Santa Barbara Travel Forum

What's your favorite short hike in the Santa Barbara area? I'll be there this weekend and would like something scenic, quiet and not-too-rigorous. Any suggestions?

My fave Santa Barbara hike is Cathedral Peak, but it may be a little too hard for your liking. It is one of the main peaks behind Santa Barbara. At the top you get a fantastic panoramic view of SB and the ocean:

my Cathedral page:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4d225/b8758/d/

more detail on the hike:
http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/hikes/frontcountry/cathedralpeak.shtml
(although it says not to, definitely bring your dog, or just pick one of the strays who often meet you at the trailhead - they love the scramble)

If you want something more on the level, then go on a "green flash" hike right at sunset.

My green flash page:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4d225/b8758/1/

About a half hour before sunset, go to the Douglas Family Preserve Park
http://www.santabarbara.com/activities/parks/douglas_family_preserve/
and take the path along the top of the beach cliff. At the path end you
will be looking from a high cliff, over the Brown Pelican Bar towards the setting sun. If you are lucky, you will see the elusive green flash. You may
want to bring some wine.

Although it is not a hike, I also like to go down to the harbor and rent a sea kayak (seats two) and paddle around the harbor. You can even go way out to the bouys that are covered with sea lions. Not too much skill is involved, but you may want to wear a bathing suit just in case.

Have a great trip.

These recommendations sound great. Thank you! We're looking for something relatively mellow so the sunset hike option might be perfect...and I'll have to do my research on the green flash because that sounds far too intriguing to overlook. (Is the Santa Barbara coast an especially good place to catch the "flash"? That Wikipedia write-up doesn't specify a certain location, but maybe you know something they don't know...? :))

Santa Barbara may the most beautiful place to watch for the green flash, but it is not the only place or the best place. I think that it is preferable to be up high, so the SB cliff is good. The only time I saw it in SB was on a day when the weather had just changed and the sky was so clear that it was hard to watch the sun, even near the horizon, so wather may play a big part. Some folks say you can also see it at sun rise, so when I am at East coast beaches I take a walk on the beach at sunrise.

BTW, another SB fave of mine is the inexpensive Super Rica Taqueria
http://www.santabarbara.com/dining/review_read.asp?pk_restaurant=710

Cool - I'll let you know if I get a glimpse of the green flash.

I LOVE Super Rica. I don't know many eateries in the SB area, but this one I've been to a few times already. I'm definitely going to stop in this weekend, too. Can't wait...my tummy's already growling.