Our most recommended things to do in Montecito

Santa Barbara: Sunset Kayak Tour

1. Santa Barbara: Sunset Kayak Tour

Discover the beautiful landscapes of Santa Barbara on a relaxing sunset kayak tour. You will watch a basic paddling demonstration and hear the safety talk before setting out on the water. Spend 2-hours on the water exploring the Santa Barbara harbor and the shoreline. Watch the sun as it settles over the sea, creating a gorgeous backdrop of the city and the Santa Ynez Mountain range. Enjoy paddling along the coastline and soak in the stunning surrounding views of the sea. Immerse yourself into a dream-like nature experience for all sea kayaking skill levels, including beginners to advanced.

Santa Barbara Surfing Lesson

2. Santa Barbara Surfing Lesson

This is a simple introduction for a first-time surfer or someone who has tried surfing a few times and needs some pointers. The instruction starts with beach lesson reviewing: how to position yourself on the board, paddling techniques, and proper stance. Once in the water students will get pointers on maneuvering waves, balance techniques, and surf etiquette. Santa Barbara Adventure Company’s surf lessons offer students a great foundation for this exciting sport. Our knowledgeable instructors have over 25 years of combined experience and will use their skills to point out the finer points of catching waves. Instructors choose surf sites based on the current swell and tide conditions, finding the best breaks for successful learning. Lessons require a minimum of four students.

Santa Barbara: Santa Ynez Wine Country Shuttle

3. Santa Barbara: Santa Ynez Wine Country Shuttle

Explore some of the best wineries in the famous Santa Ynez Valley. Enjoy a tasting, glass, or bottle of wine with a pairing of various food options at each winery.Learn from discussions of local history and gain insights into the Santa Ynez wine region along the way with your knowledgeable guides. Sample Itinerary: 9:30 - 10:45 AM – pickup at hotel 11:15 AM – winery tasting 12:15 PM – winery tasting 1:15 - 2:15 PM – lunch at a winery 2:30 PM – winery tasting 4 - 4:30 PM – drop-off at your hotel

Santa Barbara: Wine Country Tour

4. Santa Barbara: Wine Country Tour

Your group will be picked up by an air-conditioned van in the morning. Travel then to the first winery in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. Once there, begin wine tastings and sometimes are offered barrel room tours. On the weekdays, lunch will be served in the shade at a favorite winery or park. Your guide will pick up a delicious lunch sourced from local, fresh ingredients. Cold beverages will be provided. Visit 3 local favorite wineries in the area. Each has its unique vintages and award-winning selections. The winery staff will offer insight into specific blends and selections to our guests.

Santa Barbara: City & Sand Electric Bike Tour

5. Santa Barbara: City & Sand Electric Bike Tour

Start with an easy ride along the scenic Cabrillo Bike Path, then explore the artsy funk zone of Santa Barbara. After learning a little bit about the wining and dining options of the funk zone, see some of the historic buildings in the heart of downtown. Enjoy a safe and spacious bike ride up and down lively State Street Promenade, which is reserved for bike and pedestrian traffic only. Get insider info and hear of some hidden gems from your expert guide, before heading to the beach. Ride onto the sand at Santa Barbara's Harbor and pass alongside the waves and palm trees as you glide from the beach to beach along the waterfront. Discover Butterfly Beach, Secret Beach, and Miramar Beach in the ritzy town of Montecito. End the tour with a final stop outside at the 5-star Rosewood Miramar Hotel, with a stunning view of the beaches directly on the sand.

Santa Barbara: Cupcake and Wine Tour

6. Santa Barbara: Cupcake and Wine Tour

Your group will be picked up by an air-conditioned shuttle in the morning and head up to the Santa Ynez Valley. Once there, you will enjoy wine tasting at some of the area’s best wineries. Your group will visit beautiful Los Olivos and enjoy an incredible cupcake and wine tasting. Your guides will cover local human history and insight into the wine region along the way. On the weekdays, lunch will be served in the shade at a favorite winery or park. Your guide will pick up a delicious lunch sourced from local, fresh ingredients. Cold beverages will be provided. Each winery has its unique vintages and award-winning selections. Winery staff offer insight into specific blends and selections to guests.

