Joel and Cooper, thanks for the great ride yesterday (03-31-2025) through the channel! You were the…read morefriendliest crew. The whales decided to take a day off, but sea lions and bottlenose dolphins swimming near and around the Sunfish was priceless! Choppy waters, Joel, you maneuvered with ease. It was a fun morning! I look forward to another chance to see the gray and humpback whales! Thank you for being the best crew! I hope to join you again! Book with Channel Islands Expeditions! I can't wait to experience one of your other adventure options.

Smooth training on how to do the work and easy layout on the boat. Food was delicious and…read moreaccommodating. I would reccomend this experience to those who are fascinated with the unusual, wildlife or history. The team/crew also had good communication between themselves or the passengers.

Such a beautiful place and fun to take the family. Especially now that there should be more waterread more

One of the most underrated hiking spots in Santa Barbara. Absolutely beautiful and not crowded at…read moreall! Great biking spot as well!

I found Mono Campgrounds on GORP and it was listed as a top ten campground for Southern California…read more I was stoked to hear that there was swimming, hot springs, and many more great things to do. However, this campground is not all it is promised to be. First, the hot springs are pretty cool. However, they really are HOT. I mean too hot to go into when I was there. Hotter than a jacuzzi for sure. And they are literally piped into a little pool type concrete thing. Still nice though, but don't expect a natural swimming hole. Second, the area is very beautiful. You are not that far from Santa Barbra, but once you are over the first mountain range, you are into the middle of no where and it is beautiful. However, be prepared that you will have to drive 15+ miles over rough road. I saw some BMWs out at the campground, but man, I do not know how or why these people would take their cars out there. It is rough for a standard SUV and most people out there bring old beat up four wheelers. There are multiple water crossings and steep roads. We went in July (2010) and it was hot, about 95 when it was only 70 by the ocean. But this wasn't a surprise. But the millions of flys were. They were everywhere and unbearable. We left a night early because they were so bad. As for the swimming hole, we didn't find it. We did find an old dam, that was nothing special. I think there is a larger lake downstream a little bit, but it was so dry in July that I would doubt if there is any appreciable water that isn't stagnant and gross. Overall, this is a beautiful campground and the hot springs are something to see. But you really have to plan on taking forever to get there over the roads and be ready to battle the flies, heat, and lack of water. There is also no water at the sites themselves, so be sure to bring in your own water. There are vault toilets. Also do not forget your adventure passes!

I agree with the previous reviews. Our party also got feasted on by flies and ticks. The so called…read more"Hot Spring" is an ugly cement basin. The drive out there is very beautiful but easily 15 miles of rough road not suitable for my poor little sedan. If you're looking for a Santa Barbara Hot Spring check out the Gaviota hot spring. Right off the road, easy to find, good times to be had by all at good ol Gaviota.

Shoreline Park in Santa Barbara is a 15-acre coastal bluff park known for its panoramic ocean views…read moreand family-friendly atmosphere. Perched above the Pacific, it offers a long, narrow stretch of green space with paved paths ideal for walking, jogging, and soaking in vistas that include the Santa Barbara Harbor, the Channel Islands, and the Santa Ynez Mountains.

Shoreline Park is a gem for anyone seeking peaceful surroundings . The park offers stunning views…read moreof the ocean, with plenty of grassy areas perfect for picnics or lounging. I love coming here for walks and soaking up the panoramic views of the coastline. Benches are stationed throughout the park to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, some areas have been gated off for safety reasons due to the foundation of the hillside. If you want to venture down to the beach, just look for the wooden archway. The stairway will lead you down to the shoreline. Occasionally high tides won't allow you to venture down, so just be aware of that. The beach itself is rocky, and sometimes full of debris so bring comfy shoes! This spot is ideal for families, walkers, and even solo relaxation. I recommend bringing a small bag for special sea treasures that you may find during your visit. I always enjoy looking for sea shells, sea glass and heart shaped rocks. The rock formations here are always breathtaking during low tides so be sure to bring a camera or have your phone fully charged. Overall, Shoreline Park is my top favorite in town and a must-visit for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. It's also a dog friendly park, so bring your fur baby as well.

