My friend and I used a SB Sailing house credit from 6 years ago... long story, for a Sunset Catamaran Sailing Cruise. We called to confirm the credit was still being honored, they were very accommodating. We reserved a space for 2 on a Wednesday for the Sunset Catamaran Sailing Cruise at 6:00PM. There's a meeting spot at the SB Sailing office at the SB Habor. Paid parking is available. We were able to walk from our hotel to the meeting location. Our sail was practically a private sail. There were about maybe the most 14 people, which was so nice. The crew was a Captain and his Assistant, both were very nice Unfortunate Mother Nature did not provide any wind that evening so the Captain had to use engine power that whole evening (it was a very tame ride). The sunset was beautiful glad we did it and it wasn't crowded. I think it worth doing once. Helpful hints: We went May 6th, I wore pants and a long sleeve shirt plus wore a light weight padded jacket and I was fine. It was cold and quit a few of the other passenger were freezing. The sail boat does supply blankets and 2 restroom and drinks and snacks purchase. read more

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February 2026 -- Sunset sailing with friends was absolutely fabulous. The crew was wonderful, the catamaran was beautiful & the views were stunning. Being out on the ocean was pure joy--an unforgettable experience I'd happily do again read more

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My son gifted me a belated Mother's Day sunset cruise and I totally enjoyed it. They were prompt and we go to watch from the front and saw seals along the way. It was a relaxing boat ride and when it became chilly, they provided blankets for us to keep us warm. you can purchase drinks and food so you can enjoy the ride for 2 hours . Lucky to have had beautiful weather and saw the sunset. Would definitely do this again . They were very professional and courteous. parking is plenty . read more

Santa Barbara Sailing Center - Seated on the front part of the boat - great view - Boating Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Buyer beware. We booked the "Double Dolphin Bottomless Bubbles Cruise" for New Year's Eve and paid $285. One of the "important reminders" we received from the company said " if there is inclement weather, cruises will be canceled two hours before departure time and all guests will be contacted and issued a full refund." Rain was forecast for that evening so the company sent us an email that day saying the cruise was cancelled. Instead of a refund as they promised, we received "store credit." What are we going to do with that credit? We live in Phoenix, not Santa Barbara. And what about the full refund language in the booking details? This seems like a complete money grab since they didn't sail and kept our money. This feels like a scam since they said full refund for the exact reason we experienced and now we only get store credit? Needless to say we're very disappointed. We even paid $22.32 for their "Peek Protect" insurance, but were denied by the insurance company as they said we're not covered "if the company cancelled." We were scammed twice. read more

I wanted to review the Double Dolphin Sunset sail to give some insight. It is certainly a decent experience. Something to do, but beware their "Live Music Sunset Sail" is false advertising. Our "Live Music" was a DJ playing, not a nice relaxing sail, and not the pictured actual musician. Then they motored the boat into the current/wind and then allowed the boat to drift down the coast without bothering to put up the sails, so there was zero sailing. There were other boats with sails up. Also, since we were just drifting anyways, if there isn't enough wind, just throw the sails up to at least appear to be sailing. read more

Thank you SB Sailing for a wonderful kayaking adventure today! The staff is very professional and knowledgable; greeting us with warm smiles across the board. I highly recommend this business to anyone looking for a great water adventure (kayaking, sailing, etc.) Thank you to Skip and his wonderful team! read more

Had a wonderful coastal cruise with Captain Nathan and Captain Kira. Both delightfully friendly and engaging! And to top it off we found a pod of dolphins on the way back and got to travel with them a bit. Very cool and the kids loved it as well! Definitely recommend for a relaxing trip up and down the coast! read more

I just can't go back to life before this. After this experience, Sunset cruises are part of my life forever. Forever-ever. So what, sharks?! So what, killer whales?! I don't care, tsunamis!!! SUNSET CRUISES FOR LIFE. RIDE OR DIE. Yelp, I had an absolute blast. The patrons were splendid people; the captain and his assistant were lovely; The directions on the website were spot-on; the coastline from the boat was breathtaking; the sunset was out of this world. Out of all of the bad in life, this experience was truly a purely good, purely beautiful one. My advice: 1.) try doing the cruise during the week. I have a feeling they might be packed on weekends. 2.) Follow your GPS to the Harbor...but switch over to the website step-by-step directions once you enter the harbor. You can't miss this place whatsoever. The directions are perfect. 3.) DO NOT EAT BEFORE. EAT AFTERWARDS. Don't chance motions sickness. 4.) Dress warm, even during the summer! Bring gloves cause your hands will freeze! 5.) Remember to Tip the lovely staff for the wonderful evening you **will indeed*** have read more

