Add dates

Santa Barbara Self-guided activities

Our most recommended Santa Barbara Self-guided activities

Santa Barbara: Self-Guided Walk with App-Based Audio Guide

1. Santa Barbara: Self-Guided Walk with App-Based Audio Guide

Take an idyllic walk through Santa Barbara with a GPS-based app as an audio guide. Walk the route at your own pace, and stop by sights including El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, West Beach, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Start on the corner of Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden and Alameda Park, where you’ll learn about Santa Barbara’s earliest roots, including the Chumash Natives who lived there more than 9,000 years ago. Discover one of the city’s most important historical sites, the El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, before walking the city’s Urban Wine Trail. Soak in the fresh air along West Beach, and learn how the Funk Zone got its name. Stop by spots significant during prohibition, and take in some of Downtown’s most iconic landmarks including Hotel Californian, Lobero Theatre, Hotel Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Gaze at one of the city’s oldest structures, the Covarrubias Adobe. As you wind your way across State Street to Stearns Wharf where the walk ends, hear about the disastrous 1925 earthquake that destroyed the area, and the preservation efforts in place in the Downtown district.

Santa Barbara: Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour

2. Santa Barbara: Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour

Enjoy a guided walking tour of beautiful and interesting parts of downtown Santa Barbara while following clues on your smartphone and solving interesting puzzles along the way. Play with your group as the game guides you through the city. Score points for correct answers and try to get a high score on the leaderboard. See major attractions as well as less-known gems of Santa Barbara on this unique interactive tour. Work together with your group to solve the 22 challenges on the scavenger hunt as you walk approximately 2 miles. Play any time that fits your schedule. There is no in-person guide you have to wait for. Explore downtown Santa Barbara California at your own pace. See the bustling State Street, the historic Spanish Presidio, De La Guerra Plaza, the Old Lobero Opera House, and many interesting and lesser-known sights. Enjoy fun challenges with family and friends that are perfect for all ages.

From San Francisco: Highway 1 Self-Drive Audio Tour

3. From San Francisco: Highway 1 Self-Drive Audio Tour

Hop in your car and enjoy this self-guided audio tour along the Pacific Coast Highway. Start in San Francisco or LA, and simply follow the GPS guide to explore one of the most beautiful stretches of coastal road in the world. Take your time driving through Monterey Bay, artsy Carmel and more. Your virtual audio guide will share interesting facts and insights as you drive. Admire views of rocky headlands, jewel-like coves, waterfalls and the famous bridges of Big Sur as you explore California’s coastal highlights. Your downloaded guide will give you plenty of opportunities to pull off the road and explore local beaches, wildlife and towns on foot. Wander through San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Ventura & Malibu before wrapping up the tour in Los Angeles. You will receive an email with the audio tour app link and a unique password from the local supplier within 1 hour of booking. Once the app is downloaded, take the tour whenever you would like. Just head to stop number 1 and begin exploring.

Santa Barbara: Electric Bike Rental

4. Santa Barbara: Electric Bike Rental

Rent an electric bike and discover a new way to explore Santa Barbara, California. Choose a 2-hour rental or an all-day rental, and pick from three different brands of electric bikes to find the right variety and size for you. Learn how to safely operate your bike before taking off on your adventure. The three electric bike brands offered are Specialized Turbo Como, Townie-Electra Go, and Rad Power Bikes' fleet of Ebikes. All three brands offer pedal-assist power with multiple levels of assist. The Rad Power Bikes also all have a throttle that can be used if you need an extra boost up the hill. Whatever brand or style you choose, feel secure knowing that all electric bikes are well-maintained and user-friendly. As an added perk, get a tutorial before taking off to ensure you know how to safely and properly use the bike to its utmost potential. Most of the bikes are rated to last about 30 to 50 miles, however, this is dependent on riding style, rider weight, and the route taken. Rarely do riders run out of battery during these electric bike rentals. When you rent your bike, make sure to ask about popular places to ride to and visit. Most of the staff you will meet are also tour guides and are here to help you get the most out of your electric bike rental.

Pacific Coast Highway: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

5. Pacific Coast Highway: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

Drive along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway and experience the beauty of the California coast. Take advantage of the flexibility to set your own pace between stops during the self-guided app-based audio tour. See Monterey, the famous beach town known for its prestigious aquarium, and the popular golf courses of Pebble Beach. Stop off at picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea, an artsy enclave where Clint Eastwood was once mayor. Hear the sound of barking sea lions at Point Lobos State Park, whose rocky headlands are interspersed with jewel-like coves. Big Sur is one of the not-to-be-missed highlights along the scenic road, where you can enjoy gorgeous views, waterfalls, and bridges. Near San Simeon, the home of Hearst Castle, pull off at Piedras Blancas Beach, where enormous elephant seals can be spotted in the winter months. Before cutting inland to San Luis Obispo, stop to admire Morro Bay Rock and hunt for anemones in the tidal pools. Explore Santa Barbara’s quintessential downtown and then continue down to Ventura and Malibu. If you started the drive in San Francisco, end your tour in Los Angeles at the famous Santa Monica Pier. The audio tour is curated by local guides and creative writers and is narrated by professional voice artists.

