Attractions for Guests of Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals
Santa Barbara vacations are teeming with the delights of this picturesque town, which is known for its Spanish Colonial heritage, colorful flowers, splashing fountains, and great beaches. The waterfront area around Santa Barbara Harbor is a great place to spend the day with its beaches, wharf, restaurants, maritime museum, and skate park. Nearby, the Santa Ynez Mountains and Los Padres National Forest offer plenty of activities for outdoor enthusiasts.The Santa Barbara Visitors Bureau offers a wealth of information on local attractions in this area, know as the "American Riviera." Vacationers staying in a Santa Barbara rental can stop by the Visitor Center at 1 Garden Street (805-965-3021) to pick up maps, brochures, and other information.
A Santa Barbara vacation is fun for the entire family as visitors enjoy beach activities, water sports, picnicking in scenic spots, cycling, and visiting the zoo and other attractions. Don't miss the fabulous views from the tower of Santa Barbara's lovely Moorish-style courthouse in the 1100 Block of Anacapa St.
Along Santa Barbara's lovely coastline, visitors staying in lodging in Santa Barbara can sunbathe on sandy beaches and go swimming, surfing, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, boating, and fishing. A number of outfitters offer water-based adventures such as kayaking, sailing, deep-sea fishing, and dolphin and whale watching.
Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara (888-254-2094) offers kayaking instruction, kayaking trips, and rentals. Two-hour kayaking trips start at about $40 and single kayak rentals cost $20 for two hours. Kayak rentals are available at the Santa Barbara Harbor and at West Beach near Stearns Wharf.
Captain Jack's Tours (888-810-8687) offers a two-hour kayaking instruction trip for just $35. Visitors staying in Santa Barbara beach rentals can go sailing on an 85-foot luxury catamaran with Channel Cat Charters (805-898-1015), while Condor Cruises (805-882-0088) offers a variety of excursions into the Santa Barbara Channel aboard a high-speed, 75-foot catamaran.
The Santa Barbara Sailing Center (805-962-2826) offers charters, rentals, instruction, and private and public cruises, while Ocean Sports Private Charters (805-736-3272) offers diving and fishing trips.
The Santa Barbara Adventure Company (805-898-0671) offers a variety of water- and land-based adventures for visitors staying in a Santa Barbara rental, including kayaking, surfing lessons, sunset cruises, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, and winery tours.
Vacationers staying in Santa Barbara vacation rentals will find a rich cultural scene here, including symphony, ballet, opera, modern dance, live theatre, film festivals, museums, and galleries. Old Spanish Days Santa Barbara, held in August, is a celebration of the area's Spanish Colonial past that features Spanish and Mexican folk dancing, music and food, a Mexican marketplace, an arts and crafts fair, and more.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful of the California missions, the Old Mission Santa Barbara (2201 Laguna St., 805-682-4149) was founded in 1786 and still functions as a church today. Guests of Santa Barbara rentals can tour the mission and view its distinctive architecture, lovely grounds, and fabulous art collection from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Admission is $4 for adults.
Other historic sites in Santa Barbara include the El Presidio State Historic Park, a careful reconstruction of the original presidio (123 East Canon Perdido St., 805-966-9719, open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily), and the Casa de La Guerra, which houses a great collection of historic artifacts (15 E. De la Guerra St. 805-965-0093, open Noon to 4:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday).
History buffs staying in lodging in Santa Barbara CA will also enjoy the South Coast Railroad Museum at Los Carneros and Calle Real in Goleta (805-964-3540) and the Santa Barbara Historical Society Museum (136 E. De la Guerra St., 805-966-1601). Other great museums for guests of Santa Barbara private rentals include the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State St., 805-963-4364, open 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday) and the wonderful Museum of Natural History (2559 Puesta del Sol Rd., 805-682-4711).
Don't miss a trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo (500 Niños Dr., 805-962-5339), which showcases 600 animals in a beautiful park-like setting. Visitors can feed sheep, giraffes, and lorikeets; take a ride on a historic carousel; circle the park on the Zoo Train; and enjoy a picnic lunch. The zoo is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children ages 2-12, plus a $3 parking fee.
Another popular attraction for guests of vacation rentals in Santa Barbara is the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1212 Mission Canyon Rd,, 805-569-5923), which features 40 acres of gorgeous plantings and five miles of walking trails. The garden is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, and hours vary by season. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for youth ages 13-17, and $4 for children ages 2-12.
With 24,000 acres of vineyards and more than 100 wineries, the Santa Barbara area is one of California's most popular wine destinations. Vacationers staying in vacation rentals in Santa Barbara CA can explore the area wineries by following several established wine trails or take a wine tour through a local tour company.
No matter what your interests, Santa Barbara vacations offer something for everyone. With so many Santa Barbara vacation rentals to choose from, you're certain to find the perfect accommodations for a fabulous vacation! Make your reservations today for the best selection.
