Santa Barbara and the Central Coast Places

Santa Barbara

Boats and Charters

Condor Express. From SEA Landing, the Condor Express, a 75-foot high-speed catamaran, whisks up to 149 passengers toward the Channel Islands on dinner cruises, whale-watching excursions, and pelagic-bird trips. 805/882-0088 or 888/779-4253. condorexpress.com.

Santa Barbara Sailing Center. The center offers sailing instruction, rents and charters sailboats, and organizes dinner and sunset champagne cruises, island excursions, and whale-watching trips. Santa Barbara Harbor launching ramp, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. 805/962-2826 or 800/350-9090. www.sbsail.com.

Santa Barbara Water Taxi. Children beg to ride L'il Toot, a cherry yellow water taxi that cruises from the harbor to Stearns Wharf and back again. Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA. 805/896-6900 or 888/316-9363. sbwatertaxi.com. $4 one-way. Departures every half hour from 12 to 6 in summer, 12 to sunset in winter.

SEA Landing. This outfit operates surface and deep-sea fishing charters year-round. Cabrillo Blvd., at Bath St., and breakwater in Santa Barbara Harbor, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. 805/963-3564. www.sealanding.net.

Truth Aquatics. Departing from SEA Landing in the Santa Barbara Harbor, Truth Aquatics ferries passengers on excursions to the National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park and takes scuba divers on single-day and multiday trips. 805/962-1127.