We had such a lovely time at the Steinbeck House Mother's Day Tea. The service was exceptional, and…read moreknowing that the staff are all volunteers made the experience even more special. Everyone was so warm, attentive, and welcoming. The food and tea were absolutely excellent -- beautifully prepared and delicious. And of course, the house itself is charming, with gorgeous table settings that made the afternoon feel elegant and memorable. Everything was done with such care and attention to detail. A wonderful way to celebrate Mother's Day!

My wife and I had an amazing lunch on Thursday for our anniversary. The food is always terrific and…read morechanges monthly. Our server told us about the free monthly tours which included all three floors of the house and one was this Saturday, today. The tour was great and there was so much information on John Steinbeck and the history of the Salinas area. Our tour guide was John and he did a terrific job and had so many personal stories that he added into the conversation. Probably from over 12 years experience and knowledge of Steinbeck. Highly recommend and chicken mushroom crepe is hard to beat. Thank you and we can't wait to be back!

We loved our experience with third wheel tour guide Jill at Wolff Estate Vineyard. Not only was…read moreJill knowledgeable and eager to share her understanding of all things viticulture, she was also very attentive, fun, and kind. Our experience at the tasting room was lovely as well: the server was happy to alter the tasting menu to suit our personal preferences, and sitting on the patio surrounded by flowers and overlooking the vineyards and marigolds was so relaxing. Don't hesitate to take this tour, and ask for Jill!

100% recommended!!! Jill and Stephanie are awesome. We will definitely do it again and tell all our…read morefriends. Grab a bottle for the ride!!!

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.

There was not a free walking tour scheduled during the 2 days we were in Santa Barbara so we…read morearranged for a paid private one. It was totally worth it! Our tour guide David was a truly enthusiastic and friendly companion and we learned so much that we wouldn't have otherwise. I was a little tired from a previous week in LA and was somewhat apprehensive about a 1 and 3/4 hour tour but there were ample rest stops with opportunities to sit down. We took the water side tour and I would have liked to take the other two, had we had time. Highly recommend!

Knowledgeable, interesting and full of visuals and well planned stops. Really enjoyed meeting Craig…read moreand felt the walking tour was very worthwhile. Good timing to grab breakfast and get lunch suggestions (and wine tasting coupons) as well. Cheers!

We really really enjoyed the Third Wheel Tour of Cass Winery on a sidecar motorcycle! We've been…read moregoing to Cass Winery for over a decade, but this was such a unique experience getting a full tour of the winery, its history and operations. Daniel was a wonderful tour guide: knowledgeable and humorous and engaging. He weaved in personal stories and anecdotes as well as giving us the history of Cass and their operations. The views and scenery are what makes Paso, Paso. Highly recommend this tour. And Thank you to Daniel for the warm hospitality.

I didn't realize we'd get a tour of all the vineyard and get to taste all the different varieties…read moreof grapes! So fun and the sidecars were a blast too. We had such a great time with Daniel and his sidekick- sorry, I'm forgetting your name. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone. Perfect hosts!!

Awesome original Adobe with exposed brick along the San Luis Obispo Creek and next to the Mission…read moreSan Luis Obispo.

I live here... it's aight. Kinda far from stores tho. Wild life is amazing! Drive slow at night and…read morewatch out for the owls.

Carrizo Plain National Monument, mainly known for its seasonal wildflower blooms, is also home to a…read moremassive, u-shaped, sandstone rock formation that showcases some of the best Native American rock paintings (pictographs) in the world. The tour takes you into the inside of the rock formation where you can peer into the alcoves and view the Native American rock art up-close. Unfortunately, much of the art was vandalized in the early 1900s so you can only see small sections of what was once a wide panel of art dating back 1,000s of years. Time spent viewing the art was fairly brief. I was told this is done to protect the nesting birds. I would have liked to of heard more about the art itself and maybe even theories as to their meaning. I have read books that describe how the site was chosen because of the birds-eye-view has a close resemblance to a particular female anatomy and how under-the-influence Shamans would use it to gain entry into the supernatural realm. Unless you have an interest in this kinda stuff then you may want to not make the trip since it takes considerable effort to get here and you probably will find the art itself underwhelming. I personally really enjoyed the trip and I enjoyed the serenity of being in the middle of nowhere experiencing the beauty of the land. You have to call in advance to purchase tickets. You'll also have to endure a 30-mile drive through mostly dirt roads so make sure you come with a vehicle that is able to make it. Park your car at the Goodwin Education Center and when it comes time to go you'll caravan to the parking lot located near the site and then embark on a pleasant 1.4 mile round trip hike to the site. This tour runs on Saturdays from mid-March through May. You can also chose to see it without a guide if you purchase a self-guided pass. They ask that you not post any pics of the art itself out of respect to the sacred site.

This was a decent ride around a small part of the city. My driver was Joe. He seemed knowledgeable…read moreabout the history and landmarks. We stopped at a church to take pics and had sufficient time to snap other photos along the tour. This was especially perfect for a warm, sunny day.

Santa Barbara Trolley Tour (Booked via Viator.com)…read more We booked this tour through Viator for $28 per person (non-refundable), and I have to say -- it's an affordable, worthwhile way to see Santa Barbara and Montecito if you're short on time. The tour runs about an hour and a half, narrated the whole way through. Our guide, Rusty, was excellent -- knowledgeable, engaging, and easy to listen to. He mixed history with fun local details, pointing out landmarks, residents, and even a few celebrity homes. His energy kept the ride interesting from start to finish. Pro tip: Seating is a bit of a luck-of-the-draw situation. There are about four or five seats where the window is completely down -- perfect for pictures. Otherwise, most windows stay up and only open a crack for air. If photos are important to you, get in line early so you can grab those open-window spots. It's two people per bench. The rest stop was at the historic Santa Barbara Mission. We had about 15 minutes to use the restrooms, pop into the gift shop, and take pictures of the Mission's beautiful exterior. (The church wasn't open during our visit, but it often is, so worth checking next time.) Along the way, Rusty also pointed out some things I never would've noticed -- like enormous fig trees scattered around town, a fossil of a blue whale, and even a giraffe peeking its head out near the zoo! The Spanish-style architecture throughout Santa Barbara was another highlight, and being able to see so much in a short span of time made this tour feel really efficient. Meeting & Drop-off Spot: The Garden Street Visitor Center (close to the Carousel House). For brand-new visitors or anyone with limited time, this is a perfect introduction to Santa Barbara. Big kudos to Rusty for making it such an engaging ride.