Santa Barbara: Wine Country Tour with Lunch

7. Santa Barbara: Wine Country Tour with Lunch

Explore Small-Production and Family-Owned Wine Tours in Santa Barbara! Enjoy a fun-filled day on our Santa Barbara Wine Country Tour. Join the group as we explore wines from boutique, family-owned wineries. We work with 25+ wineries, so the route varies from day to day. The tour is designed to showcase the the quality and diversity of fine wines in Santa Barbara. We give you the full wine tasting experience by visiting a mixture of vineyards and small production wine tasting rooms. Door-to-door transportation is available from Montecito, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Los Olivos and Buellton. Pick-ups begin in the Santa Barbara area at 10:00 a.m. and then on to the Santa Ynez area at 11:00 a.m. Tours typically last about six hours. Lunch is served at the third stop. (Vegetarian, vegan and meat centric options are available)

Santa Barbara: Guided Kayak Tour

8. Santa Barbara: Guided Kayak Tour

Meet your guides at the boat launch at Santa Barbara Harbor, where they outfit everyone in paddle jackets and PFDs. Guides will give a basic paddling demonstration and safety talk before setting out on the water. The launch is easy, right out of the boat launch. This is a great introductory lesson to kayaking or a nice relaxing kayak for more experienced paddlers. Once on the water, paddle approximately 1-2 miles along the coast surrounded by beautiful beaches and marine life. The group will continue through the harbor, paddling past boats, through the historic wharf, under the pier, out to buoys, and along the beach.  Keep a look out for wildlife along the way such as harbor seals, sea lions, brown pelicans, sea stars, cormorants, and seagulls.  Guides will offer insight into the history of the region as well as local marine ecology. Enjoy a relaxed pace and incredible marine life as well as taking in the views of Santa Barbara from the water.

Santa Barbara: South Coast Mountain Bike Day Trip

9. Santa Barbara: South Coast Mountain Bike Day Trip

Discover the mountains of Santa Barbara on this cycling tour. Sip on cold water as you follow your guide thorugh stunning vistas of the mountains, city, and the ocean. Pick from a simple course for beginners or an intermediate course for avid cyclers. Have the option for a beginner mountain bike tour over mostly flat terrain with a few dips and climbs, or opt for a more challenging intermediate tour with single track turns, berms, and jumps. Meet before your scheduled start time to get set up on bikes. Have the suspension and seat heights adjusted to ensure you are comfortable on your bike. Load the bikes up into the vehicle and head to the trailhead. Experience some of the local mountain biking hot spots in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta, and Santa Ynez. Let your guide take care of navigation as you ride through eucalyptus trees. Transfer back to the supplier's bike shop at the end of your tour.

Other Sightseeing Options in Montecito

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What people are saying about Montecito

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 31 reviews

This was a really great adventure- especially for those with out much experience. My group and I had kayaked a lot before but our guides we so helpful in making the excursion memorable and unique to us all. We talked a lot about the harbor in Santa Barbara and when we went out into the open ocean for a little bit we saw sea lions!! It was a really awesome trip and would recommend to people of any ability :)

The tour was great. Our driver Sunny was very nice. She kept everything running smoothly and was informative. My friends and I were celebrating a work anniversary and it was a perfect day. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants a relaxing day of wine tasting in Santa Barbara.

Sunny was awesome! Great knowledge of the area and the wineries. It was a pleasure go on this tour through the “sideway’s” mountains. Would recommend wholeheartedly. Robin

We had a great day! Sunny was a fantastic tour guide-very knowledgeable and friendly!

Very friendly guide, she took her time and explained everything very well