After a year-long or more hiatus due to the pandemic, many popular outdoor group and community sports activities in Santa Barbara are back on schedule and people are stoked! There are numerous outdoor group activities to help you stay healthy and fit while vacationing in Santa Barbara. If you’re ready to join in with others to exercise, choose from any of these fun community outdoor recreation activities. From beach runs and ocean swims to yoga on the grass and more, Santa Barbara’s recreation community warmly welcomes newcomers, so come get fit with us during your vacation stay.
Santa Barbara’s best community swim event
The Reef & Run ocean swim series just returned to East Beach, welcoming 300 excited swimmers in the first week’s races. The Reef & Run event will continue every Thursday for the next 12 weeks, so there are plenty of opportunities to sign up. The swim event starts every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at East Beach in Santa Barbara. It’s a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone – singles, couples, families, folks young and old. After the swimming races are finished, there is a party with live music, food, beer or hot chocolate and a raffle. There are three swim races: 500m, 1000m (1k,) and 1-mile (their website says they also hold a biathlon, 1k swim and ~3k beach run on occasion). The cost for each race is $15.
If you don’t want to swim, but enjoy being outdoors, there are still ways to be involved. The event is run by volunteers and it’s an easy process to sign up. Check out the Reef & Run website for more information on volunteer sign-ups and about registering for a race: https://reefandrun.org/
Santa Barbara runs
Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series is a 5K run or walk that takes place Wednesday evenings between June and August. Check out https://www.runsantabarbara.com/ for more info on other upcoming events, such as the Thanksgiving 4 Miler, touted as Santa Barbara’s fastest and flattest four-miler. Get your exercise in before turkey dinner and feel less guilty! Events include prizes and gifts and entertainment. See the website for registration information.
Santa Barbara community cycling clubs
StarCycle Santa Barbara just finished its first “Under the Stars twilight ride” and hopefully more will follow. This starry night workout featured stationary bikes parked outside their studio for a night of riding for charity. Check out https://starcycleride.com/studios/santa-barbara/ for more information on spinning classes.
If stationary bikes aren’t your thing, and you’d prefer to pedal around the beautiful scenery of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito and other nearby towns with a group of fellow cycling enthusiasts, then you will want to join the Santa Barbara Cyclists-Goleta Valley Cycling Club via their Meetup page: https://www.meetup.com/Santa-Barbara-Cyclists/events/ . This bicycle club has been around since 1977 and has hundreds of members and ongoing events. Members meet at a spot and then ride together sometimes making a pit-stop for coffee along the route.
Examples of fun, upcoming routes include ‘Shoreline Park to Field & Fort’ or ‘Tuckers to Goleta Canyon’ or ‘Rincon Brewery to Ventura.’ Their “About” section couldn’t say it better:
“Join SBC & GVCC and get more out of cycling both physically and emotionally with a group of passionate cyclists who ride for fun and camaraderie. Get a good work out, maintain a hobby that includes socializing, the outdoors, and share inspiration by riding with a group who love cycling. We aim to bring together those who share our passion for cycling and meeting new people. All levels are welcomed.”
Ride on!
Outdoor yoga in Santa Barbara, beach, park, courtyard
Practice your Savasana while on vacation in Santa Barbara. There are more options for outdoor yoga in Santa Barbara than ever. Safe outdoor yoga classes are available all around town, so pack your yoga mat and get your zen on.
Try an evening of yoga at the Casa de la Guerra courtyard, a historic Spanish building with two large oak trees. With outdoor lighting illuminating the courtyard, this is the perfect Downtown spot for yoga in the evening.
For daytime ocean views, you can’t beat yoga at La Mesa Park or Shoreline Park West. Begin your day with fresh air, ocean views and a steady flow. La Mesa Park is a scenic and quiet outdoor spot that is considered a hidden. Enjoy group yoga in this peaceful setting and then head across the street to Lazy Acres market for a delicious juice or green smoothie.
A little down the road perched high on the cliffs is Shoreline Park, offering sweeping views of the ocean and Channel Islands. Start your day with group yoga, and afterwards, head down the cliff’s steps for a brisk walk along the beach. Exercise lovers will enjoy trekking back up the cliff’s steep stairs to get that Stairmaster burn.
Get up and close with elements during yoga on the beach at Leadbetter Beach. What better way to start the morning than with mindful movement and deep, cleansing breaths near this well-known surf break? Breathe in the salty air and challenge yourself with balancing on the sand instead of a level surface.
This historic Spanish courtyard is right in the middle of Downtown, but you’d never know it was there. Join the locals for an outdoor class you won’t forget.
The above outdoor yoga classes are hosted by Divinity Tree Santa Barbara, Yoga Soup and Core Power Yoga Santa Barbara. Check out https://www.divinitreesantabarbara.com/outdoor-locations and https://www.yogasoup.com/classes-in-the-park/ and https://www.corepoweryoga.com/yoga-studios/california/santa-barbara/state-street-santa-barbara for more info, schedules and rates for all outdoor, virtual and community yoga classes in Santa Barbara.
Where to stay in Santa Barbara to participate in community or outdoor group sports
Santa Barbara locals place a high value on health and fitness, as well as community. Elevate your holiday experience by joining one of the many group sports or outdoor recreational activities. By staying in one of our beautiful vacation rental homes, you’ll be within jogging, bicycling or walking distance to Santa Barbara beaches and popular Downtown destinations.
There’s no better way to get to know Santa Barbara than to join in on any of the many outdoor community activities offered. View availability at https://hallercoastalhomes.com/
