Spring has sprung in Santa Barbara and we are loving it!

Northern migrating gray whales and many species of birds are an amazing sight to see; wildflowers and lush green hillsides create picturesque landscapes all around; all this combined with warmer water and longer days make March the perfect time for outdoor adventures.

Here are some fun ideas on how to best enjoy early spring in Santa Barbara:

76th Annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show
WHEN: March 8-10
TIME: 9AM – 5PM
WHERE: Earl Warren Showgrounds
Experience one of the oldest, largest, and most prestigious orchid shows in the United States, reflecting the rich agricultural and orchid-growing history of Santa Barbara County. 

Sea Cave Kayak Tour at Channel Islands National Park
WHEN: Every day in March
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
Channel Islands National Park is home to abundant wildlife, flourishing flora, and world-class sea caves. Our experienced guides love to take guests on incredible island kayak excursions share stories and fun facts about the area’s history and ecology. March is a particularly great time to see the spectacular “blowhole” phenomenon of water shooting out of caves in geyser-like formations. — BOOK NOW

St Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl
WHEN: March 16-17
TIME: 3:00PM – 2:00AM
WHERE: Institution Ale Company
Dress in green, rally up your friends and come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with hundreds of others, bouncing from bar to bar along State St!

Santa Ynez Wine Tour
WHEN: Every day in March
TIME: ~10AM to ~4PM
Get a taste of this spring’s newest local varietals from our very own wine country on a super fun wine tour through Santa Ynez. — Book Now

First Thursday Art Walk
WHEN: March 2nd
TIME: 5-8 PM
On the first Thursday of each month, participating galleries and venues offer free access to visual and performing arts in a fun and social environment. Venues feature attractions such as art openings, live music, artists’ receptions, lectures, wine tastings, and hands-on activities.

The post Fun Things to Do in Santa Barbara: March (2024) appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

From a distance, kayakers observe a cozy harbor seal soaking up some sun rays. Photo by Chuck Graham.

There’s something about their sweet pushed-in faces and long whiskers, as they seemingly smile at us as we paddle onto the next toothy sea cave around Scorpion Anchorage, on the long southeast finger of Santa Cruz Island.

Spotted harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are a species of pinniped frequently seen on guided kayak trips with Santa Barbara Adventure Company. They are the friendliest and most curious, but smallest of the six species of seals and sea lions that utilize the Channel Islands National Park for hauling out, breeding, and pupping. They are true seals, meaning they don’t possess external earflaps.

A cute harbor seal keeps a close eye on kayakers pass by. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Around the Scorpion Anchorage region, they rest easy inside Harbor Seal Cave less than a mile northwest of where guided trips begin and end. Usually, they haul out at or above the high tide mark always looking comfy on the steep, rocky backend of the massive grotto. If they don’t move inside the cave, they appear to be just like another rock, blending into their craggy habitat. Sometimes, though, inquisitive harbor seals follow rafts of kayakers from cave to cave, frolicking underwater while guests maneuver through narrow corridors and gaping caverns.

A harbor seal almost appears to smile as it rests on a barnacle-encrusted rock. Photo by Chuck Graham.

However, they can be seen anywhere around the Northern Chain, and because harbor seals don’t migrate far out to sea, not venturing any further out than the Channel Islands, spotting spotted harbor seals is easy to do. While leading kayak tours, guides are aware of the tides and will search for harbor seals on exposed rocks. Some of the same harbor seals seek out their favorite rocks and haul out on them day after day as soon as the tide recedes. Watching a harbor seal clamber up a barnacle-encrusted rock with their short forelimbs is always entertaining, especially if there’s a little bit of swell. They are not the most adept on land, scooching like an inchworm to find that sweet spot on their desired haul-out sites.

Visitors on guided kayak trips will notice that harbor seals make very little noise or nothing at all. The cute, little pups that way 35 pounds at birth, have a light yelp, but as they grow toward adulthood, they are virtually silent. Occasionally, though, an adult will growl at another. Pupping season in the Channel Islands can begin in February, and last into May. The only time harbor seals touch each other is during mating and nursing. You’ll never see them piled on top of each other like raucous California sea lions.

