When the mood strikes to take in some stunning views, Santa Barbara area folks have two top-drawer options. We actually have numerous enjoyable options because of our topography, so when time doesn’t allow for one of the grand options, just drive uphill on a road in town or near town, and you’ll usually find a view worthy of spending some time.
One of the two top-drawer view opportunities is to take a drive up to Camino Cielo (either East or West Camino Cielo) at the top of San Marcos Pass (Hwy. 154). I advise packing a lunch because you will want to stay for a while. Please remember to pack your trash back out with you.
There are numerous places along the ridge top where you can park your car and enjoy the views through your windows, or take your snack and drinks and walk a way to a comfy lookout spot. Then cozy up and lean back on a rock, or open up a lawn chair, and begin soaking in the panoramic views.
The steep mountains and the town below will make you wish you had packed binoculars as well as lunch — so bring along the binoculars. There are some gorgeous and secluded estates to admire in the foothills, and a high likelihood of spotting wild animals on the ground or soaring on the updrafts along the face of the mountain.
Sooner or later, your gaze will lift to take in the combination of beaches, ocean and Channel Islands. On the Santa Barbara Channel those specs you see are boats plying our water … either hard-working commercial fisherfolks bringing us the seafood we love, or recreational boaters out enjoying a day on the water. The big container ships well out in the channel are obvious because of their immense size.
When we have a marine layer, the view from Camino Cielo is especially inspiring because of the blanket of clouds covering the water. The tops of the Channel Islands poke up through the clouds like majestic sentinels providing relief from the widespread marine layer of low clouds.
The other of the two top-drawer views we have happily available is enjoyed out on the ocean aboard a boat on a clear day with no marine layer to fog up the view. There are various businesses in the Santa Barbara Harbor with watercraft resources to get you out on the water, and any of them will do.
From the ocean, the mountains above Santa Barbara and Goleta are awe-inspiring and our coastline is beautiful. Then turn your gaze seaward and enjoy the view of the islands. On a really clear day, you can see each of the canyons on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. If lucky, a school of dolphin or a whale will add thrills to the day.
In all fairness, I need to add a third fabulous view opportunity. I enjoyed a day’s drive recently with my daughter and Hwy. 154 offers some beautiful views of our back country. We stopped at Cachuma Lake, drove around the campgrounds and day use areas and then had a very tasty burger at Hook’d restaurant at the lake marina.
The scenery was stunning, and the friendly service was great. And since we had a receipt from the restaurant, we didn’t have to pay the park entrance fee.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
