Located in the chic and laid-back village of Montecito, Butterfly Beach is a favourite among Santa Barbara locals. The beach’s pristine shoreline is ideal for swimming, surfing and sunbathing, and its unique east-west orientation makes for some truly spectacular sunrises and sunsets. We will stop and take in all the beauty of this stretch of coastline.

Tucked away in the leafy foothills of Montecito, San Ysidro Ranch offers a unique blend of privacy, peace, and tranquility in an idyllic setting. Thirty-eight vine-covered cottages surrounded by incredibly landscaped gardens with flowers always in bloom under a canopy of stately sycamores and gnarled oaks make this exclusive property destination unplugged from the rest of the world. Citrus groves, olive trees, brilliantly coloured lantanas, lily pond, and the sweet smell of orange blossoms, fragrant magnolias, and jasmine make you think that you have just discovered a slice of paradise. We will do a quick ride around the grounds and marvel at the beautiful gardens and vegetation.

Hot Springs Canyon is a beautifully unique area of 462-acres where trails, wildlife, and sensitive creek habitat overlap in a quiet area. One of the last undeveloped, private properties in the Santa Barbara foothills, Hot Springs Canyon was protected in 2012, though it’s been a local recreation favourite for decades. Due to its popularity, please take extra care to leave no trace when visiting this sensitive and unusual natural resource—the creek and hot springs provide rare habitat for many species, some endangered, for whom water quality is vital. We will stop at trail head and take in some stunning views of the flowing creek.

East Beach stretches from Stearns Wharf to the City limits just past the Clark Estate, on the eastern end of the four-mile stretch of City beach parks. East Beach offers picnic facilities, more than a dozen volleyball courts, a playground, and beautiful ocean views. We will ride by the beach on a beautiful bike path surrounded by palm trees.

Situated between Stearn's Wharf and the Harbour, West Beach offers a picturesque sandy area for sunbathing, swimming, picnics, kayaking, windsurfing, and beach volleyball. Large palm trees and a wide walkway/bike path make this beachfront area a popular tourist spot. West Beach is easily accessible and family-friendly. We will continue our ride along the bike trail and through the palms pass this beach.

Located along the bustling Santa Barbara Waterfront, this historic working harbour is an excellent launch pad for a variety of adventures including sailing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), scuba diving, deep sea fishing, whale watching and much more. Several of the harbor’s businesses offer boat charters, cruises, equipment rentals and lessons, so it’s easy to find everything you need to explore the coast. We will stop here and take in the beauty and the history of the harbour while also keeping an eye out for some of its most famous residents, the California Sea Lions.

Santa Barbara is feeling extra European these days thanks to the introduction of the State Street Promenade. The heart of City centre Santa Barbara’s entertainment and retail district has transformed into an expansive 10-block pedestrian walkway between Sola and Gutierrez Streets. You can now explore, browse, shop, sip, and dine while enjoying the architectural beauty, sights, and sounds of State Street—without car traffic. The conditions couldn’t be more ideal for taking a stroll! We will slowly cruise through this area and may stop and even walk around for a bit.

Peaceful, colourful and historic, the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden is a locals’ favourite. Occupying a city block, the gardens feature a collection of more than 70 tree and plant species. The park is a popular spot for weddings and events as well as school field trips. There are many things to see and do at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. Take a self-guided tree and plant tour. Explore the butterfly garden. Meander along the walk paths. Escape to the sensory garden, which offers sensory posts and interpretive Braille signs. Or enjoy a picnic at the beautiful gazebo that overlooks a manmade pond filled with koi and turtles. We will do a stroll through the park taking in the beauty of this place.

Old Mission Santa Barbara is a community of many parts, but one spirit. The Mission has served as a gathering place and spiritual home for many since its establishment in 1786. Today the Mission operations include a museum, gift shop, cemetery and mausoleum, and several historic gardens, as well as being the home to a community of Franciscan Friars on about 15 acres. After stopping at the mission we will head across the park to the A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden, known as “The Rose Garden,” is adjacent to the Santa Barbara Mission and contains over 1,500 rose plants that are typically in bloom between April and November. The park has a large grassy area making it a great recreational area for families and friends. Although there are no picnic tables, it is a popular destination for picnics on the grass where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Santa Barbara mission – the “Queen” of California’s 21 missions. We will take some pictures at this final stop before our ride back.