A silvery-colored harbor seal with dark spots. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Besides carrying spots on their fur, harbor seals come in an array of colors. When grouped up on tranquil coves and deserted beaches around the islands, you might see tan, black, brown, and even silvery-colored harbor seals. And wherever they are seen, it’s likely they were born in that region, and remain in that vicinity during their lifespan that can reach 30 years.

A full-grown harbor seal can reach 5-to-6 feet in length, and weigh as much as 350 pounds. Sounds like a lot, right? Not so fast. At the Channel Islands National Park, the harbor seal is tiny compared to their burly cousins, the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) that can be seen on Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands. There are even a few of these brutes on tiny Santa Barbara Island. The bulls can reach 16 feet in length and weigh somewhere between 3,000 to
5,000 pounds!

A large Northern Elephant Seal sleeps on the shoreline of Channel Islands National Park. Photo by Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

On those two remote, windswept isles, harbor seals and northern elephant seals can be seen sharing some of those same wave-battered beaches, one making a lot of noise, and the other peacefully silent.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

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With early wildflowers starting to bloom, and mild temperatures, February is the perfect time of year for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and kayaking. Strap on your adventure shoes, because there are a lot of fun things to do nearby this month:

Santa Barbara International Film Festival
WHEN: 2/7 to 2/17
WHERE: The Arlington Theater, Lobero Theater, Riviera Theater, and more
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival celebrates its 39th anniversary in beautiful downtown Santa Barbara. Film enthusiasts can enjoy special panels, award ceremonies, and films at some of the city’s most historic theaters. 

Valentine’s Day Wine Tour
WHEN: February 14th
TIME: 10AM-5PM
WHERE: Includes pick-up/drop-off in Santa Barbara and transportation to Santa Ynez Valley
What better way to enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Day than with a wine tasting excursion in scenic wine country? Let us take care of all the details while you bask in the beauty of breathtaking sights and sip the distinctive flavors of Santa Barbara Wine Country. Book Valentine’s Day Wine Tour

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
WHEN: 2/27 & 2/28
WHERE: The Arlington Theater
Featuring two nights of the world’s best films on subjects ranging from ice climbing and high-altitude ballooning to mountain culture and the environment, the tour delivers adrenaline-packed thrills alongside profound messages about human potential and the natural world. An entirely different program of films screen each night.

Adventure Sea Cave Kayak Tour at Channel Islands National Park
WHEN: Every day in February
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
February at Channel Islands National Park is famous for flowering giant coreopsis, lush/green hillsides, migrating sea birds, breeding seals & sea lions, and spectacular marine geysers known as blowholes. — Book Now

First Thursday Art Walk
WHEN: February 2nd
TIME: 5-8 PM
WHERE: On the first Thursday of each month, participating galleries and venues offer free access to visual and performing arts in a fun and social environment. Venues feature attractions such as art openings, live music, artists’ receptions, lectures, wine tastings, and hands-on activities.

Harbor Wildlife Kayak Tour
WHEN: Every day in February
TIME: Departing at 10AM and 1PM
WHERE: Santa Barbara Harbor
Join us for a relaxing introduction to kayaking where we’ll take a 2-hour paddling adventure around the Santa Barbara shoreline. This tour is the perfect half-day activity and a great introduction to the exciting sport of sea kayaking. Fun and affordable for the whole family! This tour has a 2-person minimum and the tour may be canceled if less than 2 people book on any tour date. — Book Now

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It’s a New Year and a great opportunity to rediscover your passion for Adventure!

Santa Barbara is an amazing place with warm weather year-round. SB winters are well-known for amazing sunsets, great surf, and perfect hiking weather all day! Plus, last month brought much-needed rain to Central California and as a result, our hillsides are now covered in a beautiful and lush, green flora.

