Discover Santa Barbara this fall
Fall is one of Santa Barbara’s most sublime seasons. Warm, sun-soaked days are paired with refreshingly cool evenings, and the faintest hint of autumn lingers in the morning air. Nothing like waking up in our waterfront hotel, the Beachside Inn, perfectly located on Cabrillo Blvd.
The sunsets get more vibrant, the vineyards turn to gold and orange, and our seasonal bounty is celebrated at charming local festivals. It’s a time to be outside, taking full advantage of the season’s sensory delights and savoring the incredible vistas from the mountains to the Channel Islands.
This fall, epic outdoor activities await in Santa Barbara, whether you feel the need for speed, crave a fitness challenge, or seek more mellow and restorative al fresco experiences. Waken with the sound of the sea and take in stunning views of the Santa Barbara Harbor from our oceanfront hotel. Discover Santa Barbara this fall.
Santa Barbara Half Marathon
Perhaps running is more your style? Then sign up for the Santa Barbara Half Marathon set to take place November 7, 2021. This community favorite event offers the option to complete the full 13.1-mile half marathon or to run a shorter 5K. And a fun run for kids enables the whole family to get in on the action this autumn. The course will take you through Santa Barbara’s waterfront and downtown locations, and if you’re the competitive type, division awards are given to the top three men and women in various age groups. All event proceeds benefit youth running programs in the community.
https://santabarbaraca.com/events/santa-barbara-half-marathon/
This Autumn discover the Channel Islands National Park
Channel your inner explorer on a bucket list-worthy excursion to the Channel Islands. Sitting 25 miles offshore, the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary is considered the Galapagos of North America. The remarkably pristine, uncrowded environment is ripe with adventure potential on land and at sea. Santa Barbara Adventure Company is a leading outfitter providing exclusive access to the islands with a variety of guided daylong group tour experiences, including spectacular sea cave kayaking and snorkeling. Santa Barbara Sailing Center offers private, customizable sailing charters to the islands on luxurious cruising yachts and it’s only steps from the Beachside Inn. Opt for a simple day jaunt or a multi-day trip that can be packed to the gills with hiking, surfing, paddleboarding, free diving, SCUBA, and more oceanic adventures. Also departing directly from Santa Barbara Harbor, Channel Islands Expeditions runs guided Channel Islands day trips for beginning and intermediate kayakers as well as more elaborate liveaboard trips for SCUBA enthusiasts.
https://santabarbaraca.com/like-a-local/channel-islands-national-park/
Courtesy of @isurfschool
Paragliding and i-foil surfing in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is home to the nation’s longest-running paragliding school, Fly Above All Paragliding. So, whether you’re a first-time flyer or want to uplevel your existing skills, you will be in very good hands booking a lesson or session with Fly Above All Paragliding at their Elings Park launch site. Newbies can do an hour-long tandem flight experience with an instructor at the helm or enroll in a full day of training to prepare for solo flights. If you’re more serious about learning the ropes and want to get certified, book a two-day course or P2 Novice Certification Course to earn your wings.
https://santabarbaraca.com/businesses/fly-above-all-paragliding/
For a less intense but equally invigorating aerial adventure, book a flight with Santa Barbara Parasail. Up to three people (ages five and older) at a time can take flight, reaching 1,000 feet while being pulled by a speedboat cruising along the picturesque Santa Barbara coastline. An adrenaline rush is guaranteed.
https://santabarbaraca.com/businesses/santa-barbara-parasail/
Visitors over the age of 16 can “levitate” above the sea with iSurf Santa Barbara’s new eFoil boards. With the power of an electric board and top-notch lessons, you’ll be equipped to hover over the Pacific and experience a new version of riding the waves.
https://santabarbaraca.com/businesses/isurf-llc/
Photo by David Collier, Courtesy of Visit California
Astonishing trails to explore this Autumn
Santa Barbara’s mountainous front country and back country abound with potential for outdoor adventuring on land. Both Cal Coast Adventures and Santa Barbara Adventure Company run guided mountain biking excursions catering to different ability levels and featuring diverse terrain types. You can take things a little slower and soak up the sights and scents of the season on a horseback ride with Los Padres Outfitters, whose knowledgeable guides will lead you through the foothills and along the shores of Summerland’s beaches. Hiking through our region’s distinctive chaparral is equally splendid in fall. See our guide to the best hikes in Santa Barbara for tips on trails ranging from easy half-milers to grueling 10-mile out and back treks. Adventure time and relax at the Beachside Inn.
Get grounded
If you’re looking for a restorative and grounding outdoor activity, bring your yoga practice into the great wide open. Santa Barbara Beach Yoga offers a regular schedule of social-distancing friendly open-air classes beloved by locals and visitors alike. Choose from morning and evening classes held right on the sands of East Beach or on the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion’s rooftop deck overlooking the beach. Become more attuned to Mother Nature on a guided Bird Walk at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. An experienced local naturalist leads these monthly walks through the garden’s meadows and woodlands, where you’ll learn to spot quails, woodpeckers, wrens, and other fine feathered friends. More “secret” meditative walking opportunities can be found at the Lagoon Island Labyrinth on the UCSB Campus in Goleta and on the grounds of the Vedanta Temple in Montecito. There’s always a hidden sport to discover in Santa Barbara.
Autumn Sunset time in Santa Barbara
Here in Santa Barbara, we consider pausing to watch the nightly sunset show an “event,” too. Find a perch on the beach or a hillside park and settle in to watch the sky change colors as the sun drops below the horizon—in the fall, after the sun disappears, the deep pinks, oranges, and purples tend to get even more saturated and dramatic, so it’s worth waiting around for a spell.
If you prefer beach sunsets, discover Santa Barbara’s most scenic spots to catch a sunset here!