We loved it here! We'll be back- restrooms were well kept up! Looking forward to our next trip:)read more

Visited Paradise Campground with my family from Aug 9th to the 11th 2024. We reserved the group…read moresite #1 which allows 16 people and is pet friendly. That site is pretty big and has parking for 4 vehicles, It has two tables and two bbqs and a fire pit but no electricity. The water spigot is very close by and the ground is pretty flat except there was lots of gofers and small holes as well as lots of tiny flies and yellow jackets (bees) Camp host was very nice and informative, they have firewood for sale on site. No showers but very very clean restrooms. For swimming reference..there was water at White Rock day use but not as high (about knee high) as well as at First Crossing day use area which is where we went for the day, water level went up to our chest and well above 5ft. Area was fairly clean and accessible. Parking fee is $10 per vehicle at First Crossing and they accept credit cards and the walk from parking area down to where the swimming area was very easy and accessible. Road to Red Rock area was closed due to water level and they couldn't tell us when it will open. Cell phone service is not that great..seems ATT is the only carrier with pretty good reception coverage out there. All others were not great. The campground is fairly quiet and clean and secure. Nearest store is about 25 mins away outside of campground and up the mountain in to town. There was a meteor shower during our time there so we were able to enjoy seeing the Milky Way in its glory as well as many shooting stars. Over all a great time and we highly recommend this campground.

Renting a boat is a great way to explore Lake Cachuma! Cruising around the lake gave us a…read morecompletely different perspective, and it was a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours with family and friends. The boat itself was very easy to operate. Even if you've never driven one before, it's pretty straightforward--just steer and move forward or reverse. Before we left the dock, the staff thoroughly explained how to operate the boat and went over all the safety rules. The guys at the dock were friendly, patient, and very helpful, which made us feel comfortable before heading out. We rented a 12-person pontoon boat for $190 for 2 hours, plus a $15 fuel charge. A $750 credit card deposit is also required at check-in. The only downside was the rental process. We tried to rent a boat on Saturday around 11:00 AM, but were told there were no boats available. The staff simply told us to come back later but couldn't give us any estimate of when a boat might return. We came back again around 3:00 PM, and unfortunately there were still no boats available. Since rentals are by the hour, there should be an approximate return time for the boats so customers don't have to keep making unnecessary trips back to the rental office. Fortunately, we checked again on Sunday morning after checking out of our campsite and were finally able to rent a boat. Once we got on the water, everything went smoothly, and our entire group had an amazing time.

A few years ago, my buddy and I were regulars at Cachuma. Starting in late January and continuing…read morethrough April, we really enjoyed the early season crappie fishing. We would make about 6-7 trips each season where we rented a nice 4 passenger 6hp(?) v-hull boat for around $125. The rental process was quick, and the office and marina staff were friendly and efficient. They also posted regular fishing reports. Then it all changed. I believe a new vendor took over the boat rental operations and everything went downhill. The boat rental process became very long and tedious, and you had to watch a 15 minute "safety " video each time you rented a boat. The staff also turned over and gone were all the friendly and efficient people. At times there was only one person running the whole show. They had to handle all the paperwork/video process and then walk you down to the boat and get that started. It literally took about 30-40 minutes per boat. Also, all the v-hull boats were no longer available and the least expensive rental option was around $250. I really miss the great crappie fishing and the beautiful surroundings. I hope that one day the marina will be back to what it was.

A great hiking spot with nice reward at the end. It was moderately strenuous, about 3.8-4 miles…read moreround trip. A lot of pocket of shades along the way, steady incline but not too bad. You cross a stream of water a third of the way. What's missing is direction, or sign at intersection, there is one sign that said "trail" but which trail? There is tunnel trail, jesusita trail that branches out from the main trail. I am so used to POST and Midpen trail where there are signs with the distance pointed in the right direction. The view is gorgeous. You can see a dam and the city of Santa Barbara. Easily one of the best hikes.

This is our all time Favorite Hike, a little bit of everything! Waterfalls, rocks, lots of lizards…read moreand beautiful views

We absolutely love coming to this park. The kids get so excited every time we pull up im front. The…read moreother kids are usually friendly as well and end up playing games together which is an added bonus!

Went to this park to give our grandkids a break from sitting in the car. We had a 7 year old, 13…read moreand 16 with us. So only the 7 year old loved the park. She said give it a 4 star. She found someone to hang out with and didn't want to leave.