There are so many fun things to do both indoors and outdoors this January. See some of our suggestions below:

Lecture & Book Signing: “Paddling Into a Natural Balance” by Chuck Graham
WHEN: January 26, 2024
TIME: 4:30 – 6PM
WHERE: California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum), Second Floor Valley Oak Gallery
Join us for an inspirational and educational lecture and book signing with Chuck Graham. His work has been published in Backpacker, BBC Wildlife Magazine, National Geographic, Men’s Journal, Natural History, American Forests, High Country News, and Westways.

17th Annual Holiday Celebration for Martin Luther King, Jr.
WHEN: January 15, 2024
TIME: 9AM – 3PM
WHERE: De La Guerra Plaza
Because only together we can make a difference. Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr weekend with a day of prayer, education, and celebration.

Sunset Kayak in Santa Barbara Harbor
WHEN: Every evening in January
WHERE: Santa Barbara Harbor
Winter is the best time of year for sunsets in Santa Barbara due to seasonal weather patterns including offshore winds. These winds keep the coast fog-free and carry medium and high-level clouds across the sky. Join us for a spectacular twilight sky viewing on our very special Sunset Kayak Tour! — Book Now

Monarch Butterfly Migration
WHERE: Ellwood Mesa
WHEN: Every day in January
The monarch butterfly migration occurs annually between November and February each year. This year there have been exciting reports of above-average butterfly sightings. You can go and see the monarchs for yourself at Sperling Preserve and Goleta Bluffs — all part of Ellwood Mesa.

Hike up to Montecito Peak
WHERE: Cold Spring Trailhead
LENGTH: 7.6 miles (out & back)
DIFFICULTY: Strenuous
Enjoy the cooler winter weather on a nice, long hike that features a creek, small waterfall, and panoramic views atop Montecito Peak.

Adventure Sea Cave Kayak Tour at Channel Islands National Park
WHEN: Every day in January
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
Yes, it’s true, our Channel Islands kayak tours run year-round! Join us as we explore world-renowned sea caves, giant kelp forests and recreate alongside wildlife that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. — Book Now

Karaoke Night
WHERE: The James Joyce
WHEN: Every Sunday & Monday in January
TIME: 9PM
Sitting at home bored on a Sunday or Monday night? Get your friends together for fun, drinks, and karaoke at State Street’s famous bar The James Joyce.

The post Fun Things to Do in Santa Barbara: January (2024) appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

Winter kayaking at Scorpion Anchorage. Photo by Chuck Graham.

Are you looking for a unique and memorable way to spend the holidays with your loved ones? Channel Islands National Park offers a bucket-list-worthy adventure you will remember for the rest of your life.

Here are four reasons why sea cave kayaking at this stunning location is an ideal holiday getaway for families and friends:

1. Solitude

With fewer visitors in the winter, the park offers an even more serene and intimate experience than any other time of year. This tranquility makes it perfect for families looking to spend quality time together and for those looking to escape the holiday rush.

Father, son, and daughter on a hike along one of Santa Cruz Islands’ ~49 miles of trails.

2. Gray Whale Migration

The winter months, especially from late December to mid-April, coincide with the gray whale migration. The ferry ride to and from the Channel Islands gives you a chance at a front-row seat to this incredible wildlife display. Seeing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience that both adults and kids will treasure.

Gray whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal on Earth. Here a mom and calf are seen passing through the Santa Barbara Channel on their trek from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Photo from Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

3. Active Wildlife

Thanks to changes in ocean currents and upwellings, the waters around the Channel Islands teem with life during winter. This means better chances of seeing seals, dolphins, and other marine animals in their active, playful states. Our guides will share stories and educational insights about these wild inhabitants and their marine ecosystems.

A curious California Sea Lion closely watches kayakers in a marine protected area (MPA) at Scorpion Anchorage.

4. A Unique Holiday Adventure

Break away from the usual holiday activities and embark on an epic sea cave kayaking journey. It’s an adventure that suits ages 5 & up and all skill levels, making it a perfect group activity for families and friends. Channel Islands National Park is a destination guaranteed to provide a holiday experience unlike any other.

Our Channel Islands sea cave kayak tours are fun for the whole family!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are you still running tours during the winter?
Yes, we run our Channel Islands tours year-round. Winter at the Channel Islands is serene and full of wildlife encounters.

