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.

One of the greatest experiences with any company I've had in quite a while! Flawless from start to…read morefinish!!! The staff is extremely knowledgeable and very very accommodating as well as encouraging! I took my wife on two days of hiking, the first day I went with her on a shorter two hour hike with a normal/average difficulty and then the following day she went back again for a challenging/difficult hike. She said it was one of the most wonderful experiences she's ever had. And I can occur the first day was amazing! I think the attention to detail and information provided by our guide Kelsey was just incredible. From the moment I booked the two days of hiking for myself and my wife through the end of the hikes everything was smooth as could be. I would highly recommend this company to anyone thinking of hiking in the Santa Barbara area. I am looking forward to using the Santa Barbara Day Hike Company again! As most of you know I don't give out five stars lightly in my reviews and I only wish I could give the Santa Barbara Day Hiking Company more! Treat yourself to a day hike with this awesome company! It will be an afternoon you will never forget!

Very friendly and warm-hearted guide. You can learn a lot from her! And it's a great place for an…read moreescape from stressful city life!

After being super excited to walk, explore, eat, and drink with friends.....we were all totally let…read moredown by the amount of actual tastings provided. Out guide was Nancy, and she was super sweet, thoughtful, and insightful, but my review isn't based on her. It's based on experience and value. What did $270 plus tip get us over 4 hours? 2 regular sized margaritas, one small one and a total of 5 Street sized tacos and some very unathentic churrros. I would have loved to have options of some kind, we were served whatever meat they wanted to serve. These tacos were not authentic and definitely were not filling, we all were starving when we left. We definitely did more walking and talking than eating and drinking. Would definitely say, for the price, you're better off bar/taco hopping yourself. I gave 3 stars since I went with good friends and Nancy was sweet.

What a wonderful tour we had! I am so happy we went on this…read moretour, we had a fantastic guide, Georgia, that was so very knowledgeable about the Santa Barbara history and she also had a great spunky personality that made the tour even better. We got plenty of food! Definitely no need to eat lunch after as was our plan. Delicious dishes! My favorite was a Thai salad with Mango, but we also had street tacos, and a cheese board oh wait maybe that was my favorite... or maybe the ice cream?! Oh also had chicken parmigiana and tagliatelle served with a fun Margarita! Yummy.... We also had one really great wine tasting, the only "bad" part was that I really wanted to order some wine but we kinda moved on before we got the chance to order. If I would change anything I would ask that they maybe give you a little more heads up. Georgia did a great job weaving together stories about both historical events and famous people in SB history with architectural information. I would highly recommend you put some comfy shoes on and book this tour ASAP!

What a fun tour! We got to learn about some SB history and learn about tiles from both an artistic…read moreand historical perspective... we got a bunch of free swag with our Tile Spotter Premium tix-- a hand stamped Journal and tote featuring tile art from our tour guide, Roger Buster! I loved the energy, the pace, and all of the amazing information we received-- and I especially loved the "tile spotter" card that came with the tour-- it was like a scavenger hunt and walking tour all in one!

The tile walk was amazing! I learned a lot about the unique and beautiful tiles all over downtown…read moreSanta Barbara, including the different time periods and artistic influences. Also, we got to see a lot of beautiful local Santa Barbara architecture. Highly recommend this walking tour, whether you're a local or just visiting! Great for every one of all ages if you like learning about something new.

At home with Chef Laurence Literally. My wife and I---and…read moreanother lovely couple---spent a morning and afternoon in her home, where she treated us to an east-going culinary adventure. In a handful of hours she shared her years of cooking experience in such a cordial, pleasant manner that even a kitchen novice could be comfortable. The more experienced in the kitchen gained tips and skills. (I can now confidently make a Beurre Blanc sauce, one of the French Master Sauces, to which we added a few strands of saffron and a generous dash of cayenne.). Beyond the food---a soft and tender halibut with the aforementioned Beurre Blanc, a fricassee of vegetables, a fresh garden salad with homemade ricotta sprinkled on it, and a blood orange upside-down cake----we dined on the presence and persona of Chef Laurence herself. Not only is she a chef extraordinaire but she is a wonderful person who shares her life as easily as she shares her home. When you sign up for her session, you get a four-course meal that consists of great food, culinary knowledge, exceptional hospitality, and an experience with a pleasant beautiful person who reminds you of the pleasures life has to offer.

We attended Market Foray's cooking class in January, and it was one of the most enjoyable and…read moreeducational experiences I've had in the kitchen. We started with a trip to the farmer's market, where Laurence pointed out different items and talked through the differences in different types of food (green garlic was new to me!). We later met at her home, and the cooking began. She did a good job of rotating the tasks throughout the group, and explaining the techniques as she went. We got to taste as we went, and after all the chopping was done, wine was served. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the other participants were friendly and engaged, making it a fun, social experience as well. And, of course, the best part was sitting down at the end to enjoy the fruits of our labor. The dishes we prepared were full of flavor and creativity, and I walked away feeling incredibly satisfied and inspired to keep cooking. I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves food and wants to expand their culinary horizons. Whether you're looking to learn new techniques, discover fresh ingredients, or just have a fun day out, Market Forays is a fantastic choice.

@ Chuck our driver was amazing and was extremely knowledgeable about the area. The ride was…read morepleasant and relaxing. It's a great way to discover other parts of Santa Barbara

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.

My husband and I were looking for something fun, unique, and a bit out of the ordinary--and we're…read moreso glad we found the *one and only* original Santa Barbara Ghost Tours! After reading their glowing reviews, we knew this was the company to go with, and they did not disappoint. We opted for the **Paranormal Pairing Tour** and couldn't be happier with our choice. The experience was fantastic from start to finish. Our guide, Allison, was absolutely brilliant--her storytelling was captivating, and the ghost stories she shared felt so real and engaging. Walking through Santa Barbara after dark, we were immersed in its history, eerie tales, and hauntingly beautiful sights. The flow of the tour was perfect, with just the right balance of history, mystery, and atmosphere. We enjoyed every minute of this unforgettable evening and can't recommend it highly enough. If you're looking for a fascinating way to explore Santa Barbara's spookier side, this is it!

Super passionate, personal tour! It is clear that Julie is an expert in the history of the area and…read morehas some fantastic ghost encounter stories to tell! Incredibly generous with her time and provided a super thoughtful discussion and tour!

Jacob was professional, efficient, friendly. Everything you could ask for as he navigated shuttling…read moreguests at our party. The van was comfy and clean. I highly recommend this company!

By far the best tour company in town! Great day horseback riding and visiting the spectacular wine…read morecountry. If I could give them 6 starts I totally would :)