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Do not book through this company, the staff is extremely rude, specifically Addie. This morning Addie calls me about my booking and when I call her back she already starts the call with the biggest attitude. You would think this girl just got off a 24 hour shift in a coal mine with how exasperated she was from the second she picked up the phone. Anyways, she was very short and rude with how she explained the situation to me and in the middle of me talking she hangs up the phone on me. I was genuinely astounded. I mean if I were to EVER first of all talk to a customer the way she talked to me and let along HANG UP ON THEM mid sentence I would immediately be fired and I do not work at a company that sells $700+ experiences. So I call back because I was literally in the middle of asking her a question when she just hung up on me and of course she still had an insane attitude and was completely useless. I'm not sure why these people act as if they're the only sailing company in all of Santa Barbara... like there are plenty more companies who don't employ such miserable, angry people. I understand we all have bad days but this was something I have genuinely never experienced before. You simply do not talk to anyone, no matter how angry and miserable you are with your life, the way she talked to me and you don't hang up the phone on a customer mid phone call. Booking a sailing excursion of all things should be a relaxing and happy experience, not be met with such miserable people. Anyways this is honestly a shame for them because with so many birthdays coming up and graduation celebrations I know a lot of people who are looking to book sail boats and I can confidently advise everyone away from this particular company and to literally book with anyone else. I don't know who this company is employing but I genuinely hope Addie finds some peace in her life because I feel sorry for anyone who has to interact with that. read more

tl,dr: We went kayaking. Awesome, fun experience! Tips: . Use sunblock, cuz the price is for 2 sunny hours. . Bring a GoPro helm, cuz your hands will be too busy to capture footage. . Go train your rowing muscles beforehand, to make the most of your exp. Likes: + Very polite, friendly, informative, safety-oriented, and helpful staff! + They are very thorough with the safety orientation. + Thankfully the staff made sure to mention that as you get closer to the far peninsula, the waves get rougher. We stayed p safe behind that region. + Life vests are provided. + Their kayak dock has a nifty (un)loading structure. Use your paddle to pull/push yourself off/onto the kayak dock. [see photo] + We encountered many pelicans and seals! We were even lucky enough to meet a playful curious seal. + You'll likely encounter other friendly paddlers, some even bringing along their doggos. + They have convenient restrooms. + We didn't wanna bring our important baggage along the ride, but thankfully the staff were willing to safely hold onto all our belongings. Non-likes: - They didn't have a cheaper option for just 1hr play. The pricing (~$25/person) is set for 2hr, so we played for 2hr cuz we wanted to make the most of our money, yet we had many places to go that day. At first I did ask if there's a 1hr option, the guy said Yes. I thought that meant it'd be half price; turns out he meant we could quit kayaking after just 1hr, but the price we pay is still for $2 hr. haha yike. - The parking to get here is a slight nuisance, particularly if you're coming from the 101 South (LA). Have to enter the P lot all the way down via Harbor Way, then maneuver back up. If you're also planning to tour Stearns Wharf, may as well seek free street parking along W Cabrillo Blvd, or just park on Stearns Wharf and walk over. - Their restrooms don't have paper towels. read more

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This place is awesome! Whether you're renting a kayak for a fun day out on the water or scheduling a boat tour for an event, they have anything water related you could want to do. They have a snack shack right across from their office with several yummy snacks and drinks to choose from as well as fresh gelato! My family and I went on a boat tour for my Dad's birthday and it was so relaxing. Our captain, Chris, was so calm, made great conversation, and didn't mind the silence either. It was only us on the boat, which made for a much more relaxing trip. I recommend the 2 hour trip if you're looking for this service. Overall great and I would 100% go back! read more

