Land Shark - Tourist Attractions - Santa Barbara Edhat

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Land Shark
updated: Aug 21, 2010, 8:45 AM

By the Dedicated Staff

As we waited for the Land Shark to arrive at the base of Stearns Wharf, the sun was shining and there was a light breeze. Parents tried to wrangle their kids, and a few couples spoke in foreign languages. It was a great day for a tour on Santa Barbara's one and only amphibious vehicle.

When the ship pulled up at the curb, the excitement level rose and people lined up in a hurry. The kids' eyes grew wide when they realized that they were going to be riding a huge boat... on wheels.

After a brief introduction of Captain Andre, and some campy jokes about life preservers from our tour guide, Holly, we were off. The jokes made us skeptical about the value of the tour, but about ninety minutes later, we were confident that our time had not been wasted (and not just because the jokes got better). Here are a few reasons why.

For the land. The Land Shark provided a nice sampling of the Santa Barbara landscape. The tour began with a pass of the serene bird refuge, and a glimpse into Montecito. From here we had a closer view of the houses tucked away in the foothills. Then we headed back into downtown to wind through tree-lined streets and red-tiled roofs. Whenever a good photo op was around the corner, like the courthouse or the giant Moreton Bay Fig, Holly gave us ample warning to point our lenses in the right direction.

For the sea. About halfway through the ninety minute tour (right as the kids started to get bored), the countdown begins. It's convenient that it only takes about 10 seconds to drive straight into the ocean and turn the bus into a boat. Holly was quick to point out that left and right no longer existed, there was only port and starboard. Once outside the harbor, we circled a buoy covered with lounging sea lions (you can distinguish them from seals by their ears and big flippers). From Fool's Anchorage, we had a great view of the city, backed by velvety mountains. As we passed the wharf, we could wave at fishermen or people on sailboats entering the harbor. It was smooth sailing the entire time, not enough to make anyone seasick.

To learn a little local history. As we drove down Cabrillo Boulevard, our guide informed us about the Spanish explorers who first came to Santa Barbara, and eventually became street names. After that, all of the facts and stories flowed together with ease, one leading into the next through the whole tour. We were told of a Chumash legend of a rainbow bridge to the Channel Islands (visible conveniently offshore to our left) and how the legend inspired a colorful sculpture (conveniently to our right). Can anyone corroborate the inspiration story? We hadn't heard that before. Even the two Santa Barbara natives on the tour admitted that they had learned a lot before the tour's end.

To gossip about celebrities. It's no secret that the rich and famous flock to the American Riviera, and our tour guide was happy to point this out. While riding around town she would identify anything remotely connected to a famous person. What hotels former presidents stayed in, the locations and prices of movie stars' homes, and even where she saw Orlando Bloom walking on State Street one week earlier. That last one produced plenty of ‘Ooos' and 'Ahhs".

To find out what to do next. If you think there's nothing to do in Santa Barbara you won't after the tour. Peppered in between all the facts are suggestions for activities and restaurants, which our tour guide swore she wasn't paid to promote. In addition to directing our attention to restaurants of every cuisine, she would describe the ambiance (if it was family friendly or good for a romantic date). She pointed out relaxed activities like museums, gardens and touring the historic adobe Presidio, to high-energy kayaking or touch tanks for the little ones (always including prices and times).

For the attention. It's not hard to figure out why a massive boat sailing over asphalt draws stares, smiles and waves. The combination of tourists constantly taking pictures of you, and all the talk of celebrities starts to make you feel like one! At the end of the tour we were refreshed, smarter and a little more popular (in our heads) than when we left.