Is it too cold for kayaking in winter?
Our wetsuits and splash jackets are included in the price of your tour and will do a good job of helping to keep you warm and dry. Plus, kayaking is a great way to stay active and keep the blood flowing!

Are the seas too rough for kayaking in winter?
We monitor the weather closely and offer full refunds for cancellations due to rough seas. Many winter days are calm and perfect for kayaking.

Get Ready for an Unforgettable Adventure:
Channel Islands National Park is the perfect destination for an unforgettable winter adventure with family and friends. Book your sea cave kayak tour and make this holiday season extraordinary. Spots are limited, especially during this popular season, so secure your adventure today!

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As I sat in my kayak atop the canopy of giant bladder kelp, I felt the swoosh of a bald eagle as it soared overhead, two blue wing tags with A-03 attached to its impressive 6-foot-wide wingspan.

I was leading an Adventure Tour for Santa Barbara Adventure Company at Scorpion Anchorage near the southeast fringe of Santa Cruz Island, and for several years now, bald eagle sightings at the idyllic natural harbor have become commonplace. A-03 arrived at Scorpion Anchorage sometime in 2020, while the new pier was constructed at Scorpion Anchorage and Santa Barbara Adventure Company was leading kayak tours at Prisoners Harbor, six miles to the west.

As I and eight others paddled ourselves in and out of toothy sea caves, we continued to encounter two regal bald eagles at the main hub of Channel Islands National Park (CINP). A-03 is now 7 years old and has eked out a diverse territory from San Pedro Point to Potato Harbor. He is seen with a female who is a “mystery bird.” Biologists are not sure of her origins, but female bald eagles are 25 percent larger than males, so when the two are perched next to each other, their size difference is obvious.

On the Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) website, A-03 is also known as Theos. He has two brothers. A-02 is known as Henry and has a mate on Santa Rosa Island. The other brother, A-04 is known as Barrett. He resides on San Miguel Island. The triplets represent the incredible recovery of bald eagles across the entire northern Channel Islands chain.

Due to the pesticide DDT, populations of bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and California brown pelicans were decimated across the Channel Islands from the 1940s until it became outlawed in 1972. From 1952 – 2002 there were no bald eagles remaining across the chain. 

However, from 2002–2006, CINP, IWS, and The Nature Conservancy partnered together for an aggressive reintroduction program, returning bald eagles to their historic island haunts. Each year, for five years biologists released 12 bald eaglets at eight weeks old. Those raptors were not ready to fly just yet, so biologists placed them in hack towers, an open-air enclosure raised about 15 feet off the ground. Each tower was open but barred so the birds could feel the ocean air in their wings. Two to three eaglets shared a hack tower, and each enclosure was equipped with a nest, perch, and a trapdoor so biologists could throw fish to the eaglets without being seen, thus, not leaving their human imprint on the young eaglets. Four weeks later the hack tower was opened, and the eaglets were ready to fly. Today, there are roughly 50 bald eagles fanned out across the northern chain. There are 12 nesting pairs, and the rest are individual birds figuring things out on the rugged archipelago.

Seeing A-03 from a kayak is witnessing a terrific example of island conservation. His mother is named Cruz, and she is one of the stars on the CINP website where viewers can watch her active nest on the live eagle cam at Fraser Point on the far northwest end of Santa Cruz Island. Sadly, the father of the triplets passed in 2022. Like island foxes, bald eagles are monogamous. Cruz wasted no time and had since paired up with another bald eagle named Andor. They had two eaglets’ last spring.

The grandparents of Theos, Henry, and Barrett are still around and close by. One of those grandparents is from Catalina Island. The other eagle is from CINP. They have been together going on 18 years. Their nest is not far from Scorpion Anchorage, and those majestic raptors are seen near Pelican Bay, seven miles northwest of where A-03 resides. Cruz is their first offspring, the first eaglet born after reintroduction in 2006. Cruz is now 17 years old.