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My husband and I had to scatter ashes today and made the appointment at Santa Barbara Sailing Center. Best decision we ever made. The people here are just so nice from the person on the phone who helped us make the reservation to Captain Tim who helped us scatter the ashes. The day was beautiful and the precision he used to steer the boat in gentle waters was excellent. His explanation of where we scattered the ashes and his understanding that we needed privacy while we scattered was unmatched. My husband and I were so pleased. He also showed us how to find the exact place the ashes were scattered so we could come back and find it again. Thank you to everyone who helped us. We will never forget you!!! read more

Booked a spot on a waterfront cruise for my friend's birthday. This was my first time on the Double Dolphin, and I had a really nice time. It was a 1 hour cruise and there were less than 10 people on the boat including us four. The boat can accommodate around 60 people I think? Our captains were super friendly and played some great tunes. There were snacks and drinks for purchase, too. On the way out of the harbor we stopped by the buoy to check out the seals. read more

Santa Barbara Sailing Center - Boating Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We booked the Sunset Cruise and were really happy with it. Booking was easy online and there's step-by-step instructions on how to get to their dock which were very helpful. You do have to pay for parking, ours was around $8.This was a great way to spend an evening during our first visit to Santa Barbara. This is a sailboat so your trip depends on the winds that day. Either way it's a fun ride and really impressive to see the staff sail the boat. I HIGHLY recommend that you bring a jacket/thick sweater. It does get cold on the water, specially once the sun starts setting. They do have blankets if you forget your sweater. They sell wine, beer and champagne as well as other non-alcoholic drinks. There are a few bathrooms on board too. There are two nets that you can lay on at the front of the boat. Depending on which direction you're sailing you can lay on them and not get wet. The staff were really friendly and I highly recommend he Sunset Cruise. It's a great way to spend some time on the water. *Remember to bring some cash to tip the crew read more

I have to be honest this was a bare bones experience for us. We had it arranged through a group event we were part of but happened to be the only 2 from our group on the day we went out to sea with our guide. Our guide was nice enough, but overall the experience is probably not one I'd do again with this particular outfit. Reasons why: 1) no offer to provide or even rent dry bags for gear 2) the guide stopped to have a personal conversation with someone she knew when we were out in the water and we had to stop to wait for her to catch up Those don't seem like big deals, but honestly with so many options I'm guessing you can find an organization that'll be a bit more attentive to details. The tour should have taken about 2 hours but we powered through in 1 because the route was relatively novice. I was scared to death when out closer to the buoy but thankfully I had a good kayak partner who knew how to manage the swell with confidence. I didn't want to keep going after that fear to extend it out but the guide did offer. It was fun enough but I've had better overall kayak tour experiences. read more

My wife and I took up the Sunset Cruise package deal that came with our hotel booking. We were celebrating our honeymoon so it only makes sense to take up the deal. We got to the place early like it said to on our RSVP card but they didn't start boarding until like 10 minutes before sailing off. Bring a jacket because it will get cold out there and also find a good seat depending if there a lot of people. We sat near the back so we were next to the bar and had a great view. The crew (driver and bartender) were amazing and came to talk to us during the ride. We were also able to see some dolphins during the tour so that was nice. It was a good 2 hour cruise around the coast. read more

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We booked a specialty cruise - for New Years Eve - and after seeing how many people they were trying to cram on the 50ft catamaran we decided not to board. I grew up as a competitive sailor and know an overloaded boat when I see one, pretty sure the Coast Guard would have agreed. They wouldn't refund our money even though we didn't take the cruise. So, I would definitely skip these speciality cruises, they seem to be way overpriced for what they are. We booked a killer eBike tour and our guide that has lived in Santa Barbara his whole life confirmed these cruises are real snoozers and definitely not worth the money. read more

