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    Captain Jack's Santa Barbara Tours

    4.5 (362 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Suzette R.

    My friend and I did the Sideways Wine tour, celebrating our birthdays. Our guide Happy was amazing!! She's so cool, knowledgeable, and interesting. She totally went the extra mile!! No one else had booked on the day we went so we basically had a private guided tour. You will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel- snacks provided and you can even add-on champagne at a reasonable price if you so desire. Started off at the ostrich farm in Buellton- such a fun and memorable experience!! Then on to three other wineries including lunch at the Los Olivos Merchant. We even had time to do a little shopping in Los Olivos. Happy treated us like family and went above and beyond to make sure we had the best possible time. Happy lives up to her name :-) her business partner Meredith is just as friendly and was extremely helpful when we spoke on the phone. If you want an unforgettable wine tour experience with a personal touch, look no further than Captain Jack's. Worth every penny!!

    Heidi H.

    This tour was a birthday gift to me from my boyfriend and he couldn't have found a better present. We did a horseback riding tour with wine tasting afterwards and we had the best time. We were picked up by Tanya who was our driver for the day, and from the start it was such a smooth experience. We did this trip with one other couple, and each of us had our own cooler with drinks and snacks in the bus. We then went to the ranch were we rode up to a vista point with our wrangler for 1,5hrs. Unfortunately, we didn't have the best weather but it didn't take away from the experience at all. After horseback riding, Tanya drove us to the first vineyard were we started a tasting while she picked up lunch for us. We were able to pick our lunch from a pre-selected menu prior to the trip, and it included sandwiches plus salad and dessert. The two wine tasting spots were super cute, and the wine was pretty good too. Overall, we had a really fun day and Tanya was a fantastic tour guide. I'd definitely recommend booking a tour with Captain Jack's.

    Catherine G.

    Loved this tour. Our tour guide Michelle was such a great guide. She was so sweet, friendly, and fun! She picked us up from our hotel and she dropped us off at the funk zone. She was very knowledgeable about Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez. She had great suggestions. She was awesome. I highly recommend this tour.

    Sylvia N.

    From the minute our tour guide picked us up, to the moment she dropped us off, we had such an amazing time! "Happy" was our tour guide, and she was the best guide ever! She was knowledgeable, down to earth, friendly and sooo cool! We really enjoyed our time with Happy! OH YA, the tour was amazing, too! We chose to visit two wineries and a distillery, which offered just the right amount of versatility for the tour. Each location was worth the visit! Overall, an excellent experience and a definite checklist item when visiting Santa Barbara.

    Perfect end to an amazing day!
    Brian Raynard S.

    Hands down the best wine tasting tour I've ever been on! Meredith was so kind and accommodating to our group. She curated a well rounded tour, picked us up from our hotel in a luxury van filled with snacks and refreshments and gave us many suggestions on other activities to do in Santa Barbara during our stay. ABOVE AND BEYOND CUSTOMER SERVICE! The tour was so much fun, I didn't want it to end. Thank you, Meredith, for making our weekend so special.

    Could not have been more beautiful

    I went with a large group of friends and had an uproarious time wine tasting and touring around the Santa Barbara wine country. The coordination and friendly staff of Captain Jack's made it one of my favorite tours in years. From the moment the van arrived to our drop, we felt well cared for and totally relaxed. I especially liked our guide, Meredith telling us interesting facts along the way, usually full of funny antidotes. If you want to have lots of fun and feel you are in the hands of a professional tour company I would wholeheartedly go with Captain Jack's!

    Roblar winery - Sam Ynez Winery
    Tejal T.

    This tour is amazing. I planned a tour with them for a bachelorette over ten years ago and had a great experience so a month ago when my friends and I were planning a ladies trip I called captain jack. Meredith was awesome. Not only was the whole process seamless but the communication, knowledge, price and experience were beyond my expectations. All I told Meredith was that I wanted three wineries, outdoors and our group wanted to travel together. She took it from there. Not only did she take us on the wine tour but she also graciously offered to take us to our dinner reservation and pick us up when we were done. BOOK WITH THEM!! Do not waste your time looking elsewhere just call captain jack. You won't regret it.

