I took a surf lesson with Joshua and it was such an epic experience! I had never really surfed…read morebefore, and was super nervous. Joshua was super patient, and made me feel really comfortable. He was super flexible around our schedule, and we even ended up surfing with a pod of dolphins around us--it was truly one of the best experiences ever! Couldn't recommend enough, will definitely be booking another lesson!

Had another great day in the ocean for my second lesson, Noah was a great coach. The surf was a…read morelittle heavier this time, still it was a lot of fun. Noah was very personable and patient, we had a great conversation and I learned a couple of things. He even left me with some resources to look at if I continue surfing. Even if you are not very athletic or you are a little older (like me), you will have a good experience at Santa Barbara Surf School based on the lessons I had with Spencer and Noah.

A Magical Beach That Holds a Special Place in Our Hearts!…read more Arroyo Burro Beach (also known as Hendry's Beach) is hands down one of our favorite beaches in Santa Barbara, if not our absolute favorite! We've been coming here for over 15 years with our beloved doggies and it never loses its magic. There's something truly special about this place. The beautiful, expansive beach, the sound of the waves, the breathtaking sunsets, and the peaceful atmosphere make it feel like a little slice of paradise. We love taking long walks along the shoreline, collecting seashells and discovering little treasures washed up by the ocean. But what makes this beach especially dear to our hearts is the designated off-leash dog area. There's nothing quite like watching dogs experience pure, uninhibited joy! Whether they're splashing in the waves, chasing balls, digging enthusiastically in the sand, or simply running around making new furry friends, every dog seems to be having the time of its life. It's impossible not to smile watching them. Their happiness is absolutely contagious! And then there's The Boathouse, the fabulous beachfront restaurant that makes a visit even more enjoyable. What could be better than a wonderful meal with the ocean as your backdrop? Don't forget to visit the stairs behind the Boathouse. You'll get an amazing view of the beach and maybe Catalina Island on a sunny day! Over the years, we've made so many beautiful memories here with our doggies. There's something incredibly serene and almost therapeutic about listening to the rhythmic waves, breathing in the fresh ocean air, and simply enjoying the beauty of nature. Arroyo Burro Beach isn't just another beach to us. It's a place filled with joy, tranquility, cherished memories, and a little bit of magic. If you're visiting Santa Barbara, especially with your four-legged companions, this beach is an absolute gem. It's a place that stays in your heart long after you've left.

If you're ever looking for a great morning routine or need a chance to recharge, this is the place…read moreto be! After my runs, I would love to just walk the beach, meet all of the wonderful dogs running around the place, and enjoying the soothing sounds of waves crashing! If you're also looking to each after a rejuvenating beach walk, you have Boathouse on Hendry's on one end and Shoreline Cafe on the other!

James is an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING surf coach…read more James is knowledgeable, skilled and able to convey the spirit and stoke of surfing. He knows when to go and where to take you so you will have success. He is a wealth of information on equipment, mechanics, environment, and the mental and physical components of surfing. If you're interested in surf history and culture, as I was, he will also teach you a lot. I've worked with quite a few surf coaches, and James is the best. He is a phenomenal teacher. He teaches ocean safety, awareness and respect. He is excellent at breaking down moves. My sense is that he adjusts his teaching style to the student. I'm sure he is great at working with beginners, but he's also quite skilled at working with advanced beginner/intermediate surfers. As noted in several other reviews, James is communicative, committed and competent. He is super conscientious, he shows up early, and often goes overtime in order to give students best experience. Never got the sense he was looking at his watch, like with other coaches. And he's just delightful to work with, an incredibly down-to-earth and generous person, I feel super lucky to have gotten a chance to get coaching lessons from him. If you have an opportunity to work with him, you won't be disappointed!!

James is an amazing surf instructor. My 10-year-old son absolutely loved it. He definitely loves…read morewhat he does for a living and it shows. He was very personable and easy-going. We are looking forward to our next trip!

As a long time wannabe surfer, iSurf was the perfect way to start my journey. Scheduling your…read morelesson is super easy, and if the weather isn't cooperating, rescheduling is too. Thomas was our instructor and he helped us with everything from parking to properly putting on your wetsuit to surfing basic info to technique practice (on land) to helping us catch our first waves! I felt capable after the first lesson. Heading over to book the surf club membership now :) Thanks so much Thomas & iSurf team!

I was so happy.my first lesson. I caught my first wave at 46 years old. I was stoked and motivated…read more Then my second lesson at 9am at Mondos Thomas, my instructor met me with a couple other girls that seemed a little more experienced than me but I was willing to take notes. But then it got weird. Feeling out of place with the group, I must have said something awkward that was misunderstood by Tom. When I asked about switching days to make up my monthly classes and to credit that I had already paid for, he disqualified me and said he no longer wanted to work with me. I was genuinely hurt. I really wanted to learn and he made me feel like I was this terrible person for saying something that was misunderstood. I still remember how bad my experience was, that I'm afraid to go out and try again . Maybe I would have "clicked better with a women instructor, but Tom was mean and hurtful.

Very cool shop right by the pier. Lots of cool boards hanging and many items to choose from.read more

My family and I make it a point to stop here and shop whenever we make the 2+ hours drive from…read moreOrange County. Although we usually have a pleasant shopping experience, this time it was very lackluster. The store wasn't busy at all. There were maybe four or five other people in the store besides us. NOT one person greeted us when we walked into the main area of the store and yet there were THREE employees all behind the counter just socializing with one another. The one time any of the four of us were even acknowledged by an employee was when my husband had merchandise in his hands. We're going to skip this place next time and spend our money supporting other businesses.

While unfortunately I am not a pro surfer, nor do I really enjoy being out freely in the ocean…read morewaters I still love this shop and come here quite often for things. My favorite products to get here are bikini tops and Sun Bum (aloe, sunscreen, and tanning oils). They also carry a variety of really cute, beachy clothing lines from all the popular brands amongst a few local designers. The prices are definitely high but they have sales every once and while and compared to other stores in Santa Barbara they are a little less expensive for the quality of products they provide. Their dressing rooms are small but cleanly. The decor is adorable and beachy. They have a small parking lot along the train tracks that can fit about 5-7 cars, or you can use street parking close by. All in all this is a probably a highly recommended custom, local surf shop with many sizes and options for boards. It's great for beach towels, bikinis, accessories, and clothing. Has equal amount of products for men and women, plus a little kids variety as well. Definitely worth a visit if you're a tourist and locals if you're looking for up and coming trendy bathing suits drop by and check this spot out.

I ordered over $270 worth of apparel for my husband for Christmas and I didn't pay attention to the…read moreorder summary. One of the items was the wrong size. I contacted the number listed and it was answered unprofessional. I thought I called the wrong number. Whoever answered sounded like it was a personal phone and they just said "Hello". Once I asked if it was the right number and what I should do I immediately realized there was zero customer service experience and they directed me to the website for the return/refund policy. After ordering over $270 of merchandise you would think they would cover the shipping cost. I won't be ordering directly from them again. Go to a local surfboards shop where they have great customer service.

Love this little beach. If you find parking it's easy to get to the beach, just a few steps down…read more This beach is pretty narrow and depending what time you go and what the tides are doing your visit can be cut short as the water comes up to the stone sea wall. There are no amenities or bathrooms. Dogs on a leash are permitted at this beach.

Great beach, the weather was perfect the water was not as cold. We were able to get in the water…read moreand enjoy the sun. A lot of people getting a sun tan on a Tuesday. The only little problem was that there was tar on the ground and we all got it on our sandals.

These guys are awesome! Always do a great job fixing my dinged-up board, and always friendly and…read morepersonable. They will also just talk shop and give some good advice for any level of surfer. Highly recommend this shop.

Doug is the man! Knows his stuff and is a good dude. Got boards repaired and bought merchandise…read more Thanks to him and staff

We rented kayaks here to kayak to the Santa Barbara pier area. The customer service is great. They…read moreare very helpful and sweet. The good thing is that it's by the harbour so the water is calm. You can even bring your toddler on this Kayak! I brought my little one and she loves it! The highlight was to kayak to see the sea lions lying around with lots of birds in a very close proximity, but you're not supposed to get too close or the sea lions get scared. The sea lions were clapping at one point and waving at my friend, which was super cute. The dock that you depart from is less ideal. You had to paddle under this wooden walkway where part of it was dripping and has spider webs, which makes it a little unappealing. They have a changing room for you to change after because you most likely will get wet, so make sure to bring extra change of clothes, especially pants and underwear.

This is my go-to adventure on a sunny morning in Santa Barbara. I joined the monthly member club…read moreyears ago and would go kayak a few times a week. It is hard to maintain with my work schedule, so now I sneak in a workout every so often which is great because you can pay by the hour for any activity. Try the single, tandem kayaks or paddle boards. After you sign the waiver, you just got check in and put your things in the locker and walk to the dock. It's that easy. Grab your equipment and go! The latest workout included sea lions, pelicans, cranes, and waves from other boaters and water activists. Have a great time with friends or relax on your own. It's worth the fun!

Rachel is awesome! Super knowledgeable of the ocean, water, marine life, and history of the area…read more What a rad human being to have guiding the tour. As it turns out, all of the harbor seals, and sealions have names. We befriended one named Steve, he is much better at swimming than I am. He also taught me secret techniques to paddling. This one Pelican named Parry got into a barking match with some sealions, which is a fight he wasn't gonna win, let's be honest. Though I was hoping to see an M-A-N-A-T-E-E ... next time! If you're gonna go down on Haley street, where the dogs are easy and the sun is cheap, you never know just who you'll meet, on Haley. (But hopefully it's Rachel from the Santa Barbara Adventure Company, and you get her kayak tour; shout out!)

A heartfelt thank you to Santa Barbara Adventure Company for creating such a memorable birthday…read moreexperience for our daughter. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. We had a fun ferry ride to the islands and even got to slow down to watch a large Sunfish (Mola Mola) snacking on some jellies. I recommend getting in line early to secure the best view seating on the ferry. Our kayak guides, Chuck and Adam, were exceptional--knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They made the entire trip both fun and informative, while ensuring we always felt safe and well cared for. We were fortunate to have perfect weather and warm water, which allowed us to explore all seven sea caves--many of which are inaccessible during high tide or rougher conditions. It made the experience even more special. Having lived in Santa Barbara for 22 years, this was my first time visiting the islands, and it was truly unforgettable. The pristine landscapes, abundant sea life, and even spotting several tiny island foxes while enjoying our picnic lunch, made it an unforgettable adventure. We can't wait to do it again--highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and exceptional experience!