An adult blue whale is the size of a Boeing 737. Now, imagine seeing several of these magnificent creatures in a destination so close that it’s just 60 minutes away by nonstop plane from Oakland.
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It’s been a year since the Santa Barbara Channel was designated a Whale Heritage Area. With 27 species of whales and dolphins, it’s one of only 11 such sites in the world, including just two in North America (the other is Dana Point), and a main attraction for visitors to Santa Barbara.
Seeing whales up close is as easy as booking an excursion with Condor Express from Santa Barbara Harbor. Captain Dave Beezer has been piloting these catamaran excursions for more than 30 years and says humpback whales are a main attraction.
“They’re the whales that do all the jumping and breaching,” says Beezer.
Their curiosity may even draw them close to the boats for a little “spa treatment.”
“Sometimes the humpback whales get very friendly with us and they go behind the boat and the jet wash. It’s sort of like sitting in a jacuzzi or hot tub with the water bubbling,” he adds, notiing that there’s no danger to the whales because the boats have no propellers.
The Santa Barbara Channel and its celebrated Channel Islands National Park are known for their crystal-blue water and amazing biodiversity. The water circulation and the upwelling of the channel, combined with currents colliding from opposite directions, create one of the world’s most biologically productive ecosystems. On any given day, so many anchovies are in the water that they look like raindrops on the surface.
With a third of the world’s whale species documented here, along with six types of seals and sea lions, countless seabirds and fish, the area has attracted the attention of Santa Barbara oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of famed French explorer Jacques Cousteau. His partnership with the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, lets guests learn marine conservation through the resort’s Ambassadors of the Environment program.
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara sits atop a stunning 78-acre coastal property where you can still see lobster traps offshore, go tide-pooling and dig for sand crabs. Visitors can walk the beach with a resort naturalist and get a greater understanding of this precious marine environment and the resort’s commitment to sustainability. On-site electric bicycles also let guests ride to the nearby Goleta Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa, where monarch butterflies in early winter form chandelier-shaped clusters in the coastal eucalyptus trees.
The property’s six restaurants, including the signature Angel Oak (offering fine dining and a 12,000-bottle wine collection) also prioritize locally-sourced seafood and other ingredients. In fact, the abundance of fresh fish and produce in the Santa Barbara area is a big draw for visitors to this picturesque Mediterranean enclave, long known as the American Riviera.
The annual Santa Barbara Harbor and Seafood Festival, held each October, is the city’s signature event to celebrate the abundance of its coastal waters. Vendors sell everything from fresh urchin to whole cooked lobster along the harbor. The harbor is also home to the highly-interactive Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and the touch tanks at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center on Stearns Wharf, the oldest working wharf in California.
To experience the beauty and bounty of Santa Barbara, book a tour through the Santa Barbara Trolley Co. to take in the city’s highlights and stunning Spanish architecture. The tour stops at several iconic spots including the Old Mission Santa Barbara.
Taste estate-grown pinot noir, chardonnay and syrah from Santa Barbara County at Melville Winery. Just two blocks from the beach, this tasting lounge is part of the Urban Wine Trail and intersects with the lively shopping district along historic State Street.
Something surprising is that State Street is also home to the largest underground crystal salt cave in North America. Salt Cave Santa Barbara is created with 45 tons of 250-million-year-old Himalayan crystal salt, and visitors can sit in zero-gravity lounge chairs or lie on mats on the salt floor to experience the healing properties.
Santa Barbara is known for its exceptional dining, of course, and fresh, locally caught seafood can be found at a number of local restaurants. Flor de Maiz is a popular Mexican restaurant with Oaxacan cuisine, an open kitchen and views of the waterfront. The Lark is known for its imaginative, locally sourced menu and intriguing ambience in an old fish market building in Santa Barbara’s ‘Funk Zone’ neighborhood.
Winter is a relaxing time to visit Santa Barbara, when crowds have thinned and whale-watching is at its peak. With World Whale Day celebrated on the third Sunday of February, it’s a good time to rediscover this Southern California gem.
Ginny Prior can be reached at ginnyprior@hotmail.com and followed on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com.
FYI
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is a 78-acre coastal property with ocean views, trails, two beaches, three infinity-edge pools and a 42,000-square-foot spa. Check their website (bit.ly/santabarbararitzcarlton) for winter specials and activities. Condor Express has year-round whale watching in Santa Barbara Harbor — visit condorexpress.com online for details.
Southwest Airlines has nonstop flights between Oakland and Santa Barbara. For more information on things to do in Santa Barbara, see santabarbaraca.com.