It may seem that the number of options for activities in Santa Barbara is both endless and overwhelming! No worries, to make your planning easier, we have put together a list of the best Santa Barbara tours. So, no matter if your favorite pursuits lean towards wineries, history, maritime adventures, or dining, we have it all figured out for you!
Plan your getaway now by booking your stay at the Eagle Inn! After a restorative night’s sleep, begin your adventure with one of these fun tours. If you just can’t decide or need some help, give us a call, and we will walk you through some customized itineraries.
Food Tours
Santa Barbara is certainly a mecca for foodies! If you have trouble deciding which restaurant or what type of cuisine to try, a food tour is a great place to start. You get a great sampling of different foods, curated by an experienced guide who adds a bit of history and local gossip to the experience. Here are some of the best:
Taste of Santa Barbara Food Tours
There are several choices of tours here, but generally, the eating is spread out during the course of the tour, so you don’t feel quite so stuffed. Get lots of history, and some wine with the tasting as well.
Eat This, Shoot That
Take a fun tour of the Funk Zone that not only includes history, arts culture, and engaging factoids but also great tips on how to get the best foodie shots with your smartphone. The food and drinks are also amazing!
Totally Cali Tours
Here you can experience a full 6-hour immersive tour that is part history, part food, part wine, and part beer. A great choice if you can’t decide!
Wine Tours
You may have noticed that many of the Food Tours also include wine tasting. That’s because there are literally dozens of tasting rooms in the downtown Santa Barbara Area! They are all listed on the Urban Wine Trail. The tours we are focussing on here are trips to the actual wineries, not just the tasting rooms! Both are great, but these include visits to wineries and usually a picnic lunch.
Sustainable Wine Tours
These 7-hour tours are to private, family-owned vineyards, estates, and boutique wineries. Expect to meet the winemaker, and get behind-the-scenes tours in small groups (no bachelorette parties allowed).
Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours
These tours visit three wineries and include a picnic lunch and a guide with history and fun facts about the area. Another choice is a Cupcake and Wine tour, combining a sweet treat with the vino.
I Bike Santa Barbara Wine Tours
Another option to visit the wineries is on a bicycle, either self-propelled or ebike. The guides will help you through this 15-mile ride to several wineries.
History and Architectural Tours
Santa Barbara Trolley Tours
Sometimes the best way to get to know a new city is by trolley! Take a 90-minute tour and see all of the iconic sites of Santa Barbara before you decide what you want to investigate in depth.
Historical Architectural Tour
If you are a history or architecture buff, these personal tours guided by locals are perfect! Learn about how Spanish revival architecture became popular after the 6.8 earthquakes in 1925.
Boat Tours
Some people think the best way to see a coastal city is from the water! Here are three different ways to do it in Santa Barbara.
Land Shark Tours
See the coastline from an amphibious tour vehicle that can travel on land and in the water.
Santa Barbara Cruises
Enjoy the sunset, coastal or whale-watching cruises on a 50’ sailing catamaran.
Condor Express
The Condor Express specializes in whale-watching trips. Check out the information about the varieties of whales, dolphins, and porpoises that can be seen in the Santa Barbara Channel.
We weren’t kidding when we said there is a lot to do! And this isn’t even half of it. Do plan a long enough getaway to be able to relax, have fun, and enjoy a few of the best tours in Santa Barbara. We cannot wait to see you at the Eagle Inn!.