    Meet Meredith of Captain Jack's! She is so informative, passionate, genuine, and kind. Loved our experience with her.

    Booked a horseback riding and kayaking tour for Sunday, 5/16/21. I found this place on Yelp and was curious about the different types of tours offered. I was interested by their great reviews and the different tours listed on the website. We wanted to do something fun while celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary for the weekend. I called the number and Meredith answered. Although she was not in the office, she told me she would give me a call back. She sent me a text a few hours later letting me know that she will call me as soon as she could. She called me back and I gave her the date we preferred. She told me that they had openings for the date we wanted. We were contacted the morning of our reservation by Meredith and Christina. Christina picked us up from our hotel and drove us to Circle Bar B Ranch for our horseback ride. It was about 25 to 30 minutes. She even had snacks and water bottles in a cooler for us. She was fun to talk to and super nice during our ride. She hung out for the 1.5 hour horseback ride until we got back then she drove us to the harbor for our kayaking tour. Be aware that horseback riding does have a weight limit. I found out over the phone after I was charged, but we were fortunate enough to be able to book at a different ranch who would make it work for us. We were so grateful. Everyone at the ranch is so courteous and friendly. They made us feel very welcomed and safe. Jordan was our guide, and he was amazing. We loved our experience with him. I wasn't allowed to take my purse with me in case I accidentally dropped it or the strap would get caught somewhere on the saddle and end up getting myself hurt. Their biggest goal is keeping the riders safe. Although our guide for the kayaking tour wasn't feeling well the day of our reservation, Meredith was so kind enough to fill in for us. We are so happy that she did. We believe she made it so much more enjoyable for us. She also took these amazing photos of us on her phone on the kayak up until her phone battery died. She is so kind and was considerate during our ride around the harbor. Even though my husband and I weren't in sync and took a while to catch up, Meredith was very patient with us. We really appreciated that we didn't feel rushed or were being a burden even though we bumped into each other a few times. We had a great time and look forward to booking more tours in the future.

    Jacqueline D.

    We had the best time on our winery tour with captain jacks tours! Meredith was great, very accommodating and knowledgeable! There was a group of 11 of us and Meredith had fantastic recommendations on which vineyards to visit for what our group was looking for - Roblar had amazing food and wines and you can not beat the funk & soul at Babcock.Will 100% be a repeat customer next time we are in town!

    Wine Tour Lunch
    Kelsey N.

    I am so glad I booked this tour! Meredith and Tammy were absolutely amazing hosts! I worked with Meredith to get everything set up and she made everything so easy. My husband and I just got married and wanted our families to be able to be able to spend time together and have fun outside of the hustle and bustle of wedding activities. This was the perfect get away. The stop at the olive oil farm was amazing and different from other tours offered. You can also tell the relationships that each vineyard had with Meredith and the Captain Jack team. From pick up to drop off it was a seamless and super fun experience for everyone.

    Halfway through our ride, letting the horses rest a little in the shade.
    Sonya K.

    For my sister's bachelorette party, I wanted to find some activities that we don't usually get to do, so when I saw that there was horseback-riding, we were all excited to go! We haven't gone horse-back riding for years, so this was something unique. We stayed in downtown Santa Barbara and drove over to Circle Bar B Stables, it truly only takes about 20 minutes. It was a pleasant drive and there was enough parking. We were able to use the bathroom inside the lodge before heading out on the adventure. The gentlemen that helped us get signed in and get onto our horses was very nice and all the other cowboys we met along the way were also very friendly and professional. They have so many horses! I signed up for the 2:00 (1.5 hr) tour and it turns out it was just us in our group. Along the ride, we did pass by some other groups that either started earlier in the day or came after us. The trail has an incline and takes you to the top of the hill where you can see the view - it's nice that the horse can do all the uphill climbing for you! Our horses were sweet and knew what to do, where to go. My sister's horse, Chichi, was the only naughty one that kept wanting to eat and took huge chomps of greenery. Our tour guide/cowboy Jimmy led the way and made sure we were all doing okay. He helped us take pictures when we stopped at some resting points and viewpoints. It's fun to listen to his stories and to learn more about the horses and all the acres of land they have. Overall we really enjoyed the ride and seeing the spectacular views from up top. It's a fun activity and great way to enjoy the outdoors!

