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LIVING IN SANTA BARBARA: SOARING AND SAILING ON THE AMERICAN RIVIERA

October 9, 2023

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Soaring through the skies over Santa Barbara, its neighboring communities, and the sparkling Pacific, or sailing the pristine waters off California’s Central Coast are extraordinary ways to gain a fresh perspective on what living in Santa Barbara is really like. While exploring here by car or on foot can provide a cornucopia of sensory experiences and rewarding discoveries, embracing the place via the heavens or ocean provides an incomparable perspective and allure. Regardless of your choice, prepare for an adrenaline rush like no other.

Orange-helmeted couple on ziplines above the Santa Ynez Valley


Soar Through the Hills of the Santa Ynez Valley

Picture yourself soaring through the skies, feeling the wind in your hair, and taking in panoramic views of the Santa Ynez Valley – all from the comfort of a harness and zipline. Highline Adventures offers an incredible ziplining experience with over a mile and a half of cables stretched across the valley's picturesque landscapes. Take a sneak peek with this video.

Prepare to be awestruck by the incredible vistas of the Santa Ynez Valley as you fly over fields of protea flowers at speeds of up to 50+ mph on any of the three epic ziplines. These views are not to be missed and provide a unique perspective on the natural beauty that surrounds Santa Ynez Valley. With three ziplines designed to provide unforgettable moments, you can fly solo or share the adventure with a friend traveling side-by-side down three different dual ziplines. Each zipline is faster and more exhilarating than the last, promising an adrenaline rush you won't soon forget.

Happy helmeted man dangling from a zipline, with trees in the background

Sip ‘n Zip in San Luis Obispo

Margarita Adventures in neighboring San Luis Obispo wine country offers thrill seekers an unforgettable experience, especially with their Zip 'n Sip package, a thrilling adventure paired with a delightful wine tasting. As you gear up for your zipline tour, anticipation builds, knowing that you'll soon be soaring high above the Ancient Peaks Winery's Margarita Vineyard. The excitement doesn't stop there – after your exhilarating zipline adventure, you get to enjoy a special wine tasting at the winery's tasting room, conveniently located just across the street from the tour office. It's the perfect blend of adrenaline-pumping adventure and a chance to savor the fruits of the very vines you flew over. This unique combination is why Margarita Adventures is rightfully known as the biggest thrill in wine country.

The adventure includes a thrilling 300-foot suspension bridge walk between the first and second ziplines, adding an extra dose of excitement. And the adventure doesn’t stop there. You’ll also get a guided tour of the historic Santa Margarita Ranch and leave with insights into sustainable winegrowing, local wildlife, and more, leaving you with cherished memories of adventure and discovery in the heart of wine country.

A sunset sail in the Santa Barbara Harbor, with silvery glistening water and an island in the background


Sunset Sail in Santa Barbara

If flying isn't your preferred way to gain a fresh perspective, why not consider a serene sunset sail? After all, Santa Barbara is renowned as a hub for outdoor adventures and water sports, with its diverse landscapes and a temperate climate that allows for year-round outdoor enjoyment, especially along its coastal treasures.

You can charter a boat with Santa Barbara Sailing Center, complete with an experienced captain, for an entire day of aquatic bliss. While on board, you'll have the opportunity to anchor, indulge in some stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and even take a refreshing swim in the beautiful Santa Barbara Channel. Keep your eyes peeled for playful dolphins that often accompany these journeys. As the sun begins its descent towards the horizon, the sight of a mesmerizing sunset on your return to the harbor is guaranteed to leave you in awe, providing an unparalleled vantage point for witnessing Santa Barbara's spectacular nightly color show.

The Sailing Center offers an alternative for experienced sailors: a selection of Catalina yachts spanning sizes from 27′ to 50′. Revel in thrilling day sails as you explore the stunning American Riviera coastline, set against the picturesque backdrop of the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains. Additionally, they provide personal lessons covering various facets of sailing, including precise sail adjustments, navigation, sailboat docking, anchoring, managing challenging weather conditions, crew rescue methods, coastal navigation, spinnaker handling, knot tying, racing techniques, and much more.



As evident from the options above, Santa Barbara living offers residents a wealth of opportunities to immerse themselves in the enchanting natural beauty of the area from many perspectives.. Meantime, if you’re seeking a new perspective in the form of a new home within any of our prestigious communities, don't hesitate to reach out to me at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com.


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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch