Cycle the Coast

Santa Barbara is considered as one of the best places for bikers in the United States. It’s located only an hour away from Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast, and is nestled snugly beside the scenic Santa Ynez Mountains. Santa Barbara is treasured for its massive harbor, fairly warm climate, and for the cozy Spanish vibe that it has taken on these past few decades. People who are looking for the best two-wheeled adventures in the US won’t find anything better without going out of the country. If you ever plan on taking your bike down to Santa Barbara, here’s how to make the most out of it:

 

First Things First, You Don’t Always Have to Bike

 

Not everyone is fit enough to bike all throughout their vacation, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on the splendor of Santa Barbara. There are numerous providers of shuttle services in the place, catering to people who don’t want to exercise their leg power, and for differently abled people. These shuttle services and tours will allow those without bikes to still enjoy the sights, sounds, and taste that Santa Barbara offers.

 

You Don’t Need to Own a Bike, Either

 

Maybe your bike is currently broken, or you don’t want to lug around a hunk of steel, or maybe you simply don’t own a bike but want to start riding? You can still bike around Santa Barbara, thanks to an abundance of rentals all around town. Some of these are standalone bike rentals, but many of the hotels provide rental bike services to their guests. That is how closely associated Santa Barbara is to bicycling. If you love pedaling on two wheels, you’ll feel very welcome wherever you go.

 

Enjoy the Beach Sights and Tastes

 

No Southern California visit is ever going to be complete without spending some time near a beachfront. There are numerous oceanside trails in Santa Barbara, which makes for ideal bike paths to and fro. They are also dotted with numerous restaurants and wine tasting establishments, so you can pretty much spend the rest of your day biking all around without any need to leave the place. When you get hungry, stop by one of the restaurants (the main specialties are usually seafood, for obvious reason), or when you want to wind down you can partake in some liquor, provided that you are of drinking age.

 

Get Your Funk On

 

This is a fairly new addition to the Santa Barbara experience, but there is now an arsty little establishment called the Funk Zone, which is a must see for anyone who is even remotely into arts and crafts as it features art galleries. They also have several wine tasting rooms and craft breweries, so social drinkers are still pretty much the target audience. This is also the place where you’ll find some of the most upscale fine dining establishments.

 

Bike Repairs

 

Of course, no matter how careful you are and how sturdy your bike is, you need to always be ready for problems. In which case, you might want to pass by the Bici Centro in Santa Barbara. This is a neighborhood bike workshop that lets cyclists use their space for repairs and maintenance, for a measly fee. They also have a bike store in case a cyclist needs to purchase some spare parts or tools. The bike shop was recommended to me by my friend and colleague Dr. Sofonio. We’ve cycled together all through different parts of California. He’s a great friend and he has a good practice, in fact, he’s a famous Coachella Valley plastic surgeon, but you’d never hear him say that, lol.

Anyway, in case you’ve had your fill of pedaling and just want to sit down and enjoy a commute, you can easily leave Santa Barbara via the Amtrak train running along the Surfliner route up the California coast. This train allows bikes on board, provided that you pre-book a ticket on their website.

Santa Barbara, CA is a paradise for people who love to ride bikes. The sunny, warm weather and the sheer abundance of bike paths make for a really nice destination that can be appreciated while leisurely pedaling down the road on two wheels. It is no wonder that the place is teeming with bike rentals.

 

One place in Santa Barbara that is recommended for bikers is the Cabrillo Beach Bike Path. The name itself implies what the place is for. It is a simple flat bike path that runs for 5 mile along the waterfront in the downtown area. It is very easy to traverse for novice cyclists, yet provides a very scenic view of the coast of Santa Barbara.

 

Most experienced cyclists already have their own bikes, but those who want to try out what it’s like being a cyclist can rent bikes and tandem bikes from many of the rentals that are available along the waterfront. Biking is easily one of the most fulfilling activities you can do in the city, as it gives you some much-needed exercise, while also allowing you to see all of the most beautiful parts of the beach in a single day’s worth of tourist activities.

 

The Cabrillo Beach Bike Path is also perfect for people watchers, because the path is particularly teeming with people during weekends and in the summer, as runners and fellow bikers prefer the place and the perpetually warm, sunny weather make it ideal to get some time under the sun. It is also a great place to bring kids along due to its flat, paved path. Accidents are less likely to happen, and kids will enjoy roaming the place. Just make sure you practice common safety procedures when traveling with kids.