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    Thank you, Melissa! Meredith

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    Thank you, Jim. Appreciate your time. Meredith

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    Captain Jack's Santa Barbara Tours Reviews in Other Languages

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    Review Highlights - Captain Jack's Santa Barbara Tours

    Even though my husband and I weren't in sync and took a while to catch up, Meredith was very patient with us.

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    Santa Barbara Trolley

    Santa Barbara Trolley

    4.2
    (122 reviews)
    1.3 km

    The tour was excellent! We've been to SB before but the history and sights along the way was great!…read moreOur tour guide Chuck was fantastic!

    Santa Barbara was a bucket list stop for my girlfriend, and we booked the 2:00 p.m. trolley tour…read morehoping for a well guided introduction to the city's history and landmarks. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the more disappointing parts of the trip. The seating is tightly packed. I understand maximizing capacity, but at 6'6" it was not comfortable. We moved to the front right side where there is a sideways bench behind the driver, which offered more legroom. That felt like a smart move until we realized most of the sights being pointed out were on the left side of the trolley. It felt like about 80 percent of the tour was oriented that direction, which meant we were constantly twisting around and still missing details. If you book this tour, sit on the left side. The narration also felt disorganized. The driver mentioned he was reading the traffic flow incorrectly and ended up doing much of the route "backwards." Because of that, he would introduce a historical figure or landmark, then later circle back and partially repeat the same information when reaching his usual talking point. There was noticeable repetition and filler instead of a smooth, cohesive storyline. Midway through the tour, there is a stop at Mission Santa Barbara for about 15 minutes. While it is nice to get off and stretch your legs, 15 minutes is nowhere near enough time to meaningfully experience the mission. You can walk through the courtyard and take a few photos, but that is about it. The mission deserves more time than a quick pass through. In practice, the stop felt more like a checkbox than a real opportunity to explore. Another frustration was departure time. The 2:00 p.m. tour did not leave at 2:00. The driver waited past the scheduled time to see if additional passengers would join. When you are visiting from out of town and carefully stacking your schedule, those extra 10 to 15 minutes matter. Overall, for about $30 per person, I expected a more polished and better organized experience. We both left disappointed. If you want a meaningful introduction to Santa Barbara, you may be better off exploring key spots on your own at your own pace.

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    Santa Barbara
    Santa Barbara
    Gorgeous shoreline
    Gorgeous shoreline
    Fig Tree

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    Fig Tree
    Courthouse Tours-Docent Council

    Courthouse Tours-Docent Council

    4.5
    (2 reviews)
    0.5 km

    What a great deal--absolutely free tour, no reservations necessary, led by a very knowledgeable,…read moretrained local volunteer docent. The 1929 Moorish/Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse is both a state & national landmark, said by some to be the most beautiful government building in the U.S! Every day at 2pm, and some days at 10:30am too. Starts in the "mural room" on the 2nd floor. Takes about 1 hour, and you can join or leave at any time. Gives you a good feel for the history of the building, the town and the region, going back to the first European landing by Cabrillo in 1542. Really stunning tile work, ceiling and wall paintings, adobe, beams and arches. Still houses 6 county courtrooms, hall of records etc. The 'sunken' garden on the east side of the main archway is gorgeously landscaped with dozens of different palm varieties; you can often see weddings going on both there and in the mural room. Booth from which you can buy postcards, brochures etc (or make a donation to their Foundation, which supports the ongoing renovations). Don't forget to go up to the top of the famous tower at the end of the tour for a 360-degree view of the entire city and bay!

    Just took the tour yesterday-the docent was knowledgable, personable and provided interesting…read moredetail on the history and architectural details of this stunning treasure. The Tunisian tiles, the Spanish Mudahar influence throughout, and even a "Bridge of Sighs' from the courthouse to the old jail! The Italian rosette stained glass window, conch shell archway pattern in one area and Masonic cornerstone (with a Masonic date convention!) are some of the treasures within. We lucked out, the Law Library was opened to us during the tour by someone using the library; one wall had a painted "California Island" map-I've seen some of these maps at Stanford, it was a treat to see one as part of the design here! Absolutely worth the time, this a active, historical treasure not to be missed.

