Try the front country hiking and or even climbed Montecito Peak. There is a great website about hiking in Santa Barbara called Santabarbarahikes.com. The author recommends different hikes and tells you what you can expect to see along with grading the trails for diffulculty etc. One excellent hikes is the Cold Springs Trail along with Rattlesnake canyon and San Ysidro trail. You pass waterfalls and beautiful country on all these hikes. When you get to the top of these trails you can see the ocean along with downtown Santa Barbara and the views are breathtaking. There is such a variety of trails in Santa Barbara that you could choose a different one daily and never get bored!
There are many sports and activities from which to choose from while visiting this gorgeous part of the California coast. A short list includes:
Beaches-Santa Barbara has several beaches to enjoy. Butterfly, East Beach, Ledbetter, West and Goleta are just a few to choose from. Playing beach volleyball is a favorite amongst locals and college students.
Golfing
Kayaking
Surfing
Tennis
Skydiving
Whale Watching
These are just a few of the many things an active person can enjoy in the area. There are also many bike paths to enjoy while in the area. These run along the ocean so you will have fantastic views while you bike, jog or walk on these paths.
East Beach in Santa Barbara was listed on the Surfrider Foundation Top 10 Urban Beaches in United States in 2000.