And so, there are now strong family ties stretching across the craggy, windswept, wave-battered isles, a very unique example of a natural balance returned to CINP, and best experienced from a kayak while guided on a sea cave tour with Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

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It’s finally time to break out your favorite sweater again because Fall is officially here! We welcome with great delight cooler days that are perfect for hiking, camping, wine tasting, and more. Here’s how you can catch us hanging out around Santa Barbara this October:

Visit a Pumpkin Patch
WHEN: Every day in October
Get in the Fall-spirit by visiting a pumpkin patch. Here are a couple of options in town:
• Big Wave Dave – La Cumbre Plaza in the Macy’s parking lot
• Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch – 308 S. Walnut Lane, Goleta, CA 93117

Ultimate Sea Cave Kayak Tour at Channel Islands National Park
WHEN: Select days in October
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
This epic, full-day adventure is our longest kayak tour and is only available through the fall! Guests will kayak in and out of scenic sea caves and through giant kelp forests in one of the most biologically diverse marine areas in the world. — Book Now

37th Annual California Avocado Festival
WHEN: October 6th – 8th
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
The California Avocado Festival is one of the largest free music festivals in California with over 75 acts on four stages. The event showcases the endless ways to eat an avocado and attendees can also enjoy other various local vendors and plenty of live entertainment in the heart of the neighboring town of Carpinteria. 

Harvest Season Santa Ynez Wine Tour
WHEN: Every day in October from 10 am to 5 pm
WHERE: Includes pick-up/drop-off in Santa Barbara and transportation to Santa Ynez Valley
Harvest season is during September and October in Santa Barbara Wine Country. Join us for a wine tour during this beautiful and festive time of year! — Book Now

39th Annual Santa Barbara Vintners Festival
WHEN: October 14th
TIME: 12-4 PM
WHERE: Includes pick-up/drop-off in Santa Barbara and transportation to Santa Ynez Valley
Taste wines from 50+ wineries and savor regional cuisine from dozens of restaurants, chefs, and food producers. 

First Thursday Art Walk
WHEN: October 5th
TIME: 5-8 PM
WHERE: Participating galleries and venues, The Visitors’ Center, hotel concierge desks, host table on State Street, and the Downtown Santa Barbara office located at 27-B East De La Guerra Street
1^st Thursday is an evening of art and culture in downtown Santa Barbara. On the first Thursday of each month, participating galleries and venues offer free access to visual and performing arts in a fun and social environment. Venues feature attractions such as art openings, live music, artists’ receptions, lectures, wine tastings, and hands-on activities. We hope you will join us to enjoy our beautiful downtown and all that it has to offer!

Harbor Wildlife Kayak Tour
WHEN: Every day in October
TIME: Departing at 10 AM and 1 PM
WHERE: Santa Barbara Harbor
Join us for a relaxing introduction to kayaking where we’ll take a 2-hour paddling adventure around the Santa Barbara shoreline. This tour is the perfect half-day activity and a great introduction to the exciting sport of sea kayaking. Fun and affordable for the whole family! This tour has a 2-person minimum and the tour may be canceled if less than 2 people book on any tour date. — Book Now

Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival
WHEN: October 21st
TIME: 10 AM-5 PM
WHERE: Santa Barbara Harbor
This is your opportunity to meet all the local fishermen who catch fish in the area! Come to various food booths like fish tacos, oysters, mussels, barbecued albacore, fresh crab, clam chowder, and seafood paella. There will be live music as well!

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September is here! The days are warm and the sun is shining. Locals and visitors are at the beaches, kayaking the shoreline and surfing the breaks. Here are some of the fun things going on around town during this late-summer month.

Butterflies Alive! at the Museum of Natural History
WHEN: Through September 4th
TIME: 10:00am-5:00pm
WHERE: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Walk through a beautiful garden while nearly 1,000 live butterflies flutter freely around you. The exhibit features a dazzling variety of butterflies, from local favorites to exotic tropical species. Learn about the life cycle and behavior of these spectacular invertebrates while observing them up close.

