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SANTA BARBARA VACATION RENTALS, CALIFORNIA |
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Outdoor Recreation in Santa Barbara |
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| There are countless opportunities for sightseeing and recreation in and around Santa Barbara. You can indulge in surfing, sailing, diving, kayaking and swimming, while anglers are promised many opportunities for a good day's catch. Don't forget to enjoy the area's special wine tasting tours, as well. |
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• Beach Activities
• Water Sports
• Hiking
• Biking
• Skating and Skateboarding
• Fishing
• Adventure Sports
• Whale Watching Cruises
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| Beach Activities |
Santa Barbara County boasts several gorgeous sandy beaches - perfect for lazing around, playing volleyball, camping and simply enjoying a snack. Dogs are allowed on a few of the beaches including Arroyo Burro Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, El Capitan State Beach and Jalama Beach.
The city of Santa Barbara also has several beach parks. City beach parks are open from sunrise to 10 PM. Mesa Lane Steps and Thousand Steps are beach access areas. East Beach offers picnic areas, volleyball courts, a restaurant, and a bathhouse. Leadbetter Beach has grassy picnic areas and barbecue sites. Call ahead to reserve facilities. West Beach is great for sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, wind surfing and volleyball. Walking/biking paths are available.
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| Water Sports |
| Great surfing waves are available at many points in and around Santa Barbara. The best time to surf is in the winter and to a lesser extent, in fall. Rincon Point is a great surfing spot. Arch Reef on Santa Barbara Island is an amazing diving site with millions of starfish, rock scallops and abalone to gaze at under water. Other water sports you can enjoy in Santa Barbara are kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and of course swimming. Rentals for most of these water activities are readily available. |
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| Hiking |
| Santa Barbara has a multitude of hiking trails. You have a choice between hiking in the mountains, Santa Ynez River Valley and in the wilderness of San Rafael. |
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| Biking |
| The Cabrillo Bike Path is a 3.2 mile paved path, offering views of the islands and the city of Santa Barbara. A biking trail is also present at Parma Park. Try renting a 2, 3, or 4 wheeled cycle for a day of family fun. |
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| Skating and Skateboarding |
| Skater's Point, located just east of Stearns Wharf, is a popular skateboard park. It offers the best in bowl riding and street skating. It is against regulations to skate without a helmet and pads though. Inline skaters will love the 2-mile off street beach skate. |
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| Fishing |
| Cachuma Lake is a popular local fishing destination. Stearns Wharf is good at times for mackerel, bonito and even barracuda. Halibut, jacksmelt, white croaker, sand bass, kelp bass, scorpion fish, various perch, bat rays and shovelnose guitarfish dominate the catch. |
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| Adventure Sports |
| Santa Ynez Mountains offer great back packing and rock-climbing opportunities. For hang-gliding, paragliding and skydiving the local adventure shops offer many choices. |
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| Whale Watching Cruisese |
| The Santa Barbara Channel is home to over 30 different species of whales, dolphins, and seals and sea lions. From May through November, the water around Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and the San Miguel Islands have the world's highest concentration of blue and humpback whales. In the winter and spring months the California gray whales pass by on both their migration north and south. Party, dinner, sunset and private charter cruises are available, including cruises along the Santa Barbara Coastline and excursions to the Channel Islands. |
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