Santa Barbara Family Vacation Center

A Typical Week

Sports, Lessons
& Tournaments

Other Activities
& Entertainment

Arts & Crafts

Having Fun in
Santa Barbara

Sports

There are jogs and walks that take you through campus and into the local community. Our Tennis Program is superb. We have exclusive use of six hard surface courts, and we offer special clinics, exhibitions, and a social round robin.

We have our own heated swimming pool, which you can enjoy throughout the day.

You also have access to UCSB’s outstanding Recreation Center, which has a kiddy pool and diving pool, in addition to separate 25 and 50 meter pools. It also has a weight room, exercise equipment, squash courts, racquetball courts, and basketball courts. A variety of athletic equipment is available to check out.

Santa Barbara has seven public golf courses, three of which are within five miles. You rarely need to make reservations more than a day in advance. Several private courses offer reciprocal rights to play if you belong to a private club. These courses tend to be uncrowded and you can make reservations upon your arrival. We will do our best to help you link up with other golfers during your stay.

We also take vacationers hiking in the mountains behind Santa Barbara.

The week ends with our famous "staff vs. vacationer" softball game on Friday afternoon. The staff’s Farewell Show for vacationers follows.

Most vacationers bring their own bikes so they can take advantage of the extensive biking trails on campus and throughout the Santa Barbara Area. Each Monday, vacationers make a mountain bike tour of Goleta. On Thursdays, many bike into Santa Barbara and back (27 miles round trip). The FVC has a limited number of one-speed beach cruisers for rent on an hourly basis. You can also make arrangements to rent a bike from local bike shops.

Lessons

Tennis lessons are available for everyone age 7 and up.
Golf lessons are offered to adults.
Kayak lessons are offered to adults and teens age 12 and up with an adult present.
Surf lessons are offered to strong swimmers age 7 and up.

Tournaments

Tournaments ranging from tennis to backgammon are an informal part of our program, and are open to guests of all ages. At the end of the week winners receive awards at our Farewell Show.