Where did you grow up? And how did you find Santa Barbara?

I grew up in the Bay Area, in a town called Novato in Northern Marin County. I came to Santa Barbara to attend college at UCSB and graduated in 1984.

What inspired you to create Santa Barbara Dining and Destinations?

My girlfriend and I left Santa Barbara for Seattle in 1988 and lived there for eleven years. We got married and had a couple of children and returned to Santa Barbara, where for all of our sanity, the children could be outdoors instead of indoors for nine months out of the year. When we returned to Santa Barbara, we went to a few of our old favorite restaurants with fond memories. Unfortunately, either our memories were not so accurate or new owners had taken the restaurant in a different direction. Also, our sleepy little town of Santa Barbara had become much more metropolitan and there were so many more restaurants. Hence, we figured that other people were also overwhelmed in finding the right restaurant for their evening.

My husband’s birthday is coming up and he loves great food. Where should we go?

I get this question frequently and my answer is different and similar each time. I often need to ask a few qualifying questions to narrow down my answer. So since your husband’s birthday is a special occasion, and I am not able to ask you more qualifying questions, let’s go somewhere memorable with varied settings to match your personal taste – Boathouse, Jane, Sly’s, Lucky’s, Brewhouse, Holdren’s, Arch Rock Fish, Tre Lune, Blush and Zen Yai. Cheers!

Where can people go to subscribe to Santa Barbara Dining and Destinations?

To subscribe go to our Dining and Destinations website.

Thanks for catching up with us Phillip. Sounds like I need to make some reservations! I notice you also have a great bi-monthly newsletter that visitors can sign up for and lots of great information on your website.

If you have a question for Phil, our local expert, please leave it in the comments section below. I’ll send the best question some great Santa Barbara Adventure Company schwag!

Over the years Santa Barbara Adventure has helped with similar fundraising efforts for The Friendship Paddle, The Naples Coalition, Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center and many others. We are always happy to inspire others to explore nature and help these wonderful organizations that give so much to our community. Santa Barbara Adventure Company also takes many schools and youth groups on day and multi-day Outdoor Eduction progams. Learn more about all these great programs by exploring our website.

If you have been on one of these trips, please share your experience in the comments section below. We love to hear from you!

We spotted a beautiful elephant seal pup. The little guy enjoyed a nap and then went back into the ocean. A Channel Islands Fox came over to enjoy some shade by the kayaks.

We all enjoyed an inspirational view of the Pacific Ocean on the ride home. It was an amazing day of kayaking and exploration. It is a trip I am sure everyone will remember for a long time.

How did you find your way to Santa Barbara and SBACo?

I met my lovely wife, Alisa, who is a native of Santa Barbara. We met in New Zealand, lived there for a few years, traveled a lot together, settled in Australia for a while and eventually made our way to beautiful Santa Barbara. We moved here two years ago and brought our Border Collie with us. I miss our friends and family in Australia but, of all the places in the U.S, I think I am pretty lucky to have ended up In Santa Barbara; this place is pretty special.

Do you remember guiding your first trip with SBACo?

I think so. The legendary Carlos showed me the ropes on a Harbor kayaking trip. I remember thinking that it was funny that a Chilean and an Australian were guiding a group of Americans. It was a lot of fun and Carlos’ taught me a lot. I was impressed with how much knowledge he had of the local area and marine wildlife and it inspired me to start learning as much as I could. I remember my second trip too: a surf lesson with Amy. Besides teaching an awesome surf lesson, Amy also introduced me to chocolate covered pretzels.

Somehow you are always calm under pressure, I have yet to see you crack. Were you just born that way? What’s your secret?

I think I have had some pretty high pressure jobs in the past, so that has probably helped.  I have also been lucky to have had some pretty inspirational coworkers and bosses who have taught me a lot about working with people in difficult or dangerous situations.

I know you like to craft wooden surf boards. How did that hobby come about? Do you sell them?

I have always been interested in environmental issues and alternative materials and just started messing around in my garage. In Australia I had access to a great supply of sustainable, strong and light wood (Paulownia) and made a lot of different boards there. I’ve only made one wooden board since moving here and I still use it a lot. Recently I’ve been making wooden hand planes for body surfing for myself and friends and having a blast with those.

You’re the only member of the crew from abroad and you have traveled extensively. What’s your greatest travel adventure yet?

Lots of great memories. Fostering orphaned pumas in Bolivia, traveling overland into Tibet and swinging in a hammock for a week on a cargo boat through remote parts of the Amazon are some of my favorite adventures.

Any travel plans in the near future?

This year I’m looking forward to exploring more of California and the U.S and hopefully heading back to Australia to visit my family and friends and surf some warm water waves again!

Thanks for sharing Grant. We are glad to have you as part of the team!

Top photo taken by Erin Feinblatt

Girsh Park Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday April 7th from 9am to 11:30am
Come enjoy this fun annual Easter Egg Hunt at Girsh Park. Registration starts at 9am, the egg hunt itself will take place at 11am. The Easter bunny will make an appearance. There will also be bouncers, face painting and games. Bring a basket and come have some fun. This event is free to all, but donations will be accepted.