Santa Barbara: Stand-up Paddle Board Rental

6. Santa Barbara: Stand-up Paddle Board Rental

Make your way to the beach rental stand located at West Beach located between Stearn's Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor. Upon arrival, get equipped with all the gear required, as well as a safety briefing before you set off. With plenty of advice from the team on where to go and what to see, start discovering the beautiful coastline at your leisure. See various points of interest within the harbor and the areas around Stearn's Wharf. Search for marine life, with sightings of sea lions, seals, and dolphins common in the area.

Pacific Coast Hwy (LA <> Santa Maria): Smartphone Audio Tour

7. Pacific Coast Hwy (LA <> Santa Maria): Smartphone Audio Tour

Explore the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway between L.A. and Santa Maria on a self-guided driving tour. Start anywhere along the route and enjoy a scenic drive along the California coast. Let your audio guide transform your scenic drive into a sight-seeing, fact-finding, trivia-answering, family-friendly adventure. Pass through and learn about some of the cities and small towns nestled along the coast. See the famous Marina Del Rey, catch glimpse of the Channel Islands, and pass by the Vandenberg Space Force Base. Find out about parks, historical sites, tourist attractions, recreation areas, and more from your audioguide. Explore Tuna Canyon and Topanga State Park, Nicholas Canyon Beach, and the Chumash village of Wishtoyo. Admire Boney Peak at the Point Mugu State Park and look for the endangered California Condors in Ventura County. Check out other sights along the way, including the Getty Villa Museum, Port Hueneme, Santa Ynez Mountains and Painted Caves Historical Park, Goleta, and Nojoqui Falls.

California: Downloadable Audio Guide for Highway 1 and More

8. California: Downloadable Audio Guide for Highway 1 and More

Complete your road trip around California with an audio guide featuring 169 locations and 3 hours of audio in 1 app. Listen to the recordings as you take in views at Yosemite, Mt. Whitney, and Zabriskie Point, experience the unique cultures of Silicon Valley, Santa Monica, and Hollywood, and drive down Highway 1. Feel at ease taking in the views while the app uses GPS to find your location and suggest stops. From famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge to lesser-known gems like Moss Landing, appreciate the wealth of beauty and history in California with detailed audio descriptions.   Stop and start your journey as often as you please, there’s no constraints once you download the app and activate your audio guide. If there’s a specific site you’d like to visit, manually choose audio guides from the built-in map or from a list.

Santa Barbara: Full-Day 7-Speed Bike Rental with Area Map

9. Santa Barbara: Full-Day 7-Speed Bike Rental with Area Map

Enjoy a comfortable and smooth ride on a 7-speed bicycle with this full-day bike rental in Santa Barbara. Take advantage of the over 300 days of sunshine per year and discover the waterfront with a map of the bike routes in the area. Head to the bike shop and pick up your bike. Get a helmet for yourself and any other rider peddling with you. Take the family along too with 24” and 20” kid's mountain bikes. Feel free to ask the rental staff for recommendations where to eat or what to do on your ride. Glide along the coastal boardwalk and feel free to stop and pick something up with the included lock and basket. Return the bike to the rental shop at the end of the rental period.

Santa Barbara: App-Based Murder Mystery Detective Game

10. Santa Barbara: App-Based Murder Mystery Detective Game

Wander the streets of Santa Barbara while playing a fun murder mystery game on your phone and discover the city's sights along the way. See the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Arlington Theatre, Superior Court of California and much more.  Download the app, choose your route, then head out as a solo detective, with a partner, or as a group to get started. Follow the prompts on your phone as you travel to different locations within the game map and immerse yourself in an audio tale full of intrigue. Release your inner gumshoe and take on the role of a recent graduate of the Detective Academy. A murder has been committed in Santa Barbara and you're tasked with solving the crime. Your job is to visit each of the 10 locations marked on the map, piece together the evidence, identify the killer, and issue an arrest warrant. Choose a walking route in Downtown Santa Barbara, suited for groups of up to 4 people, or opt for a driving route. Play the game at any time and move at your own pace, taking a break whenever you need to and resuming once you're ready.

43 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 3

Frequently asked questions about Santa Barbara

What are the best day trips and excursions from Santa Barbara?

The best day trips and excursions from Santa Barbara are:

Solvang

What are the best outdoor activities to do in Santa Barbara?

Other Sightseeing Options in Santa Barbara

Want to discover all there is to do in Santa Barbara? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Santa Barbara

It was great though we did have Google maps on one phone and this app on another. V informative. I had a technical issue whicb support sorted out within minutes via chat. Only annoyance is hearing the instruction to go back to the map and follow the route for 150 times.

The GPS functionality worked very well and the tour was quite interesting. I wish the additional points of interest feature worked without Wi-Fi or service and was more imbedded into the tour. Definitely worth the money!

The tour is very good, it has very interesting information. Highly recommended.

Was very interesting and made the time during the trip short for us.