Santa Barbara Sailing Center's Public Coastal Cruise (2 hours) on the Double Dolphin charter for a friend's birthday was an amazing experience! The maximum passengers that can sign up per trip is 49 and we were a large percentage of the passengers, however since it was open to the public, there were other passengers on board as well. It was $45 per person which I found reasonable, but was bummed to find out after the fact that there was a college student price ($25). Upon boarding the boat, the captain checked our names off a list and after providing a few instructions, we set sail. The Double Dolphin is comfortable with tons of seating and standing areas. There is covered, shaded seating if you get too cold from the wind, and then plenty of cozy seating with cushions on the lower deck, and then two levels of seating on the upper deck. There are also two netting seating areas at the front of the boat. The staff on board were extremely friendly and accommodating to the passengers; they also provided blankets (it was very windy!). There is a bar on board which serves light snacks (bagged chips, cookies, etc.), beer, wine, and champagne, and other non-alcoholic beverages. Two friends and I ordered a bottle of champagne to share which was perfect. For the first hour, we were sailing out and headed south west. The next thirty minutes we just floated in place and then the last thirty minutes we headed back to the harbor. They had a great playlist (which you can follow on Spotify) which was relaxing and really set good vibes. SB Sailing offers a variety of public and private charters, and they have a 1-hour public Harbor Cruise which has a 2 for 1 Axxess 2019 deal. This is a great activity to bring out-of-town guests so that will probably be the next time I go. read more

Santa Barbara Sailing Center - Netting seating area on the bow - Boating Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I rented a J/24 sailboat from Santa Barbara Sailing Center a couple of times while on vacation. The dock staff gave me a checklist, walked me to my boat, and then walked away without giving any explanation for where to find things onboard or how to get out of the harbor. The checklist included a battery check: verifying green lights on the charge controller. All of the lights were out. When I asked the dock attendant about this, he didn't know how to check the battery, so he asked the maintenance person, who it "should be fine" without even looking at it. Luckily, the battery had a charge, and we made it out and back without incident. The next time I rented, the dock attendant told us which boat to use, noting that the other one was in need of maintenance. She accidentally gave us the wrong boat, the one that needed work. When we got out on the water, it was extremely difficult to raise the main sail. Apparently, the block at the top of the mast was broken. We eventually got the sail up and sailed, but it was nerve-wracking and exhausting to deal with this in a busy harbor. read more

This Co. is ridiculous ... the Captain k owe nothing about where we were going... not to mention he kept walking around and shaming people out loud for not having their mask over their nose. Literally screaming at people And telling them we are going to turn the boat around. Even when people were eating their crappy snacks and watered down drinks.. we will never come back to this Company.. biggest waste of money ever... read more

Awesome, friendly staff, great music and drinks on-board, and the Captains make it a point to direct the boat to natural wildlife: sea otters, pelicans, dolphins and whales. We typically get a mix of each but sometimes we are able to enjoy them all on one trip! Great times! read more

Santa Barbara Sailing Center - Santa Barbara to Huntington Beach race start. - Boating Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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BUYER BEWARE - I accidentally reserved a boat tour for my office staff with this company not realizing it was in Santa Barbara not Newport Beach. I scheduled it for July 21st. So when I realized that I had made an honest mistake I contacted them. The snotty girl on the phone told me I had checked the box online when I made the reservation that I agreed to a no refund policy. I emailed Skip the owner asking him to consider giving us a refund for this mistake and his reply was... "Hi Jo, We have a 100% non-refundable policy that is agreed to at the time of booking. We can offer you a house credit that never expires and I will go ahead and put that in the system for you now. Thank you, SANTA BARBARA SAILING CENTER" Now I can understand a no refund if I were cancelling 1 or 2 weeks prior to the date but TWO MONTHS?! Come on, that is greed and just bad business practice. Skip didn't even sign his name on the email. How cowardly is that? I wish I would have read the yelp reviews prior to reserving. I think this company is scamming many out there. Buyer beware! read more

We did a 3 hour tour on the 42' Califia. There were 5 of us. Captain was really great about helping us get all loaded and knew how to sail the vessel really well. We bought a 3 hour trip because when I called I was told that those trips went out further to try and see whales. I don't feel that we ever really left the harbor. It wasn't very windy so sailing was tepid - which of course is nobody's fault. I think we could have caught more wind if we'd gone out further. As far as whale watching - our captain clearly didn't get the memo that we got the longer trip to try to see some whales, and after a while it became apparent that it wasn't going to happen so we sat back and enjoyed the slow ride up and down the harbor area. I probably should have been more vocal about it, but didn't want to spoil the mood and after saying many times that we wanted to see whales..... well - we were told that they are occasionally seen in the harbor. I don't think we ever got to water that was deeper than 35 feet. It was a fun trip - but if i knew that was going to be the extent of it I would have just bought 2 hours and saved some money. So it was an OK trip considering the cost - exactly 3 stars. read more