    Casa del Herrero

    Casa del Herrero

    4.6
    (29 reviews)
    6.1 km

    I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

    Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

    Photos
    I'm very proud of this color match
    I'm very proud of this color match
    Casa del Herrero
    Crush It Wine educators, Allie and Julie.

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    Crush It Wine educators, Allie and Julie.
    Santa Barbara Historical Museum

    Santa Barbara Historical Museum

    4.4
    (39 reviews)
    0.3 km

    What a great hidden gem of a museum! Family and I stumbled here by accident because my son needed…read moreto find a restroom after shopping at Warbler Records across the street. It's somewhat off the beaten path as it's few blocks away from Downtown Santa Barbara. That's probably why the place was fairly empty during our visit. I love the adobe architecture of the building. It almost looks like a small mission turned into a museum. The front entrance to the museum faces De La Guerra Street but we entered from the side entrance through its beautiful courtyard. It was empty on the day of our visit but I can see this place getting busy if people rent the courtyard for weddings and events. The museum isn't that big but there were enough exhibits to keep us busy for about an hour. It was great seeing the history of Santa Barbara through its regular exhibits as well as some special ones. Admission is free but my wife and I felt compelled to make a donation because we loved the place so much. We saw a glass donation box by its gift shop so we put some cash in there to support the museum. Will try to make this a regular stop on our future visits to Santa Barbara.

    My partner and I were looking for something to do on a lazy Saturday in town. We have already…read moreexplored much of what the Central Coast has to offer so we decided to revisit an attraction. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum came to mind after noticing their Project Fiesta exhibit was going on. It also just so happens that Yelp's "Travel Like A Local" campaign is going on simultaneously, so the timing was impeccable. This museum is a hidden gem somewhat off the beaten path. It is a few blocks from downtown State Street and two from the historic Presidio. Most tourists unfortunately miss it. Yet, this beautiful adobe building with a humongous boat anchor in front is worth visiting. Heck, there's no reason to not enter since it's completely free to the public (donations appreciated)! Upon entering, to the left is a gift shop with many local books and souvenirs. Yet it's easy to be distracted by the gorgeous central courtyard with a water fountain as its focal point. This is a popular venue for weddings, dances and other celebrations. Be sure to get a photo of an original Camino Real Bell, the marker used to connect the California Missions. There is also the Glenhill Library here. Many don't know that if you sneak out the back gate, you can step back into time with dirt ground, lush fruit trees, and La Casa Covarrubias. The museum also features a permanent exhibit called The Story of Santa Barbara. It's the perfect introduction to the Central Coast's long history of the native Chumash people, the influence of Mexico and the Spanish, the 1925 Earthquake and more. Upon my most recent visit was an unexpected discovery, an exhibit on Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community. I knew of the historic Mattei's Tavern, Inn and Stagecoach Stop after it was recently renovated and became part of a new luxury Auberge Resort in Los Olivos. Little did I know that he became a well-known artist. His first free-sketch was of Leutze's 1851 painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware at only 15 years of age! Prominent guests of the Tavern recognized his skill and sponsored his studies in San Francisco and New York. To this day you can see his art on the walls of the Tavern, but also here. Another current temporary exhibit is of Old Spanish Days/Fiesta, Santa Barbara's pride and joy. 2023 is its 99th anniversary! I had no idea that Fiesta was originally started to celebrate the opening of the Lobero Theatre. To this day, it remains the oldest running theater in California. The photos of almost a century caught by camera and shared at this exhibit are spectacular. All in all, whether it's your first visit to Santa Barbara or you're a life-long native, a visit to this museum is a must!