The Great Egg Hunt at Elings Park - Saturday April 7th from 9am to noon
Crafts, Bounce House fun, Easter Bunny and More! Come to the softball field and enjoy a fun morning of candy filled egg hunting. Please bring your own basket. Parking costs $5. Egg hunting is free.

Riverbench Easter Egg Hunt– Saturday April 7th Starting at 11am and at 2pm
Riverbench Winery is hosting a family friendly Easter Egg Hunt with prizes for everyone. Be sure to arrive on time as the hunts start promptly at 11am & 2pm. Kids will be awarded candies and chocolate bunnies. Wine-related prizes ranging from wine discounts to small gift packs and more will be awarded to entrants 21 years and older. We guarantee you’ll have something fun to take home! Cost: Included with $10 tasting fee; free for children and members.

Easter Bunny Express at South Coast Railroad Museum – Saturday April 7th from 11am to 4pm
Come ride the “EBX Thunderbunny” or the “Lop-Ear Local.” (all train riders must meet 34-inch minimum-height requirement.) All tickets will be available at the museum on event day. Hot sandwiches, snacks, and refreshments may also be purchased during the event. Hop aboard the Easter Bunny Express. It promises to be a hare-raising eggsperience for the whole family! Cost: $4 for train tickets.
Photo courtesy of the South Coast Railroad Museum.

View Easter Celebrations Santa Barbara Area in a larger map

If you know of a fun Easter Weekend event that we have missed, please share in the comment section below. Thanks!

I had packed everything my kids were accustomed to in pool – wetsuits, goggles, a float ring for my 3 year old. My oldest, at 5, was very excited to be on the boat and was interested in snorkeling. He tried on his mask and his flippers. When that captain asked if anyone needed a intro lesson on snorkeling, he quickly raised his hand. And when he pulled into the cove he put in his gear, raced down the steps and froze. “Is this water deeper than 5 feet?” he asked, not so sure of what he was in for now. After a little talking and with the help of a transitional float ring, he lowered himself into the water and had a blast. Always conservative, he wanted to stay close to the boat.

Now my 3 year old, didn’t ask any questions. He just got in his floatie ring and was ready to go. He loved having me dive down and pop up near him. He would laugh when I would dive under him and blow bubbles under his kicking feet. He loved the view of the island and smiled to all the folks waving from the catamaran.

Some Fatherly tips for success:

1)      Don’t push it. If your kids aren’t ready to get in the water with the fish, wait until they are comfortable. One bad experience can take years to recover from. This is one of the hardest lessons in patience you may ever experience as a parent. You know the activity is safe and they can do it, you just to be patient and let them lead you into the water.

2)      Make it fun. My kids loved having me dive under them and pop up with a funny face or a big splash. They also loved hanging with the other divers when they came up and watching the bubbles. The most important part of any first trip, is to instill a love for the activity. Be amazed at what you see, even if it is only a common squirrel fish.

3)      Make it educational. We talked a lot about the marine life and fish. This really peaked their interest. Children are very interested in learning about ocean ecology and adaptations, sometimes the grosser the better.

4)      Get out of the water before they ask to get out. There is an old theater saying “always leave them wanting more” – well it works with kids too. If you stop the fun before they are tired and done, they immediately start asking when they can go again. Just end it a little bit early, while they are still engaged and interested. They will have a positive memory of the adventure.

5)      Give lots of praise and love! Getting in the ocean is a big challenge for many people. Your children are brave for just getting wet, let em’ know you are proud of them.

At the end of the trip, we were the last family out of the water. The kids enjoyed driving the boat and watching marine life on the way back home – followed by a much needed nap. First snorkeling trip was a huge success and they can’t wait until the next time.

Celebrate Underwater Parks Day with a tour of Santa Barbara’s new protected waters!

On January 21^st, Santa Barbarans will join ocean lovers across the state to celebrate California’s third annual Underwater Parks Day. Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is organizing a celebratory guided kayak tour led by Santa Barbara Adventure Company of the Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area, one of the newest MPAs protected on January 1^st through the Marine Life Protection Act. Participants will enjoy the scenic coastline, kelp forests and protected wildlife before heading back to Goleta Beach for a post paddle party with food and refreshments.

WHO: The paddle tour is organized by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and will be led by Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

WHAT: A guided kayak tour of Santa Barbara’s new ocean protections.

WHERE: Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area. Tour will start and end at the west end of Goleta Beach (click here for map).

WHEN: Saturday, January 21^st 10 am – 2 pm. Weather permitting.

WHY: Underwater Parks Day is an opportunity to recognize the special parts of California’s coast and ocean that are safeguarded as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). On January 1^st, southern California became home to a network of MPAs extending from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border, connecting with what will be a statewide system once planning is completed for the far north coast next year (click here for a full map of south coast MPAs). These underwater parks, approved by the Fish and Game Commission last December, are designed to improve overall ocean health by protecting the fish nurseries that help to seed adjacent waters.

COST: Channelkeeper and Santa Barbara Adventure Company are subsidizing this event and asking for a $50 per person donation, which includes kayaks, all necessary gear, the tour and the post party. Alternatively, if you have your own gear they are asking for a $25 donation to cover the guide and party. Please RSVP by emailing michael@sbck.org or calling 805.563.3377 ext. 2.

For more information, visit www.sbck.org.

Photo credit: Travis S./Creative Commons