Where to begin on what a fantastic fun adventure this private charter was !? I wanted to surprise my husband while visiting Santa Barbara for our first time with a little birthday sunset sail. Christine was our captain and she MADE our trip! She was super kind, made us laugh, and even taught us a bit about sailing. Christine is super intelligent -especially about all things boating, and although she is newer to this team and to the Santa Barbara area it didn't hinder her one bit- she was a wonderful guide!! I highly recommend this adventure, we went out on the Newbury street boat for a 2 hour sunset ride and even though it was chilly, I brought a beanie for the winds and it was beautiful. I can't wait to return and do an overnight sail to the islands on the double dolphin! read more

Santa Barbara Sailing Center - Boating Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We booked a cruise several days in advance. We received email and texts confirming our trip. Today just two hours before our departure time, and after we made all of our plans, they called and canceled . Nowhere did they say they would cancel if they did not have 6 passengers. But if you cancel, it's non refundable. Very poor business practices read more

My husband and I had a wonderful time yesterday on your boat!! Your captain and his helper were awesome!! This was our second outing and can't wait till the next time! read more

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We arrived at the dock 30 minutes before departure time as instructed, along with over 40 other people that booked the sunset cruise on the Double Dolphin. The staff ignored everyone and didn't seem to care about the growing confusion and frustration as the minutes rolled on. We didn't board until 10 minutes past the scheduled departure time which wouldn't have been a big deal if the staff had done the bare minimum to communicate with us. The rest of the cruise was nice and we enjoyed ourselves, but overall the experience fell short due to the poor handling of the boarding process. read more

Pro: Lovely spot to kayak around the harbor, under the pier, and by the beach...smaller than most places I've been to. Price is very reasonable. Con: Many boats and other water vehicles around so we had to be cautious to avoid them. Kayak and paddles are a bit worn out but they work fine. Service was subpar. No staff offered to help. When we returned kayak there was no staff around to help. read more

I booked the Harbor Cruise for ten of my family members. The Captain did not wait for two of our members to arrive on the boat, even though they were 2 minutes from the dock. He left them in the parking lot. The Captain claimed he needed to be on schedule, yet we returned to the dock 4 minutes early. Also, this cruise was very short and boring, the staff clearly are uninterested. Spend your money on a different activity! read more

If you want a more personalized sailing experience with true professionals, I highly recommend this company. We've done it many years and always have a lovely time! The crew with Kendrick and Madeline were great! They were super personable making sure everyone was comfortable during our windy sail ride! When the engine was off and Kendrick could use the sail only, it was pure bliss. Do not be disappointed when you don't see a whale. They give you a return standby ticket to go again on the house. Truly I will be back again and again! For me, Santa Barbara Sail is part of my wonderful Santa Barbara memories!! read more

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We were feeling like the little guy needed to get out and breathe the fresh air so we decided to run off to the Warf for the morning and rent a couple of kayaks. This place has many options from sailing instruction, boat charters, public cruises to kayaks and paddle boat rentals! We rented 1 single and 1 double kayak. These are the rates: Single Kayaks Members: $9 Per Hour/$36 Per Day Public: $12 Per Hour/$48 Per Day Double Kayaks Members: $18 Per Hour/$72 Per Day Public: $24 Per Hour/$96 Per Day They have a student perk for students under 25 with a valid current college ID: for only $10 per hour for a single kayak and $20 per hour for a double kayak! Keep in mind, this place accepts major credit cards and NO CASH is accepted. An obvious tip that I didn't​ think of till I got there: Wear a bathing suit because my legs got wet from splashing​ around with my 10-year-old​ in front of me. Also, you will be barefoot. If you don't​ like being barefoot, consider wearing water shoes. We kayaked passed the Sand Spit to circle the sea-lions sunbathing on the buoys, watched the Wharf from the water and kept going till it got too windy. I would have stayed longer if we would have packed a lunch, but we got hungry and (after 2 hours) we had to get going...(So maybe pack a snack or lunch in a water-proof bag). I am not fit and found this activity to be fun and not difficult at all. If you can swim, I highly suggest you give it a try. read more