Ultimate Sea Cave Kayak Tour at Channel Islands National Park
WHEN: Select days in September
WHERE: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
This epic, full-day adventure is our longest kayak tour and is only available during the summer season through November! Guests will kayak in and out of scenic sea caves and through giant kelp forests in one of the most biologically diverse marine areas in the world. — Book Now

The Runaway Grooms
WHEN: September 8th
TIME: 9:00pm
WHERE: SOHO Restuarant & Music Club
Grab your friends and get ready for a good time because the Runaway Grooms are returning to SOHO! The Runaway Grooms head back to Santa Barbara on their This Road tour supporting the release of their latest EP, This Road. 

Goleta Lemon Festival
WHEN: September 30th and October 1st
TIME: 10:00am-5:00pm
WHERE: Girsh Park, Goleta
Come enjoy Goleta’s Lemon Festival where you can dine on different lemon cuisine, enjoy fun kid-friendly activities, and appreciate the art of the lemon!

Gaviota Coast Kayak Tour
WHEN: Every day in September
TIME: 9:30am-12:30pm
WHERE: Haskell’s Beach, Goleta
Join us on an exploration of the Gaviota Coast, one of the few remaining sections of undeveloped, open coastline in California, and home to more than 1,500 species of plant and animal life. — Book Now

First Thursday Art Walk
WHEN: September 7th
TIME: 5:00-8:00pm
1^st Thursday is an evening of art and culture in downtown Santa Barbara. On the first Thursday of each month, participating galleries and venues offer free access to visual and performing arts in a fun and social environment. Venues feature attractions such as art openings, live music, artists’ receptions, lectures, wine tastings, and hands-on activities. We hope you will join us to enjoy our beautiful downtown and all that it has to offer!

Star Party
WHEN: Through September 4th
TIME: 8:00-10:00pm
WHERE: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Join Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History astronomy staff and members of the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit for an evening of craters on the Moon, nebulas, galaxies, and more. The Palmer Observatory will open its doors and its roof to share a remarkable view of the wonders of the night sky through our state-of-the-art 20-inch telescope.

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I’ve heard Southern California doesn’t have a change in the seasons. I’ve always scoffed at that notion, especially out at the Channel Islands National Park. Each August, I can feel a gradual shift from late summer into early fall, approaching like a wispy warm easterly wind. It’s arguably the best time of year to experience one of the least visited national parks in North America. 

Northwest winds have subsided, water temperatures are warming, and kayaking and snorkeling conditions are sublime. It’s the remnants of summer transitioning into fall. It’s the time of year that typically delivers the best sea conditions at the national park, particularly around Scorpion Anchorage on the southeast end of Santa Cruz Island. 

It’s a perfect time to kayak on a guided trip into the throng of sea caves that honeycomb the sheer, volcanic cliffs surrounding the largest, most diversified isle off the California Coast. With such stellar conditions, it gives guests the best opportunity to explore at least 10 toothy grottos under the most optimal weather during the nearly 3-hour Adventure Tour offered by Channel Islands Adventure Company. 

Visibility is also phenomenal. Don’t forget that Channel Islands National Park is also one of the most unique parks in North America because half of it is underwater. There is a one-nautical mile boundary extending around each isle. Dense kelp forests are havens, teeming with garibaldi, sheepshead, opaleye, blacksmiths, calico bass, bat rays, halibut, several species of baitfish, and countless invertebrates. And don’t forget those curious spotted harbor seals and California sea lions that keep snorkelers entertained with their balletic pelagic rhythms. 

A bat ray glides across on the ocean floor. Image courtesy of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Visitors to Scorpion Anchorage have the opportunity to rent snorkel gear at the on-island storefront and venture out on their own. They can also participate in a guided snorkeling tour where guides take guests on kayaks to some of the stunning pocket beaches near Scorpion Rock and Little Scorpion Anchorage. After landing their kayaks, guests then gear up and explore the crystal-clear waters lapping against craggy rock outcroppings and wave-battered cliffs. 