 

It’s not all biking, there are also numerous restaurants and public restrooms dotted around the path, and people who come in a car won’t have to worry – there’s plenty of parking available along Cabrillo Blvd and nearby neighborhoods, though you are more likely to find paid parking than free ones, for obvious reasons.

 

As for how to get there, the Cabrillo Beach Bike Path can be accessed through several points. First is the path that starts in downtown Santa Barbara, which can also be accessed from different areas around Santa Barbara and neighboring cities. Next is through Cabrillo Boulevard, if you are in downtown. This is where most people usually go to if they want to get to the beach bike path.

If you are looking for places in and around Santa Barbara where you can happily do your biking laps or just pedal away the afternoon, the Four Seasons Resort – The Biltmore Santa Barbara may be worth looking into.

 

For the uninitiated, the Four Seasons Resort was originally built in 1927, and was operated as part of the Biltmore brand of hotel chains. It became popular due to its landmark Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, but is also visited by a lot of tourists due to being one of the best luxury hotels in Santa Barbara.

 

The hotel is notable for having ornamentation and murals designed by English artist Fred William Stringer, who is known for his backdrops, set, and theater designs that were use extensively by the movie industry during the 1920s.

 

Where to Bike

 

People who visit the Four Seasons Resort for the purpose of enjoying the place as a biker will not be disappointed. Assuming that you already have a bike on hand (those who don’t have a bike yet can rent from any of the numerous bike rentals dotted around Santa Barbara), all one needs to do is walk straight to the front of the hotel via the north, go towards the left and you will see a walking/biking path. This biking path is great for bikers who want a good view of Santa Barbara’s beauty, because it is smack dab in the middle of the cliffs above the ocean on one side, and beautiful homes on the right.

 

Official Tours Available

 

Those who prefer guided tours (and have the budget for them) can rest easy because the hotel’s concierge can arrange a bike rental and a tour for its clients, but the tour is called the Winery Hopping Bike Tour, and is focused mainly around exploring the wineries dotted around America’s Riviera. Wineries being what they are, the greeneries will be amazing to experience while pedaling casually down the bike paths, and there is a lot of educational value in hearing the histories of the place.

 

Either way, even if you have no plans of checking in at the hotel and just want to bike around the place on your own, the scenery is already worth the trek. The beach view is exquisite and will be appreciated by nature lovers. But make sure you bring your own drinks if you are on a budget. As expected of places full of 5 star luxury hotels, the drinks can get pricey.

Santa Barbara is definitely the place to visit if you ever want to spend some time in California. But if you visit the place and then spend the rest of your stay driving around in a car, then you are wasting the experience. To really appreciate your stay in Santa Barbara, you need to take a tour of the place while biking. Going around on a bike is ideal for a number of reasons, such as:

A Better Way to Enjoy Santa Barbara’s Excellent Weather

Santa Barbara is known to have an amazing sunny weather all year long. But you’re not going to experience if it you are cooped up inside a cramped old car. Rent a bike instead and feel the wind and sun in your face.

A Bike Makes it Easier to Go Around

Santa Barbara’s roads are not as hectic as New York’s, but hey – it’s still in the United States and you know how we tend to get traffic jams from time to time. That happens in Santa Barbara as well, but if you are riding a bike, you won’t be held back by these silly little cars and their silly little traffic jams.

You are Helping the Environment

You are enjoying the environment of Santa Barbara, so why not give a little bit back by avoiding the use of a carbon-expelling hunk of metal? Ride a bike instead and enjoy what the planet has to offer without harming any of it.

Bikes Have Numerous Health Benefits

You gain a lot back by biking around Santa Barbara, because you are not only enjoying the scenery and its people, but you are also keeping yourself fit and in shape. Biking is known to be a good exercise because it works out all of the major muscle groups while causing less strain and injuries compared to other forms of exercise. Think about it, would you rather waste all of your time in Santa Barbara sweating like a pig inside the gym – or would you rather keep yourself in shape while happily pedaling around some of the most beautiful places in and out of California? The answer should be easy.