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If I could give 0 starts I would! I know that working at a busy environment on a sunny Saturday morning is stressful but you should NEVER discount on the happy people that are supporting your business looking for a relaxing experience. The young blonde girl that asks you to fill out the forms and the guys at the dock are so rude and angry that I am never coming back. Stand up paddle boarding is supposed to be fun and relaxing but they make it a stressful drag. read more

It was a wonderful experience. Our captain was friendly. They have a bar on board and blankets. We did the sunset cruise. read more

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Went for their Sunset Cruise and loved it. They were very COVID conscious and maintained all safety standards. The staff was super knowledgeable and helpful, and overall the trip was a blast! We were lucky enough to spot some beautiful dolphins too. I would highly recommend the cruise to anyone visiting Santa Barbara! read more

Had a really fun time renting paddle boards. Everything went smoothly and we had a great time. read more

Santa Barbara Sailing Center - Out on the water - Boating Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

They have everything you want from kayak rentals to public cruises to sailing lessons. We have gone on the public cruise and have rented the kayaks several times. Everyone is very accommodating. read more

Excellent crew. Capri's were fun to shs. Catalina 32 a sweet boat to sail. The winds were a bit shifty due to the location. SB is on the leeward side of Pt. Conception, which makes for light wind. Also the channel islands impact the winds causing an East backwind in the morning. Owner Skip very knowledgeable and approachable. If I come back would love to head to the islands. read more

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We had such an amazing time doing the sunset cruise! Troy and the captain were so great! I will definitely be returning! read more

Santa Barbara Sailing Center - Boating Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I was planning a trip for myself and a few friends to Santa Cruz Island and looking for an experience that was a blend of luxury and adventure -- SB Captains/Santa Barbara Sailing Center totally delivered! I had been dreaming of getting out to Painted Cave and some of the less traveled places on Santa Cruz Island, but COVID-19 made me less comfortable with taking a public boat to the Island. A private charter seemed like a good solution. Our boat, Floater, was perfect! We got to the Island in about an hour, which gave us all day to cruise, paddle, swim, hike, and just chill on the boat. The boat itself is 48 feet with tons of space to layout or sit in the shade.  It even had a large cabin, kitchen and a shower below decks. The boat was top of the line with beautiful details and had great features like a power stabilizer that significantly reduced the roll of the boat. The crew at SB Captains was fantastic to work with. They were professional, positive and chill. We paid for an additional crew member so that my friends and I -- all Moms burnt out from COVID-19, didn't have to worry about prepping meals or any other detail during the day. Taylor and Hannah, our crew, were a great team.  They made sure everything was always ready for us, from food to drinks to paddle boards, they were always a couple steps ahead. They knew all the good spots around the Channel Islands and were a fun, positive presence. Santa Cruz Island is a beautiful place to spend a day. Tall sheer cliffs greet you as you approach and there are sea caves and rock formations all along the coast. We got to paddle and ride a skiff into some sea caves and explore tide pools. We even squeezed in a hike and saw one of the Island Foxes. During the day we came across two pods of dolphins, which raced along our bow. The water was so clear you could see them as they dove down and zig zagged in the water. It seems cliche to get giddy about dolphins, but there is something truly thrilling about being so close to them in the wild. But it didn't stop there.  On the way back, Taylor saw a whale spout. I had heard that this was rare at this time of year, but over the course of 20 minutes we saw five different Blue whales fluke around us. I had never seen a Blue whale and to be in the presence of so many was awe inspiring. You couldn't have scripted a more perfect day! read more

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I was walking down East Beach the day before around sunset and saw this cool catamaran sailing off the coast with music playing and people enjoying themselves. I asked my cousin later about this boat and she goes I have tickets for that cruise if you want them. Deal!!! I scooped up the tickets and my little cousin, and were on the Sunset Cruise the following evening. What a great trip. After calling and making a reservation I was greeted by one of the deck hands who checked my name off the list and welcomed us on board. We took our seat on the netting on the front of the boat just over the water. After motoring out of the marina the captain and the deckhand opened up the sails and took us on an amazing sunset cruise down to Montecito and back. A pod of dolphins even went along for the cruise. There were adult beverages and snacks on board. There were about 12 people max on board for this cruise. What a great way to spend an evening in Santa Barbara. Would highly recommend! read more