This transition in seasons also signifies that fall migration has begun for many wayward bird species, and California’s Channel Islands are the perfect landing spot for weary birds blown off course while flying north to south. Don’t forget your binoculars. Scorpion Anchorage and its adjacent canyon are a haven for a variety of songbirds, seabirds, and shorebirds. Many of the seabird and shorebird species can be observed from a kayak during guided trips in Scorpion Anchorage, or farther afield on a late-season paddling trip to Potato Harbor. 

A black oystercatcher perched atop a rock. Photo by Chuck Graham Photography.

Resident species like California brown pelicans, western gulls, and Brandt’s cormorants are seen daily preening from the cliffs and many rocky outcroppings. At lower tides, black oystercatchers enjoy the teeming intertidal zone foraging for crustaceans in the barnacles and mussels. Some of the migratory species seen are striking Pacific loons, tail-wagging wandering tattlers, and surfbirds. Each fall, ospreys and belted kingfishers arrive, and are spotted from the kayaks diving for fish from the towering cliffs. 

After paddling, easy hikes into shaded portions of Scorpion Canyon might reveal yellow-rumped, and Townsend warblers, American redstarts, hermit thrushes, chipping sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, and western tanagers are regularly seen. A good place to look for the plethora of songbirds is the old fig trees leftover from the ranching era, which lasted from the 1820s–1990s.

So, whether you are day-tripping on Santa Cruz or camping in Scorpion Canyon, get the most out of your visit paddling, snorkeling, or both with Channel Islands Adventure Company. They will guide you so you can experience all the natural wonders the islands possess.

Blog contributed by:
Chuck Graham

The post Late Summer Bliss on Santa Cruz Island appeared first on Santa Barbara Adventure Co..

Photo credit: Chuck Graham

The summer is flying by and August is full of fun things to do here in Santa Barbara! With sunny weather and gorgeous beaches, it’s time to get outside and explore. One of the best months to be in Santa Barbara, August’s bright days and warm nights provide numerous options for fun in the sun. The water is warm, dive in!

Old Spanish Days Fiesta
When: August 2nd–6th
Where: Santa Barbara Historical Museum
Old Spanish Days Fiesta is a beloved Santa Barbara tradition that has continued for nearly 100 years. The annual event provides education to residents and visitors about the history, customs, and traditions of the American Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and early American settlers that comprise the rich cultural heritage of Santa Barbara.

Kayak & Snorkel Tours at Channel Islands National Park
When: Every day in August
Where: Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island
The water is at its warmest and clearest most days in August – making incredible conditions for snorkeling and kayaking at the Channel Islands. See the California State Fish, the Garibaldi, bat rays, kelp forests, seals, and other incredible species off the coast. Plus, explore some of the largest and most beautiful sea caves in the world! — Book Now

Santa Ynez Wine Tour
When: Every day in August from 10am to 5pm
Where: Includes pick-up/drop-off in Santa Barbara and transportation to Santa Ynez Valley
Spend a day wine tasting in Santa Ynez Valley on a wine country tour! — Book Now

State Street Promenade Market
When: Every Thursday in August
Time: 3:00-7:30pm
Where: 1000 Block of State Street
Stroll and shop artisan goods in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara at this fun, family-friendly marketplace!

Sunset Kayak in Santa Barbara Harbor
When: Every evening in August
Where: Santa Barbara Harbor
Enjoy a relaxing sunset ocean kayak tour around the Santa Barbara harbor & shoreline. This tour is fun and affordable for the whole family! Plus, it’s great for all sea kayaking skill levels including beginners to advanced. — Book Now

Santa Barbara Zoo
When: Every Thursday in August
Where: 500 Ninos Dr.
See your favorite animals at the zoo including leopards, penguins, giraffes and more!

Gaviota Coast Kayak Tour
When: Every day in August
Where: Haskell’s Beach
Kayak the Gaviota Coast, one of the few remaining sections of undeveloped, open coastline in California, and home to more than 1,500 species of plant and animal life. — Book Now

Free Summer Cinema
When: August 11th, 18th, and 25th
Where: Sunken Gardens at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse
UCSB Arts and Lectures is excited to announce the return of the free 2023 cinema series! The 2023 theme is “Out of This World” with movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Nope.

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