carneros - natural preserve.
Andree Clark Bird Refuge - Montecito
Butterfly Beach - Adjacent to Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel
Isla Vista Beach - Isla Vista near UCSB