    Photos
    The museum store
    The museum store
    Hand-Drawn Portraits by Mattei
    Hand-Drawn Portraits by Mattei
    Santa Barbara Historical Museum exterior with large anchor

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    Santa Barbara Historical Museum exterior with large anchor
    Santa Barbara Walking Tours

    Santa Barbara Walking Tours

    4.5
    (2 reviews)
    0.3 km

    This was hands down one of the best tours I've ever had of any city. My father and I took a private…read morewalking tour of Santa Barbara with Ellen, owner of Santa Barbara Walking Tours. Originally slated for 90 minutes, the tour lasted a full two hours. What's more, Ellen was perfectly willing to keep on going. We only stopped because my father and I were worn out and hungry, our brains full while our stomachs were empty. Ellen showed us no shortage of historical and cultural and artistic sites while narrating a bevy of fascinating back stories, from a park that was originally the site of a hotel, to a church that had been rebuilt and moved, to a gorgeous old historic movie theater with an auditorium built to simulate the inside of a mission, to Charlie Chaplin's sometime residence. And so much more. And did you know Santa Barbara had literally no trees at all when the Spanish missionaries first arrived? Ellen also offers customized tours tailored to particular interests (e.g. the Sue Grafton murder mystery tour). Next time you're in Santa Barbara, be sure to reach out to Ellen through her website (http://www.santabarbarawalkingtours.com) to arrange a walking tour of this awesome and beautiful city.

    Cute and funky tours of Santa Barbara... a bit of art and history (but keep in mind this isn't an…read moreancient European city by any means ;). I spent a couple decades in SB growing up yet saw and learned many new things I had no clue about which was cool. Quirky, funny and informative guide.

    Red Tile Walking Tour

    Red Tile Walking Tour

    4.0
    (3 reviews)
    1.0 km

    What: - Walk along 22 historic places in the Santa Barbara…read moredowntown More Info: - Free admission inside a few historic landmarks - Free parking on the streets - Check out the map of the Red Tile Walking Tour here: http://www.santabarbaracarfree.org/pdf-files/redtile.pdf The Red Tile Walking Tour is a walk in the Santa Barbara downtown, along the historic places. We totally underestimated the amount of time that it would take to complete the tour. It covers about 12 blocks and we did not have sufficient time to cover all the 22 historic places. After parking the car on the streets, we started the tour from Presidio Avenue, the oldest street in Santa Barbara. The Spanish style architecture of the buildings and shopping malls impressed me a lot. I could not help but keep staring and admiring the beautiful Santa Barbara downtown. Our next stop was at the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. It was founded in 1782 and was built by the Spanish along the coast of Alta California. There is a $7/adult admission fee to explore this historic park. A map serves as a guide to explore the park and the placards in several rooms educate one about the history of each room. One can easily spend at least an hour exploring this park and more time if you are a history lover. We then walked to the Santa Barbara County courthouse. I was looking at the courthouse for a very long time thinking how beautiful a courthouse could possibly look. Designed in a Spanish style with an 80-foot clock tower, the courthouse seemed to attract a lot of people. One is allowed to go to the clock tower for free We entered the courthouse and were amazed to see the interior décor, murals, tiles, painting, etc. A 360 degree of Santa Barbara invited us when we walked up to the clock tower. The ocean could be seen from one end, the Santa Ynez Mountains could be seen from another end and several other landmarks. After enjoying the magnificent view, we walked down and ended our Red Tile Walking Tour.

    When I was researching for someplace for my wife and I to vacation on our anniversary, I was having…read morea hard time choosing Santa Barbara as I was unsure of what all we would do. Then I came across the Red Tile Walking Tour and we decided on SB. The walk is flat and only a couple of miles that winds around and near State Street. Download the podcast by John O'Hurley (Seinfeld's J. Peterman) that gives a nice audio/video spin to the walk. You can also pick up a small pamphlet at the County Courthouse (where the walk starts) that gives a little synopsis of each location on the walk. Take the time and actually go into the places that you can (some locations are not open to the public) it is worth the small fees to visit the museums.

    Photos
    Inside the church
    Inside the church
    Santa Barbara County Courthouse
    Santa Barbara County Courthouse
    View from Observatory Tower inside the Courthouse

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    View from Observatory Tower inside the Courthouse

    Captain Jack's Santa Barbara Tours - winetours - Updated July 2026

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